Attachment G - PC Minutes-Info - Z-TA-5-23-Y.pdf

Phoenix, Arizona 
June 1, 2023 
The meeting of the Phoenix Planning Commission was called to order by Acting 
Chairman Emilio Gaynor at 6:06 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 200 West Jefferson 
Street, Phoenix, Arizona. Commissioners present participated in the meeting both in-
person and virtually from a remote location. 
Present:  
Commissioner Emilio Gaynor, (Acting Chairman)  
 
Commissioner Ryan A. Boyd, (Acting Vice-Chairman) 
Commissioner Marcia Busching (Virtual) 
 
Commissioner Pete Gorraiz  
Commissioner Gabriel Jaramillo (Virtual) 
Commissioner Lachele Mangum  
Commissioner Lisa Perez 
Commissioner Shannon Simon     
Absent:  
Commissioner Nico Howard, Chairman 
Also 
Present: 
Ms. Racelle Escolar, Planner Principal 
Ms. Tricia Gomes, Deputy Director, PDD 
Mr. Greg Harmon, Planner I 
Ms. Vikki Cipolla-Murillo, Secretary III/Council Reporter 
At the request of Acting Chairman Emilio Gaynor, Ms. Racelle Escolar, Staff Liaison, 
read the hybrid meeting introduction. She welcomed everyone to the Planning 
Commission Hearing and stated that all attendees who were participating virtually and 
requested to speak would remain muted until called on to speak. Speakers experiencing 
audio issues were asked to switch their audio connection to have WebEx call them. She 
stated that all individuals speaking virtually at the meeting tonight had contacted staff 
within the required timeframe prior to the start of the meeting. Those who did not 
contact staff, wishing to speak, were asked to contact her after the meeting to discuss 
the next steps and future opportunities to speak regarding any items on the agenda. 
She provided her contact information, via phone at 602-534-2864 and email at 
racelle.escolar@phoenix.gov, which was also listed on the bottom of the public meeting 
notice for the meeting. She asked those attending the meeting from the Council 
Chambers to complete a speaker card and provide it to one of the staff members. 
*** 
Acting Chairman Gaynor asked Acting Vice-Chair Boyd to read the opening remarks. 
*** 
Acting Chairman Gaynor asked the audience to follow the General Rules of Order for 
the meeting: 
ATTACHMENT G

Planning Commission Hearing 
Approved Minutes - June 1, 2023 
Page 99 of 107 
 
OTHER BUSINESS 
 
15. 
INFORMATION ONLY: Z-TA-5-23-Y: Presentation and discussion regarding a 
request to amend Chapters 2, 5, 6, 7, 12, and 13 of the Phoenix Zoning 
Ordinance to add accessory dwellings units. 
 
Ms. Racelle Escolar stated that Item No. 15 was an information presentation 
regarding Z-TA-5-23-Y, a request to amend Chapters 2, 5, 6, 7, 12, and 13 of the 
Phoenix Zoning Ordinance to add accessory dwellings units. She stated that Ms. 
Tricia Gomes, the Deputy Director in the Planning Development Department was 
there to provide a presentation. 
 
Ms. Tricia Gomes delivered an informational presentation on Z-TA-5-23-Y to the 
Planning Commission to address accessory dwelling units. She stated that some 
familiar terms are “guest house”, currently in the Zoning Ordinance and interior 
suite with “accessory cooking facilities”. Other names used are granny flats, in-
law suites, garage unit, and basement apartment. Ms. Gomes displayed several 
examples of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in the City of Phoenix. She stated 
that most of them are either non-conforming in some of the historic districts or 
they do not include cooking facilities. The Planning Commission approved a text 
amendment several years ago and an amendment last year. 
 
Ms. Gomes stated that staff is proposing language to allow for ADUs. The 
proposed text: 
  
x Allows one ADU per lot in all single-family zoned districts, including S-1 
and S-2 (larger lots, farm districts).  
x Defines “duplex” and “triplex” to make a clear distinction from the 
“accessory dwelling unit”.  
x Increases the lot coverage for ADUs in most districts.  
x Revises rear-yard projection rules to allow ADUs and other projections 
further into rear yard, with one-story and 15 feet height limitation. 
x Fixes many references throughout the Zoning Code to “guesthouse” and 
other revised sections throughout the Zoning Ordinance. 
 
Ms. Gomes stated that there are different types of ADUs. Two-story will only be 
permitted within the building envelope, outside of the required lot setbacks. If you 
are not in your required setbacks, that height for the building is traditionally two-
stories, 30 feet. 
 
x Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit: If in the rear yard, it will be limited to 
one-story, and 15’. This is consistent with accessory structures, such as 
garages, sheds, pool houses, etc. They follow the same requirement. The 
detached ADU will not prohibit other accessory structures such as garage. 
 
x Attached Accessory Dwelling Unit: It will not prohibit detached accessory 
structures, such as garages. It can be attached to the home. The closed 
projection rules that go into the required rear-yard setback will be

Planning Commission Hearing 
Approved Minutes - June 1, 2023 
Page 100 of 107 
 
permitted when they comply with minimum side yard setbacks, and when 
all portions of the projection do not exceed one-story and 15 feet in height. 
It will also follow the minimum side-yard setbacks of the primary dwelling 
unit. 
 
Ms. Gomes stated that additional development standards for ADUs would be for 
all lots, ADU would be: 
 
x (All lots) Maximum 75% of size of primary dwelling. (to be subordinate to 
the primary dwelling) 
x Maximum size requirement of 1,000 square feet for the ADU if on lot 
10,000 square feet or less (R1-6, R-18, R1-10 lots). The actual size of the 
ADU is going to be determined by the lot coverage, depending on how 
large the primary home is. The ADU can go up to 1,000 square feet, if not 
exceeding overall lot coverage. 
x Maximum 3,000 square feet if lot greater than 10,000 square feet, or 10% 
of the net lot area, whichever is less. (Maximum one-story and 15 feet, if in 
the required rear yard) 
x Maximum height one-story and 15 feet if in required rear yard. 
x Maximum height same as primary dwelling if outside of required setbacks. 
x Lot coverage has generally been increased by 10%, but not in RE-43, RE-
24, R1-14, and RE-35, which 5% added in 2015 (if all structures are one-
story). These districts already allow guesthouses. 
x Additional parking is not required for the ADU. The thought is that one 
would be using the driveway or existing garage space. 
x The ADU must have a means of exterior egress with a pathway to the 
street not through the primary dwelling. 
x The ADU may not have a separate fenced yard area, because this is an 
accessory unit to the primary single-family home. It should be functioning 
as one development. 
 
Ms. Gomes reviewed the scheduled timeline:  
 
x Planning Commission (information): June 2023 
x Villages (information): June 2023 
x Villages (action/recommendation): July 2023 
x Planning Commission (action/recommendation): August 2023 
x City Council Hearing: September 2023 
 
Acting Chairman Gaynor asked if there were any questions from commissioners. 
 
Commissioner Busching stated that she had raised an issue with Ms. Escolar 
already and would raise it with her, as well. These ADUs are going to be allowed 
in S-1 properties, which are sort of in the recently annexed outskirts. In a lot of 
those cases, those properties are on septic tanks and not on sewer. She thinks 
that they need to consider where and when they are going to need to have a new 
septic tank, and whether people are going to be required to tap into the City 
sewer. There have been some real problems with respect to the existing

Planning Commission Hearing 
Approved Minutes - June 1, 2023 
Page 101 of 107 
 
properties, but it will be even worse with new properties. She welcomed a 
sidebar discussion over this whole issue. 
 
Ms. Gomes responded yes, you are correct, we would need to consult or have 
discussions with the City Water Services Department about what that threshold is 
and if that would be changing and if they could look at it. That is obviously aside 
from the Zoning Ordinance process. She made a note and stated that staff can 
certainly circle back. 
 
Commissioner Busching stated, unfortunately it is in the Zoning Ordinance about 
the distance you are from the sewer and the requirement to tap into it. This will 
be impacted by the existing Zoning Ordinance, in that regard. 
 
There were no further questions, and no action was necessary on this item. 
 
***