Council approves Desert Ridge rezoning with compromise; residents oppose Ranger Road extension

Phoenix City Council approved a rezoning application for a Southwest Desert Ridge site and a compromise plan that omits an extension of Ranger Drive to 56th Street in favor of a cul‑de‑sac and neighborhood park.

Residents and community association leaders urged the council to deny the planned extension, saying Ranger Drive is a meandering neighborhood feeder road that cannot safely carry through traffic and that the Desert Ridge specific plan envisioned local streets looping to discourage cut‑throughs. "Connecting Ranger Road to 56th Street will increase non‑resident traffic in our neighborhood and create safety risks," said Barry Goldfarb of the Desert Ridge Community Association.

The developer revised its proposal after village and planning commission feedback; the revised plan passed village review unanimously and included the cul‑de‑sac, a small park the developer agreed to maintain and other concessions. Mayor Waring and other council members noted the village and planning commission approvals and emphasized the developer’s willingness to work with the community. The ordinance passed on a roll call vote reported as 9–0.

Supporters, including a resort general manager, said the revised approach protects local character while allowing redevelopment; opponents argued the city should not later fund the road if the developer avoids constructing the connector. Council members acknowledged the trade‑offs and said the stipulation requires dedication of right‑of‑way while construction funding would be a separate future decision.

The council’s action authorizes rezoning and a site layout that community leaders say balances new housing supply with neighborhood safety concerns.