Scottsdale withdraws general-plan amendment after residents protest removal of 'sustainability' language

City staff withdrew item 16 — proposed amendments to Scottsdale's General Plan 2035 — from the Aug. 25 city council agenda after multiple public speakers said the redlined changes removed core policy language, including the word 'sustainability.' Mayor Lisa Boroski announced the withdrawal at the start of the meeting.

Former councilwoman Tammy Caputi, who said she helped craft the 2035 plan, told the council the document is "a citizen generated, voter approved policy document" and warned that "removing words does not magically solve these serious issues." Betty Janek said the redline posted late Saturday removed or altered 18 items (about 28% of the pages she cited) and asked why the changes had been placed on the agenda in secret.

Residents also raised substance-specific concerns. Carla, who identified herself as a Preserve advocate, said the rewrite replaced 'sustainability' with 'stewardship' and argued the terms are not interchangeable: "sustainability...means taking care of things so that they'll be here for future generations," she said. Mark Rentz, another speaker, praised staff for pulling the item but criticized the council's prior elimination of Scottsdale's sustainability plan and the city's diversity, equity and inclusion program.

Councilmembers acknowledged the public interest. Councilwoman Solange Whitehead thanked residents and city manager Greg Caton for removing the item from tonight's agenda so the council could better study the changes. Councilman Barry Graham responded directly to claims that the changes were hidden, calling such assertions "categorically untrue" while thanking speakers for bringing concerns forward.

Next steps: staff and councilmembers said the item had been withdrawn for further review; no new vote or date for reconsideration was set during the Aug. 25 meeting.