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May 16, 2008 - 8:40PM
Scottsdale studying Airpark growth
Brian Powell, Tribune
Scottsdale is launching a study that will explore allowing taller buildings and more business tenants in the Airpark, one of the largest employment centers in the region.
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The community area plan, which kicks off next week with two days of public input sessions, will also look at transportation, building guidelines and the buffer between businesses and residents, said John Lusardi, Scottsdale's advance planning director.
"Building height and intensity and urban design guidelines need to be addressed, and there's a broad range of opinions on those issues," Lusardi said.
Public meetings will be held Wednesday and Thursday. The first day is geared to businesses and property owners, the second to area residents.
Scottsdale identifies the greater Airpark area as Scottsdale Road east to Loop 101, and Frank Lloyd Wright south to roughly Redfield Road. However, the plan's study area includes a broader area.
An economic analysis is also planned.
"It's such a strong employment base and economic engine that one thing we want to be careful of is to not get in front of the economic vitality," Lusardi said.
The plan will factor in the airport's presence but will not deal specifically with airport issues such as flight patterns, he said.
Rick Kidder, Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce president, said the organization has identified transportation routes and height and density as key issues to be discussed.
"What happens in terms of redevelopment, and what happens in terms of transportation routes that support redevelopment, is key," Kidder said.
The area is one of the top employment centers in the region, with between 46,000 and 55,000 employees, depending on the greater Airpark boundary.
This is one of six community area plans being developed by the city leading up to 2011 planned adoption of the general plan. The city has already started the southern Scottsdale and downtown plans. Other plans will include Shea corridor, McDowell Vistas and Tonto Foothills.
Lusardi said more Airpark focus groups and community workshops will be held in the fall. The goal is for the City Council to approve a plan in about a year, he said.
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