DRB reapproves Goldwater mixed‑use in Old Town, citing pedestrian connections and design consistency

The Scottsdale Development Review Board on June 10 reapproved case 25DR2021Number2, the Goldwater project, a mixed‑use development at the southeast corner of North 70th Street and North Goldwater Boulevard. The board found the plan met Old Town design guidelines and voted unanimously to reapprove the previously allowed development.

Planner Miss Tessier told the board the application is a reapproval because “they did not pull permits within the development review board time period” and that “nothing has changed since that development review board approval.” Tessier summarized the proposal as a mixed‑use development comprising about 40 dwelling units and roughly 7,000 square feet of commercial area with vehicular access from East Fourth Street leading to a parking garage and enhanced pedestrian circulation around the site.

Architect Karen Santiago, presenting for the applicant team, said the project is intended to improve walkability and pedestrian area connections between the south side of Goldwater and the Arts District to the north. She described planned amenities and sustainability measures, saying the design includes shading, widened sidewalks, balconies for residential units and on‑site power generation components. "One of the best parts of this project will be the enhancements to the pedestrian and walkability for this entire zone," Santiago said.

Staff and the applicant noted several site commitments: a public access easement to allow pedestrians to cross from East Fourth Street to Goldwater Boulevard, and participation in an enhanced pedestrian walkway crossing (the applicant must contribute 50 percent of costs) to link into the Museum Square area. The applicant also presented elevations intended to be consistent with Old Town design guidelines and the commercial design standards.

Board members asked a handful of clarifying questions about materials, shade‑structure colors, tree box sizes and mechanical screening. The applicant said the overhangs would be lightweight steel, the shade surfaces lighter in color to reflect heat, and that most street trees along the frontage were planned as 24‑ or 36‑inch boxes (the applicant said it would confirm final sizes during plan submittal).

After discussion the board approved the reapproval of case 25DR2021Number2. The vote was recorded as unanimous among the five present board members. The approval returns the project to the project permit review sequence; engineering and building permits will still be required before any construction begins.

The DRB action preserves the previously approved design and the pedestrian commitments noted in the record; final details such as exact tree sizes, tenant‑level HVAC equipment and permit‑level stormwater design will be reviewed during the subsequent plan and permit reviews.