Development of Northeast Corner of 94th Street and Bell
DC Ranch Engagement Plan for Development of the Northeast Corner of 94th Street and Bell – View Here
[Latest Update click here]
What is happening with the land at the Northeast corner of 94th Street and Bell?
On March 16, 2022, the City of Scottsdale held an auction to sell approximately 40 acres of land they owned at the northeast corner of 94th Street and Bell. The legal address is 9402 E. Bell Road. The north boundary of the land abuts DC Ranch’s Desert Haciendas neighborhood.
The minimum bid was $42.7 million and American First Builders was the only bidder. They have a 90 due diligence period to complete the sale.
At the time of the auction, the buyer is not required to disclose their intended use for the land, nor when development may take place. It is possible that a new owner will request a zoning change on the land.
American First Builders is a custom residential homebuilder that offices in the DC Ranch Corporate Center and has built homes in DC Ranch’s Silverleaf Village.
The land is currently zoned R-7, which is one residential unit per 7000 square feet. R1-7 zoning is intended to promote and preserve urban single-family residential development and allows for one single family home per 7,000 sq ft lot. The principal land use is a single-family dwelling. Uses incidental or accessory to dwellings, recreations, religious and educational facilities are included.
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 its 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
Jan. 17, 2023
American First Builders recently submitted their development plan to the City of Scottsdale. You can read the full proposal here.
This land is not in DC Ranch, so the DC Ranch Community Council has no direct control over its development. However, the Community Council will monitor the development through the city’s approval process and make comments on behalf of the DC Ranch community-at-large.
The Community Council will look at safety, traffic, buffering, massing, lighting, landscaping, design, etc. The Council welcomes resident input. If at any time during this process you would like to add a comment for the Community Council’s discussion or be added to an email list for updates, please email Chris Irish, Director of Public Affairs.
In addition, residents will be informed of opportunities to submit personal comments to the city throughout the process. The developer is not required to hold a public Open House but if they schedule one, residents will be informed of the date and time.
October 2022
American First Builders had their pre-application meeting with City of Scottsdale staff to discuss drainage, grading, access and other construction elements that will impact layout of the homes on this 40-acre parcel. The land is zoned R-7, one residential unit per 7000 square feet, and currently there is no zoning change request planned. A site plan should be developed and publicly available in the next few months. The purchase price for the land was more than a million dollars per acre so the homes will be high-end.
May 2022
The sale was finalized at the May 3 Scottsdale City Council meeting. The new owner, American First Builders, is seeking an equity partner. The zoning allows for one home per 7000 square feet. In a meeting with DC Ranch staff, American Home Builders said that at this time they do not think they will request a zoning change.
March 2022
On March 16, the City of Scottsdale held an auction for approximately 40 acres they owned at the northeast corner of 94th Street and Bell. American First Builders was the only bidder at the minimum bid of $47 million. American First Builders is a custom residential homebuilder that offices in the DC Ranch Corporate Center. They have built homes in DC Ranch’s Silverleaf Village. The City of Scottsdale allows for a 90-day due diligence period to finalize the sale. The land abuts Desert Haciendas on the north.
January 2022
At its Jan. 27 meeting, the Community Council Board of Directors approved the Engagement Plan for the Land at 9402 E. Bell Road.