The Scottsdale Planning Commission has endorsed ST Residential’s proposal for the second phase of the Safari Drive condominium complex along the Arizona Canal north of Camelback Road. Safari Drive in Scottsdale plans stalled in late 2007 with the market crash and led to an unsightly dirt lot along Scottsdale Rd, between Chaparral Rd and Camelback.

The proposal by Safari Drive  seeks amended development standards under the city’s downtown infill-incentive district and plan. Those include:

• – An increase in maximum building height to 105 feet from 65 feet.
• – An increase in overall density to 55 units per acre from 50.
• – An increase in the floor area of the buildings.

The proposed height increase would make Phase 2 substantially higher than the first phase, which is approximately 60 feet. However, it would be hidden from Scottsdale Road behind Gray Development Group’s Blue Sky apartment complex, which will have a maximum building height of 128 feet.

The Safari Drive Phase 2 building heights would be 63 feet and 68 feet nearest the first phase and then would reach 105 feet next to Blue Sky.

The commission unanimously recommended Wednesday that the City Council approve the changes. The council will consider the proposal when it returns from its break in August.

Commissioner Jay Petkunas, a Safari Drive resident, wasn’t at the meeting, while Commissioner Michael Edwards, an architect, recused himself from considering the case because he is working for ST Residential on the second phase.

The seven-building first phase includes 89 units on about 3 acres. The second phase would include 160 units in two buildings on 1.87 acres.

The infill-incentive district and plan established a building-height maximum of 150 feet north of the Arizona Canal and surrounding Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center.

In April, the council approved Blue Sky, the first proposal filed under the district and plan and is set to consider the second proposal, Scottsdale and Angus, at its meeting Tuesday. That proposal seeks a maximum building height of 90 feet at Scottsdale Road and Angus Drive.

Check out Safari Drive or the Blue Sky Project.

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