Introducing the Desert Foothills Character Area

The following information is from a City of Scottsdale pamphlet that describes the Desert Foothills Character Area.

Introduction Character Area Guidelines Proposed Zoning Overlay

Introduction

What is a Character Area?

Character Area Planning was established to recognize, understand, and celebrate distinctive areas within the City. Each Character Area contains identifiable qualities that range from unique environmental features to common architecture styles or similar land use patterns.

The Desert Foothills Character Area is one of twenty-four Character Areas identified within the City of Scottsdale. The Desert Foothills Character Area and Implementation Plans were approved by City Council on July 13, 1999.

What are the boundaries of the Desert Foothills Area?

The Desert Foothills Character Area is approximately an eight square mile area, generally located between Dixileta to the north, Jomax to the south, 96th Street to the east, and 56th Street to the west. Click on map to enlarge.

What separates Desert Foothills from surrounding areas?

One of the factors that distinguishes the Desert Foothills Area from the surrounding area is the fractured land ownership pattern, typically parcels ranging from one to five acres. This ownership pattern can be attributed to two factors:

the federal government land office selling small pieces of land to veterans of the Second World War, and
homesteading as a result of the federal government Desert Lands Entry Act.

In subsequent decades, many of these original land owners sold small pieces of their land which increased this fragmented land ownership pattern.

What are some of the characteristics of the Desert Foothills Area?

This land ownership pattern contributes to the rustic, rural desert character experienced in the Desert Foothills Area. This character includes:

low density single family residences intermixed with equestrian facilities,
a rich assortment of architecture styles that include Pueblo, Santa Fe, and Western Ranch, and
minimally improved infrastructure.

Character Area Guidelines

Background

Over a two year period, beginning in June 1997, an extensive public outreach program was undertaken to solicit feedback from the local community. During this process the residents, property owners, and local interests of the Desert Foothills community consistently stated their desire to maintain the rustic, rural qualities in the area while preserving the dominance of the lush upper Sonoran Desert.

The key to achieving this vision is to strike a balance between the diverging lifestyles within the area and the fragile Sonoran Desert. The residents and property owners stated they must be the "caretakers" of this Desert to ensure that it can be enjoyed by future generations.

How will these guidelines be used?

The guidelines expressed below, and in greater detail within the Character Area and Implementation Plans, establish a common vision and direction for area residents and property owners.

The intent of these guidelines is to illustrate the preferred building alternatives in this Area that will preserve the dominance of the natural desert setting and maintain a low scale, openness to the neighborhoods. In addition, these guidelines serve as a foundation to help create more legally enforceable regulations.

Summary of Objectives and Guidelines

The following guidelines were defined by the Desert Foothills community to help achieve this balance between one's lifestyle and the delicate Sonoran Desert.

Maintain the dominance of the Sonoran Desert by blending the built form into the natural desert setting.

Use building materials, colors, and textures that visually blend into the natural desert.
Preserve desert vistas by maintaining building heights below the mature canopies of the native trees.
Blend development into the land by working with natural terrain and form rather than forcing the land into a shape that places development in a dominant, overpowering position.
Blend outdoor lighting so that it is not visible from adjacent properties.

Preserve a sense of openness by maintaining connective areas of desert open space.

Preserve the natural desert character along major roadways by setting back development at least 100 feet from the public street right-of-way.
Maintain the natural integrity of vista corridors by setting back development from these environmentally sensitive areas.
Maintain a local trail network within and through the neighborhoods, connect the scenic and vista corridors, and future preserves in and around the area.
Maintain a sense of openness by discouraging perimeter walls that block visual corridors and/or trail easements.

Identify and celebrate the unique rural desert character of the Desert Foothills community.

Ensure future public infrastructure improvements blend into the natural desert setting and reflect the rustic, rural identity of the area.
Create entry features that reflect and celebrate the area's identity.
Design nonresidential structures to respect the existing rustic, rural character and scale of buildings across the area.

Proposed Zoning Overlay

If a new regulation, such as a zoning overlay, is adopted it would mainly apply to the unsubdivided areas within the study area. This overlay would be prescriptive in nature and address elements such as building and wall heights, setbacks, and placement of accessory buildings. These new zoning regulations would supplement the existing residential zoning districts and Environmentally Sensitive Lands Ordinance that apply to lands within the study area. In some cases, where there is some inherent conflict between underlying zoning and proposed overlay, the proposed overlay would supercede any existing zoning requirements.

It is important to note, even though there is strong support from the local community to implement such a technique, to meet legal requirements and create broader public awareness, there will be additional dialogue with local residents and property owners prior to forwarding the zoning overlay to City Council for their recommendations.

For More Information

For more information about the Desert Foothills Character Area contact Scottsdale Community Planning.

Mail: City of Scottsdale, Community Planning, 7447 E. Indian School Road, Suite #300, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Telephone: (480) 312-7093

E-mail: gneiss@ci.scottsdale.az.us

Web site: www.ci.scottsdale.az.us/communityplan/charplan.asp.