Development Review Board approves Arden Scottsdale multifamily project after setback, drainage revisions

The Scottsdale Development Review Board approved the Arden Scottsdale development application after the applicant made design changes to address board and neighbor concerns.

The board approved case 32-DR-2024 per staff-recommended stipulations following a presentation and questions. Staff described the site as located near the northeast corner of McKellips Road and North Miller, adjacent to Casa Amigos condominiums. The application proposes multifamily development across five three-story buildings on about a 1-acre parcel.

Taylor Earl of Earl and Curley, the project presenter, described targeted revisions since the project's prior appearance: the eastern setback was expanded from 6 feet to a consistent 10-foot clear planting zone (technically a 14-foot setback when measured from the first floor to allow a 4-foot overhang), the sidewalk on that side was reduced from 6 to 4 feet to preserve planting area, a small retaining wall was relocated beneath the sidewalk to improve planting conditions, and a parking configuration change added one guest space (bringing guest parking from 4 to 5). Earl also said the team reviewed drainage and will allow existing runoff from the adjacent condos to continue flowing through the site while on-site retention for the developed project will be provided.

"We feel really good about the changes that were made," Earl said, summarizing the team's outreach and design adjustments.

Board members who spoke praised the revisions and staff coordination. One board member raised a broader zoning concern: the way "frontage open space" is defined in the zoning ordinance can make it difficult to achieve urban infill products on irregular parcels, and suggested the city consider whether the standard should be made more flexible for such sites.

Procedure and outcome A board member moved to approve the case "per the staff recommended stipulations" and another seconded. The board recorded a roll-call vote with all present members voting in favor and the motion passed.

What it means Approval clears the site plan, landscape plan and building elevations to proceed under the Development Review Board's criteria and the stipulated conditions. The applicant's changes addressed the board's principal concerns about setbacks, landscape viability and drainage; the project will move forward subject to the conditions recorded by staff.

Next steps The approval allows the applicant to continue with permitting and subsequent phases required by the city's development process.