The change would permit retail use, including car sales, on parts of the 1,000 acres of state trust land between Scottsdale and Hayden roads from north of Princess Drive to the southern edge of Grayhawk.
Zoning for the area, referred to as Crossroads East, also would allow construction of 4,378 homes, up from 3,443 under the current plan.
"We want to get the land prepared as things start to rebound," said Vanessa Hickman, deputy land commissioner. "This would give us additional flexibility."
A land-use plan for Crossroads East was initially set about 25 years ago. The proposed amendments would reflect changes in the market and uses of adjacent properties, according to the state's request.
Scottsdale has a meeting planned from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday at the Scottsdale Airport, 15001 N. Airport Drive, to explain the proposed changes for Crossroads East.
Kroy Ekblaw, a Scottsdale planner overseeing strategic projects, said the proposed changes are consistent with the latest Greater Airpark Character Area Plan.
The State Land Department eventually plans to sell portions of Crossroads East at auction as the market recovers. The vast acreage is in a prime location for office, commercial, light-industrial and mixed-use development along Loop 101 north of the Scottsdale Airpark.
It is expected to be an important employment hub as it develops over the next few decades.
One developer is interested in buying 29 acres of state trust land at Chauncey Lane, east of Scottsdale Road, for a car dealership.
Diversified Partners CEO Walt Brown Jr. said he has been meeting with the Land Department and city to gauge development costs for the site.
"There are some major regional drainage issues that need to be resolved," he said. "I don't think anyone is prepared to move forward unless those things are addressed."
The site Brown wants is just east of an auto mall on the Phoenix side of Scottsdale Road.
A full slate of car dealerships also line Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard a mile to the southeast.
Ekblaw said he did not expect an exodus of nearby dealerships to any new sites in Crossroads East.
"We thought most of the auto uses had been accounted for," he said, adding that there has been some additional interest.
Scottsdale approved a Lund Cadillac dealership in 2002 southeast of Loop 101 and Scottsdale Road on a former tract of state land but it was never built despite $7.5 million of unused city incentives.
Crossroads East includes areas south of Loop 101 used for Waste Management Phoenix Open parking west of Hayden Road, and by Russo and Steele for its collector car auction east of Scottsdale Road.
MORE ON THIS TOPIC
by Peter Corbett The Arizona Republic Jun. 22, 2011 11:50 AM
Land plan may change
Scottsdale has a meeting planned from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday at the Scottsdale Airport, 15001 N. Airport Drive, to explain proposed zoning changes for state trust land along Loop 101 between Scottsdale and Hayden roads.
by Peter Corbett The Arizona Republic Jun. 22, 2011 11:50 AM
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