The Arizona Coyotes are far from over their arena problem, as the city of Phoenix has filed a lawsuit against the municipality of Tempe over the $2.1 billion development project in the area where the National Hockey League team plans to locate.
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Website azcentral.com reported Wednesday that Phoenix authorities are not enthusiastic about the project, which was unanimously approved by Tempe Council in the fall. The whole thing would include the future home of the Coyotes, who currently play at Mullett Arena to around 4,600 spectators per game. A referendum must also be held on May 16, but the state’s main city’s moves risk thwarting plans.
In Phoenix, elected officials believe the suburban agreement violates a 1994 ordinance that affects the very distance separating potential construction and Sky Harbor International Airport, which serves the region. The current legislation aims to protect the population from aircraft noise and to protect the airport administration from possible noise-related lawsuits. In addition to the arena, the initiators are providing various entertainment facilities and around 2000 apartments on an area of 46 hectares.
As a result, the plaintiff is requesting that a judge in the Maricopa County Superior Court block the project, citing breach of contract. “The city […] Requests the court to reverse Tempe’s recent zoning and prohibit any future residential use in areas that the Federal Aviation Administration deems inconsistent with such development,” Phoenix said in a statement.
Who will prevail?
Nonetheless, the Arizona Republic appeared to agree with the Coyotes in October, stating that the Tempe Entertainment District wouldn’t necessarily be breaking the rules. There would be a valid exception for soundproof housing that the project must include. The same source reported that Phoenix had never ascended in the three decades prior to the construction of more than 400 units in said Flashpoint.
In connection with this, the city of Tempe even sent a letter of support regarding a real estate development in 2013, but asked that tenants be made aware of the restrictions in place.