Scottsdale not skin-friendly / P. 22
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Ortega rips Legislature in annual address BY J. GRABER Progress Staff Writer
NEWS ......................... 8 Revived and renewed, Civic Center partially reopens.
BUSINESS............ 29 JOJO Coffee reinvents itself in Old Town.
SPORTS .................. 31 Saguaro introduces new football coach. NEIGHBORS ...............................28 BUSINESS ...................................29 SPORTS........................................ 31 ARTS ............................................32 CLASSIFIEDS .............................34
Sunday, JANUARY 22, 2023
M
anaging some 5,000 short-term rentals in Scottsdale was a monumental task for the city’s staff and elected officials in 2022, and it looks to be just as daunting a job in 2023. That’s why Mayor David Ortega used his annual State of the City address Jan. 18 to call for a new zoning category for shortterm rentals. “This year the proliferation of shortterm rentals continues to threaten our neighborhoods,” Ortega said. “Today, I am asking that our council and city staff initi-
ate text amendments to place short-term rentals as a separate zoning category in our zoning ordinance. “We will continue to push for density caps, density restrictions and distancing measures to rein in short-term rentals.” He blamed the short-term rental “debacle” on the state Legislature. “In 2015, actions taken by the Arizona Legislature essentially legalized shortterm rentals everywhere, pre-empting local zoning oversight,” Ortega said. “Unregulated short-term properties violate our outstanding neighborhood livability.” Though he noted lawmakers returned some control to the cities last year and the
Scottsdale City Council approved amendments to the city’s vacation rental code to require all short-term rentals to register with the city in order to do business in town. “Scottsdale's short-term rental licensing program is in effect and owners of STR properties must comply with every term and condition and be held accountable,” Ortega said. Over-construction of multifamily complexes is just as big of a crisis for the city, Ortega said. “Similar to the short-term rental debacle, which originated at the Arizona Legislature, there are forces at the Legislature atsee
ORTEGA page 12
Western Week galloping Monopoly: Scottsdale back into Scottsdale BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer
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estern Week returns to Scottsdale beginning Saturday, Jan. 28, bringing a broad range of classic events that pay homage to the history of the “West’s Most Western Town.” This year brings plenty of promise as
Andrew Bloom REALTOR®, Senior Partner Andrew@BVOLuxury.com VOTED #1 SCOTTSDALE TEAM FOR FOR2022 2018 VOTED #1 SCOTTSDALE REAL REAL ESTATE ESTATE TEAM
two keystone events will be celebrating big anniversaries. The Hash Knife Pony Express will make its 65th annual pilgrimage from Holbrook to Scottsdale to deliver the mail via pony exsee
WESTERN page 26
Top Trumps USA last week unveiled its Scottsdale edition of the classic board game, Monopoly. The game features 28 spaces reflecting some of the city’s best known landmarks, as you’ll read on page 21. (David Minton/Progress Staff Photographer)
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