Scottsdale short-term rentals, Papago Park deal evaluated by Guy Phillips

By Melissa Rosequist
Twitter: @mrosequist_

For this week’s Scottsdale City Council Q&A series, candidates answer questions on topics submitted by readers: short-term rentals and the Papago Park land deal.

Incumbent Guy Phillips, who has been on Scottsdale city council for both topics provides insight to these hot topics.

Mr. Phillips is one of six candidates seeking to be elected to three open seats for Scottsdale City Council in the Tuesday, Nov. 3, general election. Mail-in ballots will be sent to voters this week, the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office says.

This week’s questions come from Scottsdale Independent readers, who want to know candidates’ perspectives on issues near and dear to their heart.

Short-term rentals — also known as vacation homes — are having a continued disruption on Arizona neighborhoods as the Airbnb and VRBO enterprise gains steam. Many residents question how to resolve the issue of unruly vacation properties in their neighborhoods.

A second hot topic is the Papago Park land use agreement between Scottsdale, the City of Phoenix and the San Francisco Giants.

In November 2018, the Scottsdale City Council approved a lease and of Papago Park with Phoenix, and a sublease with the Giants to provide the California baseball team with a permanent, dedicated year-round player development facility at the Papago Sports Complex.

Read below to see what Mr. Phillips has to say on both topics.

Do you support short-term rentals in Scottsdale’s neighborhoods?

I was opposed to the state’s legislation that allowed short term rentals in Scottsdale. Before that Scottsdale did not allow any rental under 30 days.

What change would you propose to fix the issue of short-term rentals if you had the authority?

Last year I spoke before the state Senate subcommittee to advocate for a bill that would allow municipalities to regulate STRs, which was a big point of contention in Scottsdale at the time. I believe this legislation would have passed but the coronavirus hit and the Legislature convened without passing any bills.

I hope to try again next year.

Do you receive any financial benefit from STRs, STR owners, or Online lodging operators?

I do not, however, I would like to point out that private homeowners who rent out second homes are not the problem. It is the large corporations, mostly overseas, who purchase homes here and across the country for the sole purpose of short-term rentals, driving up purchasing costs and diminishing values of neighborhoods.

These companies will pay up to 15% more than the asking price, keeping families from purchasing homes, while at the same time other families next to an STR cannot sell their home because no one wants to buy next to an STR.

People in Scottsdale and neighboring areas have concerns about the Giants project at Papago Park. They believe that this project: 1. Has caused serious harm to the scenery and desert landscape of that park; 2. That the financial conditions are inappropriate; and 3. It is unacceptable to build a private corporate compound in a public park. What are your feelings about this?

The land deal at Papago Park is a Phoenix-based land deal that made an agreement with Scottsdale and the Giants. All criticism should be directed at Phoenix. Scottsdale has tried to work with the neighborhood to the north by stopping the construction of the playing fields until the trails were completed.

My personal feeling is that it was ill-advised without proper vetting by the neighbors, but the powers that be rammed it through. Scottsdale’s involvement was to make sure it was well designed and, after construction, well maintained. I believe when it’s completed it will enhance the area with trails for pedestrians and their pets as well as cyclists and provide a cleaner and safer area for everyone.