Scottsdale board approves two developments Article originally posted on on January 22, 2025 Scottsdale’s growth spurt seems likely to continue this year. At its first meeting of the year, the Development Review Board gave the green light to two sizable projects – one at the south end of the city, one in North Scottsdale. The seven-person board, made up of six appointed volunteers and a City Council representative, also approved a big addition to the Shea/92nd Street corridor. On Jan. 8, Aria at Silverstone received unanimous approval from outgoing Tammy Caputi and commissioners Joe Young, Ali Fakih, David Mason, Jeff Brand, Ed Peaser and Donna Robinson. K. Hovnanian Homes’ operatic Aria at Silverstone plans 100 townhomes at 22602 N. 74th Street, a North Scottsdale hub north of the Loop 101. The neighborhood just east of Scottsdale Road currently features the San Portales “luxury apartment community,” Vi at Silverstone senior living and Apaloosa Library. Though hardly insignificant, Aria at Silverstone is dwarfed by the development just south, where One Scottsdale is transforming desert land into medical offices, retail and apartments. Twenty miles south, Papago Village will be a 94-unit apartment/condo complex on 10 acres at 6200 E. Oak St. The Papago pitch sounds unique: “a luxury single-family community that consists of one- and two-bedroom homes for rent.” Bigger than “tiny homes,” but smaller than traditional townhomes, in other words. In September, Ed Gorman of Modus Companies told the Progress Papago Village will build “net zero energy” rental homes 20-30% larger than apartments. “The community benefits from 360-degree mountain views and is located on site of the former Vitalant Blood Bank facility,” the DRB pitch continues. Just on this side of the Scottsdale border, the project is near such Phoenix landmarks as “Hole in the Rock,” Desert Botanical Gardens and Phoenix Zoo. Papago Village sees itself as a throwback: Architect David Dick “aims to retain a historically significant building on the site constructed in 1972 by Taliesin Architect Stephen Nemtin to be incorporated into the development as a co-workspace for the residents.” New buildings will be “highlighted by mid-century modern design principles … The style is compatible with typical single-story residential homes developed in the area from the late 1960s to early 1970s.” That means low flat rooflines, covered patios with decorative wall/fence enclosures and stucco painted finishes. Views of Papago Park and Camelback Mountain will remain, the developer promised. One neighbor, John Deal, was not buying it. He complained “this is the most dense project in all of Scottsdale” – and said Oak Street “doesn’t need more traffic.” Thomas O’Leary agreed: “this is a low, low traffic street … Oak Street has two dead ends – that limits the street.” Another neighbor added Papago Village “is completely out of character for the neighborhood – the level of density.” But Ed Hadley – a Scottsdale resident and real estate developer – proclaimed “it’s time to start building affordable living spaces for my children and hopefully their children.” “Modus does a great job,” he added. Fakih left the meeting prior to the vote and Young voted against, but Papago Village sailed through by a 5-1 margin. Minus Fakih, the board unanimously approved HonorHealth Shea’s four-story parking garage. The HonorHealth Shea Campus, anchored by a hospital and featuring dozens of medical offices, will get an additional 472 parking spaces on 3 acres at 9003 E. Shea Blvd. According to the application, at the site “daily parking needs exceed the existing surface lot’s capacity. This existing condition triggers traffic issues associated with the 90th Street traffic lights, the hospital entrance and patient dropoff, and the nearby private parking lots.” “It’s absolutely a nightmare to try to park there,” Brand confirmed. Caputi said she couldn’t think of a place in Scottsdale “more desperately in need of (more) parking.” Vehicles will enter the site through the turn-in from 90th Street. A pedestrian bridge will connect the garage to the hospital. Staff also provided a 2024 report on the Development Review Board. Peaser and Robinson had perfect attendance records. Fakih missed five of 14 meetings. Peaser and Mason missed two meetings. Brand missed one. In its 14 meetings last year, the Development Review Board considered and approved the likes of Cosanti Commons, Mercado Village, Marshall Living, ASM Scottsdale, Legacy North Apartments at Crossroads, One Scottsdale/Atavia and Toll at Cavasson.