By james art 
Although Rick Smith says he wants to race Axon — and Scottsdale — into the future, he may have hit another gear.
As he awaits news of the opposition group’s efforts to put Axon’s planned project on the ballot, Smith Smith and his Taser company have apparently been blindsided by comments raising safety concerns.
The president of the Scottsdale Firefighters Association told the Progress that Scottsdale does not have enough emergency responders and equipment to support Axon’s plan for about 1,800 apartments and a hotel.
“It’s supply and demand,” said Sasha Weller, president of the 300 Plus Members Association.
“If you add 2,000 apartments and that adds 4,000 people — that’s a small town within our city. You must have the appropriate resources to service it. “
Adding apartments and people without adding firefighters will negatively impact response times, Weller warned.
Scottsdale Fire Chief Tom Shannon disagrees with Weller’s view.
Shannon insists that Axon’s planned housing development is far superior to potential alternatives for the undeveloped land at Loop 101 and Hayden Road.
However, the fire union leader’s concerns — which three City Council members said they share — could be another challenge to Axon’s extraordinary plan.
In 2024, Chaparral High Smith overcame complaints about potential traffic and overall density by winning City Council approval for a hometown axon extension.
But the question of emergency response was never raised.
“Servability is affected by a significant increase in density,” Weller said.
“We need to look at politicians and say ‘if there’s more density, we need more resources’ – otherwise we can’t serve at the same level.”
Axon purchased 74 acres of former government land in 2020. The company, which makes Taser Stun Guns and police body cameras, quickly reached a development agreement to sell some of the land to the city, which will then build a fire station there. This fire station is under construction.
But Axon’s 2021 development agreement only named for a new corporate headquarters.
Last year, Smith unveiled the plan to add four apartment buildings and a hotel.
“The fire station will be at or near capacity the day it opens,” Weller said. When the deal was reached with the fire department, “it was offered with the existing (housing) in the area — without the apartments.”
An Axon official said he was puzzled by the concerns expressed by Weller.
Charles Huelmantel, Axon’s attorney for that project, said he and Smith met with Weller “months ago to discuss this project” — and “no workforce concerns were raised.”
And, Huellmantel said, “We have worked closely with the fire chief for several years to ensure that Axon’s new global headquarters will work for the Scottsdale Fire Department.”
He said Fire Chief Tom Shannon “noted that our proposal would almost certainly result in less impact on SFD resources than the industrial use that the site was zoned to accommodate.”
Huellmantel added that he and Smith met with Weller “months ago to discuss this project” — and “no workforce concerns were raised.”
And according to Huellmantel, the Axon expansion will mean more money for the city: “The $11.5 million in new tax revenue that the Axon campus will deliver to the city will fund the construction of multiple new fire stations throughout Scottsdale, plus fund the purchase of new engines and the hiring of dozens of new firefighters and paramedics to staff these stations. “
Smith threatened to leave Scottsdale if he was blocked from bringing his plan—and suggested he might resell the land in an Amazon-type operation.
As Shannon sees it, that would be a far worse scenario. “In my view, the proposed development of the Axon Campus, as previously approved by Council, would have less impact than an alternative big box project that would bring greater traffic loads and building occupancy at riskier conditions,” Shannon told The Progress.
“My position is that if the development on the property includes residential,” Shannon continued, “the demographics in those occupations are likely to generate very little addition to calls for service because they are younger and probably in better health.”
Axon, Scottsdale Police Chief Jeff Walter announced in November, “is making Scottsdale safer.”
He added that he was “quaking in my boots at the thought of Axon leaving Scottsdale.”
The council is affected
Progress shared Weller’s concerns with several City Council members.
“It’s concerning,” Councilman Barry Graham said. “We need to listen to our public safety experts.”
Graham confirmed that the issue of response time was not raised in meetings – or behind the scenes.
Potential longer response times due to more apartments “concern me,” Councilman Adam Quassman seconded. “I hope that there will be negotiations that solve all the problems.”
A recent medical emergency strengthened Kwasman’s position, the new adviser said.
“When my youngest child stopped breathing, the firefighters were there for us,” Quasman said, noting the response was quick.
“I’m going to make sure everyone has access to these resources and (emergency responders) are fully funded.”
Councilwoman Jan Dubauskas, also new to city politics, said the issue is on her radar.
“I heard these concerns from the Scottsdale Firefighters Association. And the response Axon expects to generate revenue for the city,” she said.
“While it is true that Axon is expected to generate revenue for Scottsdale, it is also true that there will be costs from the Axon campus: increased firefighters, police, road maintenance and more.”
Following the creation of a subcommittee at the Jan. 14 City Council meeting, “This could be an item that the public safety subcommittee addresses, among many others throughout the city,” Dubauskas said.
In fact, it’s not just the axon that’s a potential problem, according to the president of the firefighters union.
Weller said the new apartments from the “McDowell Corridor” in the south of the city to projects in North Scottsdale “have greatly increased the density.
“We haven’t changed personnel,” he said. “It absolutely affects our ability to respond.”
According to Weller, “At one point or another we have to pause and say that fire department resources are not bottomless…” If you want to build it, build it.
“It’s not the association’s decision … but if you’re going to build it, we need the resources to protect it.”
Weller said he has no problem with Smith’s company, which has been praised by city officials.
“I have no ax to grind. I’m not mad at Axon, it’s just a matter of response issues,” Weller said.
“Further stretching already stretched resources is really problematic. I’m not pointing at Axon – I’d say that about any major development. “
As far as Quasman is concerned, it’s a simple matter.
“That many apartments,” said Axon’s new plan adviser, “is not acceptable.”