PY2 South Pylon: Superimposed View Looking NE
by Cindy Lee
On Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at 7pm, Weingarten Realty Investors held a voluntarily offered public meeting at The Summit, 32551 N. Scottsdale Road. The stated purpose of this gathering was to provide area residents with information and an opportunity to speak regarding this pre-application to the City of Scottsdale to install two 25-foot lighted tower signs at The Summit entrances on Scottsdale Road and E. Ashler Hills Drive.
The room was crowded with residents from Terravita, Winfield, Ironwood Retreat, Boldero and Monterra HOAs, among others. Two board members of the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association/Friends of the Scenic Drive (GPPA), President Bob Cappel and Cindy Lee, were present. Andrew Chi, City of Scottsdale Planner, also attended.
Jennifer Paddison, Property Manager of Weingarten Realty, introduced Kelly Chipman of the YESCO Custom Electric Signs based in Las Vegas. YESCO’s sign package was presented to attendees with design plans and conceptual views. These signs would be installed 175 feet set back from the roads, beyond the 100-foot Scenic Drive/Scenic Corridor required setbacks.
Yesco Seville Sign
Above is one design plan from the submitted signage application showing “PY-2 South Pylon: Superimposed View Looking NE.”
The Scottsdale Seville sign was provided in the meeting as an example of the proposed YESCO signs. That sign is located 17 miles south of The Summit on Scottsdale Road at Indian Bend Rd.
Powerful public comments followed. Homeowners repeatedly expressed their abject disapproval of unwanted 25-foot lighted tower signs in the natural desert, dark sky, Environmentally Sensitive Lands area of The Summit and surrounding HOA neighborhoods. Various speakers reiterated the lack of need for signage advertising the presence of Safeway, Target, CVS and the like to local residents who frequent these stores and know their locations. Some speakers committed to boycotting the advertised stores should the undesirable lighted, tower signage be installed. The anger was evident.
Ms. Paddison of Weingarten Realty advised attendees that this public meeting was not required by the City but represented her company’s desire to be good neighbors to the community. Weingarten is based in Houston, TX. Some homeowners proclaimed Ms. Paddison did not live in the area and did not understand the history and natural desert character of the area. All who spoke expressed that these proposed signs did not respect nor reflect the wishes of neighboring homeowners and their HOA communities.
By July 19, 2016—six days after the meeting—application for The Summit signs was submitted and a Case Number was assigned. Perhaps Weingarten’s meeting was to gauge reaction, not to consider community input. Area resident objections were fierce and yet the request, Development Review Board (DRB) application 32-DR-2016, was submitted nonetheless.
The Project Narrative page 1 states in the application for the 25-foot lighted tower signs at The Summit:
“In short, this development suffers a grave disadvantage when compared to like shopping centers not subject to ESL restrictions.”
If one knowingly builds a home near an existing airport, there will be airplane noise compared to homes not built at the airport. ESL and Scenic Corridor restrictions were clearly in place when developers chose to build The Summit and businesses moved in. The ESL Overlay District is not an inconvenience imposed upon the developer and commercial tenants. It is a commitment and acknowledgement by the City of Scottsdale in the General Plan 2001 that this area of North Scottsdale Road is designated as “Natural Streetscape” where the Desert Character “is a vital part of the neighborhood setting.” ESL and Scenic Corridor designations are applied “where a substantial landscape buffer is desired to maintain views.”
See Scottsdale’s General Plan 2001, pages 48-55
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Assets/ScottsdaleAZ/General+Plan/General+Plan.pdf
Encourage “streetscapes” for major roadways that promote the city’s visual quality and character, and blend into the character of the surrounding area. (GP 2001, pg 48)
PY-1 Superimposed View at Entry from Scottsdale Road.
Here are daytime and nighttime views of the proposed signs: “PY-1 Superimposed view at entry from Scottsdale Rd.”
Continuing from the application Project Narrative page 2:
“When considering the new people visiting the region in escalating numbers and constant turnover in the population, the reality of the financial impact of this lack of streetfront exposure comes into sharp relief. These two proposed towers, tastefully drawn and designed for minimal dark sky impact, will serve to provide The Summit and its tenants the visibility needed to thrive alongside other neighboring developments such as Marcado del Rancho, Silverstone at Pinnacle Peak, and Grayhawk Plaza.”
Mercado del Rancho, 9301 E. Shea Blvd. and 92nd Street.
The applicant’s objective is to consider “the new people visiting the region in escalating numbers” and not so much “to be a good neighbor” to existing residents who regularly frequent The Summit. A resident opposed to 25-foot tower signs who recently moved into the area said, “I didn’t see The Summit was there until I passed it. It only took the one time and now I know.”
The applicant’s focus is on the “lack of streetfront exposure” instead of recognizing the street itself. Scottsdale Road in this North Scottsdale area is within the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive and Scenic Corridor, with the City’s protections of the Desert Character. In this ESL area, single family residential dwellings are limited to a height of 24 feet for a reason. Since 1963, area residents and subsequently the City of Scottsdale have committed time and funds toward protecting and enhancing the 6 mile desert stretch along North Scottsdale Road’s Scenic Drive from Happy Valley Road continuing north.
After the meeting on July 13th, Andrew Chi, City of Scottsdale Planner, explained that the only public meeting for The Summit signage application would be the Development Review Board (DRB) hearing when the applicant presents their case. That evening, Andrew Chi advised this would be no sooner than September 2016, likely later. If the DRB approves this signage application 32-DR-2016, this decision could only be overturned if appealed to the City Council.
Silverstone at Pinnacle Peak, SE Corner of Scottsdale Road and Pinnacle Peak Road.
One homeowner at The Summit meeting suggested that each HOA designate a unifying spokesperson to produce and collect petitions from that HOA to oppose The Summit signs. This is a terrific organizing suggestion, and would apply to other cases homeowners might wish to address as well.
Grayhawk Plaza, SE Corner of Scottsdale Road and Grayhawk Drive.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
For those who oppose The Summit proposed signage, it will be very important to submit your written objections well in advance of the Development Review Board meeting. All public input and correspondence regarding Case 32-DR-2016 will become part of the Development Review Board Staff Report prior to the meeting. These objections can be addressed to Planner Andrew Chi and to the DRB staff representative.
EMAIL to : AChi@ScottsdaleAZ.gov
EMAIL to: DevelopmentReviewBoard@ScottsdaleAZ.gov
Or https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/boards/development-review-board/public-comment
AND SIGN AN ONLINE PETITION at:
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/no-summit-tower-signs.html
The City of Scottsdale Organizational Chart shows “Citizens of Scottsdale” listed at the top—above Mayor and City Council, and Boards, Commissions, Task Force. Developers do not appear on the chart.
Citizens of North Scottsdale and HOAs may wish to unite to address the galloping rate at which the Desert Character areas are being transformed. Recent North Scottsdale developments along or near Scottsdale Road north of Pinnacle Peak Road, for example:
SCOTTSDALE HEIGHTS
http://azbex.com/123-luxury-condos-to-north-scottsdale/
SILVERSTONE PARCEL F 9-PP-2015
http://eservices.scottsdaleaz.gov/planning/projectsummary/dr_reports/DR_9_PP_2015.pdf SENIOR LIVING @ NEC OF SCOTTSDALE RD & PINNACLE PEAK RD 30-DR-2016
PINNACLE OF SCOTTSDALE-PHASE II BLDG C 59-DR-2013
Our collective voices may lend greater power to our message calling for thoughtful development in our unique natural desert areas. North Scottsdale has a special character, and area homeowners are resolutely unwilling to have their quality of life disregarded to give way to relentless development. Once our Sonoran desert environment is destroyed, it can never be replaced.
As Les Conklin of GPPA has written, “… to me what a tourist and resident sees from his car is just as important as what they see hiking a desert trail. Both views are essential ingredients to building and protecting a special community, located in a beautiful part of the world.”
If North Scottsdale citizens and HOAs can stand together with and for each other, our effectiveness to protect our environment will be stronger and better. Let’s do it before it’s too late.
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