Scottsdale leaders promise to fight Axon development despite bill signing

SCOTTSDALE, AZ (AZFamily) — Axon was founded in Arizona more than three decades ago, and a bill passed by the legislature and signed late Friday by the Governor should keep them here for decades to come.

The Scottsdale-based company got the green light after its massive proposed headquarters compound hit major opposition and a contentious political battle.

Those against this project said they’re not surprised that the Governor signed it, but they fear for the precedent it sets. They say this move takes away local control over planning and zoning, as well as the voice of the voters.

“Axon wants to come to the table and build housing for their workforce and that’s helping solve another big problem that we have in the state,” Governor Katie Hobbs told Arizona’s Family on Friday.

The company that manufactures tasers and police body cameras has been caught up in controversy over its plan to build a massive new headquarters complex near Loop 101 and Hayden Road. At issue are the company’s plans to build nearly two thousand apartments, as well as restaurants and a hotel.

“There’s not enough water to support that kind of population increase. There’s not enough road capacity. Our roads are already mobbed,” said Bob Littlefield. The former Scottsdale city council member is among those leading the opposition to the project.

Littlefield’s group gathered 27,000 signatures in an attempt to force the issue to the ballot, and Scottsdale’s current mayor is also against it. But those efforts appear to have been in vain after Axon made their case at the state capitol.

Lawmakers narrowly approved a bill giving Axon permission to sidestep the city and move forward. The Governor agrees.

“As Governor, I’m focused on making sure we’re continuing to bring businesses to our state that are creating good-paying jobs,” said Hobbs.

Littlefield said the fight is far from over, adding that his group is working on a plan and exploring all legal avenues to try to halt the project.

“The whole thing is outrageous. It’s government at its worst,” he said. “This bill negates the rights of the citizens of the city of Scottsdale to decide their own future. It negates their rights to have a referendum and that is not only wrong, we believe it’s unconstitutional.”

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