Scottsdale Residents Rally with 26,000 Signatures Against City Council’s Controversial Axon Development Plan

By Matthew Holloway |

Residents of Scottsdale have mobilized to collect 26,000 signatures for a petition urging a public referendum on a proposed apartment complex near Axon’s headquarters, located at Hayden Road and the Loop 101. Organized under the banner of Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions (TAAAZE), this grassroots effort surpassed the necessary 15,000 signatures, which the Arizona Daily Independent reports is required to place the proposal on the ballot.

Former Scottsdale city councilman Bob Littlefield, dressed as Santa Claus, delivered the petition to the city council, a nod to a previous holiday event. Littlefield chairs Protect Our Scottsdale, a group advocating for community interests, a sentiment echoed by TAAAZE. He criticized Axon for deploying “blockers,” whom he claims harassed petitioners and launched mass-text campaigns branding TAAAZE as a “radical agenda.”

In response, Littlefield took to social media, asserting that the push to stop the apartment development reflects community sentiment, not a radical agenda. He highlighted three main points: the proposal is unfavorable for residents, it was approved by a lame-duck council majority, and it contradicts the clear opposition demonstrated by voters in recent elections.

Vice Mayor Barry Graham and Councilwoman Kathy Littlefield opposed the apartment proposal but faced dissent from their colleagues. Graham criticized the outgoing council for making last-minute decisions that contradict the will of the people. “The irony isn’t lost: approving the most apartments in Scottsdale history while imposing a plan to punish you with higher taxes & fees…” he stated, emphasizing community frustration.

Controversially, the city council enacted several contentious measures in its final weeks, including the apartment complex proposal and appointments to various commissions. Incoming councilman Adam Kwasman pledged to work towards reversing the decisions made during the lame-duck session. “We will do all we can to reverse the damage done,” he wrote in a recent post.

If the petition gains final approval, the issue could feature on the 2026 ballot, giving the community the opportunity to voice its stance. Meanwhile, Axon’s CEO, Rick Smith, has cautioned that significant opposition could compel the company to explore relocating its headquarters outside Arizona, potentially to Atlanta or Seattle.

Matthew Holloway is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.