By Bob Littlefield
Former Scottsdale City Councilman and Chairman of Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions (TAAAZE)
The fight against Axon’s assault on democracy and profoundly frustrated Scottsdale residents isn’t going away despite a recent 4 to 3 Scottsdale City Council approval of the second largest multifamily housing project (1,200 units) in state history as well as undermining efforts to challenge the controversial rezoning in court and with the scheduled city-wide vote in November 2026.
I’m Chairman of TAAAZE (Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions) which collected nearly 30 thousand signatures last fall to challenge Axon’s apartments. 
We are still pursuing a lawsuit against Senate Bill 1543, the “Axon Bill,” which put certain rezoning decisions beyond the reach of voter challenges, including last year’s lame duck Scottsdale City Council approval of 1,900 units near Hayden and the 101. The first hearing on the state law is set for late January. Scottsdale’s approval is based on the state law. If found unconstitutional, Scottsdale’s Axon approval is meaningless and there will be no apartments to subsidize their controversial development plans.
Scottsdale City Council Members Adam Kwasman, Mary Ann McAllen, Solange Whitehead, and Mayor Lisa Borowsky voted yes on a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Axon that approved the unnecessary and unneeded 1,200 multifamily units. The city also agreed to abandon litigation against SB1543 and rescinded the previous zoning decision on Axon. The capitulation to Axon is shocking.
Additionally, at a time of drought the council majority released Axon of its obligation to provide water for its project. Who thinks this is a good idea?! And for the first time in Scottsdale history, the developer will govern itself when it comes to construction, rather than answer to City inspectors.
The council majority claims Axon will build 600 apartments and 600 condominiums yet included no language in the MOU or secured Axon agreement otherwise, meaning without such language and agreement, the mega Borowsky led approval is for 1,200 apartments.
Council Members Barry Graham, Jan Dubauskas, and Kathy Littlefield voted against the Axon apartment scheme. We thank them.
TAAAZE is committed to the lawsuit against SB 1543 and is exploring additional lawsuits to prevent Axon from building 1,200 multifamily units in an area already dealing with massive traffic problems. About 10,000 apartments are under construction or approved within five miles of this site.
Finally, you should be aware that Axon bought the site from the Arizona State Land Department for $50 million explicitly for a corporate office. A subsequent appraisal by the State Land Department showed that with the apartments the value of the land skyrocketed to more than $150 million. Proceeds from such State Land Department sales go to Arizona schools. There are no records indicating Axon paid Arizona a fair amount to compensate for this bait and switch, which may lead to litigation under Arizona and Scottsdale’s “Gift Clause” statutes.
Axon can be challenged in court and at the ballot box despite the sweetheart deals with some city and legislative leaders. TAAAZE is unfazed. If this is allowed to happen now it will become commonplace for other developers looking to take advantage of Scottsdale. Now is the time to step up for Scottsdale rights, not retreat as four Scottsdale City Council members did.