COGS AND THE
POLITICAL SEASON: The Coalition of
Greater Scottsdale is a 501 c (3)
nonprofit all-volunteer organization.
We sponsor a totally separate entity,
COGS Political Committee who interview
candidates, attend available public
forums, and make candidate
endorsements.
All of the Scottsdale
candidates have responded to the COGS
PC questionnaire and it is available
for your review on their website
www.cogsPC.com
As public
service, COGS and the Community
Council of Scottsdale co-host
nonpartisan PUBLIC FORUMS for you to
meet the six city council candidates.
These are scheduled in September and
October. Details are available
on our website.
www.cogsaz.net
New state laws that affect Scottsdale.
Short term rentals SB 1350 limited
the ability of cities and towns to
regulate private home vacation rentals
such as a guest house, the entire home
or a bedroom. The next Scottsdale city
council agenda has a text amendment
for our existing ordinance to become
compatible with the new state law and
to allow home rentals of less than one
year. Some Scottsdale residents have
guest houses that are rented for the
winter season—previously a violation
of Scottsdale ordinance (and many CC
and Rs in home associations). It is
now legal. The state law allows the
residential zoned property to be
short-term rented for single family
use. Scottsdale could limit the
use for non-residential purposes
similar to the Town of Paradise
Valley's zoning ordinance that does
not allow commercial venue for
weddings, luncheons, dinners,
auctions, sales and similar events.
Some northern homeowners have
complained to COGS that weekend
parties have occurred too frequently
in a vacant/short-term rented home in
their desert subdivision creating
excessive noise and litter.
We are told that owners of
short-term rentals need a business
sales tax license from the city and
state and must collect the sales tax
and Scottsdale’s bed tax.
Commercial is not allowed in
most home association subdivisions and
it needs to be clarified if their CC &
Regulations preempt the state law.
Drone Law effective August
2016.
Governor Ducey signed away any
municipal ordinance that regulates the
use of drones and also removes
any commercial regulations. The new
law fails to protect privacy and to
prohibit air trespassing above your
home. Drones may not
take-off or land in public parks or
preserves. For a nominal fee, all
drones must be registered with the
FAA.
Do you buy on the internet and meet
the seller? Imagine being able to
meet them in a Safe Zone/Police
Department parking lot with multiple
cameras recording for your protection.
If you are still uncomfortable you can
meet in the police lobby. The area can
also be used as a safe location for
families with visitation rights to
make the custodial exchanges. This is
in two clearly marked parking spaces
at 6433 E. Lincoln Drive, Paradise
Valley Police Department.
Los Arcos shopping mall morphs once
again.
The planned 90% research and
office and 10% retail and support with
focus on “creativity, technology and
innovation” called SkySong at the SE
corner of Scottsdale Road and McDowell
is adding a commercial hotel and
restaurant near the SW corner of
the 37.5 acre complex. Councilman
Smith challenged the new land use as
unfair property tax free competition
with established Scottsdale hotels and
nearby restaurants in southern
Scottsdale. Of the entire 37.5 acres,
Scottsdale residents are to receive
1.5 acres-- the location of which was
not determined until the evening
council vote.
Councilman Smith lobbied over the past year to claim the SE intersection
corner of Scottsdale Rd/McDowell Rd
for a park. The ASU Foundation plans
90 ft tall office buildings on
that corner. Decision: The council
majority approved to accept the 1.5
acres fronting McDowell Road that
is burdened by a sublease, parking
easement, SRP test well site and
access easement in place since 1990.
Councilwoman Milhaven stated, “…we can
decide later what we‘re going to do
with our acre and a half.”
Downtown building height now approved
for 96 ft. Many remember when
downtown Scottsdale had a building
height limit of 28 and 36 feet to
maintain the unique community scale of
Santa Fe, Taos, Carmel and other
tourist destinations.
Recently the city council
majority approved a text amendment to
allow an additional 6 feet on a 90 ft.
office building north of the Galleria
and south of Camelback Road. That is
the first of many to follow.
Fashion Square is requesting
150 feet for their future expansion
plan.
Pigeons will have to learn to fly
higher to land on a roof in
Scottsdale.
General Plan 2035 –A very
important document that determines
guidelines for future government
policies that result in ordinances,
zoning and other regulations as well
as long-range planning to maintain our
quality of life to 2035.
The first draft was voted down.
Another year of community input
has honed important protections for
Rural Neighborhoods and more carefully
defined other policies that establish
the special Character of Scottsdale.
Please become informed on the
current draft by attending the public
Open Houses on these dates and
locations:
August 30th 4 pm Work
Study Session in city hall. No council
vote but discussion on the draft.
Public Open Houses—walk in between the
hours of 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm Sept 6th
ASU SkySong …Sept 7th
Foothills Community Foundation Quail
Room…Sept. 8th Copper Ridge
School cafeteria.
Planning Commission starts 5 pm:
Oct 5th Copper Ridge School
cafeteria….October 26th
city hall…..
City Council hearing starts 5 pm…
December TBD.
The public vote has not been
determined by council.
Details at
http://eservices.scottsdaleaz.gov/bldgresources/Cases/Details/46225
Council agenda Tuesday, 30 August:
4 pm Work Study discussion on
General Plan 2035 Consent Agenda
(one vote on all) 16 liquor
licenses, architectural design
contract for fire station #616, $150K
from bed tax to 2017 NCAA Final Four
Championship held in Phoenix, $41,442
annual dues to Maricopa Association of
Governments and authorization to bid
for the acquisition of approx. 121
acres of State Trust Lands for the
McDowell Sonoran Preserve. The auction
is September 21st.
Council agenda Wednesday, 31 August:
5
pm Consent Agenda (one vote)
AT&T tower permit for 55 ft. tall
artificial palm tree at 15695 N 83rd
Way inside Industrial Park
District, new fire station #613 at
26380 N Hayden Road for master use
plan, McIntosh easement abandonment
request 20300 N. 124th
St, Paseo de las Flores to
change single-family PCD zoning to
Neighborhood Commercial PCD at 7300
N via Paseo del Sur, Christian
Bros Automotive is requesting to
eliminate ALL zoning stipulations from
earlier case 44-Z-88 and request a
Conditional Use Permit for vehicle
repair on 1.33 acres at 11416 E
Desert Cove Ave., for the
Scottsdale Museum of the West a funds
transfer of $119,372 bed tax funds to
Capital Projects account for the newly
arrived Hopi Ceramic collection and
$380,628 for curation services,
exhibition delivery, marketing and
promotion. Regular Agenda (discuss
each and vote separately) Medical
marijuana text amendment to increase
the separation from residential and
school districts (and added protection
for churches, day care and public
parks)
from 500 ft to 2,640 ft. and
between medical marijuana facilities
from 1,320 ft to 2,640 ft.
The evening will end with
nominations for vacancies on
commissions.
For the Coalition of Greater
Scottsdale (COGS) Board of Directors,
Sonnie
Kirtley, Chair e-mail
sonniek@cogsaz.net
Coalition of Greater Scottsdale
8924 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd., Suite G5, PMB 518
Scottsdale, AZ 85250
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