Attachment C - VPC Summary - Z-59-A-13-1.pdf

City of Phoenix — Formal (2022-11-02)

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City of Phoenix • Planning & Development Department 
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor • Phoenix, Arizona 85003-1611 • (602) 262-6882 
Village Planning Committee Meeting Summary 
Z-59-A-13-1
Date of VPC Meeting 
September 21, 2022 
Request From 
PUD, RSC 
Request To 
PUD 
Proposed Use 
Major amendment to the Metrocenter Planned Unit 
Development allow commercial and residential uses 
Location 
Approximately 605 feet south of the southeast corner of 
28th Drive and Peoria Avenue 
VPC Recommendation 
Approval, per staff recommendation 
VPC Vote 
11-1-1
VPC DISCUSSION: 
No virtual speaker cards were received on this item. 
STAFF PRESENTATION 
Mr. Klimek, staff, provided an overview of the site including its physical and policy 
contexts, the applicant’s proposal, and the staff recommendation. Staff is 
recommending approval to several stipulations. One stipulation of note requires the 
shaded and segregated pedestrian circulation plan be added to the PUD as an exhibit 
and that it may be changed through a Minor Amendment which is an administrative 
process. 
APPLICANT PRESENTATION 
Mr. Paul Gilbert introduced himself as the applicant’s representative and provided the 
committee with a summary of the projects background and the proposed amendment. 
The Metrocenter PUD was approved in 2016 and established the necessary zoning 
entitlements to allow Metrocenter Mall to redevelop as a transit oriented urban core, as 
envisioned by both the City of Phoenix and the development group. Much of the 
property is now owned by a new entity, Concord Wilshire, which intends to redevelop 
the mall but two changes to the PUD are needed; first, to add the Dillards parcel and, 
second, to replace the rigid minimum density requirement of 40 dwelling units per acre 
with a flexible density target.  
The density minimum of 40 dwelling units per gross acre would produce nearly 5,000 
dwelling units on the site, would create a prevalence of small dwelling units, would limit 
the types of housing products that could develop, and would limit the potential for 
vertical mixed-use. The proposed amendment removes the minimum density 
ATTACHMENT C

North Mountain Village Planning Committee Meeting Summary 
September 21, 2022 
Page 2 of 3 
 
 
City of Phoenix • Planning & Development Department 
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor • Phoenix, Arizona 85003-1611 • (602) 262-6882 
requirement, adds a target of 2,800 dwelling units across the PUD at full build-out, and 
requires that the number of units be tracked at each phase of development. There are 
no other changes to the PUD Development Narrative proposed, they are in full 
agreement with the staff stipulations, and there is no known opposition at this time.   
 
QUESTIONS FROM COMMITTEE 
Committee Member Perez asked for clarity regarding the total density proposed. Mr. 
Gilbert responded that the current requirement that multifamily be permitted only at a 
minimum density of 40 dwelling units per acre which would equate to approximately 
5,000 units if the full PUD developed as multifamily. The proposal removes the 
minimum density with a density target of 2,800 dwelling units.  
 
Committee Member Argiro stated that the proposed 2,800 dwelling units equals 
approximately 20 dwelling units per acre. He asked why not change the standard to 20 
dwelling units per acre. Mr. Gilbert shared that a popular housing product in the region 
is “build-to-rent” communities which typically have a density of between 8 and 12 
dwelling units per acre and that a minimum of 40 or 20 dwelling units per acre would not 
permit this type of product. The proposed amendment provides the developer with 
flexibility to provide a variety of densities across the site. 
 
Committee Member Steinmetz asked how many acres would be set aside for a public 
recreation area and if land would be provided for a new police precinct. Mr. Gilbert 
responded that the development team does not yet have a site plan for exactly how the 
site will develop and stated that he was unable to provide an accurate acreage at this 
time. Regarding the police precinct, he stated that the development team is currently 
considering the request but has not rendered a decision at this time.  
 
PUBLIC COMMENTS 
None. 
 
APPLICANT RESPONSE 
None. 
 
FLOOR/PUBLIC DISCUSSION CLOSED: MOTION, DISCUSSION, AND VOTE 
 
MOTION 
Committee Member Perez made a motion to approve the request per the staff 
recommendation. Committee Member Carrell seconded.  
 
DISCUSSION 
Committee Member Argiro stated that he is not comfortable with the open-endedness 
regarding density. 
 
Committee Member Matthews stated that the redevelopment of Metrocenter Mall is 
necessary for the North Mountain Village.

North Mountain Village Planning Committee Meeting Summary 
September 21, 2022 
Page 3 of 3 
 
 
City of Phoenix • Planning & Development Department 
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor • Phoenix, Arizona 85003-1611 • (602) 262-6882 
Committee Member Perez stated that Metrocenter Mall is important to her and many 
others in Phoenix and that the community is trusting the developer to bring a good 
project and second life to Metrocenter.  
 
VOTE 
11-1-1; motion passed with Committee Members Barraza, Carrell, Fogelson, Matthews, 
McBride, Perez, Steinmetz, Sommacampagna, Veidmark, Vice Chair Jaramillo, and 
Chair Krentz, in support, Argiro in dissent, and Larson in abstention.