(Scottsdale, Ariz.) A lawsuit will be filed Thursday against Axon’s assault on democracy and the right to challenge local government through the referendum process. It will be filed by TAAAZE (Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions) the political action committee that successfully launched a referendum against the Axon apartment entitlement in Scottsdale, collecting more than 27,000 signatures last fall to put the unpopular apartment plan on the November 2026 ballot. The “Axon Legislation” is set to take effect Friday absent a legal challenge.
TAAAZE has retained the respected law firm of Perkins Coie, LLP to lead the litigation.
TAAAZE Chairman and former Scottsdale City Councilman Bob Littlefield said, “It’s time to let this arrogant company know they can’t force Scottsdale to accept an unprecedented apartment complex without a public vote. And certainly not without a fight. It’s time to let Axon know that throwing money at lobbyists and lawmakers alone is not going to work. They pushed the state legislation because they fear a public vote in Scottsdale, they know they will lose.”
Alexis Danneman, partner at Perkins Coie, and lead counsel for TAAAZE said “This lawsuit is about two of our State Constitution’s most important principles. First, it’s about the right of Arizona voters to hold referenda and vote directly on legislation passed by their city councils but with which they disagree. Second, it’s about the Constitution’s ban on so-called “special laws,” like the Axon Bill, that confer special privileges and benefits on a specific company or group. The Axon Bill passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor is the very definition of special interest legislation and it is illegal in the State of Arizona.”
SB 1543 was signed into law earlier this year. The legislation, designed specifically to benefit Axon at the expense of Scottsdale voters, nullifies Scottsdale’s right to vote on a nearly 2,000-unit apartment complex near Hayden and the 101, the largest in state history, taking away the rights of Scottsdale residents to decide for themselves whether those apartments belong in their city.
While Axon claims there is a need for housing among its employees, there are some 10,000 apartments under construction or approved within 5 miles of this site.
Axon bought the site for a bargain from the State Land Department. If a portion gets zoned for the giant apartment complex, Axon stands to make more than $100 million dollars in paper profit just from the rezoning. Proceeds from such State Land Department sales are supposed to go to Arizona schools.
Littlefield said no one has any problems with Axon’s previously approved plans to build new corporate headquarters, but Axon created this controversy when they sought to build the largest apartment complex in Arizona history to subsidize their project in a city that is exhausted from the proliferation of apartments in recent years.
Unfortunately, there are still a few leaders in Scottsdale, some well-intentioned, who cling to the belief that if Scottsdale were to continue to negotiate with the company, an acceptable agreement is possible. Axon’s bad faith actions to date make it clear that is not the case.
Littlefield said it is unfortunate the City of Scottsdale has not taken the lead in defending citizens’ rights, but he remains hopeful the city will join the litigation, including additional claims only it can bring.
Danneman said the lawsuit would be served on the State of Arizona and the City of Scottsdale Thursday.
