Two apartment projects won recommendations for approval, and another was sent back to the drawing board, at the Scottsdale Design Review Board’s Oct. 6 meeting.
Chaparral Commons
The first plan recommended for approval was the 225-unit Chaparral Commons – also known as Gold Dust Ave & Scottsdale Rd Multifamily – which also includes 11.4KSF of commercial space on 4.6 acres near the intersection of Scottsdale Road and Gold Dust Avenue.
Three amendment requests have been added to the plan since it was originally proposed. In the first, the building would be set back more than the minimum, which will be used to add 10-foot wide sidewalks and additional trees.
In the second, stepbacks on the third and fourth stories would see their slopes reduced on the western side of the property, and the third amendment would add patio or balcony spaces in along the western setback.
Overall, the development would take out nearly 1.4 acres of asphalt and add 142 trees.
The original design called for a fourth story along Gold Dust that has since been moved toward the middle of the site.
Once built, 10% of the development’s units would be reserved for city workforce housing, and residents with children enrolled at Chaparral High School would receive a free month’s rent.
Opposition concerns about the project included the standard complaints about building heights, potential traffic impacts and the dislike of multifamily development in general. A number of area residents, however, expressed their support for the proposal, saying it would revitalize the plan area and reduce traffic from homeless people. The developer also plans a garden space for Chaparral High where students will work on gardening and life skills, an opportunity supported by some school staff.
The Miller
The other recommended project was the 148-unit development The Miller at 6th Avenue and Miller Road.
Staff had expressed concerns with vent placement for the underground garage, which were addressed by the addition of planned walls around the vents.
Landscaping has been enhanced since the original proposal with the addition of more trees. A detached sidewalk that takes advantage of a double row of trees for shading along 6th Avenue has also been included.
Colors and finish had been a point of discussion, but stair towers were decided to add a degree of variety. One stipulation attached to the recommendation called for City staff and the developer to coordinate on changing the color of the building’s top level.
The Continental (Bella Alba)
Following a reminder from Chair Solange Whitehead that the Board cannot address zoning concerns or a project’s planned use as apartments and can only recommend denial based on aesthetic issues like landscaping, shade and setbacks, members provided a litany of aesthetic issues and delayed their vote on The Continental – also known as Bella Alba – until they were addressed.
Bella Alba is planned as a 281-unit community with 10KSF of commercial space near Continental Drive and Scottsdale Road. The four-story plan is comprised of two buildings and a garage on five acres.
Members said the window presentations and repetitive use of materials made the project appear too much like a standard apartment development and that the opening to the parking lot was not aesthetically inviting.
The project was remanded back to the developer to collaborate with City staff to address the concerns. (Source)
