Coalition Of Greater Scottsdale
COGSaz.net
“Consistent land use policy and protecting our unique quality of life.”
The citizens of our community deserve the respect of the city planners and investment developers. The process should be fully open and accountable to the citizens. The citizens should expect preservation of a predictable, quality of life not compromised or impacted by proposed land use changes or design standards that are inappropriate.
CONGRATULATIONS to our COGS members for their incredible 2011 efforts that led to the city's first Downtown Noise Ordinance and the proposed Construction Noise Ordinance that will be approved in 2012. Members have been intensely involved to activate protection plans for the neighborhoods adjacent to the high-density Entertainment District south of Camelback Road. Other successes abound this year as members served on Boards, Commissions and Task Forces that contributed the CITIZENS' INPUT into city policy and decisons.
Amendments to the proposed General Plan 2012 included some long sought-after COGS' positions presented before commission and city council hearings. It now defines any land use change for a parcel over 10 acres --regardless of the magnitude of the project ( such as Rural to Commercial zoning)--to be a Major Amendment to the General Plan. A city staff member called The Zoning Administrator can no longer approval this and multiple other bonuses to projects as this authority now moves to a City Council vote.
The current General Plan makes it very clear that rural and suburban neighborhoods are residential and that non-residential uses such as commercial, office and retail are not allowed in these land use categories. The proposed General Plan 2012 does not identify specific suitable locations where commercial, office and retail would be allowed. This is a concern for some of the low-density northern property owners who have fought 2011 proposed commercial in their area.
PLEASE GET ON THE COGS E-NEWLETTER LIST TO KEEP UP TO DATE PRIOR TO YOUR MARCH 2012 VOTE on the Charter Amendments and two franchises. Send your e mail to cogsaz@cox.net
We urge COGS E-Newsletter readers to stay informed and alert to emerging city issues that will impact your business and neighborhood. If you want our direct help--just ask. Do you want to receive the informational COGS E-Newletter in the privacy of your home computer? Contact us at cogsaz@cox.net to be added....Stay informed about YOUR city
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ABOUT US
The Coalition of Greater Scottsdale (COGS) is a group of civic-minded individuals who share a passion for this City and that advocates protection of its unique characteristics that establish it as a family and tourist destination. Our focus is to encourage and oversee consistent land use policy by the City of Scottsdale government. We actively support appropriate new development that is compatible with the existing area as well as consistent with the Scottsdale General Plan. We do not support the use of Text Amendments to circumvent the policies of the General Plan. We are strong supporters of the small business merchants and owners who have invested many years in the Original Scottsdale Downtown area.
COGS is different from the multitude of other Scottsdale advocacy groups in that COGS has a broader-based membership. Many of our members are the neighborhood leaders and officers of other advocacy groups including small business organizations and HOA Board of Directors. They enrich our knowledge base, provide focused citizen energy, and increase the strength of our citizens' voices when we speak to and interact with members of the city government and developer's representatives.
How do our members serve the community? We currently have four members serving on the Downtown Task Force. Three members finished their service on the McDowell Corridor/Southern Scottsdale Economic Development Task Force when the final report was delivered to Council. COGS members also serve on the following Commissions and Boards: General Plan Working Group, McDowell-Sonoran Preserve, CityCable Channel 11 Programming, Airport Advisory and Housing Board. COGS members also serve as leaders in the Merchant Associations in Downtown Scottsdale.
A team of small business owners and impacted neighbors drafted a Noise Ordinance Option that was presented to the City Council in June. A citizen petition to support a Noise Ordinance gathered hundreds of signatures. COGS members are currently measuring citizen concerns about Public Notification effectiveness. If sufficient signatures are collected, in January 2011, the City Council will be requested to direct the Audit Committee to conduct a review of the current procedures and to make recommendations to assure future impacted property owners of consistent and early notifications.
What do we do as a group? We host community leader conferences with appropriate city staff, city officials and council members as well as developers. We encourage ALL project representatives to contact us during the Pre-Application stage or before so we may provide important community/public input on their project before it goes to city staff and hearings. To gain COGS and community leader support, a developer should meet the consistent land use policy, enforcement of transition and buffer zones to residential areas, adhere to the General Plan and listen to community recommendations . We are a "YES" advocate for quality projects.
Additionally, our members want COGS to be a reliable resource to residential and business property owners. We will communicate accurate and timely information on proposed changes in all areas of Scottsdale. Most importantly, we provide neighborhood leaders with assistance in tracking proposed projects through the maze of city staff studies, reports, and commission hearings. Insights into the planning process empower citizens to have more effective input . Maintaining our city's status as a tourist destination and a highly desirable place to live requires that land use issues be a function of well-crafted policy rather than case-by-case spot re-zoning.
How Do I Join? Annual dues are $10. Membership applications are available on this website . The US Postal address is below. You will be added to our e mail list and will receive VALUABLE insider information, alerts on proposed projects in your neighborhood, updates on current government plans, visions, discussions and our evaluation of a particular City Council or Commission meeting. Don't miss what you need to know! .................Our e-Newsletters also include monthly city events for you and your family to enjoy.
US Postal address: COGS , 3370 North Hayden Road #123-766, Scottsdale, Az 85251 Fax 480.588.6002 or e mail us at cogsaz@cox.net website: http://cogsaz.net Chairperson is Dr. Sonnie Kirtley