Attachment B - Staff Report - Z-TA-6-19.pdf

Staff Report 
Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment 
Application No Z-TA-6-19: Amend Chapter 7, Section 705.2 (Off-Premise Signs) of the 
Phoenix Zoning Ordinance to allow off-premise advertising along the western portion of 
the SR Loop 202, “Ed Pastor Freeway” from Interstate 10 to the north side of Estrella 
Drive. 
Staff recommendation: Staff recommends approval of Z-TA-6-19 as shown in the 
recommended text in Exhibit A. 
PURPOSE 
The intent of this text amendment request is to allow off-premise signs along the 
western portion of the SR Loop 202, “Ed Pastor Freeway” from Interstate 10 to the north 
side of Estrella Drive. Currently the only freeways that permit off-premise signs are 
Interstate 17, Interstate 10, Inner SR Loop 202, SR 143, and the West SR Loop 101 to 
Camelback Road.  
Source: ADOT map of Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway 
Attachment B

Staff Report: Z-TA-6-19 
June 30, 2020 
Page 2 of 3 
 
BACKGROUND 
Historically, off-premise signs have been located along freeways to advertise to the 
many residents who travel these freeways within the city of Phoenix. With the 
construction of the SR Loop 202, “Ed Pastor Freeway”, the addition of off-premise signs 
on a portion of this freeway would provide similar advertising opportunities that are 
permitted on similar and adjacent freeways.  
 
Off-premise signs are required to be located within 300 feet and oriented towards 
permitted freeways. In addition, off-premise signs are only permitted in the A-1 and A-2 
zoning districts and within Planned Unit Developments (PUDs) on properties a minimum 
of 20 acres in size. While the addition of this freeway corridor creates opportunities for 
additional billboards to be constructed, properties without the aforementioned zoning 
entitlements will be required to obtain approval through the rezoning process in order to 
construct an off-premise sign.  
 
The text amendment makes no changes to the current spacing standards for off-
premise billboards. There is a minimum spacing standard of 1,000 feet required from 
one off-premise structure to another. Additional spacing standards exist for residential 
districts and residential uses outside of a PUD. Off-premise signs are also restricted 
from locating within 2,000 feet of the Phoenix or South Mountain Preserves. The 
proposed southern applicability boundary for this new freeway corridor, Estrella Drive, is 
more than 2,000 feet from South Mountain Park. 
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED TEXT 
The text amendment would change Section 705.2.A.1 to include the western portion of 
the SR Loop 202, “Ed Pastor Freeway” from Interstate 10 to the north side of Estrella 
Drive. The other regulations including but not limited to zoning, size, spacing, and 
setbacks in Section 705.2 of the Phoenix Zoning Ordinance would apply to any 
proposed off-premise signs within the freeway corridor. 
 
CONCLUSION 
Staff recommends approval of the change to the Zoning Ordinance as proposed in 
Exhibit A. 
 
Writer 
T. Gomes 
6/30/20 
 
Exhibit 
A. Proposed Language

Staff Report: Z-TA-6-19 
June 30, 2020 
Page 3 of 3 
 
EXHIBIT A 
Text Amendment Z-TA-6-19:                                                                   
Off-premise advertising along western portion of                                                   
SR Loop 202, “Ed Pastor Freeway” 
 
 
Proposed Language: 
 
Amend Section 705.2.A.1 (Off-Premise Signs) to read as follows:
1. 
Off-premise structures shall be located only in A-1 or A-2 districts and shall be 
located only on arterial streets as designated on the Street Classification Map or 
located within 300 feet of the right-of-way and oriented to the following permitted 
freeways:
a.
Interstate 17;
b.
Interstate 10;
c.
Inner SR (LOOP) 202, “RED MOUNTAIN FREEWAY”
 
d. 
SR (LOOP) 202, “ED PASTOR FREEWAY”, WESTERN SECTION, 
INTERSTATE 10 TO THE NORTH SIDE OF ESTRELLA DRIVE;
E.
SR 143;
F.
The Western SR (LOOP) 101 to Camelback Road;
 
G. 
Off-premise signs are a prohibited use on all other existing and future 
freeways within the City limits and shall not be reoriented to obtain 
freeway visibility.
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