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OPINION
SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | FEBRUARY 27, 2022
Opinion
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Caputi: Greenbelt 88 approval was imperative BY VICE MAYOR TAMMY CAPUTI Progress Guest Writer
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wo weeks ago, Scottsdale City Council sat in a neighborhood outreach meeting on the site of this project in a space that’s been vacant for eight years – in the middle of a failing retail center with two anchor stores that have both given notice. This site was originally zoned in 1974. The world has changed; No amount of wishful thinking is going to bring retail back to this plaza. It cannot be redeveloped
into a small strip center- it’s economically unfeasible. The laws of supply and demand are not suspended in Scottsdale. All we’re creating now is an empty space for the homeless to occupy. We have to activate this area – it has failed. The Greenbelt 88 project is the poster child of how our rigorous approval process works – and how projects get better with resident input. It’s been in process for over two years. There have been countless neighborhood outreach meetings, constant revisions, and multiple redrawn plans. Both the Design Review Board and Planning Commission have approved it. It aligns with the goals of our General Plan and the
South Scottsdale Character Area Plan and it’s in an opportunity corridor that encourages redevelopment, revitalization and a diversity of housing. Rejecting the project this far along means we have no faith in our process – and neither will any future investors. How many people could afford to hold a parcel vacant this long other than an owner of 18 years? The owner has addressed all the requests made from residents. Fair negotiation means everyone compromises, it can’t be all one-sided demands and continually moving the goal post. The main complaints from a few residents are that it will increase traf�ic, it’s too high, too dense, and they want retail not housing. These concerns have been addressed, but let’s look at the facts again. Studies show that traf�ic would be greatly reduced when compared with the traf�ic of a retail center. There would be a wider sidewalk and new access for more pedestrian activity. Our transportation department has concluded that Hayden Road from McKellips to Indian School is actually overbuilt- they’re recommending decreasing from 6 lanes to 4 because there’s excess capacity. (Note: This center is dying. We need more people here – that’s the whole problem!) The height has been reduced to 45’ and much of the 4th �loor has been eliminated, bringing the remaining height down to 36’ as originally zoned. There are no residen-
tial structures within hundreds of feet and no views are obstructed. The density has been reduced by 20% and open space has been increased 2.5 X. On the issue of water, our world class water department has reviewed the project and found resources to be more than adequate. We have a careful LT plan and a water savings account in Scottsdale. We recycle all our sewer returns, treat water to drinking standards, and return it to the aquifer for future use. Most important is the issue of housing. There is huge demand for housing of all types and not enough supply, which is driving up prices over 30% this year with no end in sight. We have the lowest level of housing stock ever, across all types and income levels. Housing in Scottsdale is becoming unaffordable for almost all of us. We have the most retail per capita of anywhere in the Valley, but multi-family housing is at 96% occupancy. We don’t need more retail. We desperately need more housing! Our population is getting increasingly older, families and employees can no longer live here. This is not sustainable. If you believe we’re here to make decisions that are best for our city, it’s imperative that we approve this project. It checks all the boxes for quality, thoughtful development, and resident input. I enthusiastically support this project. Voting in fear is not leadership, and we were elected to lead.
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