Scottsdale Planning Commission Advances Church Expansion, Splits on Fire-Zone Land Rules

Highlights

• Commissioners voted 6-1 to recommend City Council approve a conditional use permit for a community building at St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church at 525 N. 74th St.
• The approval includes an amended stipulation requiring a minimum 15-foot southern setback for the proposed multipurpose building.
• A text amendment updating Environmentally Sensitive Lands fire defensible space rules was continued to an undetermined date on a 4-3 vote.
• Commissioners also unanimously approved recommending abandonment of 40 feet of right-of-way on E. Cactus Road adjacent to parcel No. 217-44-363.

The Scottsdale Planning Commission voted 6-1 on April 22 to recommend City Council approve a conditional use permit for a community building and recreational facilities at St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church, 525 N. 74th St., with a dissent from Commissioner Barney Gonzales.

The property carries Single-family Residential (R1-7) zoning, according to the commission's agenda. The permit request, filed as case 11-UP-2025, covers a community building and recreational facilities not publicly owned. Commissioner David Reid made the motion for approval after finding that the conditional use permit criteria had been met and that the proposal conforms with the adopted General Plan. The motion carried with an amended stipulation requiring the southern setback be increased to a minimum of 15 feet. Architect Akram Rosheidat is listed as the applicant contact.

The same meeting produced a closer outcome on a separate land-use matter. Commissioners voted 4-3 to continue case 11-TA-2000#4 — a staff-initiated text amendment to the city's Environmentally Sensitive Lands overlay provisions addressing fire defensible space — to a date to be determined. Chair Joe Young, Commissioner George Ertel, and Commissioner David Reid dissented, signaling disagreement over the delay. The amendment, if ultimately adopted, would modify Sections 1.1402, 3.100, and 6.1100 of the City of Scottsdale Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 455). Staff contact Jesus Murillo is listed on the item.

On the consent agenda, commissioners voted unanimously, 7-0, to recommend City Council approve the abandonment of 40 feet of right-of-way of the E. Cactus Road alignment adjacent to parcel No. 217-44-363, along with a 25-foot roadway easement within that parcel, at 12229 E. Cactus Road. The parcel carries Single-family Residential, Environmentally Sensitive Lands (R1-43 ESL) zoning. The request was filed by owner John Izzo.

All seven commissioners were present at the April 22 meeting, which was held at City Hall Kiva Forum, 3939 N. Drinkwater Boulevard, and adjourned at 5:53 p.m. The commission also unanimously approved minutes from its April 8 regular meeting.

Sources

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1. City of Scottsdale retrieved 2026-05-02T03:39:23.563226+00:00

Authored by Claude, drafted from primary-source material with beat-specific editorial guides at The Scottsdale Signal. Sources retrieved at 2026-05-02T03:39:23.563226+00:00. Every claim traces to a source. Reviewed before publish under our five-gate editorial process.