Attachment F - PC Memo - GPA-CC-SM-1-26-7-8.pdf

ATTACHMENT F
To: City of Phoenix Planning Commission Date: September 29, 2026
From: Enrique Bojórquez Gaxiola
Planner III
Subject: ITEM NO. 2 (GPA-CC-SM-1-26-7-8) – RIO SALADO DISTRICT POLICY
PLAN
The purpose of this memo is to present several modifications to the Rio Salado District
Policy Plan for case GPA-CC-SM-1-26-7-8, following the September 8, 2026 South
Mountain Village Planning Committee (VPC) meeting, where a recommendation of
approval by a vote of 11-1 was provided per the Addendum A staff report with an
additional action.
The additional action recommended by the South Mountain VPC has been incorporated
to revision No. E below (fifth bullet point). In addition to the changes recommended by
the South Mountain VPC, staff recommends two additional changes requested by the
community to the plan, generally described as follows:
• Minor updates to the “Historic Factors” section to further clarify information.
• Revision to the language on one Government-led action related to service
coordination for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Furthermore, since the Addendum A staff report was published, three additional letters
in support have been received. The first letter contains a petition with signatures in
support from the Ruiz Family, who has worked with staff to identify several revisions to
the actions in the plan. The second letter is from Phoenix Community Alliance (PCA), a
Downtown Phoenix organization, who supports several plan elements related to
connectivity, economic development, and the establishment of an arts, culture, and
nature district on the river. Finally, the third letter is from Local First Arizona who support
the plan’s vision and emphasis on health, diverse housing, local businesses, economic
development, and stronger connections to the river, while encouraging ongoing
community input for the plan and future investments. This correspondence has been
attached to this memo.
Staff recommends approval, per the modifications in CAPITAL/BOLD font below:
A. Page 38 – Update the “Barrios Unidos” reference in the Historic Factors
section with the following text:
o Change first paragraph to: Located in south-central Phoenix, several
neighborhoods, or barrios, are situated between Washington Street
(North), 24th Street (East), University Drive (South), and 7th Street

GPA-CC-SM-1-26-7-8
Planning Commission Backup Memo
September 29, 2026
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(West). To the west of 16th Street are Cuatro Milpas, Green Valley,
and El Campito, while to the east lies a barrio formerly known as
Golden Gate. FOLLOWING THE WEST APPROACH LAND
ACQUISITION, “BARRIOS UNIDOS” CAME TO REPRESENT THE
REMAINING RESIDENTS AND THEIR SHARED COMMUNITY
IDENTITY.
o Change a portion of the last paragraph, first sentence to: “…the
United Farm Workers to stay at the Santa Rita Center, also known as
Santa Rita Hall, THE SOCIAL HALL FOR SANTA RITA CHAPEL OF
SACRED HEART PARISH.”
B. Pages 75 through 78 – Add the following text regarding considerations for
residential uses on Catalyst Site 3 located east of 16th Street and Elwood
Street to: “Given the existing condition of this inactive mining pit, future
considerations for residential uses here include but are not limited to
floodplain regulations, accessibility, aviation noise impacts, geotechnical
challenges, and the process to fill and compact soil gradually over time to
an elevation above the floodplain.”
A.
C. Pages 85 and 86 – Revise the 2050 Land Use Map accordingly per the approved
General Plan Land Use Map Amendment, Case No. GPA-CC-SM-2-26-7-8.
D. Page 88 – Update the Land Use Building Typology table with the following
provisions:
o Low-Mid Density Residential:
 Height: 1-3 stories, up to 4 with housing bonus*
o High Density Residential:
 Height: 2-4 stories, up to 6 with housing bonus*
o Mixed Use Category:
 Height: 3-5 stories, up to 7 with housing bonus*
o Commercial Category:
 Height: 1-3 stories, up to 6 with housing bonus*
o Add footnote below the table with the following statement –
* Affordable housing bonus: To encourage more affordable housing,
additional building height may be supported on new developments.
Areas within adopted Place Type policies may defer to those existing
policies on height and incentive standards.

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Planning Commission Backup Memo
September 29, 2026
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E. Pages 129 through 134 – Update the Government-led Actions with the
following text and identifying relevant city departments for each action:
o Action No. 3: Rezone catalyst and “reimagined” properties and/or
deploy an opt-in zoning approach to encourage new development in
alignment with the community vision. Where added height, density
or change of use is requested or where the City-owned land is
utilized, or City assistance is provided to a project; when feasible,
include affordable or workforce housing components, and
opportunities for local business engagement or community spaces
or uses.
o Action No. 14: Continue and, where feasible, expand citywide
programs that promote homeownership, housing preservation,
renter stability, home repairs, and business assistance to support
existing residents and locally owned businesses in the Rio Salado
District. Explore displacement indicators as investment occurs and
use the data to identify potential assistance programs and grants to
support the area.
o Action No. 26: Explore the feasibility of technical assistance,
financial incentives, and/or public improvements to support new
residential development that includes long-term affordable housing
for a range of incomes, and home improvements that help existing
residents remain in place. Where feasible on City-owned land,
determine appropriate affordability terms through future Request for
Proposals, rezonings, and development agreements.
o Action No. 41: Continue to invest in permanent housing, plus
develop and implement new housing models, including master
leasing and coordinate existing outreach and improve connection to
behavioral health supports, including substance use and mental
health treatment. THIS INCLUDES OUTREACH COORDINATION WITH
COMMUNITY AND CITY DEPARTMENT PARTNERS, WITH
CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON SURROUNDING
NEIGHBORHOODS, especially during major Rio Salado Habitat
Restoration Area improvements for individuals experiencing
homelessness.
o Add new action: Encourage local business and developer outreach
and engagement during the redevelopment of City-owned properties,
SUCH AS ADVERTISING REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS through
venues which will include the local development community and
community partners. IN ADDITION, HOLDING PRE-SOLICITATION
TEAMING SESSIONS AND EXPLORING OTHER WAYS TO CREATE
SUBSTANTIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL PARTICIPATION
WHERE LEGALLY AND PROGRAMMATICALLY FEASIBLE.

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Planning Commission Backup Memo
September 29, 2026
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o Add new action: Coordinate implementation efforts in the Rio Salado
District and South Central corridor to promote a continuous
development pattern, served by comparable access to infrastructure,
programs and services. This includes identifying cross-boundary
projects in future infrastructure needs assessments and related
funding requests.
o Add new action: Create an interactive online tool that is easy to use
by the public and reports on progress related to the actions in the
Rio Salado District Policy Plan. In addition to this tool, informing a
wider audience by updating the RIO PHX project website and
providing an annual implementation update through an existing
public forum (such as the Village Planning Committees).
F. Add a new section to the plan that discourages displacement and
encourages affordable and market rate housing, recognizing that long-term
affordability is an important objective as redevelopment occurs, and
encourages use of existing preservation and other long-term affordability
tools within or near the district when feasible.
G. Add a new section to the plan that acknowledges existing sources of
aggregate and clarifies policies on these areas, consistent with the
“Sources of Aggregate” section in the 2025 General Plan.
Enclosure:
Correspondence (5 pages)




September 15, 2026
Chair and Members
Phoenix Planning Commission
The Honorable Kate Gallego, Mayor
Members of the Phoenix City Council
200 West Washington Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85003
RE: Support for the Rio Salado District Policy Plan (RIO PHX), Case GPA-CC-SM-1-26-7-8
Dear Commissioners, Mayor Gallego and Councilmembers:
The Members of the Phoenix Community Alliance support adoption of the Rio Salado District
Policy Plan. The district begins at Downtown’s southern edge, so the future of the district and
the future of Greater Downtown Phoenix are connected.
Three elements of the plan speak to priorities our Members have long advocated for.
Connectivity and shade. The plan calls for shaded active transportation corridors, a
circulator linking river-adjacent neighborhoods to the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area,
and a pedestrian bridge at 3rd Street joining the north and south banks. Our Members
advocate for multi-modal connections that are safe, reliable and accessible for people of all
ages, and for the heat mitigation that keeps them usable through more of the year.
Catalytic sites and economic growth. The City-owned 30-acre site south of the river, the
Arizona Fresh redevelopment, and the transition of underused industrial land give the private
sector a clear picture of the City’s intent well ahead of a request for proposals. That
predictability helps attract investment and jobs to this part of Phoenix.
Arts, culture and placemaking. An arts, culture and nature district on the river, public art in
private development, and a district identity built with the people who live there draw
residents and visitors, and give the district a character worth protecting.
This is the first plan in the RIO PHX series, so the framework adopted here will shape how the
rest of the corridor is planned. It rests on three years of engagement that reached more than
1,000 individuals, more than 500 survey responses, and over 50 community meetings.
We respectfully urge your approval, and we offer Phoenix Community Alliance as a partner in
carrying the plan into implementation.
Sincerely,
Diane Haller Brent Stockwell
Chair Advocacy Director
cc: Joshua Bednarek, Director, Planning and Development Department, City of Phoenix

September 25, 2026
City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Re: Rio Salado District Policy Plan
Dear Mr. Enrique Bojórquez Gaxiola,
We appreciate the opportunity to provide comments on the Rio Salado District Policy Plan and
General Plan Land Use Map. We support the Plan’s vision for a vibrant, connected community that
brings together residents, nature, recreation, housing, and economic opportunity. We are
encouraged by the Plan’s emphasis on community health, diverse housing, local businesses,
economic development, and stronger connections between residents and the Rio Salado. And we
appreciate the City’s continued community engagement as the Plan moves forward.
We were particularly encouraged by the recent recommendation of the South Mountain Village
Planning Committee, which voted 11–1 to recommend approval of the Rio Salado District Policy
Plan and 12–0 to recommend approval of the associated General Plan Land Use Map Amendment.
We understand these recommendations incorporated community input and additional direction
regarding local business engagement, redevelopment, and expanded residential options.
As the Rio Salado District develops, we encourage the City to ensure that investment creates
meaningful benefits for existing residents, locally owned businesses, and the broader community.
Most importantly, we encourage the City to continue listening closely to the residents, businesses,
and community organizations who know the area best. Ongoing community input can help
ensure that the Plan reflects local priorities and delivers meaningful benefits for the community.
We greatly appreciate the opportunity to provide input on the Rio Salado District Policy Plan and
the City’s ongoing work to engage the community. We look forward to seeing the Plan continue
to move forward.
Sincerely,
Kimber Lanning
CEO
Local First Arizona