Council deadlocks on downtown task force after heated public pushback over Brown Street garage and farmers market

Scottsdale City Council debated but ultimately failed to approve a revised plan to create a downtown task force after residents and merchants urged the council to protect Old Town character and preserve the farmers market.

Mayor Lisa Borowski introduced Resolution No. 13583 to form a task force that would recommend updates to the downtown character area plan and downtown marketing. The measure drew extended public comment: long-time merchants and residents warned a multi-level Brown Street parking garage would harm historical buildings, disrupt businesses during construction and potentially force the Old Town farmers market to relocate.

Opponents including merchant Elizabeth Cavalier and longtime resident Steve Sutton argued the farmers market and the low-scale character of Old Town draw visitors. "Building a bigger garage will damage the ambiance and character of historic Old Town," Sutton said. Several speakers said anecdotal complaints about parking should not drive a $15–$20 million capital decision and urged an updated parking study and better signage to increase utilization of existing garages.

Councilmembers debated membership and scope. Councilwoman Solange Whitehead and others cautioned against undoing work already done in the Old Town character-area planning process; Councilwoman Mary Anne McAllen proposed amending the task force to reduce membership to seven and to allow resident representation. The amendment was moved and seconded, but the motion on the table failed to carry.

Council later took up a separate agenda item to direct the city manager to agendize a future discussion of downtown parking solutions and an updated parking study, but that motion did not result in decisive action at this meeting. The debate leaves in place the underlying tensions between preservation-minded residents and property owners who contend more parking or different designs are needed to sustain Old Town commerce.