Scottsdale City Council approves another development

Article originally posted on HERE on October 23, 2025

Scottsdale keeps growing.

At its Sept. 30 meeting, City Council approved a long-planned addition to Scottsdale’s northeast.

The approval of a zoning district map amendment paves the way for Ranch Gate, a 32-home subdivision on 40 acres at Ranch Gate Road and N. 128th Street.

This is just down the road from the booming, 460-acre Storyrock community of million-dollar-plus homes.

The existing Environmentally Sensitive Lands (Rl-130 ESL) zoning would have allowed only 12 lots. The developer successfully pitched a zoning change to allow nearly three times as many homes.

“The proposal is consistent with portions of the Storyrock subdivision to the south and portions of Sereno Canyon to the east in terms of density, lot size and zoning,” noted Jesus Murillo, a city planner.

According to Murillo’s report, “The applicant is requesting a 25% amendment to the Rl-35 development standards. In turn, the applicant will provide approximately 3.87 acres of additional Natural Area Opens Space (NAOS).”

Thus, instead of 14.45 acres of open space, the development will have 18.32 untouched acres.

According to the developer’s application, “The majority of the open space can be found along the sites larger natural wash corridors and project perimeters, where it serves as both a buffer to neighboring properties and as a wildlife corridor.

“Ample open space areas between neighboring development envelopes further conveys a sense of rural expansiveness for future residents.”

Keith Nichter of Kinley-Horn and Associates gave a PowerPoint presentation on Ranch Gate 40, the latest development on the outskirts of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve – near the popular Tom’s Thumb trailhead.

“Ranch Gate 40 follows north Scottsdale’s neighborhood model of unique desert living with optimal recreational opportunities,” according to the developers.

“Residents will be living amongst surrounding trails and trailheads while maintaining access to urban essentials.”

Two members of the public had comments.

Carla, who identified herself as “a preserve pioneer,” noted that 128th Street will never be paved through the preserve per the Transportation Action Plan and that construction trucks should not drive through the Preserve; she said she appreciated the developer’s voluntary compliance with this, via a stipulation.

Carla also requested additional signage marking the preserve land – and noting the road is “emergency access only.”

John Ball, a Storyrock resident, asked for amendments, including five lots on the west side moving to the north or south sides and a temporary moratorium on future development in the surrounding area.

Bypassing Ball’s request, City Council gave unanimous approval to the Ranch Gate developer’s request – which also received unanimous approval from the Planning Commission a month earlier.