Downtown Region Area Plan Update Presentation

Downtown 
Region 
Area Plan 
Update
City of Chandler
City Council and Planning & Zoning
Joint Session
February 6, 2025

Existing Related Plans
Timelines & Community Outreach
Proposed Area Plan Map
New Recommendations
o
Allow Adaptive Reuse
o
Establish Commerce Routes
o
Allow Mixed-Uses at Industrial
o
Allow Alley Activation
o
Recognize Downtown Gateways
o
Develop Character Area Guidelines
Presentation Outline


1995 Chandler Redevelopment Element  (replace)

2006 South AZ Ave Entry Corridor Study  (replace)

2010 South AZ Ave Design Guidelines  (replace)

2016 Chandler General Plan

2019 Chandler Transportation Plan

Chandler Water, Wastewater & Reclaimed Water 
Master Plan Update

2023-2025 Chandler Strategic Framework

Chandler Economic Development Strategic Plan

2023 Infill Incentive Plan

2023-2024 Southside Village Studies: Urban Land 
Institute and Washington Street Alignment
Existing Related Plans
1995  (29 years)
Chandler 
Redevelopment 
Element
2006  (18 years) 
South Arizona 
Avenue Entry 
Corridor Study
2010  (14 years) 
South Arizona  
Avenue Design 
Guidelines
2016              
Chandler 
General Plan
Other City of 
Chandler 
Supporting 
Plans
2025   
Downtown 
Region Area 
Plan Update

15 MONTH TIMELINE:
Timelines & Community Outreach
COMMUNITY OUTREACH:  

Website / social media / email notification

Educational Meetings

Stakeholder Interviews

Public & Virtual Workshops 
Visioning:  Aug 17 & 19
Scenarios: Sept 9 & 10
Immersion:  Nov 15 & 16
Mar–May 2025
GATHERING INPUT
Mar - Sept 2024
FINAL PLAN
May 2025
FINALIZING THE PLAN
Mar - May 2025
PROJECT START-UP
Feb - Mar 2024
PROJECT 
KICKOFF
Feb 2024
DRAFTING THE PLAN
Feb 2025

Describes subject area:
o
Ray Rd to 202 & McQueen to Alma School Rd
5 separate districts:
o
Northern, San Marcos, Downtown, 
Eastern & Southern
Replace & combine existing area plans:
o
Chandler Redevelopment Element (blue)
o
South AZ Ave Corridor Area Plan (yellow)
Expand area map to add “gateway” areas:
o
San Marcos District
o
Arizona Ave north of Chandler Blvd
o
Chandler Blvd east of Arizona Ave
o
AZ Ave from 202 north to Pecos Rd
Proposed Area Plan Map

New Recommendations
DOWNTOWN
GATEWAY
DOWNTOWN
GATEWAY
DOWNTOWN
GATEWAY
DOWNTOWN
GATEWAY
ADAPTIVE REUSE
MIXED-USES
COMMERCE ROUTES
ALLEY ACTIVATION
The new Downtown Region 
Area Plan will:  

Guide all future 
development decisions 
within the region

Provide a 50,000 feet 
view of how the future 
built environment 
within the region should 
look

Set policies that define 
types of developments 
that can be considered

Add policy guidance to allow adaptive reuse 
along with new & redevelopment projects. 
Why:
•
Planning initiative: development patterns are 
different than expected 20 years ago
•
Less land consolidation & big developments
•
Current zoning – difficult for smaller projects
Benefits:

Preserve & enhance Chandler’s unique 
historic character

Expand revitalization across more of the 
downtown area

Create a more vibrant & culturally rich 
community environment
Recommendation: Adaptive Reuse
DOWNTOWN 
DISTRICT

Establish commerce route policy to reroute 
commercial truck traffic in the downtown region
Why:

Planning initiative: approved development on 
Frye Rd (protected bike lane, Grayhawk 
Residences) will challenge the current capacity

More people expected downtown - more traffic, 
pedestrian & bike safety concerns

Better downtown environment & enhanced  
resident satisfaction
Benefits:

Safer streets for cars, bikes & pedestrians

Protection of built infrastructure (curbs, gutters  
& sidewalks)
Recommendation: Commerce Routes
PROTECTED BIKE LANE

Add policies to allow mixed-use developments with 
residential & commercial uses at existing industrial uses 
east of railroad
Why:
•
Planning initiative: changing development trends
•
More efficient land use planning long-term
•
Provide policy to allow new uses now before a 
potential loss of existing industrial uses
Benefits:

Live/work/play uses & development scale - a better  
fit for the downtown environment

More available housing 

More vibrant, walkable & sustainable community
EASTERN 
DISTRICT
Recommendation: Mixed-Uses

Establish a vision & policy guidance for alley 
activation as pedestrian areas in the downtown
Why:

Community input: create a more vibrant local 
identity with art & public gathering spaces

Community input: provide additional landscaping 
& neighborhood beautification 

Address water & sewer infrastructure issues
Benefits:

More pedestrian space for community events 

Increase unique community character 

Greater flexibility for infill development
SOUTHERN 
DISTRICT
Recommendation: Alley Activation
WALL STREET
SOUTH OF         
LOOK THEATERS

Create policy to identify enhancement opportunities 
for gateways into Downtown Chandler
Why:

Community input: add more landscape, visual 
beautification & protected multi-modal paths

Similar to Chandler Airpark gateway areas

Consistent with “Downtown South” improvements 
Benefits:

Roadway beautification with new landscaping at 
medians & ROWs (similar to Chandler Blvd) 

A downtown core that is connected to adjacent 
neighborhoods

A sense of place & arrival to the downtown core
DOWNTOWN
GATEWAY
DOWNTOWN
GATEWAY
Recommendation: Downtown Gateways
DOWNTOWN
GATEWAY

Develop character area guidelines for established 
neighborhoods & future development areas
Why:

Community input: provide unique landscaping, 
lighting & signage within neighborhoods
Benefits:

Enhance existing neighborhoods by creating a 
sense of place

Create better pedestrian connection to the 
downtown core

Honor the unique historic characteristic of 
established neighborhoods

Balance improvements across the region

Create more housing & supportive 
commercial uses
DOWNTOWN
GATEWAY
Recommendation: Character Area Guidelines

Please Share Your Thoughts!