The $250-million signature project, fronting on the Arizona Canal and bounded by Scottsdale and Camelback roads, will bring a 143-ft-tall mix of offices, shops and luxury condominiums just blocks from the central city. The Scottsdale Waterfront will consist of 11 buildings, including 13-story twin towers that will overshadow the city's Downtown where rooftops are less than 36 ft high. Until now, the city had a 72-ft height limit.

The project's height has been a source of opposition by some residents who fear the towering structures would ruin the city's quaint western character. But Robin Meinhart, with the planning and development office, tells GlobeSt.com that the development won broad support throughout the community, particularly from nearby businesses who feel the project could help boost sagging retail sales Downtown.

"The project sends a message to businesses and the real estate community that Scottsdale is a place where downtown revitalization can occur," John Berry, a zoning attorney for the developers tells GlobeSt.com. The project is being developed by Starwood, Meinhart says.

But despite civic leaders' expectations for the project, authorities feared a referendum vote could block the development, which will house the new Fiesta Bowl headquarters, 1,000 new residents and links to the city's Downtown and nearby Fashion Square Mall. To thwart that possibility, the city council approved the project under an "emergency clause" that overrode a mandated 30-day waiting period and makes the decision immediately effective. Use of the "emergency clause" was designed to stop opponents of the project from filing a referendum challenging the decision like the one that scrapped the most recent plans for the revitalization of the nearby Los Arcos Mall.