Coalition Of Greater Scottsdale
COGSaz.org
“Consistent land use policy and protecting our unique quality of life.”
LINKS
2007-2010 Meeting Summaries:
2010 April COGS annual potluck for members and guests. The 5th year COGS birthday cake successfully disappeared even though the potluck salads, breads, appetizers, sauces, southwestern casseroles, and drinks filled the belly first. Three Councilmen joined the informal celebration. Elections were held for Board of Directors--we welcome Marilynn Atkinson (Atkinsons' Trading Post in Old Town) and Debbie Ott (Channel 11 Commissioner, Historical Society docent) to fill the two vacant terms.
2010 March No public meeting was held this month. A large number of our COGS members are serving on City Council appointed task forces, and boards and commissions with intense agendas requiring additional research and meeting times.
2010 February 11th Updates were presented on developer projects that have not broken ground although approved more than a year ago--or more. The status of proposed projects (Dynamite and Pima Road and Lone Mountain and Scottsdale Road) as well as the status on the Noise Ordinance draft, Pima Road widening, and the Downtown and McDowell Corridor Task Forces were discussed.
2010 January 14th COGS members met in the Arts District and supported the Rock n Roll Marathon Art Walk evening. After browsing the art galleries, we rode the horse drawn carriage back to our cars on 5th Avenue.
2009 November and December public meetings were not held. Instead, we had many members serving on City Council appointed Task Forces, special advisory commissions, and working with specific neighborhoood concerns and the Noise Ordinance drafts.
October 8th Task Force Round-table Discussion. Seven members of COGS serve on Council appointed task forces at this time. The Downtown Task Force and the McDowell Corridor-Southern Scottsdale Economic Development Task Force issues were the focus of a lively and productive roundtable discussion. The Downtown Area Plan was approved by the City Council and the Task Force is charged with working with staff on the implementation (ordinances and specific guideline text) phase. The McDowell Corridor TF is charged with determining city actions that would encourage investment (i.e.development standards flexibility) by current or future land owners. Additionally, they are charged with identifying some marketing tools for the area. COGS members are encouraged to attend ALL Task Force meetings and share your comments during the Public Input part of the agenda.
Sept 10th Scottsdale Healthcare presented a"20 year construction plan" Both hospital campuses have proposals to rezone to Special District. The downtown medical campus would change to Special Districts/Downtown Overlay, add new buildings and patients' towers and add some interior street and landscape improvements. The downtown Osborn hospital campus would include 75 ft (5 stories) bldgs along all perimeters--some are car garages--, one 100 ft building, and two 120 ft (8 stories) buildings. More college campus landscaping with strolling walkways and pocket open spaces are featured in the renderings. If Scottsdale Healthcare gets approval for the zoning change, they CAN make any changes to the design and building plan presented this evening. All projects will go through the normal commissions for approval and finally to the City Council. No construction is planned immediately. (The old post office location may become a orthopedic and neurological one-stop clinic.)
June 11th tour of the city's Intelligent Traffic Control System. We met inside the high-tech control center for the city's traffic grid. Bruce Dresssel and Steve Ramsey described and displayed the massive volumes of data that stream through their control keyboard 24 hrs/day. The multi-screen wall gave real-time visuals of city intersections, while Steve adjusted traffic light intervals and pedestrian crossing controls. The experience reminded COGS members how fortunate our city is to have these professional watching out for our public safety. We encourage all residents to request a private tour. Additional tour of the new SunDial Best Western on Camelback Road: COGS members, Jude Nau and Allan Richardson as owners and developers of the SunDial boutique resort gave us a grand tour to finish off the "meeting".
May 9th a joint meeting was held with the Community Council of Scottsdale which featured 4 panelists from the
April 18th Mayor's McDowell Corridor Summit. Representatives from the ASU Foundation/SkySong, Goldwater Institute, G & G Consulting and the city's Advanced Planning Department were guest speakers. They provided information similar to their April 18th debut. The "repeat" was to provide residents with a one-on-one opportunity to ask questions, provide opinions and to make recommendations on the future of the McDowell Road from 64th Street to Pima Road. The Goldwater Institute speaker kept reminding the audience that they "don't own the properties" and that the "landowners are the only ones to make decisions on the future of their development--or no development". At the same time, the city representative was encouraging people to write or telephone him with ideas for the future of the area. Harold Stewart, Economic Vitality interim head for the city was not present, but it was reported that he is working closely with the owners to coordinate a successful future along the 3-4 mile stretch.
April 9th meeting was not held as our members were tightly scheduled to attend the Design Review Board, Planning Commission, Papago Regional Park Forum, Civic Center west entry design public meetings, and respond to specific neighborhood requests. Members of the Board of Directors were also preparing position papers for upcoming commission hearings related to the Planned Unit Development, Downtown Area Plan, and the Palmeraie project.
March 12 Public Meeting. Conversations with Councilwoman, Lisa Borowsky. Seated to city council in January 2009, Lisa Borowsky has hit the political scene with track shoes. Her first vote was part of the decision to approve the Solis Project and the relocation of the SRP substation currently at Scottsdale Rd and Camelback Rd. She voted yes. Forty-five minutes of the exchange centered on a COGS member's complaints about lack of noise enforcement in residental-nightclub/restaurant/bar areas of the Downtown. A TOPS representative reminded Councilwoman Borowsky of failure to complete some Downtown Task Force priorities. (1) complete the canal bank landscaping, benches, plus historical marker east of the trolley-pedestrian bridge on the southern canal bank (2) provide public restrooms SW of the trolley bridge--they have now been shuttered solely for that business usage (3) move the large electrical boxes located on and blocking the pedestrian sidewalk infront of the Noriega Livery Stable and Carriage Museum....plus (4) change the name of the Civic Center by removing the term "mall". [followup comments: Councilwoman Borowsky became very proactive after the meeting. She has initiated a meeting of bar owners and members of the police department to work out reasonable noise-related policies. therefore, COGS will stand down on plans to form a Citizens' Noise Ordinance Task Force until these efforts are given time for evaluationn and success.]
February 12 Public Meeting. Five Star Development presented the current site plan for the Palmeraie project. Jason Morris, Michelle Santoro, Deborah Cookson, Paul Shepherd and Ginnie Sue Sumner represented the development team for the proposed Palmeraie project. The site plan is in flux; the Planning Commission hearing has been continued until March 11th, and the team is working on a PowerPoint presentation. They have asked to return to the May COGS meeting with updates.
January 8th Public Meeting..Special Neighborhood-Developer-City Staff forum followed by Conversations with David Richert, new General Manager of Planning and Development. Jim Bennett, Kathy Boyd Feld and Debria Smith represented their neighborhoods in a question and answer forum with proposed Solis (So-lease) Project developer and city staff. Issues of traffic mitigation through the impacted residential neighborhoods, entertainment noise buffers, and increased traffic on Miller Road through Villa Monterey were covered. Mary O'Connor (Transportation Dept), David Richert and Connie Paden (Planning/Development Dept), John Little (Acting City Manager), Dave Elison (Deputy City Manager), City Councilmen Robert Littlefield, Wayne Ecton, and Ron McCullaugh and 79 other neighborhood leaders and community members packed the meeting room. --Then the COGS public meeting: Newly-hired General Manager for Planning and Development,Mr. Dave Richert, responded to questions beginning with "How can common citizens best communicate with your department and be heard?" Additional questions about case-by-case project approvals VS a consistent land use policy, traffic impact considerations as a part of proposed projects, conflicting visions of the future Scottsdale image and construction etc. were covered. Mr. Richert stated that he will encourage applicants to do public outreach PRIOR to making their application. He stated a goal is to have all the potential conflicts ironed out among stakeholders prior to the Planning Commission and City Council hearings.
December 11th Public Meeting..Conversations with Suzanne Klapp, Councilwoman-elect. An informal exchange assisted the guest speaker, Suzanne Klapp, and COGS members and guests to identify public expectations for the 2009 City Council conduct at the dais and in reaching a respectful consensus on agenda items. Mrs. Klapp described her intent to be a positive force to encourage civility on the Council. One COGS member recommended that at the annual Council Retreat, they bring in a facilitator or meeting-expert to train the Council with guidelines and techniques. It was agreed that Mayor-Elect, Jim Lane, has leadership skills and temperament that should benefit the incoming Council tone. Current issues on public outreach methods, inclusion of downtown merchants in proposals, surveys, and opportunities for input, and the staff influencing statements rather than factual reporting to Boards and Commissions. The key question was asked by Pat Lamer, "How do we, the resident, contact you with information vital to decisions you will make?" Mrs. Klapp openly provided her personal e mail address and cellular phone number. The last half of the meeting provided Neighborhood Leaders time to describe the current status of projects that impact their neighborhood. A second forum for the Solis/Waterview/SRP Relocation proposal is scheduled for Saturday, 13 Dec. in the Performing Arts small theater from 9am to 11am. It is open to the public. The R1-7 Text Amendment that affects single family homes with the minimum of 7,000 sq ft was discussed. Sonnie Kirtley, Chairperson, handed out a large spreadsheet that compares the current zoning ordinances to those proposed. These would affect sideyards, rearyards, front yard patios, accessory buildings, carport conversions to garages or living quarters, main building additions, and removal of the 30% rear yard requirement. The printed agenda for the meeting included other Text Amendment proposals and how to access more information on the city's website.
November 13th Public Meeting..Conversations with Mayor-Elect, Jim Lane Neighborhood leaders provided updates and led discussions on the SRP electrical substation relocation to 68th Street and Indian School; Epicenter at the Loop 101 and Pima curve; and on Toscana proposed for the NW corner of Miller Road and Osborn Road. We discussed a special citizen event--Acting City Manager, John Little, moderated a public forum at the 4301 Theater. Representatives from SRP, Solis development, neighborhood leaders, and city staff exchanged questions and answers. Special guest, Mayor-elect, Jim Lane, led an informal "conversation" with COGS members covering his philosophy of governing, expected Council interactions with two new members in January, city policies that impact the existing neighborhoods and the urbanization policy for the entire city. He thanked the COGS PAC for their endorsement of him for Mayor---the first group to do so prior to the first election in September. The evening ended with participant input/evaluations on the direction the Southern Area Plan and the Greater Airpark Plan are going. The open discussion tables of the cafe method were positively received IF the summaries would include all inputs and not reduced to 5 per discussion topic.
October 9th Public Meeting...was not held. Members were workers on City Council and Mayoral campaigns for the 4 November election.
September 11th Public Meeting. ..Downtown Plan Update Updates were given on proposed projects --Waterview/Solis and the electrical substation relocation. Schedules for the Development Review Board, Planning Commission and City Council study session were discussed. The COGS position of support for the impacted residential districts was reaffirmed. Guest from the city's Advanced Planning Department held an open discussion on the Downtown Area Plan update draft. Members and guests ask for clarification of terms used in the 200 policy (69 page) document. A glossary was recommended. [The "24hr downtown" means people living downtown around the clock rather than leaving at the end of the workday or arriving for brief shopping or entertainment purposes. Therefore, any residential area would be defined as a "24hr" area. ] Missing policies were cited about affordable housing, family and children public places--and others. The document was described as "too wordy", not clearly written for the average citizen, and too much planner-eeze phrases. At the next City Council meeting, the COGS Chairperson presented a summary of member concerns and recommendations on the Downtown draft. The Planning Commission will review the draft again then it goes to the City Council in October for approval, continuance or denial.
No summer meetings are held.
May 8th Public Meeting. ...Acting City Manager, John Little Neighborhood leaders provided updates on current issues with the Waterview Project, Hanover Referendum and the relocation of the SRP electrical substation to 68th Street and Indian School Road. Jude Nau, owner and builder of the new Best Western hotel on Camelback Road, described his concerns about the location outside the building envelope of the upper levels of the Waterview project hotel. Additionally, their current plans/design have a sheer wall adjacent to his property---no appropriate design features or setback. The featured speaker for the evening, Acting City Manager, John Little, shared his concept of face-to-face communication with his entire staff. Within the next 3 weeks his goal is to speak personally with the more than 2,000 city employees. He has been on the job only a couple of weeks and impressed our members with direct answers to questions from the audience. Mr. Little scheduled the Coalition of Greater Scottsdale as one of his first citizen activist groups to discuss city issues.
April 10th Public Meeting. We celebrated the successful first year of The Coalition of Greater Scottsdale. Our LARGE potluck dinner on the Kirtley's patio included Chef Lee's special-ingredient hamburgers, multiple contributed salads and appetizers. Additionally, there were plenty of tall tales and city issue discussions by the blazing firepit--until way beyond adult bedtimes! We also had a brief business meeting to nominate and elect new officers and to make minor changes to the bylaws. All were approved unanimously. Welcome to Sonnie Kirtley as the new Chair of COGS and Sharon Oberritter continues as Secretary. It was approved that the terms of three Board of Director members will terminate in March 2009 to begin staggered Board member terms. Current Board members, Jim Heather, Bob Vairo and Linda Whitehead will step down to encourage other COGS members to make application to serve.
February 21st Public Meeting.... Hanover Project representatives, John Berry and Eric Kenney, displayed their 3-D model of the City Council approved multi-use project. An abbreviated 30 minute-meeting was held to accommodate the Scottsdale Community Council meeting date conflict.
January 10th Public Meeting. ...Randy Grant of G and G Consulting, representing Triyar was the guest speaker discussing their Indian Plaza project proposed west of 75th Street and south of Camelback Road. This is the FIRST time that a developer has come to a citizen group before making application to the city for their project. The Triyar group is to be congratulated for listening to valuable public input PRIOR TO FINAL DESIGNS AND COMMISSION HEARINGS. Also, there were updates from our neighborhood contact persons on Orchid Tree, Waterview and other zoning change cases throughout the city.
November 8, 2007 Public Meeting… Fashion Square Mall speakers
Featured speakers were Dave Scholl and Scott Nelson representing Macerich/Westcor-Fashion Square Mall. The preliminary concept for a development to replace the Days Inn and Coco’s Restaurant at Highland Avenue and Scottsdale Road was shared with the COGS members. They plan to ask for increased building heights on this parcel—not as high as Waterfront, but possibly as high as 90 to 100 feet, plus mechanical structures above that. An update on the current construction of the Barney’s store at the east end of the existing Fashion Square Mall was also given. The former Goldwater’s parking garage has now been removed for the Barney’s site.Neighborhood leaders updated the members on three high-profile developments that impact their residential areas:
- Pat Lamar from the ADW neighborhoods (Villa Adrian, Villa de Este, Whitwood east of 68th Street north of Indian School Road) reported on the Orchid Tree (SE corner of Camelback Rd and 68th St) and Starwood site (west end of the Waterfront bordering 68th Street and north of Camelback Road).
- Debria Smith from the Scottsdale Terrace neighborhood shared the latest information on communication with the Waterview hotel/condo project representatives. This project is on the east side of the canal and north of Camelback Road. Mike Bergfeldt had prepared an informative handout about the proposed power station relocation.
- Brandy Sipos from the Scottsdale Village neighborhood described the current construction on the Z Lofts condominiums (70th Street north of Osborn).
Click “tracking these projects” for detailed information on these projects.
September 26th Public Meeting …Los Arcos Crossing speaker
Guest speaker, Attorney Lynne Lagarde, presented preliminary concepts for the Los Arcos Crossing project (immediately east of Sky Song on McDowell Road). The multi-use project would replace the current Bashas’, former L.A.Fitness building, Buggy Bath Car Wash and smaller shops on the south side of McDowell Road between Miller Rd (on the east) and 74th Street (on the west). A series of sketches and renderings were shown. The residential units on the southern portion of the project are both condominiums and rental apartments. COGS members asked probing questions about the impact of the proposed project on the single-family homes on the southern boundary. Members had issues over the number of condos planned, owner versus renter occupancy, sales price range for the area, increased traffic impact, rationale for the proposed east-to-west roadway through the southern sector and the lack of retail shopping. The developer’s request for an infrastructure city subsidy was not met with COGS member enthusiasm. The reason for the subsidy and the amount of the request were not identified.Update discussions were held regarding Orchid Tree, Z Lofts, and the Waterview projects. John Washington shared summaries of meetings that COGS Board Members held with city staff, developer representatives and neighborhood leaders since the last general meeting. Councilman Littlefield and McCullagh were present at yet another full-house meeting. Randy Grant representing Triyar attended the meeting but did not present.
May 7,2007 Public Meeting…Neighborhood Issues
COGS hosted a lively Public Outreach meeting to collect citizen input on neighborhood issues near Downtown Scottsdale. Residential leaders near proposed projects described their concerns about the impact of higher density, taller buildings, and increased street traffic through their neighborhood—and how, if approved, these projects would negatively change their current area character and their personal lifestyles. The discussions began with a brief description of the approved Hayden Condominiums/Vivendi project on Hayden Road south of Osborn Road. A summary of the Z Lofts condo proposal near 70th Street and Osborn Road was given by Scottsdale Village residential leaders.Neighborhood issues were listed on hanging paper sheets and collected into the COGS records for directing follow-up research using city resources. Councilmen Littlefield, McCullagh and Lane were present and provided their perspective of the dynamics required for citizen opinions and voices to be heard at Commission and City Council meetings.
March 19, 2007 Public Meeting…Village Planning speaker
The Board of Directors announced the slate of officers. The members present approved the proposed slate. John Washington, Chairman; Patty Badenoch, Vice Chairperson; Sharon Oberritter, Secretary; Rita Saunders-Hawranek, Treasurer.Scottsdale Councilwoman, Betty Drake, described her Village Planning concept. It encourages neighborhood citizens to identify and to monitor changing conditions in their community. She stated that it is similar to the Phoenix Urban Village model she worked on. Citizens would be appointed by the Scottsdale City Council and would be involved in evaluating requests for rezoning and General Plan text amendments that affect their Village area. She envisions that a Scottsdale model would also focus on the preservation and protection of the unique character and identity of each neighborhood. She stressed that citizens should have a greater role in initiating project ideas for their area as well as be empowered to review and evaluate the impact of zoning and land use requests from developers.COGS members expressed serious concerns about the current autonomy of the Design Review Board and the appointment of developer-related professionals to the DRB. Members cited their experience of speaking before the DRB and being told that their input was not needed. Other members described experiences of being the brunt of disrespectful comments from a sitting Commissioner during an official (televised) meeting.
February 17th, 2007 First COGS General Meeting
The first general meeting of The Coalition of Greater Scottsdale (COGS) met at the Chaparral Suites. Approximately 80 citizens from already formed activist groups from all parts of the city met to form an “umbrella coalition”. Members of the Board of Directors were unanimously selected and immediately charged with the selection of a slate of officers from their ranks to present at the next general meeting. COGS first Board of Directors are: Patty Badenoch, Nancy Cantor, Jim Heather, Sonnie Kirtley, Sharon Oberritter, Paul Reich, Rita Saunders-Hawranek, Bob Vairo, John Washington, and Linda Whitehead.Discussion focused on the specific mission, set of goals, and expected value of COGS in relationship to existing activist groups. Some new members stated that because their group has a narrower focus on some city issues or are focused on a specific area of the city, that COGS should provide a broader platform. COGS should hold general meetings to share information, to guide new and existing citizen groups through the maze of city procedures, to watch-dog proposed and current city-wide projects, to become an information resource, to be a strong citizen advocate in the press and at government and developer meetings.Council members Nelssen, Littlefield, and McCullagh were present. Former Council member, Tom Silverman, provided the meeting room and the pizza and salad dinner.