Scottsdale commission recommends approval of adaptive-reuse text amendment to expand conversion eligibility
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Summary
The Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a zoning text amendment intended to align Scottsdale code with a recent state adaptive-reuse law, substantially shrinking the city's airport-area exclusion and increasing the number of properties potentially eligible for multifamily conversion.
The Scottsdale Planning Commission voted to recommend that the City Council approve a zoning-text amendment intended to implement the state's adaptive-reuse law (referred to in the staff presentation as "house bill 21 10"). Brad Carl of the Planning Department told commissioners the text change updates the city's methodology for identifying sites eligible to convert existing commercial, office or mixed-use buildings to multifamily housing and aligns the city code with recent council revisions to the commercial employment hubs table.
Carl said the amendments narrow the airport-area exclusion so that only a much smaller area immediately around Scottsdale Airport would remain barred from conversion, which opens up "many more parcels" for potential conversion. In the staff presentation the number of eligible parcels was described as having been increased from a prior count (noted in the presentation as 404) to 4,071; city policy allows protecting about 10% of those parcels through the hubs process (roughly 407 parcels).
The commission made a formal motion finding the text amendment consistent with and conforming to the adopted General Plan and approved the recommendation by roll-call vote, sending the item to City Council with a positive recommendation.
Why it matters
The change narrows an airport-related exclusion that previously disqualified larger swaths of the Airpark and south Scottsdale from adaptive-reuse conversions. That alters long-term redevelopment opportunities along corridors the city has been managing for mixed-use and employment. Proponents say the amendment brings local code into compliance with state law and creates housing options in existing commercial structures; opponents at earlier briefings had argued for careful local controls around airports and character areas.
What happens next
The Planning Commission's approval is a recommendation. City Council will consider the text amendment and any final findings and may adopt, modify or reject the ordinance.
Sources and provenance
Staff presentation and parcel counts were given by Brad Carl during the commission hearing (staff presentation: SEG 164'SEG 256). The motion and roll-call vote appear in the hearing record (motion and vote: SEG 258'SEG 319).
