Scottsdale Citizens Against Mass Desert Development - Scamdd

06/13/2026

Did you know? Maricopa County is expected to grow by 500,000 new residents in the next 5 years. That's why our work at Desert Foothills Land Trust is more critical than ever. We're racing against time to preserve natural areas before they're developed. Be part of the solution: dflt.org/give-today

05/20/2026

THE MATH DOESN'T ADD UP! 14,000 ACRES VS 2,222

Have you ever wondered what makes the North Scottsdale feel like home? It’s the “space”. It’s the breathability. It’s the way the desert landscape is allowed to exist alongside us. Now, imagine cramming the Village of Carefree and Desert Mountain into a space seven times smaller.

THE COLD, HARD FACTS
Total Acreage of Carefree & Desert. Mtn. ~14,000 Acres
Acreage of Planned Development 2,222 Acres
Homes in Carefree & Desert Mtn ~3,600 Homes
Planned new Homes in development 3,600+ Homes

THE THREAT IS REAL!
A massive new development is being planned that ignores the character of our desert and our North Scottsdale lifestyle. By placing over 3,600 homes on just 2,222 acres, developers and legislators are proposing a density that is fundamentally incompatible with our infrastructure and our way of life. If this project moves forward, we face gridlock traffic, permanent loss of pristine Sonoran Desert habitat and unprecedented pressure on our water resources and local utilities.

SCAMDD (Scottsdale Citizens Against Mass Desert Development) was formed for one reason: to be the voice of the residents. We stand for integrated smart planning, environmental stewardship, and the preservation of the low-density rural lifestyle we all moved here to enjoy.

ACT NOW: Don't let our open vistas become a wall of rooftops. Join SCAMDD in demanding community involvement in any plans that pertain to the land and the people who live here.

Visit our website to learn more, join our email list, donate and stay updated on events.

SCAMDD fights Scottsdale overdevelopment to preserve the Sonoran Desert and its natural beauty.

05/19/2026

At SCAMDD, we're deeply concerned about the accelerating pace of development in North Scottsdale. North Scottsdale’s unique value lies in its open desert character, low-density neighborhoods, and preserved natural landscapes - qualities now under significant threat. The State of Arizona is auctioning State Lands at an alarming rate. It is rumored that the State will soon auction off over 2,000 acres that were once earmarked to be part of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. The State has issued a planning permit for a developer to create a Master Plan for these lands prior to the auction.

For more information about this threat to North Scottsdale, visit our website for more detail, to donate, stay updated and to get involved.

Https://SCAMDD.org