Dear Mr. Caton:
Here we go again, unfortunately.
For over a decade this group has organized to oppose inappropriate development
proposals, especially residential ones, proximate to WestWorld. The premise is no
different than what countless cities do when protecting other major economic assets,
especially airports.
In the case of WestWorld a recent city commissioned economic impact report showed the
annual benefits of our events and others to be in the hundreds of millions for
Scottsdale. Furthermore, voters both in 2019 and in 2024 have voted overwhelmingly to
support additional public investment in WestWorld.
More residential uses, of course, create a funnel of new complaints about traffic, noise and
odor (in the case of equestrian uses) that negatively impact operations the events that
drive WestWorld revenues and reach. Recently, two upzonings have come to light – one on
the west side of WestWorld at the “Soho” project and the other on the east side via Toll
Brothers, that significantly increase the amount of residential densities allowed on these
parcels. The only ones who would win in these scenarios are the developers
themselves. Not our events. Not WestWorld. Not city taxpayers.
That’s why we collectively ask you, on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of Scottsdale
residents and tourists who attend our events, to deny both of these requests.
Soho, approved previously by another council was a mistake. Allowing it to venture beyond
that ill-conceived approval and then compounding the problem with a new entitlement
from Toll Brothers, would make a bad decision worse. If the new developer of this site
would like to stick within its existing entitlement in a way that maintains or decreases
residences which understand and support their legal right to do so.
Thank you for your consideration and hopefully support of this request. We have sincerely
appreciate all you have and are doing to maximum the benefits of WestWorld for its
signature events and the Scottsdale community. Denial of these two applications would
do just that.
Sincerely,
Craig Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Melissa Schalles
Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show
Kristina Shaffer
Arizona Bike Week
Doug Huls
Arizona Quarter Horse Association
Trey Brennen
Scottsdale Art Week
Michael Chiulli
M Culinary
Cc: Mayor Lisa Borowsky
Scottsdale City Council
Deputy City Manager Judy Doyle
WestWorld GM Will Lofdahl