McLaren: The Scottsdale city budget and the chagrin of Southbridge
Posted
In my opinion, the opponents of Southbridge Two have won a hollow victory, they have defeated one project but have caused major uncertainty for the property market in downtown.”
Last Tuesday, under the cloud of the dire economic impact of the COVID-19 virus, the city council had its first look at the budget for the upcoming year(s).
The city manager has already acted by freezing all staff salary increases. The council also directed staff to return with contingency plans that will analyze further reductions in spending as the impacts to our economy become clearer in the near future. This will be a painful, but necessary process.
The council also voted to repeal all the actions it took in approving the Southbridge Two project. This repeal was at the request of the developer and was a result of the referendum on the project. The city attorney opined that the repeal is within the law.
There has been much made of the issue that the voters are being denied an opportunity to pass judgment on the issue. This is not so.
The issue of how development occurs and the parameters that drive development is a legitimate issue in the upcoming council election. Voters can then decide.
We have a representative democracy, we elect representatives to make decisions, within the law. Our elections decide what policies are best for the community. There may be occasions when referendum or recall are warranted but these should be rare.
In my opinion, the opponents of Southbridge Two have won a hollow victory, they have defeated one project but have caused major uncertainty for the property market in downtown. All markets abhor uncertainty and property owners will be reluctant to enter the market where outcomes are not clear.
We also live in a society that respects private property rights.
A property owner has the right to the use of property, again within the law. Denying the owner of Southbridge Two the right to request a repeal would have been a gross infringement of property rights, one of the cornerstones of our democracy.
The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted our link to the tourism industry and the reliance that the city has on sales tax revenue. The coming weeks and months will reveal how we adapt.
The city, however, has other major economic drivers. People want to live, work and thrive in Scottsdale. Our downtown area and the greater airpark area are important areas where plans are in place that will assist the city in making sure that we continue to attract the best development.
The Old Town plan was originally adopted in 1984, updated in 2009 and again most recently in 2018. The plan covers land use, character and design, mobility, arts and culture and economic vitality. The plan is a culmination of extensive outreach over the years and is used as the overall guide to policy decisions for Old Town. I would urge readers to look at the plan on the city’s website.
The greater airpark area includes the areas adjacent to the freeway and holds the potential for new industries and commerce that will result in increases to our economy. The areas adjacent to the freeway were always envisioned to have a higher density than elsewhere.
In the upcoming election campaign, those who aspire for the positive and what is best for Scottsdale should garner our attention. We should be wary of those who are negative and backward-looking.
We need representatives who understand the issues and know how to implement workable solutions.
Editor’s note: Mr. McLaren is a Scottsdale resident and community advocate
