The rallying cry of concerned citizens may be: “Save the DRB!”
If so, that likely would be in vain, as a new state law requires Scottsdale and other cities to make development decisions behind closed doors.
While this is not a big deal in places like Phoenix, which have followed the “administrative review” process for years, it’s somewhat of a jolting change in Scottsdale, where wary residents closely follow plans for landscape-changing developments.
Meanwhile, Scottsdale appears to be dragging its feet on passing an ordinance demanded by the new state law.
For years, Scottsdale’s Development Review Board – commonly known as the DRB – has been a crucial step in the development process of mega projects.
Before landing before Scottsdale City Council for final approval, the people behind the Mack Innovation Park, the Parque, ASM, the Artisan and many others first had to make their pitches to the volunteers of the DRB.
Often, that meant the chance for worried neighbors to hear more about the projects and/or voice their concerns about noise, traffic, over-crowding etc.
Some of those meetings stretched hours, with developers pummeled by demands for information by the volunteer board as well as residents.
These days, the DRB may not be DOA – but it is an emasculated, even skeleton version of its former muscular entity.
The Development Review Board’s lone meeting this year was March 3, with no business other than to hear a presentation on the city’s plan for shade trees and vote to approve the DRB 2025 report.
The other five DRB meetings thus far in 2026, including one scheduled for March 19, were canceled.
Asked about this, Holly Peralta, a city spokeswoman, said,
“The Development Review Board itself is not being eliminated, but its role is being reevaluated.”
She said the multiple cancellations of Development Review Board meetings “are related to a new state law that changed how certain development applications must be reviewed.”
House Bill 2447 became law at the end of 2025. Peralta noted it “requires municipalities to have administrative staff review and approve several types of development plans based on objective standards and without a public hearing.
“As a result, development review cases that were previously heard by the DRB are now being reviewed administratively by city staff to comply with the law.”
But how to find what’s going on?
According to Peralta, projects can be searched on the city’s “SPUR” (Scottsdale Smart Planning Use and Regulations) website.
This is “a new online platform designed to simplify how residents, businesses and developers interact with the city for permits, planning and other approvals.”
The new law
Sponsored by Rep. Michael Carbone, R-Buckeye, and Sen. Janae Shamp, R-Surprise, HB 2447 passed by the Arizona Senate (19-8) and House (38-22) before being signed by Gov. Katie Hobbs one year ago.
It went into effect Dec. 31.
The legislation made huge change for places like Scottsdale, replacing “may” with “shall” for local planning:
“Notwithstanding any other law, the legislative body of a city or town SHALL by ordinance do the following:
“1. Authorize administrative personnel to review and approve site plans, development plans, land divisions, lot line adjustments, lot ties, preliminary plats, final plats and plat amendments without a public hearing.
“2. Authorize administrative personnel to review and approve design review plans based on objective standards without a public hearing …”
Phoenix, Chandler, Mesa and Gilbert passed ordinances to align with the state revisions.
Scottsdale has not passed an ordinance or made any public moves or announcements, other than to quietly cancel DRB meetings.
The board
According to the 2025 report, the DRB voted on dozens of projects, including the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Sunset Villas and Bungalows, HonorHealth Shea Parking Garage, 5th and Goldwater apartments/condos, the Parque Phase One, the massive City Center at Scottsdale Collection, a Scottsdale Water Campus laboratory addition and Aria at Silverstone.
A city ordinance states, “The purpose of the Development Review Board is to review all aspects of the proposed design of a development including, but not limited to, site planning and the relationship of the development to the surrounding environment and the community, guided by the Development Review Board criteria.
“In addition, Development Review Board establishes design policies and guidelines that support the character and design goals and policies of the General Plan.”
Board members are appointed by Scottsdale City Council.
The current board: Ali Fakih and Jeff Brand, both in their second terms; David Mason, Ed Peaser and Donna Robinson.
One member each of the Planning Commission and City Council (currently, Solange Whitehead) takes part in the DRB.
According to the 2025 report, Fakih was absent from eight of 18 meetings. Brand and Robinson each missed four meetings; Peaser and Mason each only missed one meeting.
The future of the DRB?
On Jan. 27, Council held an executive session meeting to receive legal advice and “discuss and consider its position and give possible instruction regarding House Bill 2447 … as the bill relates to administrative approvals and the Scottsdale Development Review Board process.”
The city is vague about the future of the DRB.
“Scottsdale is reviewing the board’s scope and structure to align with the new legislation,” Peralta said, “with the expectation that it will continue supporting design excellence in the city, potentially including review of applicant-requested deviations from objective design standards once those standards are established.”
More from the city
Asked about how Scottsdale is responding to House Bill 2441, Peralta added more details: “Under the new law, city staff now review and approve site and development plans, land divisions, lot line adjustments, lot ties, preliminary and final plats, plat amendments and design review plans. These duties were previously handled in large part by Scottsdale’s Development Review Board.”
She said the city amended its Land Division Ordinance in December 2025 “to ensure land division plats are processed administratively.
“As of Jan. 1, 2026,” Peralta added, “all development review cases are being reviewed by city staff without a public hearing.
Staff are evaluating and updating the city’s code and Zoning Ordinance to align with state law and expand administrative review processes.”
As for the DRB?
“While the law changes the Development Review Board’s role,” Peralta said, “the board will continue to play an important part in maintaining Scottsdale’s design standards.”
She said the board will have “a revised structure” and “focus on reviewing applicant-requested deviations from objective design standards, which are currently being developed.
“The board will also work with city staff to help transition existing design guidelines into clear, objective standards that comply with state requirements while supporting Scottsdale’s long-standing commitment to design excellence.”
According to Brad Carr, a Planning and Development city manager, “While the new state law alters the scope and practice that the DRB has employed in the past, the mission remains the same. City staff is committed to assisting the board in that mission.”