By Josh Martinez
Twitter: @jmartinez064

Four more lots are joining a majority of the Scottsdale Sands North Townhouses subdivision and gaining historical property overlay.

Scottsdale City Council approved on consent, at its June 16 meeting, the addition of these four lots to the other 31 in the community to resort/townhouse residential historic property zoning. There are still 16 lots within the subdivision that do not carry this historical property overlay.

Sands North Townhouses sits along Scottsdale Road and the McCormick Stillman Railroad Park largely surrounds the property.

City Council originally approved the historical property overlay for 31 lots and the homeowner association tracts at its Oct. 1, 2019 meeting. Those not under the historical overlay still have to abide by HOA guidelines but specific disputes are between the HOA and the neighbors.

Phoenix developer and builder, Emron Thomas Wright, built the homes in 1972 and haven’t had any alterations since. Mr. Wright’s work has appeared on other Scottsdale subdivisions from 1969-74 but lived in Sands North until his death in 2001.

With the new overlay, these four properties are under the historic preservation plan, which the city accepted at the Oct. 1, 2019 meeting. This plan is designed to protect features of the homes including carports, multi-level roofing and two-story entry doors.

The covenants, conditions and restrictions of Sands North Townhouses consists of architectural guidelines that closely follow the design guidelines in the historic preservation plan. The overlay is there to reinforce the existing guidelines.

Furthermore, the overlay hopes to protect and mitigate unavoidable loss; promote revitalization of a historic resource through preservation; and work to prevent unwanted demolition of buildings and structures identified as significant, city staff say in a report to council.

City staff say the overlay doesn’t prohibit properties from making renovations or changes. Rather, any proposed renovation must be consistent with the neighborhood’s historic preservation plan.

For proposed renovations that don’t meet design guidelines or aren’t addressed within the preservation plan, a Historic Preservation Commission hearing is required.

Staff claim they notified property honors within 750 feet of the subject properties as well as hosted an open house in February.