Development of Land east of Pima at 101

DC Ranch Engagement Plan for Development of the land at 8888 E. Bell Road – View Here
[Latest Update click here]

What is happening with the land east of Pima and the 101 Freeway, assigned the address of 8888 E. Bell Road?

In March 2022, the Mack Real Estate Company (Mack Co.) bought approximately 120 acres of state land south of DC Ranch. The land is not within DC Ranch’s boundaries, so the Community Council has no control over its development however they will advocate with the developer and the city on behalf of the DC Ranch community-at-large.

Mack paid $125 million for the parcel, more than $1m per acre. The land’s west boundary runs along the 101 and Pima Road. On the north it is bordered by Trailside View and on the south by Bell Road. The eastern boundary abuts DC Ranch Neighborhood Park, DC Ranch Corporate Center, and the Bell94 Sports Complex.

Close to 100 acres is zoned I-1, Industrial Park, which allows for industrial office and warehouse space. A small portion of land, approximately 17 acres located on the southeast corner, is zoned PRC, Planned Regional Center, which allows mixed use to include commercial, retail, and restaurant. Development is subject to approval by the City of Scottsdale.

In September 2022, Mack Co. shared that they plan to develop the 100 acres zoned I-1 first by building industrial warehouses which is within the current zoning. The buildings would range in size from approximately 50,000 – 200,000 square feet. They indicated that 24-hour per day semi-truck traffic will be part of the operations.

After review by the DC Ranch Community Council, the Community Council Board of Directors determined that the projected development is not compatible with DC Ranch and the surrounding area. The buildings would be massive, have exposed loading areas for semi-truck access, allow for storage outside of the buildings, and continual semi-truck traffic would use Pima Road.

After receiving DC Ranch’s input, the Mack Co. met with the Community Council Board to discuss both their original project, (warehouse buildings) and a mixed-use option that could be possible with a city of Scottsdale zoning change.

After discussion, the DC Ranch Community Council board of directors determined that they are supportive of the Mack Company’s initiative to pursue a concept plan for the north portion of the property that is consistent and compatible with adjacent development, including the DC Ranch community.

The Board encouraged the Mack Co. to begin a process that informs residents and gathers community feedback.

How can residents engage?

DC Ranch residents will be encouraged to engage with City staff, Commissioners and the Scottsdale Mayor and City Council members on the development of the land as it works its way through the city’s design and planning approval process.

How will DC Ranch be involved?

The DC Ranch Community Council will monitor and participate in various meetings and conversations with the developer and the City. Potential impacts, both positive and negative, on the DC Ranch community-at-large will be reviewed and if appropriate, the Community Council will engage with the goal of enhancing positive and minimizing negative impacts for DC Ranch residents.

If appropriate, the DC Ranch Community Council may develop a position on the development of the land and a related message that it will share with the broader community on behalf of DC Ranch.

The Community Council will provide updates to residents in the Public Affairs section on DCRanch.com and through other DC Ranch communication outlets, to include notification of opportunities for residents to provide input to the city on their desire to see the project completed in a manner they feel complements the neighborhood.

Latest Updates

April 27, 2023

DC Ranch and Ironwood Village have reviewed the Mack Innovation Park development applications and submitted comments to both the Mack Company and City of Scottsdale for changes/additions to make the project more compatible and integrated with adjacent neighbors.

DC Ranch/Ironwood Village Comments:
South Parcel, Industrial Phase I
North Parcel, Industrial Phase II

Residents are encouraged to submit their own comments to both Mack and the City or may simply state they are in support of the DC Ranch and Ironwood Village comments and want to see them implemented. Please use the following email addresses:

Mack Company: sdenham@mackregroup.com
City of Scottsdale Planning Department: mtessier@scottsdaleaz.gov

In addition, DC Ranch has been working with Windgate Ranch. Windgate stated that they plan to submit comments, with most being supportive of what DC Ranch and Ironwood Village have proposed.

April 26, 2023

A few days after the March 31 Mixed-Use Open House, the Mack Company stated that there was not significant support from the public for the Mixed-Use option and at this time they plan to move forward on the Industrial Project, Phase 1 (south parcel) and Phase II (north parcel). Both have already been submitted to the city planning department.

The Community Council is currently drafting comments to submit to the developer and city on both Phase I and Phase II. The comments are being developed from information garnered after reviewing the applications Mack filed with the city, sharing the applications with DC Ranch residents and seeking their input, reviewing feedback from three Open Houses, a site visit, asking questions of the applicant’s representative, and meeting with the city’s planning and transportation departments and the city manager.

DC Ranch’s comments will center around traffic (to include asking for “no truck zones”), the mass and design of the buildings, buffer zones, and operational restrictions - to name a few. In addition, DC Ranch is working with Ironwood Village and Windgate Ranch to have a greater impact.

Once complete, a link to the comments will be posted on this page.

March 17, 2023

The Mack Company has added an additional presentation on their Mixed-Use development option. This development is located outside of but adjacent to DC Ranch. Learn more about the development here. Please plan to attend one of the Open Houses.

Friday, March 31
3 to 5 p.m.
New: 5 to 7 p.m.
Windgate Ranch, Outdoor Living Room
10095 E. Windgate Ranch Rd.
Check in at the gatehouse for directions to the meeting

It is important for residents to understand the traffic impact of the two options for the northern portion of the project site: Industrial Project (presented at the Dec 6, 2022 Open House) verses Mixed-Use Project (the north parcel closest to DC Ranch would be residential/commercial instead of industrial).

If the land is fully developed as the Industrial option, their traffic count is projected to be:
All daily traffic: 2,648
Daily semi-truck traffic only: 197 (included in the number above)

Mack Company is expected to share the traffic figures for the Mixed-Use option at the Open House on March 31.

Mack can proceed on the Industrial option as proposed as it complies with current zoning, meaning it does not need Scottsdale City Council approval. While there may be a few components that can be influenced, traffic count isn’t one of them. DC Ranch will ask for “designated no-truck zones” if the Industrial option goes forward.

For the Mixed-Use option to move forward, a zoning change and general plan amendment needs to be voted on and approved by the city council. Mack would need significant public support for this to happen.

Again, residents are encouraged to attend the Open House and provide feedback to the developer.

Questions may be directed to Chris Irish, Community Council Public Affairs Director.

March 9, 2023

The Mack Company will present an alternative option for a more compatible use on the north parcel, closest DC Ranch. If supported by the public, it could replace the industrial warehouses that generate semi-truck traffic. Residents are encouraged to attend and provide feedback to the developer:

Friday, March 31 | 3 to 5 p.m.
Windgate Ranch, Outdoor Living Room
10095 E Windgate Ranch Rd.
Check in at the gatehouse for directions to the meeting

In addition, Mack has submitted an application to City of Scottsdale for its Industrial Project Phase I and Phase II.

The Community Council, on behalf of the DC Ranch community-at-large, will submit comments to the city and Mack on both applications, industrial Phase I and Phase II, within the month. To provide feedback for discussion and consideration on the project comments, please contact Chris Irish by March 12. Residents will be provided a copy of the Council's comments, along with a link to where they can submit their individual comments to the city.

Map of North and South Parcels
Proposed Industrial Project Site Plan

Feb. 6, 2023

The Mack Company is postponing their Mixed-Use Public Open House planned for Feb. 7 at Windgate Clubhouse. Residents will be informed once a new date has been announced. The purpose of the Open House is to present an alternative option to industrial development (large warehouses that generate semi-truck traffic) on the north parcel of land Mack owns at the northwest corner of Pima and the 101, continuing south to Bell Road.

Feb. 2023

The Mack Company submitted preliminary plans to the City of Scottsdale for industrial development on the south parcel of their land. Click here to read the full submittal. After review, the Community Council will submit comments to the city and developer on behalf of the DC Ranch community-at-large. These comments will be made available to residents who are also encouraged to submit their individual comments to the city.

Jan. 5, 2023

At the Mack Company’s public open house on Dec. 6, 2022, not one attendee spoke in favor of the industrial development as proposed. Due to this feedback, Mack Company is considering a redesign of the north parcel as a Mixed-Use project. This is the land closest to DC Ranch.

To build a Mixed-Use project, Mack would need to get a zoning change and general plan amendment from the city of Scottsdale. This will only happen if there is strong public support for the Mixed-Use project. In the next 30 days, Mack will hold another open house to introduce the Mixed-Use project and garner public input. All DC Ranch residents will be notified of the date and time of this open house.

The way the project is unfolding, DC Ranch will run two strategies simultaneously, one for Industrial and one for Mixed-Use. The strategies are briefly outlined below. Residents are encouraged to remain informed about and engaged with the project; DC Ranch will assist with that by providing regular updates about the project.

It is important to be realistic – DC Ranch will never be able to get everything the community wants nor make everyone happy. Please keep that in mind as the Community Council works through this time-consuming and often stressful process.

Strategy for Industrial Project:

Mack submitted their industrial plans (large warehouses/distribution centers) for the north and south parcels of their land to the city in late December City staff must confirm all elements have been addressed, and then post them as public documents. As of Jan. 10, no plans have been made public.
The DC Ranch Community Council will write a response to Mack’s proposal and will submit that to the city. We will primarily address matters relating to the north parcel such as traffic, safety, ingress/egress, massing, design, buffers, landscaping, parking, etc. This response will be posted on DCRanch.com.
The DC Ranch Community Council will push for these issues to be addressed as the project moves through all the city approval processes, to include meeting with city council members to encourage them to support our requests. Residents can also request the same, similar, or different issues to be resolved by the developer/city.
This strategy ensures that should the north parcel be developed as Industrial and not Mixed Use, the Community Council has worked to try to get the best outcome possible for the DC Ranch community-at-large.

Strategy for Mixed Use:

Mack will hold another open house in late January/early February to present a Mixed-Use project on the north parcel. We have encouraged them to utilize The Homestead for the meeting. The Community Council will use all communication tools to encourage DC Ranch residents to attend.
If there is resident support for Mack’s Mixed-Use and more long-term home value for the DC Ranch community-at-large, the Community Council may support the changes needed for the project. If so, we will invite neighboring communities, such as Windgate and Ironwood Village, to collaborate on a joint letter to the city, as we will be stronger together. We may or may not request changes to the project depending on the proposed design.
This strategy may be more fluent as we have yet to see the Mixed-Use proposal, however our intent is the same: for the Community Council to work to try to get the best Mixed-Use project possible for the DC Ranch community-at-large.

Dec. 8, 2022
On Dec. 6 the Mack Company held an Open House to share their plans for an industrial warehouse/distribution center development. The industrial plan, which would create significant semi-truck traffic, was not well received. Many DC Ranch residents and the Community Council have encouraged the developer to pivot to a more compatible use on at least the north portion of the land. The developer said they will bring forward a mixed-use project for consideration. Such a change is challenging as it would require Scottsdale City Council to approve new zoning and a general plan amendment and would likely only happen if there is significant public support for the change. The Community Council will monitor progress on this development and inform residents of opportunities to provide their input to the developer and the city.

Nov. 23, 2022
Residents are encouraged to attend an Open House on the development of 125 acres of land adjacent to DC Ranch and provide feedback to the developer. The land is zoned I-1, Industrial. The developer, Mack Company, is planning large industrial warehouse/distribution centers which will generate significant semi-truck traffic. The DC Ranch Community Council has asked the developer to pursue a more compatible use for the north portion of the property. It is important that residents also weigh in.

Open House
Dec. 6, 5:30 p.m.
McDowell Mountain Marriott
16770 N Perimeter Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85260