Planning Commission Staff Report

PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT
CASE:
ZTA23-01 ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT GLENDALE
CENTERLINE OVERLAY (GCO) DISTRICTS
CASE #:
ZTA23-01
MEETING DATE:
09/28/2023
FROM:
Christina Lavelle, Senior Planner, Planning,
CLavelle@glendaleaz.com, 623-930-2553
SUBJECT
ZTA23-01 ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT GLENDALE CENTERLINE OVERLAY
(GCO) DISTRICT - A request initiated by the Planning Commission for an amendment
to the Glendale Zoning Ordinance, Section 6.806 - Parking, for the Glendale Centerline
Overlay District. The intent is to amend the parking requirements to provide flexibility
for required parking spaces regarding multifamily residential developments.   
Presented By: Christina LaVelle, Senior Planner 
REQUEST
Amend Section 6.806 of the Glendale Zoning Ordinance 6.80A6 - Parking (Glendale
Centerline Overlay District).
APPLICANT/OWNER
Planning Commission Initiated / City of Glendale 
REQUIRED ACTION
The Planning Commission must conduct a public hearing and determine if this request
is consistent with the General Plan and Zoning Ordinance.
SUMMARY
The purpose of the Glendale Centerline Overlay District is to provide an alternative set
of development requirements to encourage development and redevelopment within the
Glendale Centerline boundaries. The parking section of the Glendale Centerline
Overlay District (GCO) currently addresses parking standards for businesses within the
Beet Sugar and Historic Downtown Character Districts, but is silent on the parking
requirements for multifamily residential. The amendment provides for flexibility for
multifamily residential, including affordable housing, regarding required parking
spaces. 
BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Article 6, Section 6.806, for the Glendale Centerline Overlay District's parking
standards addresses commercial use parking requirements for the Beet Sugar and
Historic Downtown Character Districts. As such, multifamily housing, including
affordable housing, are subject to the parking requirements as set forth in Article 7,
Section 7.400, of the City of Glendale Zoning Ordinance. The parking requirements for
multifamily housing are one (1) parking space for a studio or one (1) bedroom
apartment and two (2) parking spaces for two or more bedrooms. In addition, for every
three (3) dwelling units proposed, one (1) guest parking space must be provided. 
As an example, the city received a request to reduce the parking space requirement for
a proposed multifamily project. The property was rezoned to Glendale Centerline
Overlay District - Midtown Character District in 2021 (ZIL21-02). The site is a four (4)
acre infill parcel that was purchased from the City of Glendale for the purpose to
develop an affordable multifamily housing project. As proposed, the project meets all
the development standards for the Midtown Character District except for parking which
is regulated through Article 7.  The applicant asked for relief in the parking
requirements of Article 7.400, stating that as an affordable housing project, on an infill
site, the current code requirements for the required number of parking spaces is not
in-line with the actual parking needs for the residents.  The applicant is proposing a
parking justification study to determine the actual demand and needs for affordable
multifamily project. 
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION TO DATE:
Applicant’s Citizen Participation Process:
On August 9, 2023, the City mailed notification letters to a citywide distribution list. No
comments were received. 
Planning Commission Public Hearing:
 A Notice of Public Hearing was published in The Arizona Republic on September 6,
2023. Notification postcards of the public hearing were mailed on September 8, 2023. 
STAFF FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS
The amendment is consistent with the policies and objectives of the Glendale
General Plan. 
Policy HE-4.1: The City should encourage the planning and construction
of housing and residential facilities designed to serve the elderly and
disabled populations in Glendale.
Policy CRR-2.3: The City shall prepare and implement infill construction
incentives, including zoning ordinance revisions, to remove impediments to
qualified infill projects.
Policy CRR- 2.4: The City should add incentives for the facilitation of infill
housing and the quality redevelopment of housing stock in areas of
substandard or obsolete housing.  
1.
The Envision 2040, City of Glendale General Plan, regards infill development (Goal
CRR-2) and housing options that meet a range of socioeconomic needs (Goal HE-3)
as top priorities for the City. The GCO supports this vision by providing an alternate set
of development requirements to encourage development and redevelopment within the
Glendale Centerline. It creates flexible development standards to support development

or redevelopment of small and irregular parcels of land (infill). These standards include,
but are not limited to, increased density and building heights and decreased building
setbacks and landscape requirements. The flexibility in development standards is
intended to support projects in the Centerline which often are remnant or infill parcels
that are difficult to develop.   The proposed amendment supports the goals of the GCO
and the General Plan by providing a process by which an affordable housing project
may modify their parking requirements based on projected demand rather than a
calculation based on number of bedrooms. 
  
The proposed amendment furthers the public health, safety and general welfare
of the citizens of Glendale.
2.
The amendment supports the general welfare of the public by providing a process by
which affordable housing, including senior housing, can be developed without over
parking the site but tailoring the parking requirements on a case by case basis.This will
provide the opportunity to optimize the flexible standards of the GCO for multifamily
residential infill projects. 
  
If the amendment is to the official Zoning Map, the proposed change will include
any conditions necessary to mitigate any adverse impacts on businesses,
persons, or properties adjacent to the requested amendment.
3.
The amendment is not anticipated to have any adverse impacts on properties within
the vicinity. Within the designated Centerline District, properties vary in zoning
designations that include, Multifamily Districts (R-3, R-4), Pedestrian Retail (PR), C-1
(Neighborhood Commercial), C-2 (General Commercial), and C-3 (Heavy
Commercial). The proposed amendment for parking requirements for multifamily
residential should not impact properties within the Centerline District. 
A finding is made that there are adequate school facilities, if the amendment is to
the official Zoning Map, and if Section 3.812 (Adequate School Facilities) is
applicable.
4.
 Section 3.812 is not applicable for this amendment. 
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approval of ZTA23-01 as presented.
PROPOSED MOTION
Move to recommend approval of ZTA23-01 as presented.
Attachments
ZTA23-01- Text Amendment 
Final Citizen Participation Plan 
Zoning Map 
Aerial map 
Presentation