Scottsdale puts halt to planned luxury apartment complex

The Scottsdale Planning Commission on Wednesday put the brakes on a proposed luxury apartment complex just east of Scottsdale Fashion Square that numerous residents said was moving too swiftly through the city's approval process.

The commission voted for a continuance to postpone consideration of the Scottsdale Riverwalk proposal until a special meeting at 5 p.m. Sept. 1 in the City Hall Kiva. Commissioner Jay Petkunas did not participate in the discussion and vote because of a conflict of interest, while Commissioner Jay Ottman was absent from the meeting.

Commission Chairman MIchael D'Andrea said the proposal as it now stands is "just not enough" and introduces "stacked, vertical living in a community that has never seen it." He said he can't support it until Gray Development Group, the developer on the project, answers more questions.

"I want to support your project," he said. "Hopefully you can get with all of the stakeholders ... and come back with something that will blow our doors off."

The project, which would occupy a 4.3-acre site originally planned for phase two of the Safari Drive condominiums, has been scaled back, with the maximum height now 125 feet instead of 148 feet, and the apartment unit count now 957 instead of 1,196.

Also, it now features a tiered-floor design, three courtyards, a public plaza at the south entrance along Scottsdale Road, and is set back farther from the road.

However, none of the changes impressed the barrage of opponents Gray faced during the crowded meeting.

Randy Grant of G&G Consulting is representing property owners on the south, east and north sides of the site, and said the history of the project is "nothing short of a land speed record" and that not enough time has been spent addressing the community's concerns.

"It's simply too much for this site to accommodate," he said.

Robert Shull, an attorney representing the adjacent property owner, Safari Drive Marketing, said the project still resembles an "aircraft carrier parked on Scottsdale Road" and that the open spaces more closely resemble "three air shafts."

by Edward Gately The Arizona Republic Aug. 12, 2010 09:07 AM



Scottsdale puts halt to planned luxury apartment complex