“The controversy engulfing the proposed Axon headquarters zoning has split our city and damaged our business-friendly reputation. I do not support building 1,900 apartments in North Scottsdale, but I believe it is in the best interest of our community to find middle ground with Axon to keep them headquartered in Scottsdale.
Axon’s apartment project’s future is uncertain, and my hope was to bring finality to this issue by bringing the opposition group, TAAAZE, and Axon to a middle ground, which wouldn’t provide either side with exactly what they wanted but the matter would be resolved. My experience as an attorney is that no one is completely happy with such a compromise. However, as your Mayor, I have an obligation to do what is in the best interests of all our residents.
This afternoon, we will be discussing a proposal negotiated by Councilman Adam Kwasman for a reduction in the number of apartments to 750 built in two phases over five years and 750 condominiums. Unfortunately, the proposal, which would cancel the referendum election of the previous council’s approval of 1,900 apartments, the new zoning would still be subject to a citizen referendum. I thank Councilman Kwasman for his noble attempt, but I cannot support the proposal.
This past weekend, with the help of Mountainside Fitness founder and Chairman of the Goldwater Institute, Tom Hatten, I was able to get Axon and the anonymous funders of Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions (TAAAZE) to agree to a further reduction of apartments totaling 500 units with an agreement not to seek a referendum on the deal.
While I am not privy to TAAAZE’s written requests to Axon, I understand it involves the legislative repeal of Axon’s presumed unconstitutional legislation. Under the proposed compromise, the Axon legislation would no longer be needed. Unfortunately, the negotiations broke down, and no agreement has been reached.
As such, I expect the City Council will move forward with filing suit against the state for unconstitutional legislation. Axon has stated its commitment to return to the Arizona Legislature to fix any legal defects by amending the existing legislation, which will likely make the lawsuit and the delayed referendum election moot.
While I cannot support the Kwasman proposal, I remain hopeful that an acceptable compromise can be reached while our lawsuit is pending.”
— Lisa Borowsky, Mayor of Scottsdale