Attachment C - VPC Summaries - GPA-CC-2-24-7.pdf

City of Phoenix — Formal (2025-03-05)

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City of Phoenix • Planning & Development Department 
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor • Phoenix, Arizona  85003-1611 • (602) 262-6882 
 
 
Village Planning Committee Meeting Summary 
GPA-CC-2-24-7 
 
 
Date of VPC Meeting 
January 13, 2025 
Request From 
Medium Urban Center Place Type 
Request To 
Downtown Core Place Type 
Proposal 
General Plan Amendment to update the Place Type in 
the ReinventPHX Transit Oriented Development 
Strategic Policy Framework (and the PlanPHX 2025 
General Plan) for the 7th Avenue / Washington and 7th 
Avenue / Jefferson station location from Medium Urban 
Center to Downtown Core 
Location 
7th Avenue between Washington Street and Jefferson 
Street 
VPC Recommendation 
Approval, per the staff recommendation 
VPC Vote 
10-1 
 
 
VPC DISCUSSION: 
 
Item No. 7 (GPA-CC-2-24-7) and Item No. 8 (Z-TA-6-24-7) are companion cases and 
were heard together. 
 
No members of the public registered to speak on this item. 
 
STAFF PRESENTATION 
Samuel Rogers, staff, provided a presentation regarding the proposal, reviewing the 
surrounding context, policy background, existing and proposed zoning, the proposed 
development, and the staff recommendation. 
 
Committee Member Rachel Frazier Johnson inquired about the communication with 
the community to determine if there was support or opposition. Mr. Rogers explained 
that the Text Amendment followed the same requirements as the rezoning process, 
including mailing notices, posting on the property, and meeting with the neighborhood. 
Committee Member Frazier Johnson asked whether the mailings were provided in 
both English and Spanish and asked about considerations for non-English-speaking 
community members. Jeff Stapleton, staff, stated that the notification was sent out in 
ATTACHMENT C

Central City Village Planning Committee 
Meeting Summary 
January 13, 2025 
GPA-CC-2-24-7 
Page 2 of 3 
 
 
 
City of Phoenix • Planning & Development Department 
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor • Phoenix, Arizona  85003-1611 • (602) 262-6882 
English per the rezoning packet and stated that Spanish speakers were considered at 
the neighborhood meeting, but the mailers were not bilingual. 
 
Committee Member Janey Pearl Starks asked how many attendees were present at 
the neighborhood meeting. Mr. Stapleton stated that there was one attendee. 
 
Committee Member Nate Sonoskey asked how many people were notified. Mr. 
Stapleton stated that approximately 60 people were notified, but the area is not heavily 
populated, with most notices going to property owners and businesses. 
 
Chair Gaughan noted that the issue of English-only notices has been raised before 
and suggested that the City adopt a policy requiring all meeting notices to be in both 
English and Spanish. 
 
APPLICANT PRESENTATION 
Mr. Stapleton provided an overview of the subject site and surrounding area, the 
purpose of the request, the RFP process, desired projects, Capitol Mall development 
opportunities, and the RFP/development schedule. 
 
QUESTIONS FROM COMMITTEE 
Committee Member Zach Burns asked whether there would be three RFPs or one 
and what would happen with the existing police station. Mr. Stapleton stated that the 
number of RFPs has not been determined and stated that discussions are ongoing. 
 
Committee Member Rachel Frazier Johnson asked whether parking would be self-
contained and stated she understood what the maximum number of units allowed 
would be but would like to know the number of units the RFP will seek. Mr. Stapleton 
responded that the RFP would pursue 20% and explained that parking would meet 
code requirements and be self-contained. 
 
Committee Member Patrick Panetta asked about the private ownership of the 
adjacent property. Mr. Stapleton confirmed that the adjacent property owner wanted to 
be included in the request. 
 
Committee Member Panetta questioned the reasoning behind the 250-foot 
entitlement when a 600-foot entitlement is nearby. Mr. Stapleton explained that the 
entitlement request was intended to match the adjacent state property and align with 
the Downtown Code, which emphasizes step-downs on the perimeter of 7th Avenue. 
 
PUBLIC COMMENTS 
None. 
 
MOTION

Central City Village Planning Committee 
Meeting Summary 
January 13, 2025 
GPA-CC-2-24-7 
Page 3 of 3 
 
 
 
City of Phoenix • Planning & Development Department 
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor • Phoenix, Arizona  85003-1611 • (602) 262-6882 
Committee Member Patrick Panetta made a motion to recommend approval of GPA-
CC-2-24-7 per the staff recommendation. Committee Member Zach Burns seconded 
the motion. 
 
VOTE 
10-1; Motion to recommend approval of GPA-CC-2-24-7 per the staff recommendation 
passed; Committee Members Ban, Burns, Burton, Greenman, Frazier Johnson, 
Panetta, Sonoskey, Vargas, Martinez, and Gaughan in favor and Committee Member 
Starks in opposition. 
 
 
STAFF COMMENTS REGARDING VPC RECOMMENDATION: 
None.

City of Phoenix • Planning & Development Department 
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor • Phoenix, Arizona  85003-1611 • (602) 262-6882 
 
 
Village Planning Committee Meeting Summary 
GPA-CC-2-24-7 
INFORMATION ONLY 
 
 
Date of VPC Meeting 
December 9, 2024 
Request From 
Medium Urban Center Place Type 
Request To 
Downtown Core Place Type 
Proposal 
General Plan Amendment to update the Place Type in 
the ReinventPHX Transit Oriented Development 
Strategic Policy Framework (and the PlanPHX 2025 
General Plan) for the 7th Avenue / Washington and 7th 
Avenue / Jefferson station location from Medium Urban 
Center to Downtown Core 
Location 
7th Avenue between Washington Street and Jefferson 
Street 
 
 
VPC DISCUSSION: 
 
Item No. 5 (GPA-CC-2-24-7) and Item No. 6 (Z-TA-6-24-7) are companion cases and 
were heard together. 
 
No members of the public registered to speak on this item. 
 
STAFF PRESENTATION 
Jeff Stapleton with the Community and Economic Development Department provided a 
presentation regarding the proposal, reviewing the surrounding context, policy 
background, the proposed zoning text and place type designation, and the proposed 
timeline. 
 
QUESTIONS FROM COMMITTEE 
Chair O’Grady asked for clarification on the proposed station locations. Mr. Stapleton 
showed a map and discussed station locations. 
 
Committee Member Martinez stated that the area for the new police headquarters is a 
very dense area. Mr. Stapleton noted that some buildings have been revived in that 
area.

Central City Village Planning Committee 
Meeting Summary 
December 9, 2024 
GPA-CC-2-24-7 - Info Only 
Page 2 of 2 
 
 
 
City of Phoenix • Planning & Development Department 
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor • Phoenix, Arizona  85003-1611 • (602) 262-6882 
Committee Member Sonoskey asked if there would be a rationale for including more 
of the surrounding properties. Mr. Stapleton described the surrounding parcels and 
stated it would not be feasible on any adjacent parcels. 
 
Ms. Martinez asked for clarification on the location of the elections building. Mr. 
Stapleton showed the location on a map. 
 
Committee Member Rachel Frazier Johnson asked if the elections office will be 
staying in their location. Mr. Stapleton provided additional background. 
 
Committee Member Ban asked if the requested height increase would be a by-right 
height, what would be the affordable housing ratio, and if there would be types of retail 
uses prohibited. Mr. Stapleton replied that the height would be by-right and there is not 
a specific number for the affordable housing ratio at this time. Xandon Keating with the 
Community and Economic Development Department stated that there are some uses 
CED doesn’t allow in the RFP. 
 
Committee Member Sonoskey asked about the community outreach conducted. Mr. 
Stapleton replied that the required notifications have been sent, and a neighborhood 
meeting was held, adding that they have also met with several neighborhood 
organizations.  
 
PUBLIC COMMENTS 
None.