Happy Valentines Day
to our COGS members and readers.

February updates:
Downtown: New street lighting on North Marshall Way has been approved plus new light poles, fixtures and outlets for ambient lighting to provide a lighted pedestrian pathway. Expect sidewalk improvements as well to upgrade to ADA requirements for disabilities. Construction begins in late April and will be finished in late summer.
Northern Scottsdale Road: Friends of the Scenic Drive need help Saturday, February 25th from 8 to 10 am to clear

New Land Cases

Near 78th Street and Northland Drive in Villa Monterey. 4932 N 78th St. The owner is requesting approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness for a carport enclosure to a change to a garage. CASE#3-HP-2017

Shea Blvd and 110th. The applicant is requesting approval of a 9 lot residential subdivision that was rezoned to R-3 in 2015. Entry will be from 110th on North Lane. No specific home design yet. Adjacent homes are R 1-18 and R 1-35 (larger lots). CASE#4-PP-2017

SE corner 64th Street and Redbird Road. The applicant is requesting approval of a 6-lot residential subdivision on 8 acres called Lomas Verdes Estates. It will be a gated cul de sac with unfenced perimeter. The two washes will be re-routed to accommodate some lot sizes. An individual septic systems will service each home.  CASE#5-PP-2017

Near 91st Street and Verde Grove View. The applicant is requesting approval of the site plan, landscape plan and building elevations for a new 3-story self-storage facility and sales office. CASE#4-DR-2017

Near Scottsdale Road and Chaparral Road. The applicant is requesting  exterior remodel to an existing Adeline-Scottsdale Inn hotel 5101 N. Scottsdale Road. CASE#5-DR-2017

Near Scottsdale Road and Shea Boulevard. New York Pizza Dept.10433 N. Scottsdale Road is requesting approval of a site plan and building elevations for new awnings.

Hot Issue Update:
Wolf Springs Ranch 94th/Cactus Rd.  Formal application has been submitted for R 1-18 rezoning although none of the 45 proposed lots are that large. Homeowners in surrounding neighborhoods have expressed opposition to the increased density with lots of 8,000 sq ft and eight lots near 13,000 sq ft and none 18,000 sq ft.

Parking Meters in Downtown: Discussions have included options (1) meters that accept credit cards (2) merchant discount coupons (3) first 2 hours as free (4) meters that alert your cell phone when time is about to expire (5) wiring in the street to aid in enforcement. Meanwhile, merchants have been sharing links to cities that have taken out their meters such as San Pedro, CA. and the reasons. One of their merchants is quoted on UTube "When you have scarce parking you build a parking structure".
The January COGS Parking Meter Survey response results are here.

Civic Center Renovation Project: Public meeting responses included opposition to re-locating the toilets to the center of the grand entry walkway, lowering the ground infront of the Historic Society's Little Red Schoolhouse to the Brown Avenue/Main Street level, and funding the grounds renovation as a priority higher than replacing the aged Civic Center garage. Only design funding was approved. No funding has been council approved for actual renovations.

Commentary: Re-Naming Civic Center Mall.  It began as a "Plaza" then was renamed "Mall". Today that means shopping. Isn't this a good time to remove MALL as the city plans a major overhaul? Immediate action would be to remove "Mall" from the Brown Avenue entry sign by the fountain that reads "Scottsdale Mall".

Museum of the West February Events to Enjoy: (south of Main Street one block on Marshall Way next to the trolley station)

• Valentine's Day-Feb 14th 11 am to noon is Taco Tuesdays "The Art of Collecting"
• Thurs. Feb 16th 1 to 2 pm "OK Chorale"  Learn to yodel! Songs and Old West stories.
• Sat. Feb 18  11 am to noon Movie: "The Riders of the Purple Sage"--The backstory. Film historian, Charlie LeSueur, guest speaker.
• Wed Feb 22nd 1 to 2 pm "Between You, Me and the Fencepost" --humorous tales of Old West fence posts.
• Fri Feb 24th 1 to 2 pm "Buffalo Soldiers in the Frontier Army" -examines the role of African American soldiers in opening the Trans-Mississippi West.

CACTUS LEAGUE KICKOFF  Wed. Feb 15th in Civic Center Library beginning at 5 pm. Cactus League Hall of Fame reception and discussion. FREE public event.

CRUSHBREW FESTIVAL Saturday 18th from 4 to 9 pm and Sunday 19th from 1 to 6 pm on the Waterfront. This festival offers craft-distilled spirits, small vineyard wines, hard cider and artisan food.

---