Howell: Scottsdale should not tolerate with Axon's proposal

Our Stonebrook II neighborhood of 174 single-family homes is nestled in the Hayden Road and Loop 101, Scottsdale Airpark. We sit adjacent to approximately 74 acres of desert land, zoned employment/light industrial
with a distinct designation as "prohibited," which is to understand the buyer of this land can only use the land for light industrial/employment use.

Step onto the scene Axon whose Taser-making headquarters is housed in a building on Perimeter Drive near that 74-acre parcel. Axon bought this 74-acre parcel September 2020 at an Arizona State Land Department auction understanding the prohibited nature of the purchase — "prohibited" to anything but employment/light industrial.

Due to the close proximity of these 74 acres, which sits between our neighborhood and the 101, we watched with interest Axon's plans for development. The Stonebrook II neighborhood and the city of Scottsdale were sold an exciting proposition of a technology campus in which Axon would build a 250,000-square-foot headquarters housing 1,500 employees. It sounded like the perfect technology hub with a college-like atmosphere. The city of Scottsdale gave its approval, and our neighborhood was appreciative of exciting use of this land.

Then came the bait-and-switch and the ugly bullying tactics of a corporation that feels a sense of entitlement to change the rules of the negotiation they had with the city by wanting to rezone prohibited to residential use, approximately 36 acres to contain 1,950 apartments, retail space, and a hotel. Saddest, is Axon accusing the city of
not being pro-development. Um, wait, what!? Scottsdale gave you the go ahead to build your 250,000-square-foot technology headquarters and campus. Where is it?

Axon's desire to rezone this land to residential is stupefying due to so many issues, traffic density, water usage, quality of life, 3-5 story looming buildings. Just say no to bullying!