Scottsdale council unanimously approves Cosanti Commons development

By J. Graber, Daily Independent

In a rare move of unity, the Scottsdale City Council voted 7-0 during its Dec. 3 meeting to clear the way for construction of the Consanti Commons mixed-use development near the intersection of Shea Boulevard and 70th Street.

The council rezoned the 8.6-acre plot of land in the economically struggling area to allow for a three-story building with 196 apartments and 79,200 feet of commercial space.

Even council members Kathy Littlefield and vice mayor Barry Graham, who have adopted an anti-apartment stance in the past, voted in favor of the project.

Graham said he struggled with the rezoning application but ultimately felt good about it.

“I think three stories for this area is the max – I think that’s what fits in,” Graham said. “I like a few things with the project. I like it’s a reduction from four to three floors. You reduced the units. I like how much it’s over-parked (by 70 spaces) … I like that it doesn’t disturb single-family neighborhoods in the area. I like that it protects almost all of the retail in the area.”

However, he did signal he likely would not vote for similar projects in the area in the future.

“After this, the area is probably full,” Graham said.

The plan originally called for a four-story apartment building with 240 units, but the developer, Highstreet Residential, agreed to remove the top floor based upon the recommendation of city Councilmember Betty Janik, who was chairing the city’s development review board back in April.

“Everyone on the (development review board) thought the four-story architecture was phenomenal and then I poked a hole in their bubble,” Janik said during the Dec. 3 meeting. “I said this is like threading a needle. I walked the area, there are no four-story buildings there. There are three-story buildings, and I don’t want to set a new (precedent) so I was very pleased that the people that represented the developer readily agreed to reduce it to three stories instead of four. I was equally pleased they enhanced the setbacks, which gives it a much nicer, open feel, and that was without any prodding. I feel they have done a lot to enhance what they’re doing.”

Parking will be handled with a new, two-story subterranean parking garage below the apartments as well as an existing two-story subterranean parking garage as well as surface parking.

The project will use 62% less water than the commercial uses the land was already zoned for, according to John Berry, a lawyer representing the project. He also said rents for the apartments are expected to be around 18% lower than other apartments being built in the city.

The minimum open space requirement for the site is 10% but High Street Residential is proposing 25%.

The developer also widis ening the sidewalk on Shea and installing public art on the street.

The $90 million project should also help to reduce the city’s heat island signature by eliminating an acre of black asphalt and adding 75 new trees, Berry said.

The development also includes a 500-square-foot educational/flex space the Cosanti Foundation will use as a gallery to sell its wares as well as conduct hands-on classes.

“(The project) aligns perfectly with development objectives that we, the board, share – notably to really enhance the educational program at the Cosanti Foundation, which was established as a 501(c)(3) (nonprofit) in 1965,” said David Turnbull, executive director of the Cosanti Foundation.

Cosanti is a renowned art studio founded by Paolo Soleri in the mid-20th century. While it is located in Paradise Valley, it has many connections with Scottsdale. Soleri himself came to the area to work with architect Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin West, which is in Scottsdale.

Turnbull was one of 10 members of the public, all of whom were in favor of the project, who spoke at the meeting.