A water reservoir site in far north Scottsdale will expand in both area and height thanks to the City Council’s approval on consent of two resolutions.
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A water reservoir site in far north Scottsdale will expand in both area and height thanks to the City Council’s approval on consent of two resolutions.
The potable water facility site at 26602 N. Pima Road will grow from 3 acres to 4 acres as part of the council-approved municipal use master site plan.
Council also approved on consent, as part of its Jan. 14 meeting, a hardship exemption to allow the site’s extension’s allowable height to grow from 24 to 40 feet. The end goal is to build another water tank on site.
The site is just north of the Jomax and Pima roads intersection and carries a single-family residential, environmentally sensitive lands, foothills overly zoning. The 1-acre expansion will be directly to the west of the existing water facility.
An existing potabale water facility sits on the site with two existing water reservoir tanks.
The Arizona State Lands Department owns the land and the City of Scottsdale has applied for the changes, according to a city staff report to council. City staff say the proposal will “provide the reservoirs ... with an adequate potable water supply.”
Through the application process of the municipal use master site plan, city staff found the expansion will not be potentially detrimental to adjacent properties. This means there will be minimal dust, noise, vibration and illumination disturbances as well as no unwanted smokes or odors. Staff claim an 8-foot wall will continue around the site
The second finding was the municipal use of interest to the community.
“Water storage is essential for meeting all the domestic, industrial and fire demands of the city’s public water systems,” Senior Planner Jesus Murillo said in his report. “The proposal will benefit the surrounding properties as these reservoirs are a necessity to serve the citizens with an adequate potable water supply now and in the future.”
If an applicant believes the environmentally sensitive land amendment causes hardships, that person can apply for an exemption, which is what the city did.
Through the hardship application process, city staff found the ESL amendment would cause “substantial hardship that would reduce the ability to use the parcel.” Specifically, city staff found the west side is the only direction without enough distance between existing improvements and drainage ways for additional tanks.
City staff also say the requested exemption is consistent with the intent and purpose of the ESL ordinance. Staff claim plans place the proposed reservoir in an area of the site that is most sensitive to the site’s washes. Staff also found the specific height is required for proper use.
Staff also concluded the application of the ESL standards do not outweigh the benefit of the site’s use for the community.
City staff did receive two emails concerning the height of the new structure. Mr. Murillo had a conversation with Scottsdale resident David Buchli regarding the height.
Mr. Buchli initially opposed the height, but seemed more accepting upon learning the new tank would be the same height as the other tanks.
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