Specific Design Guidelines 

Components of Scenic Corridors

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Regional Feature Crossings and Intersections

Regional Feature Crossings: Along these corridors there are natural desert features, vista corridors, wildlife crossings, trails, pedestrian paths, natural washes, and regionally engineered drainage solutions that bisect Scenic Corridors. These features must be recognized by development and special care taken to maintain these natural connections that are bisected by the corridors must be preserved. In all cases any development adjacent to these linear bisects should respect the Scottsdale Sensitive Design Principles.

Minor Washes: The Environmentally Sensitive Lands Ordinance (E.S.L.O.) identifies minor washes as those with 250 CFS flows in 100-year events. Although minor washes are not noted as Vista Corridors by the E.S.L.O. they should be respected as natural crossings that cut through development and could allow for the movement of wildlife. Leaving these washes in a natural state and leaving them open as a visual corridor is recommended.

Major Washes & Vista Corridors: Washes with a flow of 750 CFS or greater during a 100-year event classifies it as a Vista Corridor in the E.S.L.O. This requires that a minimum 100' wide buffer be kept to maintain the wash. Additionally the width may expand if topography and historical flow levels indicate a wider channel. These washes should be left open for wildlife egress and visual access.

Intersections: Intersections of major cross streets provide a unique opportunity to express manmade improvements that exemplify the Sonoran Desert Design Principles. Most motorists and pedestrians will stop at these junctions during their travels along Scottsdale Road. This element of time will allow for a greater detail of observation, therefore, additional attention to detail shall be important. Additionally opportunities for view sheds should be considered in the development of all intersection sites.

Encouraged Intersection development:

• Deep corner cut-off set backs
• Interesting composition of native desert landscape demonstration
• Open corners to visually extend desert features and mountain vistas and or views to interior natural open space within a development.
• Pay particular attention to the organization and screening or camouflaging of any utility riser or other built environment element, and blend into surrounding landscape and/or other elements of the surrounding context.