Although the Federal Aviation Administration declared that the towers’ heights of 300 and 255 feet did not pose a threat to aircraft, US Airways’ attorney Stephen Earl said due to a recent $6.75 billion purchase of new aircraft, any building taller than 257 feet would threaten these planes in the event they failed during takeoff from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

    Vice Mayor Hut Hutson expressed his continuing frustration with trying to find out why this aircraft pathway “goes right through the heart of Tempe.”

    Mayor Hugh Hallman said that when he spoke to a representative of US Airways on Dec. 2, he was assured that the company had no further concerns about aviation issues relating to the project’s height. Then, he received a letter Dec. 11 from Paul Lambert, vice president of corporate real estate for the airlines, stating that there was now a problem due to a multi-billion-dollar purchase of new aircraft.  

    The mayor questioned whether the airlines’ board of directors was informed that they were approving the purchase of aircraft that would conflict with the proposed tower heights. He added that it made no sense that the towers would be a problem but not the even taller Tempe butte less than 800 feet due east.

    The mayor criticized the fact that the avionics report on which the protest was filed was not available nor was there an expert at the hearing to discuss the airlines’ assertion that the tower heights must be reduced. Adding to the confusion was airline spokesperson Earl’s asserting that 225 feet was the acceptable height, when the protest letter would allow 257.

    US Airways also voiced concerns over the project’s height violating downtown development guidelines for the Mill Avenue corridor. Mayor Hallman pointed out that the airline had no problem substantially exceeding the height guidelines for their buildings and added that when the city requested a more pedestrian-friendly design for the Opus building parking lot, the level of concern for the guidelines by the airline was not apparent.

    The dialogue of dismissal of the corridor height guidelines, which discourage massing along Rio Salado Parkway, brought out several citizens in protest. Ruthann Arredondo and Mike Wasco spoke out against the height of the towers saying the citizen-developed guidelines should be valued.

    “The guidelines were developed by the community to protect the entire community,” said Arredondo. “If the guidelines mean nothing, why did we waste our time?”

    Tempe city planners have consistently recommended that the heights be more in line with other projects in the area at 225 and 320 feet, rather than the 300 and 320 feet that were approved by the Design Review Commission.

    It was Councilman Ben Arredondo’s firm support of the staff-recommended heights and discontent with alternative proposals including a third tower that caused the applicants (Michael Monti, property owner; Tony Wall, 3W Companies) to request a postponement of the decision. Because the airline filed a protest with the city, six out of seven “yes” votes are required instead of the usual four out of seven. The six was not possible with Arredondo’s disapproval and the absence of Councilwoman Shana Ellis.

    As of press time, the issue was scheudled to be revisited at the Jan. 10 council meeting. The Issue Review Session begins at 6 p.m., followed by the council meeting at 7:30 p.m. An agenda is available from the City Clerk’s office at least 48 hours prior to the meeting, or online at www.tempe.gov/clerk.