The Phoenix Board of Adjustment denied a motion to reconsider putting a dog park near Taylor Place on Thursday.
The motion, filed by community activist Sean Sweat, stated two members of the BOA had “conflicts of interest” and the board misunderstood their power, so their ruling on Nov. 4 should be reviewed.
The motion was denied 4-0.
“They didn’t bother to consider the facts and instead just continued their rubber-stamp role by rejecting the request for reconsideration out-of-hand,” Sweat wrote in an e-mail after the decision.
On Nov. 4, the BOA shot down an appeal 3-1 to build a dog park instead of a parking lot near Taylor Place in the space formerly occupied by the Ramada Inn. Several weeks after the decision, Sweat filed the motion for reconsideration.
The hearing was pushed back until Thursday because, although the board meets every month, fewer than four of the board’s seven members were present earlier.
Sweat is planning to appeal the original decision on the dog park to the Maricopa County Superior Court.
The BOA’s ruling on Nov. 4 resulted in the creation of the Ad Hoc Downtown Dog Park Citizen’s Committee.
This committee was created by the city with the purpose of finding a suitable location for a dog park other than the land next to Taylor Place.
After the committee’s three meetings, the last of which was on Jan. 31, they decided to recommend three possible locations.
The first is at the southeast corner of North First and East McKinley streets that is currently being used as an ASU parking lot, while the other two are on the east and west sides of Margaret T. Hance Park.
In order to submit a recommendation to the city, 75 percent of the committee had to agree on the recommendations.
The final vote was 30-2.
However, some believe there are problems with these sites.
The city is currently leasing the site at North First and East McKinley streets, and the lot must be used for “educational services.” At this time, it appears unlikely ASU will allow a dog park to be built on this land.
In a statement, Virgil Renzulli, vice president of public affairs, wrote, “If a dog park is something the community wants, then we support that vision. However, the university cannot give away assets assigned to it by a public referendum for specific uses and we are bound to the terms that govern the bond dollars allocated to us.”
In addition, Sweat said neither location at the Margaret T. Hance Park was ideal, mainly because it wouldn’t create the foot traffic to and from the park that is important for building a vibrant downtown. The park is in a less centralized location, and most users would simply drive to the park.
Despite these uncertainties, the recommendations will still go to the city to be deliberated.
The Parks and Recreation Board will review the recommendations on Feb. 24. The Downtown, Aviation and Economy Subcommittee of the City Council will review them on March 2.
Contact the reporter at connor.radnovich@asu.edu
