Council delays Blue Sky vote

The Scottsdale City Council on Tuesday delayed consideration of a proposed luxury-apartment complex just east of Scottsdale Fashion Square to give the developer more time to work with surrounding property owners that have filed legal protests forcing a supermajority vote for approval.

Because of the protests, Gray Development Group will need the support of six of the council's seven members for approval of its Blue Sky project, which includes five buildings with a maximum height of 133 feet and 867 apartments. The city Planning Commission approved Gray's application and required rezoning as part of the downtown infill incentive district and recommended council approval.

Adjacent property owners ST Residential and Triyar Properties filed the legal protests. Randy Grant of G&G Consulting is representing the companies and last week said they continued to have problems with Gray's proposal.

The council voted to continue the matter until its Oct. 26 meeting.

"We've been working with the neighbors who filed the legal protest, and we are still working with them," said Brian Kearney, Gray's chief operating officer. "We have what we believe is a proposed solution on the table, but we need just a little bit more time to finalize it, to put the details together."

On a different matter, the council voted to appeal a Development Review Board decision approving the placement of a wireless-communication facility on a new 30-foot pole at 7347 E. Sunnyside Drive.

Nearby residents said they weren't given sufficient notice of the hearing or given ample opportunity to provide input before the board made its decision.

Jim Haxby said he and his neighbors were given less than two weeks' notice of the case and there was no community outreach.

by Edward Gately The Arizona Republic Oct. 9, 2010 12:00 AM




Council delays Blue Sky vote