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Neighborhood opposition over zoning increase of just 19 feet for 44|Camelback development:

https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/..._news_headline

A new mixed-use development with ties to some of the Valley business community’s biggest names faced vocal opposition Tuesday at its first public airing.

The public meeting regarding the 44|Camelback project, which is being proposed for the northwest corner of 44th Street and Camelback Road in Phoenix, drew numerous residents who told members of the Camelback East Village Planning Committee the project is too tall and would block the neighborhood’s view of Camelback Mountain.

The $300 million project is being master developed by Phoenix-based Red Development, which brought on popular restaurateur Sam Fox to develop the proposed hotel. The Phoenix Suns, the Valley's National Basketball Association team, is designing a $25 million to $50 million practice facility on the property as well.

The proposed project includes a hotel, five-story Class A office building, parking structure, another four-story office building with ground-floor retail, a self storage facility and the Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury practice facility. Demolition of existing buildings has begun, and construction is expected to start soon.

To build the project as Red and Fox have proposed, the developer is asking the city to increase height restrictions to 75 feet. Current zoning allows for buildings up to 56 feet tall.

Burch & Cracchiolo attorney Ed Bull spoke on the developer’s behalf Tuesday, presenting information to show Red was only asking for two of the seven buildings to go as high as 75 feet. At the same time, Bull said 88% of the project would be lower than 36 feet.

The backlash is not against the redevelopment, but rather that upset neighbors don’t want buildings that tall in their neighborhood, said Shannon Johnson, an area homeowner and one of the leaders of the “No to 75 feet” campaign.

19. Feet. Mountain view. A "No on _____" campaign. "I don't dislike development, just tall development." Murderer's row of NIMBY buzzwords there. Crap drives me nuts.