By J. Graber | Daily Independent (abridged)
Development will be among the top issues city leaders will wrestle with in 2024 according to a consensus of Scottsdale City Council members.
Other primary issues look to be continuing include to crack down on short-term rentals, parking in Old Town and water conservation.
Council Woman Betty Janik pointed to the proposed Axon multi-use campus on 74 acres near Hayden Road and the Loop 101 as an example of the type of developments the council is wrestling with.
Council Member Tom Durham also mentioned the Axon project as looming large on the council’s radar as well as the Mercado Village, a 255-unit apartment complex near the intersection of Shea Boulevard and 92nd Street.
Council Member Kathy Littlefield pointed to Mercado Village as a major issue that will be before council as well. Parking downtown is also going to loom large over council this year too, Littlefield said.
Council Member Barry Graham also identified stricter enforcement of city ordinances governing short-term rentals and lobbying the Legislature to give the city more power over vacation rentals as being on his top to do list.
“The big issues in 2024 are going to be the impending budget uncertainty and a potential tax increase,” City Council Woman Tammy Caputi wrote in a text message to the Daily Independent.
Mayor David Ortega identified what he sees as the top issues coming in 2024 in a text as well.
“Key issues: 1) with Scottsdale leading the way, sentiment has shifted at the Arizona Legislature against (short-term rentals), in favor of local control. We have five years of negative consequences – evidence that (short-term rentals) have harmed Scottsdale. 2) Guarding our multi-billion dollar investments in Scottsdale Water infrastructure, including the advanced water reuse. 3) Scottsdale will continue to repel attempts to force ‘tiny houses’ or so called stand-alone casitas into every back yard in our residential neighborhoods. Over the last three years, the Arizona Legislature has tried to pre-empt city zoning laws to allow two to three casitas per house. That would destroy our family-friendly neighborhoods.”
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