By Terrance Thornton | Scottsdale Independent
A proposal to bring a desert-appreciation venue to the inside edge of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve appears to have created a rift in Scottsdale that has been felt in nearly every corner of the “The West’s Most Western Town.”
The deep divide between preservationist, project proponents and local gadflys has reached a fever pitch thrusting a new personality into the local political landscape — Jason Alexander — while challenging the undertone of what Scottsdale has come to mean to legacy proponents of the community.
At issue: whether or not Scottsdale voters should have a say in the final decision on whether or not the center gets built within Preserve boundaries and a growing fear an project approval can set a precedent for commercial development within protected lands.
