City of Scottsdale Use Permit Text Amendment Issue

Update:  05/2007:  On 5/21/07 the motion to rescend the prior council action denying the conditional use permit for City oSunRise Church's private school was carried (5-2). In spite of two council members and many citizens objecting, SunRise Church was allowed to build a school on church property.  Some Council members expressed ssupport for this motion saying that Federal law protects churches, blelieving that the traffic issues have been addressed, and that compromises and good-faith have been extended by the parties.  Council members voting for the use-permit stated that the federal-law implies that a church should be allowed to add buildings that support its ministries.  Churches will still be required to present site plans to City of Scottsdale Planning Commission to ensure signage, setbacks, traffic management, etc. meet City of Scottsdale building & zoning codes.   

Update: 08/24/06: Based on your interest/input on this issue, this issue was not discussed at the August 23, 2006 City of Scottsdale Planning Commission meeting.  Previously there was an intent to solicit Planning Commission input via review of a white paper overview that included a summary of feedback received to date and options for how best to proceed.  Given the substantial amount of feedback, planning staff will be meeting one-on-one with a variety of community groups to provide issue clarification and gather additional input.  A date for Planning Commission review will be determined after these additional meetings have occurred.

Over 50 faith community leaders and representatives, including Fr. Pat, five other parish members and several Diocesan Office representatives attended a 08/21/06 meeting with Frank Gray, General Manager of the Planning & Development for City of Scottsdale.  Attendees stressed existing design review and municipal codes are effective and recommended no changes be made to existing regulations. 

Therefore, sometime between September, 2006 and March 2007, City of Scottsdale Planning Commission will be discussing a white paper specifying use permit ordinance changes that may SIGNIFICANTLY impact Blessed Sacrament, our neighboring Catholic parishes and "every" faith community located in City of Scottsdale! The City of Scottsdale Planning Commission is considering requiring use permits that will limit and/or restrict parking requirements, circulations (i.e. numbers of members attending services), multiple uses for church facilities, hours of operation and neighborhood impacts of every faith community in City of Scottsdale. In other words, use permits maybe denied or issued for a parish's religious services, day and evening ministry gatherings, social/fundraising events, concerts, fish fries, Lenten services. and who knows what. Watch upcoming bulletins and our parish's website for more information about this far-reaching issue.

Opposition Petitions for City of Scottsdale Residents

Fr. Pat, our pastor and our Ministry for Social Action (MSA) asked that " City of Scottsdale residents sign petitions of opposition. The petition was available in the parish office.   516 parishioners signed the petitions after Masses the last weekend in July.  Those signatures have been forwarded to Scottsdale's City Hall.  Thank you!

Emailing Campaign for Everyone

Fr. Pat and MSA asked that everyone email the following City of Scottsdale officials and staff. You do not have to include your address in this email. The email should at least state: " I understand that the City of Scottsdale is proposing an INSTITUTIONAL USE TEXT AMENDMENT (Project #5-TA-2006/247-PA-2006) prepared by the City of Scottsdale Planning Department. The proposal pays special attention to the restriction of non-residential uses in large lot residential districts and will require New & Existing Religious Institutions, or any other place of assembly, to go through the use permit process. I AM OPPOSED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENT." Many parishioners have sent emails - thank you!

Proposed C. U. P. Text Amendment City of Scottsdale e-mail addresses:

Mayor and City Council:

Planning Commission and City Planning and Development:

EHess@scottsdaleAZ.gov
JHeitel@scottsdaleAZ.gov
DBarnett@scottsdaleAZ.gov
lgalav@scottsdaleaz.gov
fgray@scottsdaleAZ.gov
rgrant@scottsdaleAZ.gov
mclack@scottsdaleAZ.gov
cpadian@scottsdaleAZ.gov

City Managers, City Attorney and City Clerk:

jdolan@ScottsdaleAZ.gov egawf@scottsdaleAZ.gov
rklingler@scottsdaleAZ.gov
nshearer@scottsdaleAz.gov
drobberson@ScottsdaleAZ.gov
cjagger@ScottsdaleAZ.gov

Not all Planning Commissioners have e-mail. However, if emails are sent to Ms. Galav, lgalav@socttsdaleaz.gov, she will make sure all Planning Commissions receive the email.

If you have questions or want more information, contact Honora or Fr. Pat at the Parish Office.  Thank you for taking the time to learn about this issue and assisting our neighboring faith communities.  If such a text amendment is approved in City of Scottsdale, the likelihood of City Phoenix and other cities following suit is high.