Massive science fiction-inspired technology campus green-lit by the Scottsdale Planning Commission

SCOTTSDALE, AZ – On Wednesday night, the Scottsdale Planning Commission unanimously recommended moving forward with Axon Enterprises’ proposed world headquarters, but one more critical voice awaits.

Axon, formerly Taser International, is a publicly traded public safety technology company known for its police cameras and stun guns.

The 400,000-square-foot campus at Loop 101 is futuristic in design and will include apartments, hotels and restaurants for Axon employees and others to enjoy.

“It’s inspired by science fiction,” said CEO Rick Smith. “We’re trying to bring Captain James T Kirk’s phaser to life… when we delve into creative workspaces, it pays off.”

In an interview with ABC15, Rick Smith, CEO of Axon, underlined the importance of the project in attracting and retaining young and talented employees.

“If you’re building a business, your main recruiting funnels are the 20 to 35-year-olds… that’s where having apartments and condominiums and then hotels” can be essential, Smith said.

The project has been met with opposition since the plans did not expand beyond just a workplace.

Residents, especially those in the nearby Stonebrook neighborhood, are concerned that the project will bring traffic and noise to the area and potentially impact property values.

In response to these earlier concerns, Axon modified its original plans before returning to the Scottsdale Planning Commission.

But Wednesday evening, residents said their concerns remain.

“They didn’t make it easy, but they finally listened,” said Susan McGarry, president of the Stonebrook II HOA. “We continue to ask that Axon and the city protect our property values, preserve our community by protecting building heights and further evaluate traffic impacts.”

One resident also highlighted potential parking issues during high-traffic events such as the Waste Management Phoenix Open, fearing overcrowded parking spaces in their neighborhood.

“Would the proposed parking be sufficient to prevent flooding into our neighborhood?” one resident asked. “Last year we had a lot of parking problems in our neighborhood and cars were towed.”

The Planning Commission’s 5-0 recommendation is a step forward for the company’s plans, but the final decision rests with the Scottsdale City Council, which will vote on the proposal at its next meeting.

The full meeting can be found here.