Committee Recommends Denying Plan to Turn Mesquite Golf Course Into Homes

Paradise Valley Village Planning Committee recommends denial of Copper Residences project

The Paradise Valley Village Planning Committee voted Tuesday night to recommend denying a proposal to transform a portion of the Mesquite Golf Course into a residential development, according to reports from ABC15 Arizona and Newsbreak.com. The decision follows a heated community meeting where neighbors expressed significant concerns regarding the potential transformation of the 72-acre site near the Phoenix-Scottsdale border into a complex of nearly 500 homes, townhouses, or condos.

The project, known as the Copper Residences Planned Unit Development, seeks to rezone the land currently occupied by the Mesquite Golf Course. While the Acacia and Ironwood courses would remain intact, the developer—the owner of the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa—aims to amend the city’s General Plan to allow for high-density housing on the Mesquite property. The committee’s recommendation for denial was met with cheers from those in attendance at the community center.

Neighbors voice concerns over traffic and open space loss

For many residents living near 66th Street and Greenway Parkway, the proposal represents a fundamental shift in the character of their neighborhood. The opposition has been highly organized, with the Kierland Community Alliance leading the charge. Members of the alliance have been visible throughout the area, wearing bright green T-shirts labeled “Keep Kierland Green” and placing signs in their yards to signal their stance.

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The scale of local opposition is reflected in the formal record; the city has already received more than 1,400 letters opposing the plan. Residents cited several specific anxieties during the meeting, ranging from the loss of community open space to the potential for increased traffic congestion and flooding issues.

“This proposal takes the open space our community was built around and adds traffic,” said Amy Satterfield, chairwoman of the Kierland Community Alliance.

Michael Seltzer, a local resident, echoed these sentiments, noting that the area near Scottsdale has already experienced significant development over the last few years and expressed worry that this project would exacerbate existing traffic problems.

Developer arguments and the timeline for the golf course

The proposal is not without its defenders. While many neighbors see the development as a threat, some residents argue that the project is a necessary evolution for the land. Grant MacKenzie, who grew up in the area, suggested that the developer has made concessions to address community needs, such as lowering building heights, reducing density, and adding greenspace.

Committee recommends denying plan to turn Mesquite Golf Course into homes — Photo: newsbreak.com

The economic reality of the course’s future was a central point in the debate. Jason Morris, an attorney representing the property owner Host Hotel and Resorts, provided a timeline that complicates the “status quo” argument. He noted that the Mesquite Golf Course is currently operational, but its future is not guaranteed.

“I will caution you it is a golf course today. On January 12th of 2028, it will no longer operate as a golf course,” Morris stated.

To mitigate the impact of the new housing, officials representing the resort stated that the updated Copper Residences plan would prioritize water conservation and include a five-acre park. The developer maintains that 18 holes of golf will still be preserved within the broader complex.

Political opposition and the path to a final decision

The project has also drawn sharp criticism from local legislative leadership. Arizona Rep. Matt Gress, whose district includes the Kierland area, characterized the rezoning plan as a “non-starter.” Rather than seeking minor adjustments to the current proposal, Gress suggested that the project needs to go back to the drawing board entirely.

Mesquite Golf Course Rezoning Hits Setback After Committee Vote

Despite the committee’s recommendation to deny the project, the decision is not final. The Paradise Valley Village Planning Committee serves as an advisory body, and the Copper Residences proposal must still clear two more significant hurdles before it can move forward:

Phoenix Planning Commission: The plan is scheduled for review in December.
Phoenix City Council: The final decision on whether to approve the rezoning will be made in January.

While city staff had originally recommended approval of the project, the committee’s vote creates a significant obstacle for the developers as they approach the end of the year.