Axon Approved

Axon finally cracked the stalemate. The city gave the green light. The reworked plan folds condos & apartments into a massive Scottsdale headquarters campus, shrinking the earlier density while keeping the project alive. You can feel the push from every angle. Neighbors speak up. Lawmakers jump in. The whole thing keeps reshaping a fast-growing slice of ‘The Valley.’

Quick Points

• Scottsdale approves Axon campus with 1,200 homes

• Plan now includes 600 condos & 600 apartments

• Older 1,900-unit version pulled

• Referendum threat still hangs in the background

A Reset That Steers The Project In A New Direction

This updated plan cuts the housing footprint in half. Axon accepted a cap of 1,200 homes, split evenly between condos & apartments in two phases. The shift replaces a rougher, high-density model that once held about 1,900 homes. That earlier version stalled out after rising tension around growth. Scottsdale wanted changes. Axon needed certainty. The two sides struck a deal that clears a path forward.

• Units trimmed to 1,200

• Condos & apartments split evenly

• Two-phase housing rollout

• Office, hotel, manufacturing, retail included

The smaller plan still carries weight because it anchors a major employer in the North Valley corridor. It’s a big statement for Greater Phoenix & its steady corporate pull.

Also Read: Axon Campus Approved As Hobbs Signs Rezoning Fast-Track

A Location Surrounded By A Building Surge

The site sits near Loop 101 & Hayden Road, right where new projects stack up. That pocket of Scottsdale connects to a broader build-out, including massive jobs & construction investments around THE PARQUE. Crews keep moving. Cranes stay up. People in nearby neighborhoods talk about rising density across the region. Growth pressure keeps shaping this part of ‘The Valley.’

• Loop 101/Hayden site

• Surrounded by new activity

• Tied to big regional projects

• Long-timers voice concerns

This campus adds another major layer to a zone already shifting fast. The pace sets the tone for the politics that follow.

A Vote That Needed The Mayor’s Hand

The City Council didn’t move in lockstep. The vote split. The mayor broke it. That last push delivered a narrow approval for Axon. But the city tied the deal to a new memorandum of understanding. Axon must sign it within the set window. If that deadline slips, the city attorney can prepare possible litigation. The Council also repealed the older approval, which ended a pending referendum tied to the 1,900-unit plan.

• Split vote

• Mayor seals approval

• New agreement required

• Earlier deal repealed

The political back-and-forth showed how charged this project became. Every move felt like a turning point.

A Referendum That Stopped The First Groundbreaking

That earlier 1,900-unit plan hit a hard stop after a local group gathered enough signatures to push it to a ballot. The referendum froze Axon’s timeline. Nothing could start. Then state lawmakers stepped in and passed a bill that protected Axon’s ability to include housing in the headquarters plan. Opponents didn’t back off. They launched a legal challenge against the law itself.

• Signatures filed

• Project frozen

• State bill passed

• Lawsuit filed

Opponents now say they might try again with the new version, though no formal filing has landed yet. The tension hasn’t faded.

Also Read: Petition Threatens Axon’s Future Scottsdale Headquarters Plan

A State Law That Still Carries Weight

The “Axon Bill” lets large corporate headquarters build apartments & hotels in light-industrial zones if certain criteria are met. That matters because once Scottsdale repealed the old agreement, the land flipped back to light-industrial zoning. Normally, that zoning blocks any homes. Opponents argue the law makes it harder for residents to send specific city actions to the ballot. That courtroom fight continues.

• Housing allowed in industrial zones

• Applies to qualifying corporate campuses

• Opponents target voter rules

• Land reverted to industrial zoning

This law keeps the door open for Axon while the courts sort out the limits.

Talks Revived After A Quiet Stall

Axon & the city went quiet for a stretch. Then the talks restarted just before the final vote. The breakthrough came after Axon cut unit counts and adjusted the scale. That change gave the Council something it could back. Opponents still hint at more challenges. The air feels unsettled, even with the approval in place.

• Stalled negotiations

• Lowered density

• Revised plan accepted

• Future challenges possible

The revived talks show how hard the city & Axon worked to reach even this slimmer deal.

What Comes Next As The Clock Starts Again

Axon expects construction to start in 2026, possibly early or mid-year. The company must sign the new agreement first, or the project could slide into another legal round. Axon bought the land in 2020, but the plan has never stopped shifting. Now the next chapter sits on the city’s desk.

• Construction aimed for 2026

• Agreement signature required

• Possible litigation if missed

• Land purchased in 2020

Once Axon signs, the campus can finally break loose and begin reshaping that corner of ‘The Valley.’