By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
The Troon North community in northeast Scottsdale may see a new, 67-unit luxury senior community on a roughly 8.6-acre portion of a 22.26-acre site at the SWC of Alma School Parkway and Dynamite Blvd.
Developer Lifestyle Communities has submitted requests to the City of Scottsdale to rezone the site to allow the construction of Artessa Scottsdale at Pinnacle Peak. Specifically, according to the case information sheet on Scottsdale’s website, the company has requested “a Zoning District Map Amendment from Planned Community Center, Environmentally Sensitive Lands, Hillside District (PCC ESL (HD)) zoning to Planned Community Center, Environmentally Sensitive Lands, Hillside District, Planned Shared Development Overlay (PCC PSD ESL (HD)) zoning, including approval of an updated Development Plan.”
In 1995, the location was approved for a large grocery store and other retail space. The proposal states that converting the property from the approved but undeveloped retail/commercial use will contribute to the overall quality of life in the immediately surrounding area and, “Integrate new residents with substantial discretionary incomes adjacent to an underutilized struggling retail center to support area small businesses.”
Rather than billing the development as a luxury senior condo community, the proposal describes Artessa as an “Age Qualified Equity Contract Retirement Community,” which the materials define as “a resident-owned retirement/lifestyle community where age-qualified (55+) individuals buy a residence in the community, pay an entry fee, and a monthly service fee for maintenance and other operating costs. An ECRC offers much of the active, vibrant independent living component of a Continuing Care Retirement Community (“CCRC”), such as Vi at Silverstone, without paying for the option of high acuity assisted living or skilled care services.”
Unlike a continuing care or assisted living community, Artessa would have no healthcare services provided on-site, and staff would be available during a standard 40-hour business week, rather than 24/7. Artessa also would not have some of the amenities typically found in continuing care or other types of assisted living development. For example, there would be no on-site restaurant, salon or spa services on the property.
The planned unit mix at the 55+ age-restricted community will consist of 14 casitas, 15 one-bedroom, 35 two-bedroom and three three-bedroom homes. The maximum building height would be 36 feet, and the total open space is planned for 422.4KSF, or slightly more than 10 acres.
Along with the on-site open space, the location is also close to several park areas, including Pinnacle Peak Park, George “Doc” Cavalliere Park and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.
Planned amenities on the Artessa property include a bicycle repair station, a pool area, outdoor seating, a fire pit, a kitchen area with seating, a movie and game play entertainment suite, a hospitality suite for small gatherings, a wellness studio and a guest suite for visitors. Sidewalks on the site will offer 75% tree canopy coverage to encourage pedestrian activity.
Sustainability-focused design features and resident offerings include high-efficiency HVAC and appliances, on-site electric vehicle charging stations, preferred parking for energy-efficient vehicles, secured bike racks and indoor bicycle storage, and drought-tolerant landscaping with no live turf.
The owner is Lifestyle Communities. The design firms are Pope Design Group and Architekton. Norris Design is the landscape architect. The civil engineer is SEG – Sustainability Engineering Group. Lokahi Group is the traffic engineer. Public relations and community outreach are through Technical Solutions. The zoning law firm representing the proposal is Berry Riddell.
As of May 2, no hearing dates have been set before the Scottsdale Planning Commission, Development Review Board or City Council.
