Baker: Hoping for compromise between the city, Axom and residents

The battle between the residents of Stonebrook and Axon typifies the hundreds of battles occurring in Arizona and sunbelt states across the nation. On one side, we see the established pillars of community who do not want drastic changes in their neighborhood. On the other, growth-minded members of the community (the founder of Axon is as original to Scottsdale as anyone these days) are looking to build something new.  

Easy as it may be to brand the members of Stonebrook as "NIMBYs," their plight is understandable. Moving to what was once a far-flung part of Scottsdale for peace and quiet, only to see the once vacant lots around you grow higher and higher can be concerning. They say to "never buy near an open lot," but the proposed rezoning can still seem like a betrayal. 

All of this is to say I understand the opposition from the Stonebrook HOA and its residents. As to whether they should prevail is a little more complicated. Scottsdale is a hot destination for development. I doubt it would be world-ending for the city and its revenues if Axon took their business elsewhere. The question is if it should come to that.

Many of the concerns raised by opponents to the Axon development seem rooted in what-ifs. I seriously doubt improved walkability and amenities near the Stonebrook neighborhood would reduce property values, even if the buildings are somewhat imposing. Traffic is already horrendous and, until the Scottsdale City council accepts more high-capacity transit, that is unlikely to change. Sustainability is certainly a question, but that is a tough argument to make when Stonebrook itself is a single-family development. I am not an opponent of single-family homes, but they are not as sustainable as multi-family developments. If the per-person impact is lower, should these perspective new residents not be able to enjoy living in North Scottsdale as well? 

Change is inevitable. The timeline and desired form of that change is not, however. There are many other concerns for the Axon headquarters development that are more significant; the proximity to Scottsdale airport being chief among them. It would be irresponsible to move over 2,000 residents into a space where noise may reduce their quality of life.

Regardless of the answer to any of these issues and the many more legitimate concerns expressed by others, I support dialogue between the city council, Scottsdale citizens, Axon and all other stakeholders. I hope compromise prevails. I like to see growth and you cannot make everyone happy, but local concerns should be addressed to the best of everyone's abilities. 

Should the land remain bare, a hidden hazard remains. Future high-end developers will take notice of this. The pipeline of high-quality developers could dry out if this level of opposition continues. The next battle may not be over a value-adding development from a world-class company. And, if the worries about Scottsdale tax revenues come to fruition, the city eventually may not be in a position to say no. 

Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.