GOOD EVENING COGS E-Newsletter Reader.  This newsletter has multiple new development/rezoning cases for your review that might impact where you live. Also we reviewed the Desert Discovery Center public meeting last night and reminded you that tonight begins the second public meeting. Thanks for reading!

Current Hot Issue: The “Desert Discovery Center Scottsdale” contracted group is presenting their mission in a second public meeting tonight  6:30 pm to 7:30 pm in the Highlands Church-Student Center/High School Room at 9050 E Pinnacle Peak Rd.  More information is available at www.scottsdaleaz.gov/construction/desert-discovery-center   If it duplicates the public meeting at the Museum of the West last night—audience questions you can expect to be discussed are (1) Why aren’t locations other than in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve being considered?  (2) Where would the funds come from to pay for the project? (3) Why has the size of the complex increased from the original 2007 to include a commercial restaurant, retail shop and night amphitheater activities? (3) Will our taxpayers approve to pay the projected million dollar plus annual operating expenses? (4) If the area subdivisions strongly oppose the Preserve location, will another location be considered? (5) Why are some council members opposed to a public vote on this large public investment?

 DDC Public Meeting last night.  The question and answer period following the staff/DDCS group presentation became a charged environment several times. A large majority of the audience speakers asked challenging questions that were answered with, “We have made no decisions on that” and  “We are only in the concept stage”.  Nancy Vorhees, Windgate resident, took the microphone to read a lengthy statement describing decisions already apparent to residents in her area such as the Gateway Trailhead location and the inclusion of commercial features (restaurant, retail shop and night time use of an amphitheater). The DDCS responded that these uses “would not be commercial but municipal uses”.  Three speakers involved in tourism spoke in favor of the concept and described the projected value as a tourist destination.  The “tourist destination”  as a [commercial] focus was challenged by some audience members as being contradictory to the mission of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. The re-location of the restaurant and retail shop to be across Thompson Peak Parkway in an existing retail area was promoted by some audience members. Go Daddy, Bob Parsons, was suggested as a contact to pursue that option. The rambunctious exchanges continued beyond the planned meeting time.   COGS predicts that the public meeting tonight in northern Scottsdale will be even more animated as Preserve area homeowners attend en masse.

CELEBRATING NON-PROFITS.  Saturday, April 23rd –a busy weekend over the Arizona Canal in the Waterfront/Southbridge area.

2016 Original Taste (food & wine tasting) event is from 7 pm to midnight with proceeds to multiple charities.  Details at www.ex70phx.comm/the-original-taste . During the daytime will be The Executive Council Charities in the Waterfront area and in Old Town, The Farmers’ Market 8 am to 1 pm to showcase more Scottsdale non-profits. . The groups will explain their focus, receive your recognition and describe their services provided to the citizens of Scottsdale.

HOW WILL THESE NEW CASES IMPACT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR BUSINESS?  Northern Scottsdale: SE corner Dove Valley/Scottsdale Rd. Rezone 14 acres from Commercial to Urban Neighborhood & Cultural/Institutional Public Use. Case #4-GP-2016 and

C-2-ESL amendment to Medium Density Residential ESL (R-3-ESL) Case #9-ZN-2016.  15501 N. Dial Blvd & 15450 N. Greenway-Hayden Loop request to rezone from Industrial Park to Planned Unit Development on 10.29 acres. Case 8-ZN-2016. 

 Central Scottsdale: 10915 & 10965 E Shea  La Bella Breeza request to change land use from rural Neighborhood to Suburban (from R1-35 to R-3) on 4 acres near the SW corner of 110th and Shea. Case 5-GP-2015 & 17-ZN-2015. 11250 E Arabian Park Drive Hunkapi Farms request for Conditional Use Permit for community building and recreational facility to operate a non-profit equine therapy program on 5 acres. 7515 E Cholla Lane request for variance on required front yard setback for single family home. Case 4-BA-2016.  7342 E Shea #109 request for Conditional Use Permit for new wine and beer lounge Gwin Wine and Beer.

Southern Scottsdale: 8340/8350 E. McDonald Drive rezone to allow 36 dwelling units to 4 stories on a 1 acre site (formerly Voltaire restaurant). NE corner Camelback Rd/Scottsdale Rd requesting Downtown Incentive Infill District on 1.8 acres by approving Property Development Standards regarding incline stepback Case #1-11-2016.  7805 E Northland Drive/Villa Monterey request to add French doors, front patio in Historic Property Case #5-HP-2016.

DEVELOPER NEIGHBORHOOD OPEN HOUSE TO ATTEND:  Wolf Spring Ranch NE corner 93rd Street and Cactus Road. Thursday, April 28th 6 to 7 pm at Desert Mountain High School-main foyer 12575 E via Linda. This project is to allow 76 lots on 18.67 acres. Send comments to kniederer@scottsdaleaz.gov if you cannot attend.

   For the Coalition of Greater Scottsdale (COGS) Board of Directors, 
 
     Sonnie Kirtley, Chair e-mail sonniek@cogsaz.net 
     Coalition of Greater Scottsdale
     7904 E. Chaparral Rd., Suite 110, PMB 127
     Scottsdale, AZ 85250