Arizona Homes as Ambulance Sites Upset Neighbors

Scottsdale's incoming ambulance company welcomed itself to the neighborhood by quietly converting two houses into ambulance stations.

Professional Medical Transport, a Tempe-based emergency response firm, purchased the south Scottsdale properties to house paramedics and drivers, who will respond to the city's 911 calls starting Feb. 17.

Homeowners next door to one of the future stations said they discovered their neighbor would be an ambulance company only when technicians with the Phoenix Fire Department installed large antennas on the house last week.

But after neighbors' complaints and inquiries by the Tribune, PMT and Scottsdale announced Friday the stations will be relocated -- once new locations can be secured.

The changes should not affect PMT's operational launch in less than two weeks, said Pat Cantelme, the company's CEO for 911 response.

In October, Scottsdale awarded PMT a contract for emergency services that is expected to generate about $ 6 million a year in ambulance billings.

Some neighbors of the new stations said they worry that sirens will intrude at all hours, potentially interrupting their sleep and causing their property values to decline.

"Welcome to the neighborhood -- we're gonna keep you up all night," said Kevin Maguire, who owns a home beside the station on Thomas Road, near its intersection with 77th Street.

PMT's other acquired house is on 68th Street, just south of Thomas, records from the Maricopa County Assessor's Office show.

It is illegal for commercial activities to take place on property zoned for residences, though city code permits residential zoning requirements to be lifted for "municipal uses."

"We have told PMT that we don't believe that's an appropriate use -- or an allowed use, I should say -- in a residential area," said Pat Dodds, a city spokesman.

However, city planning officials had initially approved use of the houses for ambulance stations, Dodds said.

Scottsdale reversed course after a thorough review of PMT's plans this week.

Commercial and retail property, on average, is more expensive to lease and purchase than residential. Some of the ambulance company's new neighbors accused PMT of setting up in houses to save cash.

Cantelme said the company could not find commercial space to serve those sections of south Scottsdale and bought the houses as a last resort. The stations are placed strategically to better respond to residents' calls, he said.

"We believe it's a public safety issue," he said. "The same as you would locate a fire station, you locate an emergency (ambulance) where it's needed for response time."

Dodds said PMT asked Scottsdale planning officials about the legality of operating ambulances out of houses as early as October. The residential properties were purchased on Dec. 15.

In all, PMT paid $ 575,000 for the houses, which have square footages of 1,033 and 1,776, county records show.

The house stations are to remain open until alternate sites are ready, Cantelme said. The city does not anticipate much difficulty finding commercial or retail space, Dodds said.

For two years, Scottsdale has pushed residents in the city's southern half to reinvest in their homes and businesses, trying to spark revitalization throughout the aging region. In many south Scottsdale neighborhoods, such as those PMT bought into, home prices have sagged below those in the rest of the city.

Maguire bought his house on Thomas in July even though he deemed it a "dump," he said. Toilets were clogged with waste, garbage was scattered across the backyard and broken furniture remained inside.

"It wasn't a great location," Maguire said, "but I thought I'd make it home sweet home."

During the past six months, he has overhauled the house in hope of moving in early this year. Maguire put on a new roof, stuccoed the facade and is getting ready to lay tile.