Attachment D - PC Memo - Z-58-25-6.pdf

City of Phoenix — Formal (2025-09-03)

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To: 
City of Phoenix Planning Commission   
Date: August 1, 2025 
From: 
Racelle Escolar, AICP 
Principal Planner 
Subject: 
ITEM NO. 9 (Z-58-25-6) – SOUTHEAST CORNER OF 17TH STREET 
AND GRISWOLD ROAD 
Rezoning Case No. Z-58-25-6 is a request to rezone 1.12 acres located on the 
southeast corner of 17th Street and Griswold Road from R-16 (Single-Family Residence 
District) to R-O (Residential Office District – Restrict Commercial) to allow for 
professional offices. 
The North Mountain Village Planning Committee (VPC) heard this request on July 16, 
2025 and recommended approval, per the staff recommendation with an additional 
stipulation and direction, by a vote of 10-3-1. During the VPC meeting, members of the 
neighborhood expressed concerns regarding the use of non-native vegetation. In 
response, the Village Planning Committee recommended Stipulation No. 22 requiring 
the use of native vegetation. The VPC also requested that the applicant work with the 
neighborhood to work on building aesthetics. 
In addition to the aforementioned concerns over non-native vegetation, members of the 
public expressed concerns over site lighting and the loss of the rural character of the 
neighborhood. The applicant has been working with the neighborhood and staff to 
address these concerns. Staff recommends including two additional stipulations 
requested by the applicant intended to address the concerns. These are new Stipulation 
No. 23 regarding the use of detached sidewalks and associated vegetation, and new 
Stipulation No. 24 regarding site lighting. 
Staff recommends approval, per the modified stipulations in BOLD font below: 
1.
All building elevations shall contain architectural embellishments and detailing
such as textural changes, pilasters, offsets, recesses, variation in window size
and location, and/or overhang canopies, as approved by the Planning and
Development Department.
2.
A minimum 20-foot-wide landscape setback shall be provided along the
property line adjacent to Griswold Road.
3.
A minimum 10-foot-wide landscape setback shall be provided along the
property line adjacent to 17th Street.
4.
A minimum 10-foot-wide landscape setback shall be provided along the east
property line.
ATTACHMENT D

Z-58-25-6 
Planning Commission Backup Memo 
August 1, 2025 
Page 2 of 4 
 
 
 
5. 
Landscape setbacks shall be planted to the following standards, as approved 
by the Planning and Development Department. 
 
 
 
a. 
Minimum 2-inch caliper, large canopy, drought-tolerant, shade trees, 
planted 30 feet on center, or in equivalent groupings. 
 
 
 
b. 
A minimum of five, 5-gallon drought-tolerant shrubs per tree. 
 
 
 
c. 
A mixture of drought-tolerant shrubs, accents, and vegetative 
groundcovers, evenly distributed throughout the landscape areas to 
achieve a minimum of 50% live coverage. 
 
 
6. 
Where pedestrian walkways cross a vehicular path, the pathway shall be 
constructed of decorative pavers, stamped or colored concrete, or other 
pavement treatments that visually contrast parking and drive aisle surfaces, as 
approved by the Planning and Development Department.  
 
 
7. 
No vehicular access, except for fire access, may be permitted along Griswold 
Road. All fire access shall be mountable curb with reinforced concrete per MAG 
detail, as approved by the Planning and Development Department.  
 
 
8. 
Right-of-way shall be dedicated at the southeast corner of 17th Street and 
Griswold Road to encompass all public infrastructure, as approved by the 
Planning and Development Department.  
 
 
9. 
Should the applicant be successful in obtaining a variance to allow access from 
other than a collector or arterial street, a shared driveway and access 
easement shall be identified on the plat along 17th Street, between the subject 
site and the property to the south (APN No. 165-21-006A). 
 
 
10. 
All streets within and adjacent to the development shall be constructed with 
paving, curb, gutter, sidewalk, curb ramps, streetlights, median islands, 
landscaping and other incidentals, as per plans approved by the Planning and 
Development Department. All improvements shall comply with all ADA 
accessibility standards. 
 
 
11. 
A minimum of 5% of the required parking spaces shall include EV Installed 
infrastructure. 
 
 
12. 
A minimum of four bicycle parking spaces shall be provided through Inverted U 
and/or artistic racks located near building entrances and installed per the 
requirements of Section 1307.H. of the Phoenix Zoning Ordinance, as 
approved by the Planning and Development Department. Artistic racks shall 
adhere to the City of Phoenix Preferred Designs in Appendix K of the 
Comprehensive Bicycle Master Plan.

Z-58-25-6 
Planning Commission Backup Memo 
August 1, 2025 
Page 3 of 4 
 
13. 
All bicycle parking spaces and pedestrian pathways, including sidewalks, shall 
be shaded by a structure, landscaping, or a combination of the two to provide a 
minimum of 75% shade, as approved by the Planning and Development 
Department.  
 
 
14. 
Natural turf shall only be utilized for required retention areas (bottom of basin, 
and only allowed on slopes if required for slope stabilization), as approved by 
the Planning and Development Department. 
 
 
15. 
A minimum of 25% of the surface parking areas shall be shaded, as approved 
by the Planning and Development Department. Shade may be achieved by 
structures or by minimum 2-inch caliper, drought tolerant, shade trees, or a 
combination thereof. 
 
 
16. 
Prior to final site plan approval, documentation shall be provided that 
demonstrates a commitment to participate in the Phoenix Water Efficiency 
Checkup program for a minimum of 10 years, or as approved by the Planning 
and Development Department 
 
 
17. 
A minimum of two green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) elements for 
stormwater management shall be implemented, as approved or modified by the 
Planning and Development and/or Street Transportation departments. This 
includes but is not limited to stormwater harvesting basins, bioswales, 
permeable pavement, etc., per the Greater Phoenix Metro Green Infrastructure 
and Low Impact Development Details for Alternative Stormwater Management.   
 
 
18. 
If determined necessary by the Phoenix Archaeology Office, the applicant shall 
conduct Phase I data testing and submit an archaeological survey report of the 
development area for review and approval by the City Archaeologist prior to 
clearing and grubbing, landscape salvage, and/or grading approval. 
 
 
19. 
If Phase I data testing is required, and if, upon review of the results from the 
Phase I data testing, the City Archaeologist, in consultation with a qualified 
archaeologist, determines such data recovery excavations are necessary, the 
applicant shall conduct Phase II archaeological data recovery excavations. 
 
 
20. 
In the event archaeological materials are encountered during construction, the 
developer shall immediately cease all ground-disturbing activities within a 33-
foot radius of the discovery, notify the City Archaeologist, and allow time for the 
Archaeology Office to properly assess the materials. 
 
 
21. 
Prior to final site plan approval, the landowner shall execute a Proposition 207 
waiver of claims form. The waiver shall be recorded with the Maricopa County 
Recorder's Office and delivered to the City to be included in the rezoning 
application file for record.

Z-58-25-6 
Planning Commission Backup Memo 
August 1, 2025 
Page 4 of 4 
 
22. 
ALL VEGETATION PLANTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THIS SITE, 
INCLUDING THE STREETSCAPE, SHALL CONSIST ENTIRELY OF PLANT 
SPECIES INDIGENOUS TO THE UPPER SONORAN DESERT, AS 
APPROVED BY THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. 
 
 
23. 
ALL SIDEWALKS ADJACENT TO THE STREETS SHALL BE DETACHED 
WITH A MINIMUM 5-FOOT-WIDE CONTINUOUS LANDSCAPE AREA 
LOCATED BETWEEN THE BACK OF CURB AND SIDEWALK. THE 
LANDSCAPE AREA SHALL BE PLANTED TO THE FOLLOWING 
STANDARDS, AS APPROVED BY THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT 
DEPARTMENT. 
 
 
 
A. 
MINIMUM 2-INCH CALIPER, SINGLE-TRUNK, LARGE CANOPY, 
SHADE TREES, PLANTED 20 FEET ON CENTER, OR IN 
EQUIVALENT GROUPINGS. 
 
 
 
 
B. 
A MIXTURE OF SHRUBS, ACCENTS, AND VEGETATIVE 
GROUNDCOVERS, MAINTAINED TO A MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF 24 
INCHES TO PROVIDE A MINIMUM OF 75% LIVE COVERAGE. 
 
 
 
24. 
THE FOLLOWING LIGHTING STANDARDS SHALL APPLY ON-SITE, AS 
APPROVED BY THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. 
 
 
 
 
A. 
ALL LIGHTING SHALL BE SHIELDED TO PREVENT DIRECT 
VISIBILITY OF THE LIGHT SOURCE FROM ADJACENT PROPERTY. 
 
 
 
 
B. 
LIGHTING SHALL BE SHIELDED WITH CUT-OFF FIXTURES AND 
DEFLECTORS TO DIRECT LIGHT DOWNWARD AND LIMIT ON-SITE 
LIGHTING LEVELS TO A MAXIMUM OF 1 FOOT CANDLE AT THE 
PROPERTY LINE.  
 
 
 
 
C. 
ANY LIGHTING SHALL NOT EXCEED A MAXIMUM OF 15 FEET IN 
HEIGHT INCLUDING LAMP, POLE, AND BASE. 
 
 
 
 
D. 
THE COLOR TEMPERATURE OF ANY LIGHTING SHALL BE 
LIMITED TO 2,700 KELVIN.