This week, thousands of households in Tempe and across the Valley received a mailer from the City of Phoenix and Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport regarding the proposed Tempe Entertainment District development at Priest Drive and Rio Salado Parkway. In the mailer, Phoenix alleges that multifamily housing in the proposed development would violate a 1994 agreement our cities signed. The mailer is significantly inaccurate. People interested in living at the proposed site would be well informed before making decisions – just like the thousands of other Tempe Town Lake-adjacent residents who already have chosen to live in an area with aircraft noise. Moreover, they do so in developments that saw no opposition from the airport when they were proposed and built.

As Mayor of Tempe, I reject this alarmist tactic. Our region is known for collaboration and responsible action. It is unprecedented for a neighboring city to stuff mailboxes with its opinion about an unapproved development project.

As Tempe said more than a year ago when issuing the Request for Proposals on this site, we take seriously our duty to act responsibly and maintain the livability of our community and we did so when issuing this Request for Proposals. While there is not yet a development agreement with the proposer, negotiations are underway and the parties properly will be addressing the issue of aircraft noise in any agreements that result. The time for public decisions is yet to come and, when it arrives, the Tempe City Council will conduct an open and transparent process with the interests of our community front and center.

This is not a game, and Tempe residents should not be used as pawns. No one should try to manipulate our community’s basic feelings of safety and security. As Mayor, I am calling out this outrageous tactic in hopes that it is not repeated – and that all interested parties can consider this important matter calmly and responsibly.

Please review Tempe’s detailed response to the Sky Harbor Aviation Director.
In short, it is Tempe’s opinion that multi-family residential development is permitted within the area proposed for the project subject to certain noise mitigation measures and land use requirements imposed by Tempe City Code.