Development Review Board approves City Center at Scottsdale Collection with 15,000‑square‑foot plaza

Adam Quasman, councilman, called the Scottsdale Development Review Board to order and the board approved case 19DR2023, the City Center at Scottsdale Collection, after presentations by staff and the applicant and a period of board questions.

Greg Bloomberg, a staff presenter, said the project is located at the southeast corner of Scottsdale Road and Camelback Road and is part of the larger Scottsdale Collection plan. Bloomberg described the proposal as a mixed‑use development on roughly 3 acres with two 14‑story towers, two pad buildings and two public art locations. "There's a total of 491 spaces in that garage," Bloomberg said, describing a six‑level parking garage with two subgrade levels and four above‑grade levels in the staff presentation. He also said the zoning case stipulated a minimum 15,000‑square‑foot central plaza and a continuous 20‑foot pedestrian connection from Scottsdale Road to Brown Avenue, and noted that sidewalks along canal frontages are subject to Salt River Project (SRP) approval.

John Tramm, an architect representing the applicant (Premium Point and SmithGroup Architects), said the design emphasizes creating "another public plaza, another public space that is a continuation of Downtown Scottsdale," describing the plaza as "open and porous and accessible to the public" and anchored by public art. Tramm said the design approach splits the project massing into two towers, steps the building down toward streets, screens parking from view and includes outdoor dining and enhanced pedestrian connections.

Board members asked technical questions about performance glazing, mechanical systems and egress. Commissioner Gonzales asked about the glazing R‑value and whether west‑facing glazing specifications would change; Tramm responded that final glazing specifications had not been selected but that "everything that we're gonna do is going to achieve at the very minimum the requirements by the energy code for Scottsdale and the state." On green‑building requirements, Bloomberg told the board the project "is gonna to have to be IGCC compliant." Tramm said mechanical system choices (for example, chiller selection) were still pending and that elevator and stair coordination would be worked out with consultants.

The board also discussed parking counts. Staff presented a total of 491 spaces in the garage; during Q&A Tramm gave a rough range for the site of "in the spirit of 404–490," and Bloomberg noted a customized parking master plan had been approved earlier in the zoning process for the Scottsdale Collection PBD. The record shows both statements; the final parking tally and any master‑plan allowances will be reflected in the approved project documents.

Board member Peazer moved to approve case 19DR2023 "including the locations of public art for the staff recommendation stipulations after finding that the development application meets the development review award criteria and the additional findings for the development in Old Town area." Board member Mason seconded. Councilman Quasman, Commissioner Gonzales, Board member Peazer and Board member Mason voted in favor and the motion passed.

The board's action approves the project's design review with the stipulations recommended by staff, confirms public art locations as part of the approval and leaves remaining approvals (notably SRP sign‑off for canal‑front improvements and final technical specifications such as glazing and mechanical systems) to subsequent coordination and submittals. The Development Review Board adjourned after completing the agenda.