Axon housing foes not giving up fight, prepare to sue Scottsdale over deal with Taser-maker

PHOENIX – A citizen group is preparing to sue the city of Scottsdale over the housing element of Taser-maker Axon’s future headquarters.

Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions (TAAAZE) announced Tuesday it sent Scottsdale a demand letter ahead of possible litigation over the city’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Axon.

“The MOU is just the latest in Axon’s ongoing effort to railroad this unwanted project over public opposition through antidemocratic, backdoor dealing,” the letter says.

TAAAZE has been a constant thorn in Axon’s side since the company announced plans to build a new headquarters and housing on 70 acres near the Loop 101 Pima Freeway and Hayden Road. The homegrown multibillion-dollar company purchased the land for $49.1 million during a State Trust Land auction in 2020.

TAAAZE threatening lawsuit even after Axon lowered its sights

The Taser-maker initially wanted to build nearly 1,900 apartments as part of the project, but the MOU approved by the Scottsdale City Council last month cut the housing to 1,200 units — 600 apartments and 600 condos. That still didn’t appease TAAAZE, which has been pushing to put the issue before voters.

Earlier this year, TAAAZE collected enough signatures to put the rezoning plan on the ballot. That prompted Axon to cancel a groundbreaking ceremony in January and threaten to move out of Arizona.

The potential ballot roadblock was removed in April when state lawmakers enacted legislation that makes certain zoning changes in cities of Scottsdale’s size exempt from referendum petitions.

TAAAZE said Tuesday it is still pursuing a lawsuit challenging that law in addition to its potential litigation against Scottsdale over the MOU.

“Axon has engaged in backroom dealing, bullying and buying influence. We are not going to let them get away with it, and hopefully the courts will agree,” Bob Littlefield, TAAAZE chairman and a former Scottsdale councilman, said in a press release Tuesday.

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