Attachment A - Staff Report - Z-SP-2-19-7.pdf
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Staff Report Z-SP-2-19-7
October 5, 2020
Central City Village Planning Committee
Meeting Date:
October 12, 2020
Planning Commission Hearing Date:
November 5, 2020
Request From:
A-1 SP CMOD (Light Industrial
District, Special Permit, Capitol Mall
Overlay District) (12.55 acres), A-1
CMOD (Light Industrial District,
Capitol Mall Overlay District) (1.25
acres), A-1 HP-L CMOD (Light
Industrial District, Historic
Preservation Landmark, Capitol Mall
Overlay District) (0.55 acres), and
C-3 HP-L CMOD (General
Commercial, Historic Preservation
Landmark, Capitol Mall Overlay
District) (0.18 acres)
Request To:
A-1 SP CMOD (Light Industrial
District, Special Permit, Capitol Mall
Overlay District) (14.53 acres)
Proposed Use:
Modify the Special Permit area of the
Human Services Campus to include
Andre House and to allow for an
increase in the maximum number of
beds. The Special Permit is to allow
homeless shelter, charitable dining
hall and food service uses.
Location:
Southeast corner of 13th Avenue and
Madison Street
Owner:
Human Services Campus Inc., et al
Applicant:
Andy Jochums, Beus Gilbert, PLLC
Representative:
Paul Gilbert, Beus Gilbert, PLLC
Staff Recommendation:
Approval, subject to stipulations
Attachment A
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October 5, 2020
Page 2 of 19
General Plan Conformity
General Plan Land Use Map
Designation
Industrial and Public/Quasi-Public
Street Map Classification
Madison
Street
Local
35-foot south half street
12th
Avenue
Local
31-foot west half street
11th
Avenue
Local
90-foot full street
Jackson
Street
Local
33-foot south half street
and 20.02 to 20.35-foot
north half street
Harrison
Street
Local
60-foot full street
(abutting perpendicular)
CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS CORE
VALUE; CERTAINTY AND CHARACTER; DESIGN PRINCIPLE: Create or
maintain spacing requirements for small-scale incompatible land uses such as
adult businesses, homeless shelters, residential treatment facilities and other
group facilities, to avoid concentrations that change the character of the area.
The proposal is to increase the number of beds within existing buildings on site and
would maintain the existing setbacks and separation of existing uses.
CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS CORE
VALUE; CERTAINTY AND CHARACTER; LAND USE PRINCIPLE: New
development and expansion or redevelopment of existing development in or
near residential areas should be compatible with existing uses and consistent
with adopted plans.
The proposal is consistent with the existing use on site and is an allowable use within
the Capitol Mall Overlay District with a Special Permit.
CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY CORE VALUE; CLEAN
NEIGHBORHOODS; LAND USE PRINCIPLE: Support new compatible land uses
that remove extremely deteriorated structures, excessive trash and debris, and
other blight in neighborhoods.
As stipulated, the proposal includes increased trash and recycling receptacles and
scheduled clean-ups of the area.
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October 5, 2020
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Applicable Plans, Overlays, and Initiatives
Housing Phoenix Plan: See Background Item No. 13 below.
Complete Streets Guidelines: See Background Item No. 14 below.
Reimagine Phoenix: See Background Item No. 15 below.
Surrounding Land Uses/Zoning
Land Use
Zoning
On Site
Homeless shelter, charitable
dining hall and food service uses
A-1 SP CMOD, A-1 CMOD, A-1 HP-L
CMOD, C-3 HP-L CMOD
North
Parking lot, warehouse storage,
industrial uses, community
services, and vacant lots
A-1 CMOD
South
Railroad tracks
A-1 CCSIOD, A-2 CCSIOD
East
Vehicle storage and industrial
uses
A-1 CMOD
West
Cemetery
A-1 HP-L CMOD, C-3 HP-L CMOD
Background/Issues/Analysis
PROPOSAL
1.
This request is to modify the Special Permit area of the Human Services Campus for
approximately 14.53 acres located at the southeast corner of 13th Avenue and Madison
Street and rezone from A-1 SP CMOD (Light Industrial District, Special Permit, Capitol
Mall Overlay District), A-1 CMOD (Light Industrial District, Capitol Mall Overlay District) ,
A-1 HP-L CMOD (Light Industrial District, Historic Preservation Landmark, Capitol Mall
Overlay District) and C-3 HP-L CMOD (General Commercial, Historic Preservation
Landmark, Capitol Mall Overlay District) to A-1 SP CMOD (Light Industrial District,
Special Permit, Capitol Mall Overlay District). The proposal is to increase the number of
allowable beds to 1,000 and incorporate the Andre House, located at the northeast
corner of 11th Avenue and Jackson Street, into the Special Permit area. The proposal
would place beds within the existing buildings and does not propose any new
construction.
The subject site, referred to as the Human Services Campus, offers services and
resources to individuals experiencing homelessness in collaboration with several
organizations and agencies such as: Saint Vincent de Paul, Andre House, A New Leaf,
Brighter Way Dental Center, Catholic Charities, Central Arizona Shelter Services
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(CASS), Community Bridges, Chaplaincy for the Homeless, Circle the City Healthcare
for the Homeless, Department of Economic Security, Homeless Court Advocacy,
Homeless I.D. Project, Maricopa County Adult Probation, Maricopa County Public
Health, Mercy Care, Lodestar Day Resource Center, the Phoenix Symphony, St.
Joseph the Worker, and the U.S. Post Office.
HOMELESSNESS IN PHOENIX
2.
The City of Phoenix, along with the State of Arizona, Maricopa County and neighboring
cities in the metropolitan region, is committed to focusing on solutions for persons
experiencing homelessness.
Annual counts are performed in Maricopa County in an effort to learn more about
individuals and families experiencing homelessness throughout the county. The
unsheltered count has steadily increased over the years, with the largest percentage
being adults over the age of 25. Nationally, the number of elderly homeless Americans
is projected to triple over the next decade. In Arizona, roughly one in three households
includes a resident that is 65 years in age or older.
In 2020, the Phoenix City Council requested a strategic plan to focus on strategies for
persons experiencing homelessness. An interdepartmental City team was formed to
develop a comprehensive plan with both long-term and short-term strategies to address
the wide variety of challenges faced by those in the city. This plan contains sections
that address outreach and resources, mental health, workforce development, housing,
clean-up, communication, policy and neighborhoods. After seeking feedback from the
public, the plan is currently being refined before being presented at a City of Phoenix
City Council Policy Meeting scheduled for October 27, 2020.
SUBJECT SITE AND HISTORY
3.
The subject site is within the Capitol Mall
Overlay District. The Capitol Mall Overlay
District acknowledges the varied uses of
the area including governmental offices,
industrial and commercial businesses and
historic residences. Many activities in this
area are near each other and the
compatibility of these activities is critical to
their property and orderly function. The
purpose of this district is to prevent a
concentration of certain uses which can
restrict businesses and residences from
functioning normally and contributes to the
deterioration of the business and living
Figure A: Capitol Mall Overlay District Map
Source: City of Phoenix Planning and
Development Department
Staff Report: Z-SP-2-19-7
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environment, the downgrading of property
values, and the diminishment of health,
safety and general welfare conditions in
the area.
The Capitol Mall Overlay District permits homeless shelters and charitable dining
subject to a Special Permit. Further, pursuant to ARS 34-225 and ARS 41-1362, the
Department of Administration Director approved of this request on June 25, 2019. A
copy of the approval letter is included as an exhibit to this report.
4.
In 2003, Special Permit Z-SP-21-02-8 was
approved to allow temporary shelter,
charitable dining hall and food service
uses on approximately 12.55 acres
generally bounded by 242 feet west of the
southwest corner 9th Avenue and Jackson
Street south to Harrison Street, west to
13th Avenue and north to Madison Street,
which encompasses the existing shelter
area. The Special Permit was subject to
the following two stipulations:
Figure B: Existing Special Permit Map
Source: City of Phoenix Planning and
Development Department
1. That the development shall be in general conformance to the site plan date
stamped November 8, 2002 as approved or modified by the Development
Services Department.
2. That an archeological excavation and recovery program shall occur to mitigate
the adverse effects from construction to the cultural resources, and any
prehistoric human remains shall be removed per the State of Arizona Antiquities
Act standards.
Per the stipulated site plan for Z-SP-21-02-8, the Special Permit for the Human Services
Campus was limited to no more than 425 temporary shelter beds on the property. No
additional stipulations were added addressing the operations of the Campus.
SURROUNDING LAND USES AND ZONING
5.
The site provides services and
resources to individuals
experiencing homelessness within
several existing buildings. To the
south, zoned A-2 CCSIOD and A-1
CCSIOD, are railroad tracks and
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beyond the railroad right-of-way are
sites used for industrial and trucking
uses. To the west, zoned A-1 HP-L
and C-3 HP-L, is the Pioneer and
Military Memorial Park and
cemetery. To the north, along
Madison Street, is a parking lot,
warehouse storage, industrial uses,
community services, and vacant lots
zoned A-1 CMOD. To the east are
vehicle storage and industrial uses
also zoned A-1 CMOD.
Figure C. Site Context and Surrounding Land
Uses
Source: City of Phoenix Planning and
Development Department
GENERAL PLAN LAND USE MAP DESIGNATIONS
6.
The General Plan Land Use Map designation for the site is Public/Quasi-Public and
Industrial. The Industrial land use category allows warehousing, manufacturing and
processing businesses. The Public/Quasi-Public land use category identifies areas
where institutional, cemetery, governmental, utility and airport
uses are appropriate. The proposal is consistent with this land use designation as the
proposal is to continue to provide services and shelter to persons experiencing
homelessness.
Figure D. Existing General Plan Land Use Map Designation
Source: City of Phoenix Planning and Development Department
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October 5, 2020
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PROPOSAL AND ANNUAL REVIEW
7.
The proposal is to increase the
number of beds within existing
buildings and include the Andre
House within the proposed Special
Permit area. Stipulation No. 1
requires the development to be in
general conformance with the site
plan date stamped November 4,
2019. Any request to delete or
modify stipulations is subject to
review by the Planning Hearing
Officer, and a public hearing
pursuant to the guidelines listed in
Section 506 of the Phoenix Zoning
Ordinance. While no new
construction or buildings are
proposed at this time, Stipulation No.
1 would require a public hearing
process for significant changes to
the existing campus layout.
Figure E: Conceptual Site Plan
Source: Bowman Consulting
Further, to provide information on the effectiveness of the Special Permit, Stipulation
No. 15 requires an annual report to be provided that details the number of people
served by service providers, the number of positive exits for each organization, the
number of beds allocated for the traditional and low barrier shelters, the number of
beds, if permitted, to entities other than the City of Phoenix, community outreach
meeting summaries and efforts to address homeless on a regional level.
Stipulation No. 16 requires the Special Permit to be reviewed annually after the
Certificate of Occupancy is issued for the low barrier shelter beds. The review is through
the Planning Hearing Officer who may impose additional stipulations and/or additional
reviews.
BED ALLOCATION AND OPERATIONS
8.
Stipulation No. 2 outlines the allowable maximum number of beds permitted under the
request. Further, the stipulation requires a minimum of 100 low barrier shelter beds to
be provided prior to the expansion of traditional beds to address the concerns regarding
individuals outside the Special Permit area who do not use traditional shelter beds. The
increase of low barrier shelter beds first would alleviate the number of individuals near
the subject site who do not use traditional shelter beds and would address concerns
regarding trash and debris accumulating around the subject site. The current shelter
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operation does not include a low barrier component.
To address concerns regarding the immediate needs of those experiencing
homelessness in the nearby area and within the City of Phoenix, Stipulation No. 2.c.
prohibits shelter operators from reserving or contracting bed spaces unless approved by
the Planning and Development Director or the Police Chief, excluding 14 bed spaces
reserved for hospital drop-offs.
Stipulation No. 7 requires shelter operators with vacancies accept clients until 11:00
p.m., which would allow for more individuals to be admitted to the shelter facilities.
Stipulation No. 8 reserves 10 traditional and 10 low barrier shelter beds from 7:00 a.m.
to 11:00 p.m. for the City of Phoenix Police Department to place an individual they
deem vulnerable and in need of shelter. This addresses the Police Department’s need
for available bed space to place individuals they encounter who need shelter.
STREET MAINTENANCE
9.
Stipulation Nos. 3 through 6 address street maintenance within and around the subject
site to improve the cleanliness of the surrounding area. Stipulation No. 3 requires the
property owners and operators to pursue an abandonment of public rights-of-way
adjacent to the subject site and the submittal of a fence/wall plan to develop a secure
and cohesive campus. Stipulation Nos. 4 and 5 require trash/recycling receptables and
toilets accessible to the public from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., to reduce the amount of
waste around the subject site. Further, Stipulation No. 6 requires the cleaning of
sidewalk areas and streets a minimum of once per day for an area bounded by the
railroad tracks to the south, Jefferson Street to the north, 13th Avenue to the west and
9th Avenue to the east. Stipulation No. 6 also requires the operation of a Clean Zone
program that would continue the maintenance of public rights-of-way and clean
additional locations a minimum of two days a week. Lastly, Stipulation No. 17 requires
any street improvements to be made according to ADA standards and plans approved
the Planning and Development Department.
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Figure F: Street Cleaning Area
Source: City of Phoenix Planning and Development Department
SECURITY
10. Stipulation Nos. 9 through 12 address concerns regarding security and safety around
and within the subject site. Stipulation No. 9 requires an “authority to arrest” agreement
to be completed and maintained for all property owners and operators within the Special
Permit area allowing the Police Department to patrol the area and arrest trespassers.
Stipulation No. 10 requires security personnel on site daily, and Stipulation No. 11
requires security cameras or other monitoring devices to be provided to capture activity
along street frontages. Stipulation No. 12 requires a Security Master Plan to be provided
and reviewed annually by the Police Department, including topics such as a main point
of contact for all security matters, coordination of security personnel, provisions for
cameras and lighting, procedures for disposing of controlled substances and weapons,
and procedures for screening and monitoring clients.
HOMELESSNESS STRATEGIES
11. To address the issue of homelessness not only on a local but at a regional level,
Stipulation No. 13 requires the Human Services Campus to identify, pursue and
implement strategies to reduce service demands on providers within and near the
subject site. Those efforts shall be summarized in an annual report provided to the
Human Services Department and the Planning and Development Department.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
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12. To reduce impacts of those experiencing homelessness in the surrounding area,
Stipulation No. 14 outlines community outreach requirements such as notification of
surrounding property owners and neighborhood associations, frequency of outreach
meetings, topics of discussion at outreach meetings, and summaries that are to be
included in the annual report submitted to the Planning and Development Department.
STUDIES AND POLICIES
13. Housing Phoenix Plan
In June 2020, the Phoenix City Council approved the Housing Phoenix Plan. This Plan
contains policy initiatives for the development and preservation of housing with a vision
of creating a stronger and more vibrant Phoenix through increased housing options for
residents at all income levels and family sizes. Phoenix’s rapid population growth and
housing underproduction has led to a need for over 163,000 new housing units. Current
shortages of housing supply relative to demand are a primary reason why housing costs
are increasing.
The request supports the Plan’s goal of preserving or creating 50,000 housing units by
2030 by addressing the housing gap of over 1,400 new units needed for persons
experiencing homelessness. The proposal seeks to provide accommodations for
persons experiencing homelessness and is consistent with the Housing Phoenix Plan
Policy.
14. Complete Streets Guidelines
In 2014, the City of Phoenix City Council adopted the Complete Streets Guiding
Principles. The principles are intended to promote improvements that provide an
accessible, safe, connected transportation system to include all modes, such as
bicycles, pedestrians, transit, and vehicles. Stipulation Nos. 3 through 6 address street
maintenance to provide clean and safe streets for bicyclists and pedestrians.
15. Reimagine Phoenix
As part of the Reimagine Phoenix Initiative, the City of Phoenix is committed to
increasing the waste diversion rate to 40 percent by 2020 and to better manage its solid
waste resources. Stipulation No. 4 addresses trash and recycling facilities accessible to
the public to reduce waste in the public rights-of-way.
COMMUNITY INPUT SUMMARY
16. The applicant has completed the Citizen Participation requirements as outlined in the
Rezoning Process Packet. As of the writing of this report, staff has received 60
comments in support and 29 in opposition. Stated concerns were safety, crime, trash
and human waste in the surrounding area.
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INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMENTS
The above stipulations were developed through coordination with multiple city departments
who are engaged with or have knowledge of the current Campus operations. The below
details specific areas of input from those departments.
17. Part of the subject site, along the
former 13th Avenue right-of-way
south of Madison Street, is
designated as Historic Preservation-
Landmark. When the original Special
Permit was approved in 2003, 13th
Avenue was abandoned and
incorporated into the Human
Services campus property. The
Historic Preservation Office has no
concerns with rezoning that portion
of abandoned right-of-way from
Historic Preservation-Landmark to
the Special Permit area.
Figure G. Historic Landmark Designation
Source: City of Phoenix Planning and
Development Department
18. The Street Transportation Department provided comments regarding street
maintenance and cleaning. Those are addressed in Stipulation Nos. 3 through 6.
Stipulation No. 17 also requires any future street improvements to be made according to
ADA and City standards.
19. The Public Works Department provided comments regarding street cleaning and toilet
and recycling facilities on site. Those comments are addressed in Stipulation Nos. 4
through 6.
20. The Human Services Department provided comments regarding the allocation of shelter
beds in the Special Permit area, publicly accessible waste facilities, operational hours
for service providers, efforts to address homelessness at a regional level and
community outreach. Those are addressed in Stipulation Nos. 2, 4, 5, 7, 13, 14 and 15.
21. The Neighborhood Services Department provided comments on hours of operation,
community outreach, annual reporting, street cleaning and accessible restroom and
trash facilities. Those are addressed in Stipulation Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, 14 and 15.
22. The Police Department provided comments regarding bed reservations, operational
hours, and security and safety within and surrounding the subject site. Those are in
Stipulation Nos. 7 through 12.
23. The Floodplain Division of the Public Works Department determined the site is not in a
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Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), but located in a Shaded Zone X, on panel 2205 L of
the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) dated October 16, 2013
24. The City of Phoenix Water Services Department noted the property has existing water
and sewer mains that can serve the site. However, the requirements and assurances
for water and sewer service are determined during the site plan application review.
25. The Fire Department indicated there are no problems anticipated with the case and that
the site and/or buildings shall comply with the Phoenix Fire Code. Further, the
Department commented that they do not know the water supply at this site and noted
that additional water supply may be required to meet the required fire flow per the
Phoenix Fire Code.
26. Aviation Department indicated the subject site was within the Phoenix Sky Harbor
International Airport traffic pattern airspace and requires the developer to record a
Notice of Prospective Purchasers of Proximity to Airport to disclose the existence and
operational characteristics of the airport. This is addressed in Stipulation No. 18.
OTHER
27. The Arizona Department of Administration approved of this request on June 25, 2019
pursuant to ARS 34-225 and ARS 41-1362. A copy of the approval letter is included as
an exhibit to this report.
28. The site is located in a larger area identified as being archaeologically sensitive. If
further review by the City of Phoenix Archaeology Office determines the site and
immediate area to be archaeologically sensitive, and if no previous archaeological
projects have been conducted within this project area, it is recommended that
archaeological Phase I data testing of this area be conducted. Phase II archaeological
data recovery excavations may be necessary based upon the results of the testing. A
qualified archaeologist must make this determination in consultation with the City of
Phoenix Archaeologist. In the event archaeological materials are encountered during
construction, all ground disturbing activities must cease within a 33-foot radius of the
discovery and the City of Phoenix Archaeology Office must be notified immediately and
allowed time to properly assess the materials. This is addressed in Stipulation Nos. 19
through 21.
29. Stipulation No. 22 requires a Proposition 207 waiver of claims form to be executed by
property owners within the Special Permit area. This is a waiver of rights for the
property owners to make any claim for diminution in value pursuant to A.R.S. 12-1134
as a result of the City’s action on this request.
30. Development and use of the site is subject to all applicable codes and ordinances.
Zoning approval does not negate other ordinance requirements. Other formal actions
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such as, but not limited to, zoning adjustments and abandonments may be required.
Findings
1.
The request is compatible with the existing use on site, the Capitol Mall Overlay
District, and supports the need for additional accommodations for those
experiencing homelessness in Phoenix.
2.
The proposal includes a low barrier component which is a service not currently
provided within the existing Campus.
3.
As stipulated, the request will improve the safety and cleanliness of the
surrounding area.
4.
As stipulated, the proposal will facilitate community outreach efforts to address
impacts to the surrounding community and seek to address regional strategies to
end homelessness.
Stipulations
1.
The development shall be in general conformance to the site plan date stamped
November 4, 2019, as modified by the following stipulations and approved by the
Planning and Development Department.
2.
There shall be a maximum of 1,000 beds within the Special Permit area.
a.
A minimum of 100 beds shall be provided in a low barrier shelter.
The low barrier shelter shall provide shelter to individuals without
imposition of identification, time limits, or other program
requirements, such as abstention from alcohol or drugs, except
within the facility; and shall adopt a policy to provide
accommodations for pets and personal belongings.
b.
The low barrier shelter described in 2.a, with a minimum of 100 beds,
shall obtain a certificate of occupancy prior to the expansion of
traditional shelter beds and within one year of City Council approval.
c.
The shelter operator shall not enter into contract to sell or reserve
bed space unless:
(1)
The Planning and Development Department Director
determines, in his or her sole discretion, that the agreement
will significantly reduce the homeless population within a 10-
mile radius of the site; or
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(2)
The Police Chief determines, in his or her sole discretion, that
the agreement will not reduce the accessibility of homeless
shelter space within a 10-mile radius of the site.
(3)
This excludes a maximum of 14 beds utilized for hospital
drop off from hospitals located within a 10-mile radius which
are needed in situations where a former hospital patient is in
need of short-term bed rest and would otherwise be dropped
off on the street without a place to stay.
3.
An abandonment of public rights-of-way shall be pursued within the Special
Permit area to develop a cohesive and secure campus. A fence/wall plan
demonstrating a cohesive and secure campus shall be administratively approved
by the Planning Hearing Officer, prior to preliminary site plan approval for any
future construction. The fence plan shall specify locations of any proposed,
pending or approved right-of-way abandonments.
4.
Trash/recycling receptacles shall be provided within the property boundaries of
the Special Permit area and accessible to the public 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. A
waste receptacle plan demonstrating sufficient quantities and locations of
receptacles located within Special Permit area shall be submitted to the Planning
and Development Department within 90 days of City Council approval of the
Special Permit and shall be administratively approved by the Planning Hearing
Officer. The Planning Hearing Officer will work directly with the Public Works
Department Director’s Office to determine if the plans are sufficient.
5.
A minimum of two permanently constructed toilet facilities connected to the city’s
water and sewer systems, accessible to the public from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.,
shall be provided within the Special Permit Area. The toilet facilities shall be fully
accessible (ADA compliant). Directional signs shall be provided to identify the
location(s). The toilet facilities shall comply with the Phoenix Building
Construction Code and shall be approved and permitted by the Planning and
Development Department.
6.
Property owners and operators within the Special Permit area shall maintain all
public rights-of-way including sidewalks, alleys, easements and streets from any
hazards or accumulation of garbage, debris, rubble, hazardous waste, litter,
rubbish, refuse, waste material, or blight within the following boundaries around
the Special Permit area: the Railroad tracks on the south, Jefferson Street on the
north, 13th Avenue on the west, and 9th Avenue on the east. This area will be
cleaned a minimum of once a day.
a.
In addition, the Human Services Campus shall operate a Clean Zone
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program that shall clean a minimum of two days per week and will
collaborate with the Neighborhood Services Department, Parks and
Recreation Department, and nearby neighborhood associations to
identify particular locations needing cleaning.
7.
At a minimum, all temporary shelter facilities with vacancies, shall be open and
accepting temporary shelter clients until 11:00 p.m.
8.
A minimum of 10 traditional shelter beds and 10 low barrier shelter beds shall be
reserved each day from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. for the Phoenix Police
Department to bring in someone they deem vulnerable and in need of shelter.
9.
An “authority to arrest” agreement shall be completed and maintained for all
property owners and organizations operating within the Special Permit area. The
agreements shall be signed and delivered to the Phoenix Police Department.
10. Security, certified by the Department of Public Safety, shall be on the site daily to
ensure the security of the site, and coordinate with the Phoenix Police
Department for criminal activity or crime related issues.
11. Security cameras (or other monitoring devices, as approved by the Police
Department) shall be provided, in perpetuity, to continually capture images of
activities along the street frontages. Videos/Images shall be preserved for a
minimum of 90 days. Property owners within the Special Permit area shall enroll
in the City’s Virtual Block Watch Program.
12. A Security Master Plan shall be submitted to the Phoenix Police Department on
an annual basis for review and recommendations, to ensure a safe environment
and coordination with the Police Department. The plan shall include, at
minimum, the following elements:
a.
A central point of contact for security matters.
b.
Coordination of security personnel with the Police Department.
c.
Required number of security personnel.
d.
Provisions for security cameras and lighting.
e.
Procedures for storing and handling the disposal of controlled
substances and weapons.
f.
Procedures for screening and monitoring of clients.
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13. The Human Service Campus will make a concerted effort to identify, pursue and
implement strategies to address homelessness at a regional level that will
reduce service demands on providers and facilities within and near the Special
Permit boundaries. The Human Services Campus will include a summary of their
efforts in an annual report to the Human Services Department and the Planning
and Development Department.
14. The Human Services Campus and other shelter providers within the Special
Permit area shall work collaboratively with the City of Phoenix as well as
adjacent property owners and associations on reducing any negative impacts or
concerns stemming from those experiencing homelessness in the area
surrounding the Human Services Campus and Special Permit area.
a.
The City of Phoenix and all neighborhood associations listed with the
Neighborhood Services Department within one mile of the site shall
be provided with a designated contact person for the Special Permit
area to communicate any issues/concerns.
b.
With the help of Council Districts 7 and 8, the Mayor, and city staff,
the Human Services Campus and other shelter providers within the
Special Permit area shall facilitate community outreach meetings to
discuss compliance with the zoning stipulations, future development
of the campus, any issues/concerns from the community, and how
those concerns could be addressed by the shelter providers or the
City if possible.
c.
The community outreach meetings shall be held quarterly for the first
three years following approval and then semiannually thereafter,
unless the Planning and Development Department Director requests
that additional meetings are necessary during any particular calendar
year.
d.
The notification for the community meeting shall be sent to all
property owners within a half mile; all neighborhood associations
listed with the Neighborhood Services Department within one mile;
any individuals or organizations who attended previous meetings;
and staff designated by each respective department director from the
Human Services Department, Neighborhood Services Department,
Planning and Development Department, Street Transportation
Department, Public Works Department and Police Department.
e.
Topics of discussion shall include, but not be limited to how the
shelter providers and the surrounding community can:
Staff Report: Z-SP-2-19-7
October 5, 2020
Page 17 of 19
(1)
Encourage street maintenance;
(2)
Organize rubbish clean-ups;
(3)
Discourage street feeding, or donations of other items, in the
area surrounding the Special Permit area;
(4)
Coordination of holiday events to be consolidated in
appropriate locations; and
(5)
Prevention of crime.
f.
A summary of the community meetings and any notes from the
public shall be submitted to the Planning and Development
Department. The community meeting summaries shall include the
following meeting details:
(1)
Date, time, and location;
(2)
Number of participants;
(3)
Questions or concerns that arose; and
(4)
How the questions or concerns were addressed.
15. An annual report shall be provided to the Planning and Development
Department, to include the following items:
a.
Number of people served by each organization.
b.
Number of positive exits for each organization.
c.
Number of beds allocated to traditional and low barrier shelters.
d.
If permitted, number of beds contracted to entities other than the City
of Phoenix.
e.
Meeting summaries as detailed above.
f.
Summary of efforts to identify, pursue and implement regional
solutions to homelessness that will reduce the service demand on
providers and facilities within and near the Special Permit
boundaries.
Staff Report: Z-SP-2-19-7
October 5, 2020
Page 18 of 19
16. The Special Permit shall be reviewed one year after issuance of the Certificate of
Occupancy for the low barrier shelter. The review is for the entire Human
Services Campus operation and shall be through the Planning Hearing Officer
public hearing process where additional stipulations may be imposed. This is a
legislative review. Specific development standards and requirements may be
determined by the Planning Hearing Officer and the Planning and Development
Department. As part of the one year review, additional reviews or stipulations
may be added by the Planning Hearing Officer or City Council.
17. The developer shall construct all streets within and adjacent to the development
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.
18. The developer shall record a Notice to Prospective Purchasers of Proximity to
Airport in order to disclose the existence and operational characteristics of
Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX) to future owners or tenants of the property.
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. 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.
22. Prior to any future permit issuance, 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.
Writer
Sarah Stockham
October 5, 2020
Staff Report: Z-SP-2-19-7
October 5, 2020
Page 19 of 19
Team Leader
Samantha Keating
Exhibits
Aerial Sketch Map
Zoning Sketch Map
ADOA Approval Letter
Conceptual Site Plan date stamped November 4, 2019
Correspondence (293 pages)
Z-SP-31-82
Z-114-03
Z-2-16
Z-114-03
Z-SP-21-02
Z-1-10
Z 113 00
*
*
*
C-3
HP
C-3
HP-L
A-1
HP-L
C-3
HP-L
A-1
PUD
C-3
C-3
DTC-Business
Core
A-2
A-1 SP
A-1
MADISON ST
JEFFERSON ST
BUCHANAN ST
JACKSON ST
11TH AVE
9TH AVE
7TH AVE
12TH AVE
WASHINGTON ST
8TH AVE
10TH AVE
13TH AVE
CUDAHY WAY
15TH AVE
HARRISON ST
Central City
South Interim
Overlay District
Capitol Mall
Overlay
District
Maricopa County Assessor's Office
VAN BUREN ST
MC DOWELL RD
JEFFERSON ST
BUCKEYE RD
LOWER BUCKEYE RD
19TH AVE
7TH AVE
CENTRAL AVE
7TH ST
16TH ST
24TH ST
32ND ST
40TH ST
I - 10
I - 17
CENTRAL CITY VILLAGE
CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT: 7
I
APPLICANT'S NAME:
APPLICATION NO.
Z-SP-2-19
GROSS AREA INCLUDING 1/2 STREET
AND ALLEY DEDICATION IS APPROX.
14.53 Acres
MULTIPLES PERMITTED
* Maximum Units Allowed with P.R.D. Bonus
C-3 HP-L CMOD, A-1 HP-L CMOD, A-1 SP CMOD, A-1 CMOD
A-1 SP CMOD
CONVENTIONAL OPTION
2, N/A, N/A, N/A
N/A
* UNITS P.R.D. OPTION
3, N/A, N/A, N/A
N/A
Andy Jochums, Beus Gilbert PLLC
DATE:
3/20/2019
REVISION DATES:
AERIAL PHOTO &
QUARTER SEC. NO.
QS 10-26
ZONING MAP
F-8
REQUESTED CHANGE:
FROM: C-3 HP-L CMOD ( 0.18 a.c.)
A-1 HP-L CMOD ( 0.55 a.c.)
A-1 SP CMOD ( 12.55 a.c.)
A-1 CMOD ( 1.25 a.c.)
TO:
A-1 SP CMOD ( 14.53 a.c.)
Document Path: S:\Department Share\Information Systems\PL GIS\IS_Team\Core_Functions\Zoning\sketch_maps\2019\Z-SP-2-19.mxd
Z-SP-2-19
0.06
0
0.06
0.03
Miles
1/29/2020
3/12/2020
6/10/2020
Z-SP-31-82
Z-114-03
Z-2-16
Z-114-03
Z-SP-21-02
Z-1-10
Z 113 00
*
*
*
C-3
HP
C-3
HP-L
A-1
HP-L
C-3
HP-L
A-1
PUD
C-3
C-3
DTC-Business
Core
A-2
A-1 SP
A-1
MADISON ST
JEFFERSON ST
BUCHANAN ST
JACKSON ST
11TH AVE
9TH AVE
7TH AVE
12TH AVE
WASHINGTON ST
8TH AVE
10TH AVE
13TH AVE
CUDAHY WAY
15TH AVE
HARRISON ST
Central City
South Interim
Overlay District
Capitol Mall
Overlay
District
VAN BUREN ST
MC DOWELL RD
JEFFERSON ST
BUCKEYE RD
LOWER BUCKEYE RD
19TH AVE
7TH AVE
CENTRAL AVE
7TH ST
16TH ST
24TH ST
32ND ST
40TH ST
I - 10
I - 17
CENTRAL CITY VILLAGE
CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT: 7
I
APPLICANT'S NAME:
APPLICATION NO.
Z-SP-2-19
GROSS AREA INCLUDING 1/2 STREET
AND ALLEY DEDICATION IS APPROX.
14.53 Acres
MULTIPLES PERMITTED
* Maximum Units Allowed with P.R.D. Bonus
C-3 HP-L CMOD, A-1 HP-L CMOD, A-1 SP CMOD, A-1 CMOD
A-1 SP CMOD
CONVENTIONAL OPTION
2, N/A, N/A, N/A
N/A
* UNITS P.R.D. OPTION
3, N/A, N/A, N/A
N/A
Andy Jochums, Beus Gilbert PLLC
DATE:
3/20/2019
REVISION DATES:
AERIAL PHOTO &
QUARTER SEC. NO.
QS 10-26
ZONING MAP
F-8
REQUESTED CHANGE:
FROM: C-3 HP-L CMOD ( 0.18 a.c.)
A-1 HP-L CMOD ( 0.55 a.c.)
A-1 SP CMOD ( 12.55 a.c.)
A-1 CMOD ( 1.25 a.c.)
TO:
A-1 SP CMOD ( 14.53 a.c.)
Document Path: S:\Department Share\Information Systems\PL GIS\IS_Team\Core_Functions\Zoning\sketch_maps\2019\Z-SP-2-19.mxd
Z-SP-2-19
0.06
0
0.06
0.03
Miles
1/29/2020
3/12/2020
6/10/2020
Douglas A. Ducey
Governor
ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
June 25, 2019
Paul Gilbert
Beus Gilbert PLLC
701 North 44th Street
Phoenix,AZ 85008
Dear Mr. Gilbert:
100 NORTH FIFTEENTH AVENUE• SUITE 403
PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85007
(602) 542-1500
Audy Tobin
Director
Pursuant to A.R.S. §34-225 and §41-1362, the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA)
approves the request of the Human Services Campus Inc. to amend the Special Permit for the
· Human Services Campus as filed per the City of Phoenix Planning and Development
Department, Application to Amend Zoning Ordinance, Application Number Z-SP2-I 9.
Sincerely,
··
,,?---'. An
,/
ob/
cc: Amy Schwabenlender, Executive Director, Human Services Campus
Alan Stephenson, Director, City of Phoenix Planning and Development Department
Nola Barnes, Assistant Director, ADOA General Service Division
Michael Trailor, Director, Arizona Department of Economic Security
Andy Jochums, Beus Gilbert PLLC
Douglas A. Ducey
Governor
ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
June 25, 2019
Paul Gilbert
Beus Gilbert PLLC
701 North 44th Street
Phoenix,AZ 85008
Dear Mr. Gilbert:
100 NORTH FIFTEENTH AVENUE• SUITE 403
PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85007
(602) 542-1500
Audy Tobin
Director
Pursuant to A.R.S. §34-225 and §41-1362, the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA)
approves the request of the Human Services Campus Inc. to amend the Special Permit for the
· Human Services Campus as filed per the City of Phoenix Planning and Development
Department, Application to Amend Zoning Ordinance, Application Number Z-SP2-I 9.
Sincerely,
··
,,?---'. An
,/
ob/
cc: Amy Schwabenlender, Executive Director, Human Services Campus
Alan Stephenson, Director, City of Phoenix Planning and Development Department
Nola Barnes, Assistant Director, ADOA General Service Division
Michael Trailor, Director, Arizona Department of Economic Security
Andy Jochums, Beus Gilbert PLLC
1
Racelle Escolar
Subject:
FW: Human Services Campus Special Permit
Attachments:
ADOA Approval Letter.pdf; ATT00001.htm
From: Neil Urban <neil.urban@azdoa.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 4:05 PM
To: Paul Gilbert <pgilbert@beusgilbert.com>
Cc: Amy Schwabenlender <amys@hsc‐az.org>; Alan Stephenson <alan.stephenson@phoenix.gov>; Nola Barnes
<Nola.Barnes@azdoa.gov>; Michael Trailor <mtrailor@azdes.gov>; Andy Jochums <ajochums@beusgilbert.com>
Subject: Human Services Campus Special Permit
Paul, attached is a letter concerning the Human Services Campus Special Permit from Andy Tobin, the Director of the
Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA).
The letter states ADOA's approval of the request for the Special Permit. Please be aware this notification does not
supersede the approval process by the City of Phoenix.
In addition, as you are no doubt aware, in the case the city approves the Special Permit, any building or other such
permits that may be requested as a result of this action are also required to be submitted to ADOA.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you,
–Neil Urban ǁ Capital Planner
Planning and Construction Services ǁ General Services Division
Arizona Department of Administration
1110 West Washington, Suite 155, Phoenix, AZ 85007
p: 602.542.4438ǁ neil.urban@azdoa.gov
https://gsd.az.gov/content/building-and-planning-services
1
Samantha Keating
From:
David Urbinato
Sent:
Monday, December 16, 2019 10:24 AM
To:
Samantha Keating
Subject:
FW: MayorWebForm: Human Service Campus Permit Amendment
David Urbinato
Management Assistant II
Phoenix Planning and Development Department
602-534-3630
From: Cepand Alizadeh
Sent: Monday, December 16, 2019 10:13 AM
To: David Urbinato <david.urbinato@phoenix.gov>
Cc: Tony J Motola <tony.motola@phoenix.gov>
Subject: FW: MayorWebForm: Human Service Campus Permit Amendment
Hi David,
Here’s an email with constituent support for the Human Services campus special use permit amendment.
Thanks,
Cepand
From: Mayor Gallego
Sent: Monday, December 16, 2019 10:08 AM
To: Cepand Alizadeh <cepand.alizadeh@phoenix.gov>
Subject: FW: MayorWebForm: Human Service Campus Permit Amendment
From: no-reply@phoenix.gov [mailto:no-reply@phoenix.gov]
Sent: Monday, December 16, 2019 9:31 AM
To: Mayor Gallego <mayor.gallego@phoenix.gov>
Subject: MayorWebForm: Human Service Campus Permit Amendment
FROM : Nicole Wehner
Email : newehner@mtu.edu
AREA : 989
PHONE : 3704554
ADDRESS : 6599 E Thomas RD APT 1083
2
CITY : Scottsdale
STATE : AZ
ZIP : 85251
SUBJECT : Human Service Campus Permit Amendment
MESSAGE : I am writing in support of the request made by the Human Service Campus, St. Vincent de Paul and Andre
House to modify their Special Use Permit limiting the maximum number of shelter beds to 423. I believe that
homelessness is at a tipping point in our city and I am in full support of the agencies seeking ot shelter more people and
provide a maximum of 1,000 shelter beds.
I am seeing more people on the streets than ever before. It is devastating to see people nestled under tarps or sleeping
bags to shield them from the cold and rain. We also have data from the 2019 Point-in-Time Count as evidence that the
unsheltered population is growing. Unsheltered homelessness is up by over 200 percent since 2014. Our city cannot wait
any longer to respond to a crisis that is years in the making. We should do everything we can to provide shelter beds for
people experiencing homelessness.
For these reasons, I urge you to approve the request made by the Human Service Campus, St. Vincent de Paul and Andre
House. I believe that all people have the right to a safe place to sleep. I also believe that our city has a responsibility to
do something about this issue. The service providers are offering to shelter more people. This will help the individuals
seeking shelter as well as the City of Phoenix at large.
I would like more information of the Fire Marshal's involvement in this request. Are they for or against the request to
increase beds; is this a fire code issue? What code specifically would prevent this from being approved or is it solely the
Mayor's opinion in the matter? Please contact me regarding my questions.
Thank you,
Nicole Wehner, Civil Engineer
Subject : MayorWebForm: Human Service Campus Permit Amendment
Submission ID: fe4bbc4a16744ca599a0f5c69424db9b
Form Submission On : 12/16/2019 9:30:47 AM
Referer: https://phoenix.gov/mayor
This is Not Spam - This message is sent on behalf of the City of Phoenix.
Please handle appropriately.
1
Samantha Keating
From:
David Urbinato
Sent:
Monday, January 27, 2020 1:56 PM
To:
Samantha Keating
Subject:
FW: Increase beds at homeless shelter
David Urbinato
Management Assistant II
Phoenix Planning and Development Department
602-534-3630
From: Cepand Alizadeh
Sent: Monday, January 27, 2020 1:30 PM
To: David Urbinato <david.urbinato@phoenix.gov>
Cc: Jodi Liggett <jodi.liggett@phoenix.gov>
Subject: FW: Increase beds at homeless shelter
Hi David,
Please see the email below in support of increasing the number of beds at the Human Services Campus. I think it’s
related to the Special Permit Amendment (Z-SP-2-19-7).
Thanks,
Cepand
From: Mayor Gallego
Sent: Monday, January 27, 2020 1:18 PM
To: Cepand Alizadeh <cepand.alizadeh@phoenix.gov>
Subject: FW: Increase beds at homeless shelter
From: Paula McMullen [mailto:jmcmullen16056@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, January 27, 2020 1:10 PM
To: Council District 1 PCC <council.district.1@phoenix.gov>; Council District 2 PCC <council.district.2@phoenix.gov>;
Council District 3 PCC <council.district.3@phoenix.gov>; Council District 6 PCC <District6@phoenix.gov>; Mayor Gallego
<mayor.gallego@phoenix.gov>
Subject: Increase beds at homeless shelter
I am writing to you today in order to ask each of you to support the increase of beds for the homeless from 425
to 725 people. This is the homeless shelter at 9th Avenue and Jackson.
I am a Saint Vincent de Paul member and we see many homeless people in Scottsdale. Although you are not
technically our councilman, I am a Saint Vincent de Paul member and we see many homeless people in
Scottsdale. Many of our members even volunteer to work downtown with the homeless. Although you are not
2
technically our councilmen, we do have many acquaintances and friends in your districts, and do business in
each of your districts.
Please allow the development of these extra beds for the homeless. They have no voice other than ours. Thank
you for your time.
Sincerely,
Paula McMullen
SVDP
*******
1
Samantha Keating
From:
David Urbinato
Sent:
Wednesday, February 5, 2020 9:40 AM
To:
Samantha Keating
Subject:
Fwd: Human Services Campus Special Permit Amendment (Z-SP-2-19-7)
Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S9, an AT&T 5G Evolution capable smartphone
Get Outlook for Android
From: Cepand Alizadeh <cepand.alizadeh@phoenix.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, February 5, 2020 9:04:11 AM
To: David Urbinato <david.urbinato@phoenix.gov>
Cc: Jodi Liggett <jodi.liggett@phoenix.gov>
Subject: FW: Human Services Campus Special Permit Amendment (Z-SP-2-19-7)
Hi David,
Please see below for another email of support for the Human Services Campus and its special permit amendment
application for your records.
Thanks,
Cepand
-----Original Message-----
From: Mayor Gallego
Sent: Tuesday, February 4, 2020 4:18 PM
To: Cepand Alizadeh <cepand.alizadeh@phoenix.gov>
Subject: FW: Human Services Campus Special Permit Amendment (Z-SP-2-19-7)
-----Original Message-----
From: Nicholas Radtke [mailto:kc7mod@5by9.net]
Sent: Tuesday, February 4, 2020 4:14 PM
To: Mayor Gallego <mayor.gallego@phoenix.gov>
Subject: Human Services Campus Special Permit Amendment (Z-SP-2-19-7)
Dear Mayor Gallego,
Over the last five years, the City of Phoenix has reduced the services available to the homeless, instead preferring to
take the route of making homelessness illegal. These policies only serve to increase homelessness and the problems
associated with homelessness; there most certainly has been a noticeable increase in both the homeless population and
the problems associated with it over the last year, spreading from certain areas to virtually the entire city, including
commercial zones as well as residential neighborhoods.
I am amazed to find out that while the City continues to shirk its responsibilities to provide services to and for the
homeless, it is actively fighting NGO's that are trying to address the vacuum of city services. Human Services Campus,
2
Saint Vincent de Paul, and Andre House are seeking to modify their existing permit to add 575 much-needed beds, and
the City of Phoenix is denying the request. I am writing to ask you to support this permit modification, as even the
increase to 1000 beds is insufficient to accommodate the current need.
Please approve the Human Services Campus Special Permit Amendment, Case Number Z-SP-2-19-7, and more generally
services and programs to help the homeless.
Thank you for your time.
Nicholas Radtke
*******
1
Samantha Keating
From:
Andy Jochums <ajochums@beusgilbert.com>
Sent:
Tuesday, February 11, 2020 10:03 AM
To:
Joshua Bednarek; Samantha Keating; Racelle Escolar; Odette Bakker
Subject:
FW: HSC Strategy Updates - Facebook post please share
Sensitivity:
Confidential
Josh, Odette, Samantha, and Racelle,
Paul and I wanted to make sure you four were all aware that the Human Services Campus Team dropped off a number
of support letters and signed petitions to the Mayor and Council yesterday. The goal was to let them see there is
support building. Below is a quick social media update they posted to announce the delivery of the letters.
We are keeping a separate copy of all the letters and signed petitions for the Special Permit file when the time comes.
Human Services Campus [facebook.com] is with Ash Uss [facebook.com].
Published by Steve Davis [facebook.com] · 26 mins [facebook.com] ·
Ash Uss, Coordinator of Advocacy and Recruiting at Andre House, delivers petitions with nearly 2,500 signatures and 444
letters to Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallegos and members of the Phoenix City Council supporting the Human Services Campus’
(HSC) application to add more shelter beds to accommodate the needs of men and women experiencing homelessness.
HSC is seeking Phoenix City Council approval to add 275 beds at Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS), which now has 425
beds that are filled every night (CASS’ Certificate of Occupancy allows for 700 beds); allow Andre House to develop a new 80-
100 bed shelter to operate 24/7 to assist highly vulnerable individuals; and allow an additional 200 emergency beds in the St.
Vincent de Paul dining room during extreme heat and cold.
“We are not looking to expand the campus, but are proposing to get permission to use our existing space more efficiently for
those men and women already on the campus so more people can sleep inside,” said HSC Executive Director Amy
Schwabenlender.
If you’re interested in submitting a letter or helping collect petition signatures, contact Ash at ashu@andrehouse.org. Ash Uss
[facebook.com]
[facebook.com]
2
[facebook.com]
Andy Jochums, AICP
Planning Consultant
BEUS GILBERT MCGRODER PLLC
701 North 44th Street | Phoenix, AZ 85008
Direct: 480.429.3063 | Main: 480.429.3000 | Fax: 480.429.3100
Email: ajochums@beusgilbert.com
Assistant: Wendy Peterson | 480.429.3138 | wpeterson@beusgilbert.com
From:
Allie Long
To:
Sarah Stockham
Cc:
unshelteredphx@gmail.com
Subject:
Monday CCVPC Meeting Comments
Date:
Friday, July 10, 2020 2:11:16 PM
Hi Sarah,
My name is Allie Long McCabe. I'd like to share my comments with you regarding an agenda
item at the Monday CCVPC meeting.
Case #Z-SP-2-19-7
Agenda Item #7
My husband and I live and work in downtown Phoenix with our dog, Woodford. This
weekend's heat wave has us worried about his safety. We're planning to keep him inside as
often as possible all weekend, both to reduce his exposure to the extreme heat and our
exposure to COVID-19.
My question is: When will we give the same consideration to our neighbors who live in
extreme conditions without adequate resources? We should approve the addition of more
shelter beds for vulnerable members of our community.
Here are some reasons why I believe we should support additional shelter beds:
Between the extreme summer heat and the escalating COVID-19 hotspot in Arizona,
unsheltered folks in Phoenix are more vulnerable than ever.
Approving this permit will greatly enhance the number of available beds for the 800 to
1,000 people already using the Human Services Campus. I can foresee no negative
impact from this. No impact at all, actually, except on those for whom the impact will
be a great relief.
I abhor the comparison of people to animals, but I feel I must draw a direct line in this
case: If I left Woodford out in a Phoenix parking lot all day and night, to bake in the sun
with no shade, I would be arrested and charged with animal cruelty. To provide no other
option to citizens of our own community is inhumane (and I do mean that word literally
in this context).
I appreciate your time and hope you share my optimism for the future of our city, and indeed
our world.
Stay well,
Allie
From:
Keiha Danaher
To:
Sarah Stockham
Cc:
unshelteredphx@gmail.com
Date:
Friday, July 10, 2020 3:42:48 PM
To Sarah Stockholm,
I’m a resident in the Central City Village area and I’m writing to you today about the
treatment of unsheltered individuals in our city as well as Case # Z-SP-2-19-
7 and Agenda Item # 7.
Given the COVID-19 pandemic and the summer heat, people who are unsheltered are
more vulnerable than ever before. You cannot socially distance or stay cool if you're
sleeping outside. Approving this permit will help our neighborhood because it would
provide the 800 to 1000 people already using services at the Human Services Campus
with a place to sleep. With the current cap of 425 beds, there's nowhere for people to go.
The unsheltered population is deserving of a bed and roof over their heads, with
protection from the triple digit weather in Phoenix. With temperatures reaching up to
116 this week, it is inhumane to not protect such a vulnerable group of people.
Thank you for taking the time to read and consider.
Sincerely,
Keiha Danaher
From:
Ken Swenson
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
Case # Z-SP-2-19-7; Agenda Item # 7
Date:
Friday, July 10, 2020 3:41:14 PM
Dear Ms. Stockham,
Good afternoon. I own a business and property that is located within the Central City Village.
As I drive thru the area to & from my business, I see for myself the very poor conditions the
homeless population of this Community are dealing with. The Arizona summer heat makes it
practically unbearable. On top of that, everyone is dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic
which makes the situation even worse for the homeless community. These people, who are
unsheltered, are more vulnerable than ever before. A person cannot socially distance or stay
cool if you're sleeping outside.
Approving this permit will help our neighborhood because it would provide the 800 to 1000
people already using service at the Human Services Campus with a place to sleep. With the
current cap of 425 beds, there's nowhere for people in this homeless community to go.
I urge you to do the right thing and approve the increase in the # of shelter beds for vulnerable
members of our Community.
Thank you,
Ken Swenson
Young, Swenson & Cross Paving, Inc.
1329 E. Gibson Lane
Phoenix, Az. 85034
From:
Monica Dorcey
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
Central City Village Planning Committee Meeting 7/13/20, Item 7, Case #Z-SP-2-19-7
Date:
Friday, July 10, 2020 4:16:54 PM
Comment:
The need for additional beds at the Human Services Campus to accommodate those
experiencing homelessness has probably never been greater than now when the recession
brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic will very likely find many more people threatened with
eviction and homelessness. I don't think anyone questions the need for more beds, just
whether they should be located there.
Valley Interfaith Project strongly supports the amendment of the site plan to allow the
additional beds. However, we acknowledge that homelessness is a regional concern that
should be addressed with a regional solution and should not continue to unduly burden the
families of the Central City Village.
Monica Dorcey
Valley Interfaith Project
2728 E Thomas Rd; Ste 108
Phoenix, AZ 85016
From:
Taylor Elliott
To:
Sarah Stockham
Cc:
unshelteredphx@gmail.com
Subject:
Case # Z-SP-2-19-7 Agenda Item #7
Date:
Friday, July 10, 2020 2:31:45 PM
Hello Sarah,
I am in favor of adding shelter beds for those experiencing homelessness.
Case # Z-SP-2-19-7 Agenda Item #7
-Taylor Elliott
From:
Alex
To:
Sarah Stockham
Cc:
unshelteredphx@gmail.com
Subject:
Comment on Case # Z-SP-2-19-7 and Agenda Item #7
Date:
Saturday, July 11, 2020 5:27:37 PM
To CCPVC:
I am a life-long resident of Phoenix, and currently reside in Central City Village. If you too are
a long-term citizen of this city, then it should come as no surprise to you that we are currently
witnessing the acceleration of homelessness within our community, due to the lack of
adequate prevention programs and protections against unemployment for those already at risk
of homelessness. Housing is a fundamental human need that the city has failed to meet. Now,
in the midst of a pandemic and under threat from COVID-19, our homeless population is now
under greater threat than ever, for the following reasons:
- The conditions which unsheltered people must endure make it impossible to acquire masks,
and maintain social distancing
- Lack of access to masks in public places puts unsheltered people at a higher risk of arrest and
detainment by police
- Homeless are already at risk of heat-induced hazards such as heat stroke, and hundreds die in
Phoenix each summer
- The city will experience a massive spike in residents either displaced or forced to live on the
street after July 22nd, when evictions resume after Doug Ducey's eviction moratorium ends
Homelessness is a fundamental yet often-ignored symptom in our society, the causes of which
are far-reaching. While it is not within the committee's power to act on the root cause, the
committee can provide essential relief to our homeless population by granting additional
shelter beds to the Human Services Campus, which will help contain the spread of COVID,
and alleviate the conditions for hundreds of homeless that are congregating in downtown by
getting them off the street.
Failure to address the fundamental societal plague of homelessness immediately will mean a
heightened health risk for the public, a huge blow to economic health, and death sentence for
those who are already on the street.
Best,
Alex
From:
Andrew Cece
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
Support for Case # Z-SP-2-19-7 : Agenda Item # 7
Date:
Saturday, July 11, 2020 4:08:32 PM
To whom it may concern
My name is Andrew Cece and I’m a resident of Phoenix’s Oakland neighborhood.
I am writing this email in support of Case # Z-SP-2-19-7 Agenda Item # 7.
From my perspective as a resident of this neighborhood, approving this permit is necessity as there are
hundreds of people in the human services campus on a daily basis who go without shelter every night.
This situation is not going to improve on its own, and if we ever want to see these people exit
homelessness, providing them with shelter is an essential part of the equation.
I regularly interact with people experiencing homelessness in this area, and from personal experience I
can say that they deserve to be treated with the same level of dignity as any other human being. Having
said that, I believe that we can do better for these humans than offering them a spot in an unshaded
parking lot amidst Phoenix’s dangerously hot temperatures. The recent addition of COVID-19 only makes
this situation more urgent and all the more necessary that this permit be approved.
Thank you very much for your consideration
Andrew Cece
From:
Betsy Linnane
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
CCPVC Case# Z-SP-2-19-7
Date:
Saturday, July 11, 2020 5:13:30 PM
To Sarah Stockham and the CCVPC,
I am a community member that lives in City Central Village, and I am writing in support of
case # Z-SP-2-19-7 item #7. We need to approve the permit to add beds to the human services
campus. Between record summer heat, COVID-19, and the resulting economic downturn, now
more than ever we need to provide adequate shelter for those in our houseless community
members. Sleeping outside in crowded camps gives people no way to distance or to cool off. It
puts their lives at risk and as a result, the health of the community at risk. I have been to the
camps just south of downtown and it’s striking how many people are staying there and could
use the community’s help. Our most vulnerable people are suffering and if we have the ability
to mitigate that we must.
Thank you for your consideration,
Betsy Linnane
From:
Brendan Devlin
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
Case Z-SP-2-19-7, Agenda Item 7
Date:
Saturday, July 11, 2020 3:55:10 PM
To whom it may concern,
My name is Brendan Devlin and I am a resident of the Oakland neighborhood in Phoenix. I support the action of an
increased number of beds within Case Z-SP-2-19-7 Agenda Item 7 because, especially in the face of a global
pandemic, help is needed now more than ever. Especially paired with the immense heat of an Arizona summer,
people experiencing homelessness, a group that is harshly vulnerable to begin with, is now even more vulnerable. I
believe it is our duty to consider these folks and additionally help them in any capacity we can. In approving agenda
item 7, we can do just that. I hope that together we can make a difference in the lives of our neighbors.
Thank you very much for your time and I hope you have an outstanding rest of your day!
Best,
Brendan Devlin
From:
Corianne Nelson
To:
Sarah Stockham
Cc:
unshelteredphx@gmail.com
Subject:
Village Planning meeting comments
Date:
Saturday, July 11, 2020 8:18:26 AM
RE: Case # Z-SP-2-19-7 AND Agenda Item # 7
Hi Ms. Stockham,
As a resident of Central City Village, I want to voice my support for the permit
modification, adding shelter beds to the Human Services Campus.
Please approve the modification to the permit increasing the number of beds
available to help protect those who need our help the most. Safety and shelter are
basic human rights and should be afforded to all. The summer is always brutal for the
unsheltered, but with the COVID epidemic raging, they need our help more than
ever.
I see many of the unsheltered on a daily basis as they try to meet their own basic needs and
survive. As a city, we have failed them. We have turned our backs and cut funding for the
programs that would help them. Providing additional resources to shelter more individuals
who would otherwise be sleeping outdoors is a great first step toward raising up those who
need our help the most, and in turn, creating a better Phoenix for all of us.
Kind Regards,
Corianne Nelson
From:
Dan Ponisciak
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
Support for increase of Shelter beds
Date:
Saturday, July 11, 2020 2:43:29 PM
Good afternoon Ms. Stockham,
My name is Fr. Dan Ponisciak and I am the Director of Andre House of Hospitality here in Phoenix. I
am writing you to express my support for the case being presented on Monday evening for the
increase in shelter beds within the Capitol Mall Overlay at the Human Services Campus.
Case # Z-SP-2-19-7 AND Agenda Item # 7
I have only been in this position for a little more than a year, but what I must say is that in everything
I do, I try to lead with compassion. Compassion is defined as walking with someone in their
suffering. What I have noticed over the last year is that there are so many people to love and who if
we had access to enough shelter beds, if given the chance, could change their lives for the better.
But, without a roof over their heads, many people lose hope that they will ever get out of their
situation. In addition, with the pandemic, it is simply impossible for people to socially distance
themselves from each other while sleeping in a tent. Sometimes two and three people are sleeping
in one tent because of safety concerns. If we want homelessness to end and I think no matter what
we can agree on that, then we need to give people a shot at changing their lives.
Approving this increase in shelter beds would give people a chance to continue to receive services,
but also work with case managers who could connect people to more resources within our
community. I live in the Oakland Neighborhood along with two other Holy Cross religious Brothers
and witness myself the people who are in the alleys behind our homes. I understand our neighbors’
frustration that people wind up digging through the trash. But, if we’re not giving people a fair shot
at changing their lives because there is no place for people to sleep, then we’re not working hard
enough. Every person should have the same dignity as every other person regardless of
socioeconomic status. Andre House exists to serve people – what is becoming very troubling for me
to watch is when we have families with little kids come to our doors looking for a place to stay. With
the Governor’s moratorium on evictions coming quickly to an end, I worry about the increase of
families experiencing homelessness in addition to single adults. We must do something now to
address the shelter bed capacity because if we don’t, I can see what has happened over the last
week continue to happen. We know of at least 7 deaths of individuals experiencing homelessness in
the last 8 days from the heat alone. We must act now to save the lives of those in our community
who are the most vulnerable. Peace, Fr. Dan
Fr. Dan Ponisciak CSC
director, Andre House of Hospitality
PO BOX 2014
Phoenix, AZ 85001
602-255-0580
From:
David C. Tierney
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
Item number 7, the permit related to 600 beds and Andre House
Date:
Saturday, July 11, 2020 12:26:44 PM
To the Central Phoenix Urban Planning Group:
As a person who works with affordable housing and with the homeless in Phoenix, I am
acutely aware of the desperate situation in Phoenix, particularly in the space surrounding the
Campus of Care. Need has overtaken the Campus and swamped it’s available services. By
August, 2020, Phoenix will face a Tsunami Wave of evictions and foreclosures against a
backdrop of large breadlines due to the unemployment benefits termination and dispossessions
recommencement.
Accordingly, on the theory that the perfect should not be the enemy of the good, I applaud and
endorse the permit request being presented tonight by the Beus Gilbert Law Firm.
It is also my opinion that this endeavor merits financial support from surrounding
communities. The homeless are more mobile these days and folks from Mesa or
Avondale/Glendale are being drawn to the Campus due to its available services. It makes
sense to ask outlying communities to contribute.
Lastly, my wife, Susan, is part of Valley Interfaith Project (VIP). Her group (40 churches and
Temples) has looked into this matter and she speaks for them when she endorses the above
comment on item 7.
David Tierney, Esq.
480.425.2620
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From:
Erik Y
To:
Sarah Stockham
Cc:
unshelteredphx@gmail.com
Subject:
Comments on Case Z-SP-2-19-7 and Agenda Item #7
Date:
Saturday, July 11, 2020 5:04:26 PM
Hello,
My name is Erik Youngdahl and I live on 11th st and McDowell. I am writing to you today
because I believe the City Village Planning Committee has the opportunity to help the
homeless population. We are living in unprecedented times and our homeless population is
extremely vulnerable to both the pandemic and the extreme heat of Phoenix summers. I
believe that approving the permit for the Human Services Campus will help keep our most
vulnerable neighbors off of the streets and provide them with the safety they need.
From:
Grace D"Antuono
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
Case # Z-SP-2-19-7 Agenda Item # 7
Date:
Saturday, July 11, 2020 4:03:02 PM
Good afternoon,
My name is Grace D'Antuono and I am a resident in the Oakland neighborhood of Phoenix. I
am writing to you today with the request that you thoughtfully consider and support the shelter
that the Human Services Campus, Andre House and St. Vincent de Paul have proposed (Case
# Z-SP-2-19-7 Agenda Item # 7). This shelter will provide a safe space for people to sleep. I
work at a social services agency and have had to turn away many people simply because there
is no where to go. Just one example of this, is when a man named Jose was brought in for an
emergency shower. He was released from the hospital, but still barely able to walk and a bit
disoriented. However, he could not get a bed at the shelter because they were full and it was
too late. My coworkers and I set him up with a blanket on a bench on Central Ave. We
abandoned a man who could barely walk because we had no other options. Please do not
abandon your neighborhood and residents there.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Grace
From:
Grace Gardner
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
Case # Z-SP-2-19-7 Agenda Item # 7
Date:
Saturday, July 11, 2020 3:54:53 PM
Hi Sarah!
My name is Grace and I live in the Oakland neighborhood. I support the approval of this
permit since it will help hundreds of people in my neighborhood have a place to sleep at night.
Not to mention, with COVID-19 and this crazy summer heat, they are at very high risk since
you can’t socially distance or get cool when sleeping outside. Once again, I think the addition
of beds at the Human Services Campus would greatly help so many people that live in my
neighborhood.
Thank you so much and have a great day!
Grace Gardner
From:
jtvalder@cox.net
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
Comment on " Information only - SP-2-19" agenda 7-13-20
Date:
Saturday, July 11, 2020 1:57:02 PM
Attachments:
VIP- Central City Panning Comm. comments on Andrea House and HSC. 7-11-20.docx
To: The Central City Village Planning Committee
RE: 7. INFORMATION ONLY - SP-2-19
From: Janet and Michael Valder, 6211 N. 20th St., Phoenix, AS 85016; (602) 615-0973
We are in favor of modifying the Special Permit area of the Human Services Campus to include
Andre House and to allow for an increase in the maximum number of beds to 600 and services.
We understand that only about half of the homeless in Phoenix have shelter now. We must help
provide for the other half. In “Unsheltered Perspectives” a recent survey from Andre House of 100
homeless persons, 90 said they would enter a shelter program is offered a shelter bed, 10 would
decline. More affordable housing must be pursued. This is a regional problem and must be solved
with the help and financial support of surrounding cities and towns in Maricopa County.
From:
Punch Party
To:
Sarah Stockham; Unshletered Phx
Subject:
Case # Z-SP-2-19-7 and Agenda ítem #7
Date:
Saturday, July 11, 2020 8:19:14 AM
Hi,
I am writing in regards to the Case # Z-SP-2-19-7 and Agenda ítem #7.
I live in Central City Village, and I’ve seen entirely more homeless people than I‘d
wish to see in my neighborhood. Ideally, I would like to see zero.
Given the COVID-19 pandemic and the summer heat, people who are unsheltered
are more vulnerable than ever before.
It breaks my heart that people have to live outside in the hottest state in the country.
Also, you cannot socially distance if you're sleeping outside. Approving this permit will
help our neighborhood because it would provide the 800 to 1000 people already
using services at the Human Services Campus with a place to sleep. With the current
cap of 425 beds, there's nowhere for people to go.
Seeing all these people without a place to sleep really makes me angry towards the
state, the city, and all the people in charge. While you sit in your air conditioned
homes there are people on the street suffering. YOUR people. The homeless people
of Arizona are STILL Arizonans! Please take care of them. They are still our people
regardless of whether or not they have a home. We must protect them All people
deserve a livable condition. Please.
Sincerely,
A concerned Central City Village citizen.
Jasmine Rodriguez
From:
Jenise Millett
To:
Sarah Stockham
Cc:
unshelteredphx@gmail.com
Subject:
In regards to Case # Z-SP-2-19-7 Agenda Item # 7
Date:
Saturday, July 11, 2020 12:49:20 PM
Hello,
My name is Jenise Millett, I am a resident in Central City Village. I would like to add a comment in regards to Case
# Z-SP-2-19-7 Agenda Item # 7.
I ask that we add more shelter beds for the current homeless population in our area. It is dangerous for the
homeless community to be sleeping on the streets while we are experiencing excessive heat and high COVID-19
cases. It is our responsibility as a community to create a safe place for our homeless population to social distance
and stay cool. It is very important that we take care of each other during such unprecedented times. Our local
businesses are struggling to stay open resulting in job loss. Unfortunately, many people live paycheck to
paycheck, losing their jobs results in loss of house and home. We have to ensure that there is a safe space for
people to regroup while we endure through this crazy time. Do not let our community members die on our streets.
Please, give them a bed to rest.
Thank you,
Jenise Millett
Central City Village Resident
From:
Joseph DeAgostino
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
Village Planning Meeting Comment on Agenda Item 7
Date:
Saturday, July 11, 2020 2:07:23 PM
Hi,
As a resident of the Oakland neighborhood, I wanted it to be known
that I am in support of the zoning case in Z-SP-2-19-7 on agenda Item
# 7, in which more beds will be added to the local area shelters in
order that there will be less people living on the streets in our
extreme weather especially in this time of Covid.
People on the streets are more vulnerable than ever before especially
with Covid running amok. Additionally, our own streets and
neighborhood should in effect become safer as there will be less human
waste and trash from camps strewn about in our alley-ways. Primarily,
this is an issue of compassion. Do we as a neighborhood value human
life in helping to provide shelter for others (through very little
cost on our own) or would we rather in our negligence and
self-righteousness rather have people continue to face
life-threatening conditions in our streets, sidewalks, and alleys thus
directly compromising the health of our own neighbors and children?
I think the answer is clear that we should be in support of this, it
can only possibly benefit us. Sure there may be some growing pains
but inaction is a decision against compassion for our fellow citizens
on the streets as well as in our own health and well-being. We and the
rest of the city of Phoenix seem to be making this decision everyday
in our lack of concern in these troubled times of sickness, racial
tensions, and poverty.
I hope we are in support of this proposal. I believe we should be.
Thanks,
-Joseph J. DeAgostino
--
(574) 334-8421
jdeagost@gmail.com
From:
Julia Blois
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
Case #Z-SP-2-19-7, Agenda Item #7
Date:
Saturday, July 11, 2020 4:30:08 PM
Hello,
I am emailing in favor of Case #Z-SP-2-19-7 and Agenda Item #7. I am a resident of the Oakland neighborhood and
I believe strongly that approving this permit is necessary for the health and wellbeing of our community.
I believe that affordable housing must be made available, too, and I understand that our neighbors who live on the
street need to be alive to sign their leases.
This is a stepping stone - and an important one. Hundreds of people who live in tents in parking lots in 110+ degree
heat in the middle of a global pandemic agree. We might not see it from our kitchen windows but this IS happening
in our backyards. These are our neighbors - and they are dying. My friend Gilbert died two weeks ago. And Marc
this week. In tents just a half a mile from my house, and yards away from where I hope we will decide others of my
friends can soon be allowed a bed and a pillow each night.
We have the opportunity here to save lives.
Sincerely,
Julia Blois
Resident of W. Polk St.
From:
Karlee Bradley
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
Case # Z-SP-2-19-7 AND Agenda Item # 7
Date:
Saturday, July 11, 2020 3:56:04 PM
Dear Sarah Stockham,
My name is Karlee Bradley, and I am a resident of the Oakland neighborhood in Downtown Phoenix.
Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, and due to the extreme summer heat in Phoenix, it is important to note that
people experiencing homelessness and people who are unsheltered are much more vulnerable during this time.
People who do not have a place to quarantine cannot socially distance in comfort, and it’s extremely hard for them
to sleep outside when the heat is so extreme.
That being said, I am expressing my support for the approval of this permit. The 800-1000 people experiencing
homelessness in the Oakland neighborhood who regularly use the services on the Human Services Campus need a
place to sleep. Because of the current shelter cap of 425 beds, people who do not have a safe space cannot stay safe.
As a member of this neighborhood, I have seen people experiencing homelessness who have suffered from heat
exhaustion. Without a safe indoor place to stay, water can only do so much to help.
I ask that you please approve this permit so that our most vulnerable population is not exterminated due to COVID-
19 related illness or heat related illness.
Thank you and have a great day,
Karlee Bradley
From:
Brewster, Matthew L
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
Case # Z-SP-2-19-7 AND Agenda Item # 7
Date:
Saturday, July 11, 2020 3:50:01 PM
To whom it may concern,
I live in the Oakland Neighborhood. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic residents living outside are at an even larger
risk due to the heat.
Approving this permit would allow for 800 to 1000 people a place to sleep.
I hope that you will approve this permit.
Matthew Brewster
Sent from my iPhone
From:
Richard Armstrong
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
support for a low barrier shelter on Jackson.
Date:
Saturday, July 11, 2020 1:00:28 PM
Hello, I have lived in the neighborhood around Cass & Ldrc for over thirty four years. Both serve the
needs of the poor and homeless.
It is unexceptionable for people to live on the streets. The city of Phoenix must do It’s part to end
this situation. People are dying. We the
People of the valley of Phoenix must act to end the dying on the streets; we owe it to our fellow
humankind.
Thank You for caring for your brothers and sisters
Richard L. Armstrong
1203 W. Polk
Phoenix, Az. 85007
From:
Marambra Uxbal
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
Case #Z-SP-2-19-7, Agenda Item #7
Date:
Saturday, July 11, 2020 5:56:55 PM
Hi my name is Salina Acosta, a resident of Central City Village, reaching out on the topic of
Case # Z-SP-2-19-7 Agenda item #7, which will be voted on on Monday July 13th.
I encourage you to approve this agenda item so our neighborhood may be improved by taking
care of its residents. The 800-1000 using the Human Services Campus need a place to sleep to
escape the harsh Arizona heat and to properly socially distance to help decrease the number of
COVID cases. Currently there are 425 beds and it isn’t enough. If we don’t want to see more
Phoenicians dying of either of these causes, approving this permit should be the next move.
From:
Sara Asadi
To:
Sarah Stockham
Cc:
unshelteredphx@gmail.com
Subject:
Case # Z-SP-2-19-7 AND Agenda Item # 7
Date:
Saturday, July 11, 2020 11:51:35 AM
To the Central City Village Planning Committee:
I live off 18th avenue and Van Buren in the Oakland Historic
Neighborhood. Nearly everyday, I see a person laying down on the street, sidewalk, or
alleyway. A wave of dread hits my chest as I often wonder if these people are alive or
dead. Every now and then, I'll see police cars driving through my alleyway throwing
people out even though these people clearly have nowhere else to go. With the summer
heat and Arizona being the latest hotspot of the global pandemic, we need immediate
action. Additional shelter beds are the bare minimum, as it is a short-term solution. I
consider the people experiencing homelessness my neighbors, and right now
my neighbors are barely surviving. I do not want to live in a city that views people
experiencing homelessness as a nuisance. With the right steps taken, the city of Phoenix
can be famous for its compassion and leadership in ending homelessness, instead of its
sweltering heat and growing Covid-19 cases.
Please strongly consider adding shelter beds at the Human Services Campus. And after
that, let's find long-term solutions.
Thank you,
Sara Asadi
From:
Tyler Hainlen
To:
Sarah Stockham
Cc:
Unshletered Phx
Subject:
We need more shelter beds!
Date:
Saturday, July 11, 2020 1:05:56 PM
Hello there! My name is Tyler Hainlen and I’m a resident of Central City Village. I
understand that the topic of adding shelter beds in this area is currently under review. I believe
it is Case Z-SP-2-19-7 and Agenda Item # 7. I want to express my deep support in favor
of adding beds. Anything we can do to provide some relief to the unsheltered population is
necessary. With the threat of Covid-19 and the summer heat these folks have never been more
at risk. The heat literally kills, we must do more to protect their lives! Approving this permit
will help 800 to 1,000 people at the Human Services Campus by providing them a safe place
to sleep. I live just a few minutes from a group living in tents off of 12th Avenue. A tent in a
parking lot is unsanitary, and so very unsafe. Please push for more shelter beds in Central City
Village! Lives are on the line.
Warmly,
Tyler Hainlen
From:
zachary boller
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
Case# Z-SP-2-19-7 Agenda Item 7
Date:
Saturday, July 11, 2020 3:55:20 PM
Hello,
I am a resident of the Oakland neighborhood of Phoenix and because of the pandemic as well
as the extreme heat, people are more vulnerable than ever and need adequate necessities such
as sustenance and shelter.
I am in full support of our community members gaining this, and would love for this case to
be passed. Specifically, shelter is very important right now for people experiencing
homelessness so that we can limit the casualties on the street from heat related issues.
This is very important to me, and I am happy to be a part of the solution by voicing my
opinion on the matter.
Best regards,
Zach
From:
Casey White
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
Case # Z-SP-2-19-7; Agenda Item # 7
Date:
Monday, July 13, 2020 7:59:16 AM
Hello and good day, this is a letter to the members of the Central City Village
Planning Committee.
My name is Casey Whitehead and I attend Mater Misericordiae Catholic Church
located within Central City, address 1537 West Monroe Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007.
I have attended this parish for 3 years now and love the central city/downtown area.
I am writing regarding Case # Z-SP-2-19-7 AND Agenda Item #7. For the 3
summers I have been in the Phoenix area, there are many people who have died
from the heat on the streets. They are people I know their first names, we used to
laugh together, and say hi to as we passed by. Men like Bessette who was biking
down Grand Ave near 15th Ave and fell off his bike and died from lack of water
and the heat. People like Diana who was so vulnerable, small, and frail whose body
was found dead amidst a crowd of people at Jackson and 11th Ave. And many
more. I am afraid for the others who are in a 'tent city' currently and in other
downtown areas. The heat is dangerous.
This is not just a seasonal issue. And on top of our current issues, we have all of
these Covid-19 guidelines that further affect the people on the street negatively.
Less places are open to allow people to sit inside and get out of the heat.
Currently there are 425 beds allowed in the area. Have any of you, members of the
Committee, walked the streets of 'The Zone'? Have you seen the 'tent city'? If this is
where you or someone you love ended up because they started experiencing
homelessness and there were not enough beds, would you be okay with keeping
only 425 beds? There is obviously a need and there are agencies and resources able
and WILLING to step up and shelter the people on the street. Will you please allow
people to assist those in such need?
Peace,
Casey Whitehead
Registered Parishoner at Mater Misericordiae Catholic Church
From:
Jeff Suchomski
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
Case # Z-SP-2-19-7 and Agenda Item #7
Date:
Monday, July 13, 2020 9:09:23 AM
To whom it may concern on the CCVPC,
I have been attending church for one year at Mater Misericordiae Catholic Church located at
16th Ave and Monroe Street in Phoenix. Our church is considered Central City and I am in the
area at least twice a week for various church activities and mass.
Please approve the permit to allow more shelter beds in the area. Hundreds of more people
who are in the area using services at the Human Services Campus need a place to sleep at
night, especially with the heat. Also, especially with Covid-19 going on. It is impossible to
socially distance or stay cool if you are living on the hot sidewalks.
While in the area for church and other activities in the downtown Phoenix area, I see people
all the time walking the streets, coming through the church parking lot. These are people who
are living in un-human conditions. I understand that people on the street need to get a job, be a
productive citizen and more. Although, that is rather difficult when you can't take a shower
and look presentable for a job. It's difficult to be on top of your game when sleeping at night,
you are living in constant fear of being robbed, beaten, raped. A bed to sleep in is the first step
towards all the other things we want those experiencing homelessness to accomplish. This is
important to me because no one deserves to be so forgotten.
Please consider rezoning to add more shelter beds to the area.
Thank you kindly.
Jeff Suchomski
Parishoner of Mater Misericordiae Catholic Church
From:
Joe Mannarelli
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
CENTRAL CITY VILLAGE PLANNING COMMITTEE - Z-SP-2-19
Date:
Monday, July 13, 2020 11:01:37 AM
Good Morning,
I would like to voice my support for Z-SP-2-19. Having great access to services and shelter
will save many lives especially in the summer and winter.
From:
Daniel Langmade
To:
Sarah Stockham
Cc:
Council District 7 PCC; Council District 6 PCC; Council District 1 PCC; Council District 4; Council District 5 PCC;
Council District 8 PCC; Council District 3 PCC; Mayor Gallego; Council District 2 PCC; Ed Zuercher
Subject:
hearing case Z-SP-2-19
Date:
Tuesday, June 30, 2020 1:36:34 PM
RE: Z-SP-2-19
I appreciate the city for bringing to light the expansion of Homeless Shelter Beds in our
neighborhood. I am suffering economic hardship due to the increasing crime in the area caused by
the increase and encouragement of the homeless to move into this area. The following below is a
letter I received from a tenant who leases RV’s located very near the CASS building. They lease RV’s
to vacationers arriving from the various states within the US and many of the people are from
overseas. I can only imagine what their first impression of Phoenix is once they step out of their
Uber ride from the airport. Stepping over the human fecal waste that litters the street will not leave
a good impression of our City and State. What is even more disheartening is the apathetic response
from the City of Phoenix employees. Increasing the beds to encourage more homeless in the area is
NOT the answer.
Please do NOT allow the re-zoning to allow the expansion of beds.
Use the existing facility for the disabled, elderly and handicapped.
Dan Langmade
Dlangmade@mfmca.com
602-233-1211
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------
Hi Dan,
I am not sure if you have noticed or not, but we have relocated our business to a new location and
the reason for this is because we have continued to have issues at 225 S 10th Ave regardless of the
cameras. They were helpful in catching individuals in the act but the police still wouldn't do anything
nor would it fix or bring back stolen items. In the last year, we have had $6000 in tires slashed, rocks
thrown over the fence braking several RV windows and windshield, Tools, TV's, a laptop, generators
and countless keys stolen. This occurs during the night and during business hours. We have had to
keep the gates locked during normal business hours which has cause customers to drive away. We
have had people walk in while we have had customers and employees in the lot just to urinate in the
corner. We have had people approach employees asking if they can hide or rest in RV's then become
aggressive when told no. We had an incident of losing a customer due to someone standing at the
front of their car for several minutes, then walked up to the side of the car with two people in it and
pour a drink on their windshield. We had multiple complaints of late night drop offs due to
customers feeling unsafe and unwilling to leave the units outside the gate, When units are dropped
off, they get vandalized. Needless to say, we have not had a good customer or business experience
at the lot and the only fix to our declining revenue was to move locations.
We would still like to keep the lot for small older unit parking should we need to but we won't be
conducting business or have any customers visiting there. It has gotten really bad with homeless and
crime in the area. It looks as though the city has made this area the place where homeless can bring
their tents and congregate for long periods of time. I have tried to get the city to do more by sending
in videos to the news and calling the cops on a daily bases. The news wants us to interview in front
of the location but we don't want that publicity. The police asked them to move a little further down
the street but they move right back after they leave. I have even been told by a cop that they would
not arrest guy who attacked an employee in his car (banging on the windows and screaming for him
to get out so he could fight him) because he had open sores on his body and he didn't want to spend
4 hours in the hospital with him. When I asked what I should do should it be me (a small female) and
the cop looked me right in the eyes and said shoot him. There is just no fixing the issues in this area
and we had to make the move.
We plan to have the office removed from there soon and would like to know if you would be willing
to work on the monthly lease rate with us? We would like to keep the space and honor our lease
obligations and possibly extend our lease if you can work with us on a price. Anything would help.
Let us know what your thoughts are.
Typically, we are not ones to complain but we really felt this needs to be addressed. This would work
perfect for us for over flow parking but not for customer facing business. Your help and thoughts are
greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Steph L Comptroller
Elite RV Rentals
From:
Roberto Frietz
To:
Sarah Stockham
Cc:
Samantha Keating; Alan Stephenson
Subject:
FW: HSC Zoning Expansion
Date:
Tuesday, June 30, 2020 1:04:11 PM
Attachments:
image001.png
image002.png
image003.png
Please include this email in the case file for the HSC application to amend zoning ordinance case# Z-
SP-2-19.
Thank you!
Roberto E. Frietz, Neighborhood Specialist
602-261-8154 · Roberto.Frietz@phoenix.gov
Please consider the environment before printing this email
From: JOANN LOWNEY <jolow999@msn.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2020 12:33 PM
To: Council District 7 PCC <council.district.7@phoenix.gov>; Council District 6 PCC
<District6@phoenix.gov>; Council District 1 PCC <council.district.1@phoenix.gov>; Council District 4
<council.district.4@phoenix.gov>; Council District 5 PCC <council.district.5@phoenix.gov>; Council
District 8 PCC <council.district.8@phoenix.gov>; Council District 3 PCC
<council.district.3@phoenix.gov>; Mayor Gallego <mayor.gallego@phoenix.gov>; Council District 2
PCC <council.district.2@phoenix.gov>; Ed Zuercher <ed.zuercher@phoenix.gov>
Subject: HSC Zoning Expansion
Gallery 119
119 S 11th Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85007
July 29, 2020
Dear Honorable Mayor Kate Gelllego, Ed Zuercher and City Council:
Re: proposal to HSC Zoning Expansion
As I both live and work in the neighborhood of HSC, just south of the Capitol Mall area. I and my
husband
own an art gallery and have our studios on 11th Avenue. We enjoy the view of beautiful old Carnegie
Library Park
to the north on Jefferson. I look forward to the light rail coming here in the near future, and hope for
the
revitalization of the economy that development should activate.
Until recently when the temporary camp areas were opened, we had hundreds of tents camped on the
medians in our 4 block area,
filled with people with no bathroom facilities. When those temporary lots are closed, I expect them back.
I know many of the
homeless people living on my street and their mental and physical condition all too intimately. My
interest in alleviating
their highly visible and miserable situation is even keener than most.
Many homeless living near us have no desire to be in a shelter of 1000 beds, as proposed in the HSC
Zoning expansion.
Shelters like that are very much like prisons. Many are recently let out of prison and have no work skills
or place to live.
They need small shelters and halfway houses, spread out in all the cities they come from,
and where they have family and friends; Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, etc.
And these should be focused on servicing particular populations, like Elderly, mentally or physically
challenged. This shelter
is located within feet of schools, and regularly receives newly released felons.
•Dunbar Elementary School
308 Students, 99% minority
1500 feet from shelter
•Vista College Preparatory Academy - Hadley, K-5
365 Students, 96% minority
2200 feet from shelter
•Capitol Elementary School
557 Students, 96% minority
2800 feet from shelter
We feel that all cities must take part in the answer to this difficult problem,
and they should not simply send all their homeless to the Campus in Phoenix.
If the shelter expansion goes forward, I fear it will hold back the positive developments of this area,
with the revenues all that would mean for Phoenix for decades.
Thank you for your careful consideration. Our future depends on your decision.
Sincerely,
Jo-Ann Lowney
www.jo-annlowney.com [jo-annlowney.com]
jolow999@msn.com
From:
Roberto Frietz
To:
Sarah Stockham
Cc:
Samantha Keating; Alan Stephenson
Subject:
FW: Proposal to rezone Human Services Campus
Date:
Tuesday, June 30, 2020 1:03:08 PM
Attachments:
image001.png
image002.png
image003.png
FYI, Looks like Joel and his wife forgot to copy the Planning Department. Please include this email in
the case file for the HSC application to amend zoning ordinance case# Z-SP-2-19.
Thank you.
Roberto E. Frietz, Neighborhood Specialist
602-261-8154 · Roberto.Frietz@phoenix.gov
Please consider the environment before printing this email
From: Joel Coplin <joel.coplin@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2020 12:53 PM
To: Ed Zuercher <ed.zuercher@phoenix.gov>; Mayor Gallego <mayor.gallego@phoenix.gov>;
Council District 5 PCC <council.district.5@phoenix.gov>; Council District 1 PCC
<council.district.1@phoenix.gov>; Council District 2 PCC <council.district.2@phoenix.gov>; Council
District 3 PCC <council.district.3@phoenix.gov>; Council District 4 <council.district.4@phoenix.gov>;
Council District 6 PCC <District6@phoenix.gov>; Council District 7 PCC
<council.district.7@phoenix.gov>; Council District 8 PCC <council.district.8@phoenix.gov>
Subject: Re: Proposal to rezone Human Services Campus
--
Joel Coplin
Gallery 119
119 S. 11th Ave. Phoenix Az.
602 576 0338
June 29, 2020
Dear Madam Mayor and City Council Members,
Our City of Phoenix and the community of Central City Village, under the Capitol Mall plan
has an awesome opportunity
for urban development in a part of the city that has become derelict and dangerous.
Our part of town, where my wife Jo-Ann Lowney and I reside and maintain our business is
full of wonderful old buildings,
rich with history and cultural landmarks, ripe for renovation calling for development with
much room for expansion.
With the light rail coming our way and the possible reopening of the Carnegie Library as a
museum for
Arizona artists and Sculpture Park being a place of destination the area can’t help but develop
and expand creating an economic boom for the city.
I fear this will not be possible if the Special permit to rezone proposed by the Human Services
Campus for some 575 more beds is granted.
I fear also if the shelter expansion is approved it would hold back the growth, progress and
revenues generated by a growing metro area for generations to come.
Myself and other businesses of the area made up of The Madison Street Pioneer Coalition
believe we are currently not serving the homeless population well nor are we serving the
business and residential community
and above all the City of Phoenix is not being served well by warehousing the homeless in
what has become a humanitarian crisis.
For example, one teacher in a classroom with 10 students is optimal, with 20 students
workable but with 100 students impossible.
With the HSC proposed addition there would be more than 1000 citizens made up of the
mentally disabled, the elderly, the drug addicted,
the chronically homeless packed into a 4 block area. How much staff would be necessary to
accommodate such numbers?
How many security people and police would be necessary? People will be hurt. Many will fall
through the cracks.
As well meaning as they are they can’t handle the numbers they already have. I know the
people on the street, many are our friends.
We hear how difficult it is.
I believe I know what will happen. People won’t want to go to the shelter or so many people
will descend into our area that
the streets will once again fall into the deplorable condition full of homeless encampments we
have currently been struggling so hard to resolve.
We need smaller shelters in every community that can provide individual help, not mega
shelters.
I don’t understand why it is Phoenix’s duty to shoulder the whole problem alone. And
specifically why is it ours, the homeowners and businesses?
The MPC has lots to say and has many thoughts on the subject should the council like to hear
them. Such as,
Shelters should be split up in various age groups according to special needs of 50 or less.
There could be aged 55 plus with specific help on getting healthcare, social security, SMI and
SSI and permanent housing for seniors
Homeless kids aged 25 or under should have access to vocational training in shelters in Mesa
or Tempe close to EVIT and ASU.
There could be life skill training as to how to maintain a household and how a bank works,
how to start and maintain an account etc.
25 to 55 should include drug treatment and reentry into society programs to help expedite
permanent housing.
I don’t presume to say you haven’t thought about these types of solutions to a very
complicated problem.
I just mean to say we are having many heartfelt conversations with the people that will be
affected by your decision
and want to let you know that we are with you and if we can help in any way we will put our
whole hearts and minds to it.
Thank you so much! Please strongly consider these thoughts when deciding on the HSC
special zoning permit.
The future of our area as well as our future depends on it.
Yours Truly,
Joel Coplin
Founding member Madison Pioneer Coalition
119 S.11th Ave, Gallery 119
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
http://joelcoplinfineart.com/ [joelcoplinfineart.com]
PBF Mfg. Co., Inc.
1209 West Jefferson
Phoenix, AZ 85007
www.pbfmfg.com
Phoenix, AZ 800-437-2556 - 602-254-5973 - Fax 602-253-1968
Albuquerque, NM 505-831-2758 -- Tucson, AZ 520-881-4934
Henderson, NV 702-565-6117
July2, 2020
Central City Village Planning Committee
Agenda item 7, Application Z-SP-2-19 to modify the Special Permit
area of the Human Services Campus.
As a business owner, for over 40 years, in the area near the Human Services Campus, I
strongly oppose the application to increase the number of beds at the Campus. For
years, the City of Phoenix has encouraged the concentration in the area of people
experiencing homelessness. This is in contradiction to the Capitol Mall Overlay which
recommends DECREASING the concentration of homeless services in the area. This has
caused an unfair burden on our neighborhood, which has to deal with the fall-out of
hundreds of people living on the streets. The trash, human waste and crime that are a
result make our neighborhoods unsafe and unhealthy.
It also doesn’t serve the needs of the homeless. People experiencing homelessness can
be seniors, the mentally ill, criminals, families or just people having some really bad
luck. Putting all of these people into one facility makes it impossible for them to get the
specialized services they need.
Allowing the expansion of the Campus won’t help the neighborhood or the homeless. It
will just be another example of the City of Phoenix disrespecting tax paying businesses
and citizens by trying to dump this problem on someone else rather than coming up
with a serious, long-term solution.
Respectfully,
Freddy H Brown Jr
President
freddy@pbfmfg.com
www.pbfmfg.com
From:
JOANN LOWNEY
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
Comment on Agenda item 7, Application Z-SP-2-19
Date:
Thursday, July 2, 2020 10:15:40 AM
I wish to submit a comment to be considered at the planning meeting re: Agenda item 7, Application Z-
SP-2-19
As a resident and business owner: of Gallery 119 on 11th Ave., one block from the
Human Services Campus,
I vehemently oppose the application to increase the number of beds at the Campus. The
City of Phoenix has encouraged
the concentration in my neighborhood of people experiencing homelessness. This is in
contradiction to the Capitol Mall Overlay
which recommends DECREASING the concentration of homeless services in the area.
This is a terrible burden on our neighborhood.
We must deal with hundreds of people living on the streets. The trash, human waste
and crime that are a result make our neighborhoods unsafe and unhealthy.
This makes it impossible to do business here with our gallery, and the commercial
property taxes do not reflect this reality.
The homeless are ill served by this expansion. People experiencing homelessness
include seniors, the mentally ill,
criminals, families or just people having some really bad luck. Putting all of these
people into one facility makes it impossible for them to get the specialized services they
need.
They are not allowed to remain inside during the day, and so these people roam the
neighborhood all day long, suffering in the awful heat.
They use our street as their toilet, as there are no facilities nearby for them to use.
Allowing the expansion of the Campus won’t help the neighborhood or the homeless. It
will just be another example
of the City of Phoenix trying to avoid taking the responsibility of a serious, long-term
solution.
Jo-Ann Lowney
www.jo-annlowney.com [jo-annlowney.com]
Gallery 119
119 S 11th Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85007
From:
Joel Coplin
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
Agenda item 7, Application Z-SP-2-19
Date:
Thursday, July 2, 2020 7:24:43 PM
Dear Ms Stockham,
As a resident and business owner: of Gallery 119 on 11th Ave., one block from the
Human Services Campus,
I vehemently oppose the application to increase the number of beds at the Campus. The
City of Phoenix has encouraged
the concentration in my neighborhood of people experiencing homelessness. This is in
contradiction to the Capitol Mall Overlay
which recommends DECREASING the concentration of homeless services in the area.
This is a terrible burden on our neighborhood.
We must deal with hundreds of people living on the streets. The trash, human waste
and crime that are a result make our neighborhoods unsafe and unhealthy.
The homeless are ill served by this expansion. People experiencing homelessness
include seniors, the mentally ill,
criminals, families or just people having some really bad luck. Putting all of these
people into one facility makes it impossible for them to get the specialized services they
need.
They are not allowed to remain inside during the day, and so these people roam the
neighborhood all day long, suffering in the awful heat.
They use our street as their toilet, as there are no facilities nearby for them to use.
Allowing the expansion of the Campus won’t help the neighborhood or the homeless. It
will just be another example
of the City of Phoenix trying to avoid taking the responsibility of a serious, long-term
solution.
Joel Coplin
--
http://joelcoplinfineart.com/ [joelcoplinfineart.com]
Christy Puetz
1341 W. Woodland Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Reference to Agenda item 7, Application Z-SP-2-19 to modify the Special
Permit area of the Human Services Campus.
Dear Central City Village Planning Committee,
I strongly oppose the proposed expansion of the Human Service Campus
(HSC) in downtown Phoenix.
I have been a home owner in the area of the Campus for over 12 years.
Since moving into downtown Phoenix I have worked alongside the
downtown community members to be supportive and compassionate
toward people that are experiencing homelessness in the area.
I understand that there are many reasons why people become homeless
and it is very unfortunate that there are limited resources for this
population.
Allowing the expansion of a campus that is already overwhelmed doesn’t
serve the needs of those experiencing homelessness or the neighborhood.
NOBODY benefits, it only causes an unfair burden on neighborhoods which
have to deal with the fall-out of hundreds of people living on the streets.
The existing concentration of people experiencing homelessness in the
area has caused a negative impact on already struggling neighborhoods.
A few issues of concern that I personally have experienced include: private
property trespassing, trash bins tipped over and trash thrown around,
alleyways used as toilets, families afraid to use the local park because of
loitering, violence, property crime, vandalization of public property, drug
use, individuals following me while I walk my dogs, concentration of groups
loitering and sleeping in front of my home, public masterbation, blocking of
traffic/standing in middle of street, taunting of pets, and more.
All of these health and safety issues will only multiply if the City of Phoenix
continues to encourage the concentration area of people experiencing
homelessness. This is in contradiction to the Capitol Mall Overlay which
recommends DECREASING the concentration of homeless services in the
area.
Our neighborhood cannot thrive when the city and state continue to limit
our ability live in a safe and clean environment, which is our right.
It is very unfortunate that the City, County, and State governments have
failed to address this problem, choosing to dump the problem on the
downtown residents instead of coming up with a serious, long-term
solution. People experiencing homelessness can be seniors, the mentally
ill, criminals, families or just people having really bad luck. Putting all of
these people into one facility makes it impossible for them to get the
specialized services they need.
I do not have the answers, but I do know that homelessness is a problem
that the entire valley needs to address and help to change.
Sincerely,
Christy Puetz
From:
Dianne Langmade
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
Reference Agenda item 7, Application Z-SP-2-19 to modify the Special Permit area of the Human Services
Campus
Date:
Monday, July 6, 2020 10:49:24 AM
Date: July 5, 2020 at 8:46 PM
Subject: Reference Agenda item 7, Application Z-SP-2-19 to modify the Special
Permit area of the Human Services Campus
Reference Agenda item 7, Application Z-SP-2-19 to modify the Special Permit
area of the Human Services Campus
I would like to speak and make the following comments, regarding Agenda Item
7:
There will be a vote coming soon with the Central City Village Planning
Committee where the Human Services Campus (HSC) expansion will be
discussed. As a commercial property business owner in the area, I am strongly
opposed to the expansion of the HSC. Please don't take this as being against the
services provided by the HSC and the other organizations in the area, just opposed
to increasing the number of beds at the HSC. Can you please use you influence to
prevent the expansion in this area and encourage other communities to step up to
their responsibilities to provide a safe, clean environment for the homeless.
People experiencing homelessness or all ages and various backgrounds come with
differing needs. With more people being pushed into this area of the HSC, it
would seem to make it difficult to get the specialized services they need. There
needs to be a better long term solution.
Also, the impact the current number of homeless have on our current businesses
has been overwhelming at times. We appreciate the recent actions by the Phoenix
City Council with the gated alleyways, the extra police patrol, the chains to
discourage tents along the sidewalks, and the recent contract funding passed to
give the police and others a portal to find available shelter space for those in need.
The business and home owners in the area recognize the efforts the City is doing,
just please keep the momentum going by discouraging an increase in homeless
beds at the HSC.
Thanks, Laurel Dianne Langmade
eagleii@cox.net
Dianne Langmade
From:
Frances Howard
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
Agenda item 7, Application Z-SP-2-19
Date:
Friday, July 3, 2020 4:43:02 PM
Sent from Mail [go.microsoft.com] for Windows 10
Dear Sarah,
I am requesting to speak at the Central City Village Committee Meeting on July 13th at 6:00PM.
I wish to address Agenda item 7, Application Z-SP-2-19 to modify the Special Permit area of the
Human Services Campus.
I am opposed to the City’s plan to expand the homeless campus, as I do not think that clustering
large numbers of homeless people in any single location is beneficial to the homeless or to the
neighboring residents. Homelessness is a community problem and should be addressed from a
more global perspective.
I would like to donate my time to Katherine Roxlo to allow her to speak an additional 2 minutes on
my behalf.
Thank you, please confirm receipt and if my time is allowed.
Frances Howard
7528 N 22nd Place
Phoenix, AZ 85020
From:
debbie faillace
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
Ref agenda item 7 , Appl Z SP 2 19 to modify Spec Permit of Human Serv Campus
Date:
Monday, July 6, 2020 3:57:00 PM
Good afternoon.
My name is Joe Faillace. I am the owner of The Old Station Sub Shop located at 1301 W Jefferson St. I
have been there for 35 years! As a business owner in the area of the Human Services Campus, I strongly
oppose the expansion of the Campus.
For years the City of Phoenix has encouraged the concentration in the area of people experiencing
homelessness. This is in contradiction to the Capitol Mall Overlay which recommends DECREASING the
concentration of homeless services in the area.
This has caused an unfair burden on our neighborhood which has to deal with the fall-out of hundreds of
people living on the streets. The trash, human waste and crime that are a result make our neighborhoods
unsafe and unhealthy!!
We need several smaller shelters all over the Valley. It is not fair or safe to have that many people
concentrated in one area.
It is also not fair to the homeless. You would not believe the crime I see on a daily basis.
Please do not allow an expansion!
Thank you,
Joe Faillace
Old Station Sub Shop
From:
Bob King
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
CHS proposed increase
Date:
Tuesday, July 7, 2020 10:50:56 AM
We are strongly opposed to the proposed bed increase for the CHS.
Having lived in the Woodland Historic District for about ten years we enjoy the quiet
neighborhood and the proximity to downtown. But an increase in CHS residents would only
exacerbate the trash and human waste strewn in our streets and alleys which is already
unsightly and unhealthy.
We are supportive of the work done at CHS to help the unfortunate and homeless but believe
the burden should be shared by other neighborhoods in the city. Also more needs to be done
for those suffering from mental illness and drug addiction.
Bob & Ellen King
From:
Judy Hillman-Butzine
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
There is no positive action for anyone that will come out of the 1000 bed expansion
Date:
Wednesday, July 8, 2020 6:28:52 PM
As an MSW, former health care professional living in the neighborhood for more than 7 years,
the Woodland residents are all very conscious of the trauma our neighborhood will
experience, the result of these dear individuals being on the streets 1/2 of the day while the site
is shut down for cleaning, etc. .
Children in the neighborhood are unable to be alone to play in their front yards due to the
Homeless individuals being threatening to them due to the result of unstable and threatening
behavior. The alley ways are the sites for toilets around the trash cans. When it rains and
during extreme heat there is no area for them to find comfort. They also trash the area and
those with mental health issues threaten any resident in the alley areas on a regular day to day
routine.
We are aware no other community area within the city will allow this situation into their
neighboring districts for these very reasons. The city council persons of those suggested areas
have been able to restrict any kind of living structures to accommodate this overload of
displaced persons..
It is time for the Phoenix Mayor and the city council to determine an appropriate plan that is
acceptable to all individuals responding to this social, behavioral challenge with integrity in
Phoenix. It is their combined, collaborative job as Mayor and council members to seek a
solution. Request of them to come up with a potential plan that honors the rights and safety of
all persons engaged in this decision making process.
Respectfully submitted,
Judy Butzine
From:
John Lynch
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
HSC Expansion
Date:
Thursday, July 9, 2020 10:16:22 AM
Re: Agenda Item 7, Z-SP-2-19, Special Permit, Human Services Campus.
Hi Sarah,
As a homeowner in the Woodland Historic District I oppose the move to expand the HSC.
Centralizing homeless services has a significant negative effect on the local community. I
encourage a decentralized expansion of related social services.
Thank you.
John Lynch.
--
John Lynch
johnstephenlynch@gmail.com
602-796-3243 (mobile)
From:
Michele Allen Rogers
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
RE: Item 7, Z-SP-2-19 Special Permit, Human Services Campus
Date:
Thursday, July 9, 2020 9:26:34 AM
To: Sarah Stockham
RE: Item 7, Z-SP-2-19 Special Permit, Human Services Campus.
I am asking that my voice be heard. and would appreciate a chance to speak
at the meeting.
Please do not allow the increase of 1000 beds at the Human Services
Campus. This will only create more chaos for the people who live in the
neighborhood as well as those who have businesses there!
This proposal is not acceptable for these surrounding areas who daily deal
with extremely huge amounts of unspeakable garbage, fecal
matter, safety and biohazards, noise, escalating crime, drug use,
and congestion. This is creating these streets to be unsafe, as well as all of
the financial implications that have made the area unusable to a great
degree.
This has also caused neighborhood children to be at risk, unable to walk to
school, or play on their own yards unattended. Parks and recreational areas
have also been closed and made unusable as well.
It directly goes against the Capitol Mall Overlay, which for decades has
called to disperse the homeless population to more regional shelters
throughout the entire Valley. This had been completely been disregarded.
We understand and appreciate the mission of the homeless service
providers, who are trying to help these vulnerable populations. However,
this proposal does not give them the additional resources to help
and it compounds an already unmanageable situation by making it worse.
Please invest the funds into smaller, more qualified programs that will
actually help these people.
The neighborhoods can not possibly absorb any more of these people.
Michele Allen Rogers
Michele Allen Rogers
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTE: This electronic transmission, including all attachments,
is directed in confidence solely to the person(s) to whom it is addressed, or an
authorized recipient, and may not otherwise be distributed, copied or disclosed.
From:
Therese Reed
To:
Sarah Stockham; Mayor Gallego; Council District 1 PCC; Council District 2 PCC; Council District 3 PCC; Council
District 4; Council District 5 PCC; Council District 6 PCC; Council District 7 PCC; Council District 8 PCC; Twila Lake
Subject:
Agenda Item 7, Z-SP-2-19, Special Permit, Human Services Campus
Date:
Friday, July 10, 2020 8:49:13 PM
Dear madams and sirs,
This proposal would allow for up to 1000 beds on the Campus and at the nearby Andre House.
Those of us in the area know this is just too many beds and that our neighborhoods cannot absorb
anymore.
This proposal is bad for the people experiencing homelessness.
Many of them are elderly. Many are struggling with mental health issues or substance abuse. Many
of them are just people who have had some really bad luck.
Putting all of them together in one giant mega facility in the same area makes it difficult to give them
the special services that different populations need.
This proposal is bad for the surrounding neighborhoods who have to deal with the garbage, safety
and bio hazards, noise, escalating crime and congestion making our streets unusable. Economic and
financial hardship will continue to impact small businesses and property owners making it difficult if
not impossible to develop or use our properties to their fullest potential.
This zoning application directly goes against the Capitol Mall Overlay, which for decades has called
for decreasing the concentration of homeless services in the area. Neighborhood requests calling
for dispersing the homeless population to regional shelters throughout the entire Valley has been
disregarded.
We understand and appreciate the mission of the homeless service providers, who are trying to help
these vulnerable populations. This proposal doesn’t give them the additional resources to help and
compounds an already unmanageable situation making it worse.
The City, the County and the State have all avoided responsibility for this issue for too long.
Governments at all levels have chosen short-term fixes over long-term solutions, and left the
charitable organizations and surrounding neighborhoods to deal with the consequences of their
inaction.
If this expansion is approved, all of these government entities will act like they have done something
to fix the problem, without really committing the resources, the focus and the dedication needed to
fix this problem long-term.
Decentralizing these services and helping people end their homelessness with wrap around services
in the areas where they are from.
Let's invest in smaller, more quality programs that will really help people instead of throwing more
money at things that aren't working.
Our neighborhoods cannot absorb anymore homeless persons.
Please do not allow this special permit to pass.
Michael and Therese H. Reed
Owner 130, 132, 134, 136 N 10th Ave Phoenix AZ 85007
Page 1
Ian Francis
Madison Pioneers Coalition
Subject: HSC Special Permit
Application No. Z-SP-2-19
July 9th, 2020
Central City Village Planning Committee Members:
Lauren Booth
Darlene Martinez
Zachary Burns
Eva Olivas
Christopher Colyer
Patrick Panetta
Shannon Dubasik
Janey Pearl Starks
Rachel Frazier Johnson
Wayne Rainey
William Gaona
Nathan Sonoskey
Calvin Goode
Louisa Stark
Dana Johnson
Sean Sweat
Michael J. Langley
Ash Uss
Veronyka Lockhart
Subject: Human Services Campus (HSC) Special Permit Application No. Z-SP-2-19
MPC opposition to its expansion in size and number of beds
Dear Members of the Central City Planning Committee,
As residents and business owners in the neighborhood closest to the HSC, we are directly
impacted by whatever path the City of Phoenix takes at this important time of development for
human services. We realize there is currently a dire need for more human services in Maricopa
County.
Members of the MPC (Madison Pioneers Coalition) and other nearby neighborhoods
overwhelmingly oppose the expansion of the boundary size and number of beds at the current
HSC. Petitions have been sent on our behalf, and the behalf of the public in general, expressing
the dire conditions of the neighborhood due to a large number of encampments near the HSC,
and the health and safety conditions in the area. We believe that enlargement of the HSC will
not improve these conditions, it will further entrench and expand the homelessness crisis in an
already overwhelmed neighborhood. The area will become an even larger magnet for illegal
activities and people who prey on those needing help.
The City, County, State and HSC (Human Services Campus) have had 35 years to improve the
situation near the HSC. Since 1985, citizens have expressed their concerns and fears; they have
described the negative impact caused by this facility in the Central City Overlay district. Goals
and objectives have been agreed upon by representatives of various government organizations
to improve the area and reduce the impact of homelessness on the area. At this time, the area
near the HSC is worse than it has ever been.
Page 2
Ian Francis
Madison Pioneers Coalition
Subject: HSC Special Permit
Application No. Z-SP-2-19
The HSC has no right to ask for an expansion given the deplorable state of surrounding
neighborhoods and the lack of responsibility, from all parties involved, to remedy these
conditions. It is time that the City, County & State encourages development of other locations
in Maricopa County to increase the availability of human services and temporary shelter beds.
Common sense should dictate that lumping too many people with dire needs into one
neighborhood will be overwhelming. Based on our research, it appears that the HSC at its expanded
size would be one of the largest homeless shelters of its kind in the United States. Studies indicate
that regionally distributed transitional housing and smaller shelter facilities are more humane for
both the people seeking help and the neighborhoods surrounding those facilities.
The HSC is currently in violation of numerous Local City & State Nuisance Laws at its current
capacity. Neighbors have brought this to the attention of HSC to no avail.
Arizona Revised Statutes / Title 13 - Criminal Code
§ 13-2917 Public Nuisance
City of Phoenix Municipal Code / Chapter 8.04
8.04.060 Nuisances affecting the public health.
8.04.110 Rubbish
8.04.020 Communicable disease
Sec. 32C-102 A public nuisance is anything that is injurious or obnoxious to health or the
environment, or is offensive to the senses, or is an obstruction to the free use of property, so
as to interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property by any considerable
number of persons, or which obstructs the free passage or use, in any customary manner, of
any street, alley, sidewalk, or other public right-of way.
1) HSC Clients obstructing streets, sidewalks, and rights-of-ways.
2) Noxious odors emitting in the air (human excrement and urine).
3) HSC Clients defecating & urinating on buildings, sidewalks, streets, alleys, &
right-of-ways.
4) HSC Clients are injurious by violent assaults on residents and community
members and other homeless
5) Destruction and theft of property belonging to businesses and residents.
6) Health hazards include: fecal matter and urination on buildings and public right-
of-ways, lack of social distancing responsibilities (Covid-19), hepatitis, used
injection needles left on sidewalks, streets, & easements
Page 3
Ian Francis
Madison Pioneers Coalition
Subject: HSC Special Permit
Application No. Z-SP-2-19
7) Attraction of gangs, drug use/selling to the immediate area.
8) Food decay left on properties, easements, streets, and sidewalks. Attracting rats,
and other disease faring vermin.
9) Fire pits, open flames, open pit holes on easements near sidewalks & buildings.
Burning of noxious waste, and fecal matter.
10) Numerous tent fires that risk burning down buildings or houses.
11) Storm water drains completely blocked by trash and waste.
12) Broken down discarded junk items piled on curbs, streets, sidewalks.
13) Loud music, arguments, fighting, are common occurrences in the streets, at all
hours.
In closing, as you can see by just a few of the above current violations, that the HSC & Andre House
are currently incapable of managing their “clients” at their current capacity. Extending the capacity
would be an immediate and severe health and safety risk for not only the people they attempt to
serve, but also for the surrounding neighborhoods and comminutes of Downtown Phoenix.
• Deny the Zoning application Z-SP-2-19 for expansion of HSC boundaries and the increase in
number of beds at their campus in Downtown Phoenix.
Respectfully,
Ian Francis
COP District 7
813 W. Madison St.
Phoenix, AZ
ianfrancisgreen@gmail.com
on behalf of the Madison Pioneers Coalition
Page 4
Ian Francis
Madison Pioneers Coalition
Subject: HSC Special Permit
Application No. Z-SP-2-19
(Exhibit 1)
2016 Arizona Revised Statutes
Title 13 - Criminal Code
§ 13-2917 Public nuisance; abatement; classification
Universal Citation: AZ Rev Stat § 13-2917 (2016)
13-2917. Public nuisance; abatement; classification
A. It is a public nuisance, and is no less a nuisance because the extent of the
annoyance or damage inflicted is unequal, for anything:
1. To be injurious to health, indecent, offensive to the senses or an obstruction to the
free use of property that interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property by
an entire community or neighborhood or by a considerable number of persons.
2. To unlawfully obstruct the free passage or use, in the customary manner, of any
navigable lake, river, bay, stream, canal or basin, or any public park, square, street or
highway.
B. It is a public nuisance for any person to sell, offer to sell, transfer, trade or
disseminate any item which is obscene as defined in section 13-3501, within two
thousand feet, measured in a straight line, of the nearest boundary line of any of the
following:
1. Any building used as a private or public elementary or high school.
2. Any public park.
3. Any residence district as defined in section 28-101.
C. The county attorney, the attorney general or the city attorney may bring an action in
superior court to abate, enjoin and prevent the activity described in subsections A and B
of this section.
D. Any person who knowingly maintains or commits a public nuisance or who knowingly
fails or refuses to perform any legal duty relating to the removal of a public nuisance is
guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor.
Date:
July 13, 2020
To:
Central City Village Planning Committee
From:
Twila Lake
Former resident of Woodland Historic Neighborhood District
Re:
Opposition to expansion of HSC and increase of shelter beds
I lived in Woodland Historic District from 2/2001 until 7/2019. During my
residency in Woodland I was the neighborhood leader holding community
meetings, organizing neighborhood clean-ups, working with city leaders,
utilized ADA guidelines to fight for sidewalks on Van Buren from 9th Avenue
to 15th Avenue for handicapped bus stop access, participated in the
Neighborhood Services Grant program – obtaining a $5000 grant for
Woodland. I fought under ADA guidelines for sidewalk repairs in the
neighborhood so the handicapped homeless in wheelchairs could traverse
sidewalks instead of dangerously traveling in the streets of Woodland.
I attended monthly meetings at HSC for several years to stand up for and
to represent Woodland neighborhood’s needs/concerns. I participated as a
team member of HSC organizers to conduct a late night street survey of
homeless sleeping in the neighborhood to help identify needs and reasons
why homeless choose to sleep on the streets instead of at HSC.
Some of the results of the HSC survey from the homeless we interviewed
were; fear of being beat up, robbed, raped and killed. They stated they did
not feel safe at HSC at night.
I loved my Woodland neighborhood and neighbors. I enjoyed being part of
the revitalization of downtown Phoenix. I was proud of the way downtown
was bringing back pedestrian travel and new growth of venues to attract
more people to want to live downtown, that it was “cool” to live in Phoenix.
I loved watching and participating in that growth. Being a part of the
revitalization was empowering and fulfilling.
Twenty years ago I fought building HSC at the current location. I attended
multiple meetings for months. At one such meeting, my City Councilman
spoke and told all of us that these meetings and debates were a waste of
his time. He said most of Woodland neighborhood was rental property and
it was well known, renters do not vote. He said his re-election to City
Council was not dependent upon Woodland neighborhood votes and
therefore; the HSC was going to be built on the proposed site. At that
time, we were promised that a 2nd campus was going to be built at 16th
Street and Camelback…you see how that VOTING community impacted a
campus never being built in that corridor. We were also promised that HSC
density would be capped at 450 beds and never be able to increase
because we were protected by the Capitol Mall overlay and here we are
today.
It is a shame that “poor” neighborhoods bear the burden of shouldering the
weight of homelessness. The cute little historic Woodland neighborhood of
100 homes nestled in the center of downtown deserves better protection
from the City of Phoenix officials.
Since HSC has been built Woodland has struggled due to the transient
population traveling to and from HSC through the neighborhood.
This is what I endured at home every day living in Woodland, just four
blocks from HSC. HSC patrons standing on the sidewalk in front of my
home and exposing themselves while peeing on my trees and boulders,
squatting in the alley near my garbage can to defecate, strewing my
garbage can contents all over the alley, stealing from my yard and front
porch, ringing my doorbell in the middle of the night, screaming profanities
in front of my home, harassing my dogs, shouting at them and me as I tried
to protect them, breaking into my car, taking over University Park until I
was afraid to go there, asking for money as I worked in my yard, leaving
trash all over my yard and the entire neighborhood, stealing my bikes,
breaking into my sheds and...all this happens every single day. No one
comes and cleans up the feces on your property except the owner, me.
Woodland has the most foot traffic of any neighborhood as HSC patrons
pass our homes on 11th, 12th, 13th, and 15th Avenues traveling to and from
HSC and Andre House and the Woodland zip code has the highest number
of registered sex offenders in the State of Arizona due to released sex
offenders using the HSC postal address. That is not a proud statistic.
During the early months of 2019 I heard a rumor HSC wanted to expand
beds to 1000 a night and it frightened me. I know the campus provides
about 1500 meals a day and houses about 500 beds. When I look at those
numbers, I felt if HSC expanded to 1000 beds at night, it will feed about
3000 a day. That doubles the foot traffic walking Woodland every day,
which doubles crime, trash, defecation and undesirable behaviors.
I enjoyed being a Woodland and Phoenix community leader, but when you
see all your efforts being for naught, going downhill, becoming unattainable
and unsustainable, it wears you out.
In July 2019, after 19 years, I moved from Woodland - Phoenix area to
Goodyear. I hated to leave Woodland because I loved it there.
The reason I moved…fear of the expansion of the Human Services
Campus and the increased concentration of persons experiencing
homelessness to the Woodland neighborhood. I was overwhelmed and
felt I could no longer feel safe and continue to help my neighborhood. I am
74 years old. I couldn’t stay and fight any more. I was driven out.
My daughter summed up my involvement when I told her I was moving,
she said, “Wow mom, what are you going to do with all your time now?”
It saddens me that I missed out on years of fun with grandchildren due to
living in Woodland. The parents of my six grandchildren would not allow
my grandkids to stay with me in my Woodland home because they felt the
neighborhood was too dangerous and unsafe for children. That is lost time
with my grandkids that I cannot get back. Help make Woodland safe.
Even today, I advocate for Woodland, which is near and dear to my heart. I
hate to see such a viable community have to deal with a nightly population
explosion at HSC. Opposition does not mean being against persons
experiencing homelessness, opposition means saving our neighborhoods,
our downtown, our City, our Police and Fire Departments. I am in
opposition to HSC increasing beds because expansion will devastate
Woodland Historic Neighborhood, be a burden on the vibrancy of rebuilding
downtown Phoenix, exhaust City of Phoenix Services and stretch the
limitations of Phoenix Police and Fire Departments. Please do not
approve HSC expansion and bed increase. Keep the promise made to the
residents of Woodland and surrounding neighborhoods.
Letter to City of Phoenix (COP)
Central City Village Planning Committee
Page 1
from Katherine Roxlo
Subject: HSC Special Permit
Application No. Z-SP-2-19
July 16, 2020
Central City Village Planning Committee
CentralCityVPC@phoenix.gov
Sarah Stockham, Staff Planner
sarah.stockham@phoenix.gov
Subject: Human Services Campus (HSC) Special Permit Application No. Z-SP-2-19
Opposition to HSC expansion in size and number of beds
Dear Central City Village Planning Committee (CCVPC):
Thank you for allowing me to speak Monday, July 13, 2020 at your CCVPC meeting. I
respectfully request the committee deny the HSC special permit application to expand its
boundaries and the number of homeless shelter beds at its current location.
The City of Phoenix (COP) opened a homeless shelter on the location of the HSC facility in 1984.
In 1985 shelter bed capacity was estimated at 220 beds, Now the facility is permitted for 420
shelter beds. The COP, Maricopa County, State of Arizona, and HSC have had 35 years to
improve the situation for the neighborhood. The only changes have been that the facility is
larger and the negative impact to the neighborhood worsened with each expansion.
Please consider the following current conditions and implications of the permit application:
1. The HSC is a public nuisance (ARS 13-2917) to the community. HSC creates an off-campus
situation that is an offense to the senses (foul odors from human and food waste; trash and
hazardous waste litter the streets, alleys, and easements). It obstructs the free use of
neighborhood properties for the neighbors' comfort and enjoyment of life. Neighbors are
afraid to go outside and enjoy their front yards due to the large number of encampments.
Back yards are unsafe due to vandalism and drug use. Drug related waste and paraphernalia
litter the parks.
2. The HSC creates a health hazard for those living, working, encamped, and visiting the area.
There is a lack of sufficient drinking water or water for showers or washing hands. Human
feces and food waste are strewn throughout the area due to lack of sufficient public toilets
and trash receptacles. Hazardous waste including paraphernalia from drug use is found on
the streets and alleys. Communicable diseases such as hepatitis have been noted in the area.
3. The HSC creates a threat to the personal safety of those living, working, encamped,
and visiting the area. The area with the highest violent crime rate in the City of Phoenix
is located directly in front of the HSC front gate (Figure 1). Violent crimes include
murder, rape, firearm robbery, and aggravated assault. People encamped in the area
set fires that threaten nearby homes, cars, and businesses. HSC does not allow violence
or violent criminals inside their campus but the criminals who commit these acts
nevertheless congregate in the area because HSC and people they know are there.
Letter to City of Phoenix (COP)
Central City Village Planning Committee
Page 2
from Katherine Roxlo
Subject: HSC Special Permit
Application No. Z-SP-2-19
HSC does not permit registered sex offenders to shelter in their facility. But 138
registered sex offenders list the area within 1/4 mile of the HSC as their primary
residence. This includes 84 who list the Corner of 12th Avenue and Madison Street as
their home address. 15 people list their primary residence as the corner of 11th Avenue
and Jackson.
4. Small businesses in the area of HSC are negatively impacted. Business owners report
patrons are afraid to visit their stores. The streets are literally packed with homeless people
or people seeking services at HSC making it hard for patrons of stores to walk to shops from
their parked cars.
5. Research has shown that homeless shelters with greater than 100 beds are unsafe and
difficult to control. The optimum size for homeless shelters is 50 – 70 beds (for the homeless
and the community that supports them). With 420 shelter beds currently, the HSC has
exceeded its capacity to serve the homeless in a humane and effective manner.
6. The permit expansion violates the Capitol District Development Guidelines, a promise
by State, County and City officials to reduce crime in this neighborhood and provide
other locations for the homeless.
7. The permit expansion violates the Capital Mall Overlay District Zoning Ordinance
(Phoenix Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 6, section 646) including protection of existing
residential and nonresidential uses from negative impacts caused by a concentration of
specified uses. It outlines criteria for the evaluation of special use permits and their
amendment in section 504.1. In fact, section 504.1.C.6.b outlines terms of revocation of
a special permit. Revocation of a special use permit is allowed upon finding “that the
use covered by the permit or the manner of conducting the same is a safety hazard or is
in any way detrimental to persons residing or working in the vicinity, to adjacent
property, to the neighborhood, or to the public welfare in general. Factors which may
be reviewed include, but are not limited to, emitting of odor, dust, gas, noise, vibration,
smoke, heat, or glare beyond any boundary of the lot on which the use is conducted;
causing a significant increase in traffic congestion; causing or contributing to
disturbance or breaches of the public peace and order; or causing or contributing to a
decline in the property values”…. Based on the current findings it seems a revocation of
the current permit would be appropriate.
8. It violates the City of Phoenix Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance (Chapter 39) that
outlines residents’ rights for a safe, healthy neighborhood.
I request that the City Planning Department direct staff to take these negative impacts into account
as part of their analysis. Additionally, I request that staff consider the following as part of this permit
application analysis:
Letter to City of Phoenix (COP)
Central City Village Planning Committee
Page 3
from Katherine Roxlo
Subject: HSC Special Permit
Application No. Z-SP-2-19
1. Research the number of people who congregate in the area who are not seeking shelter
support from HSC, or who are not allowed to shelter in the HSC. Research the number of
people outside the facility during the day who shelter at night at the facility but who
loiter outside during the day.
2. Compare the HSC permit application with the Capital District Development Guidelines,
the Capitol Mall Overlay District purpose and intent, State Private property rights, State
nuisance laws, and the Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance.
3. Request that HSC provide a copy of all of their revenue sources including grants,
contributions, gifts, sales of assets, provided by government, private and public entities,
or individuals, in excess of $5000 per year.
4. Request that HSC provide information regarding the number of clients that they have
received from various cities and rural areas including Phoenix, and other cities in
Maricopa County for the past five years.
The Village Planning Handbook outlines the type of information to be considered in a permit
application review case. The role of the Village Planning Committee is to make a decision based
on the following questions:
• Is this good for the nearby community? The answer is no.
• Is there already an overabundance of this type of service in the area? Yes.
• Is the application plan consistent with neighborhood, overlay, and district plans for
the area? No.
• What are the impacts on adjacent land uses and can negative impacts be mitigated?
The impacts are encampments, garbage, food waste, hazardous waste, noise, odors,
fires, and violent crimes. The impacts have not been mitigated for 35 years and it is
insane to believe that enlarging the campus will cause an improvement.
The job of the CCVPC is not to solve the homeless problem in Maricopa County. It is to protect
and serve the Central City Village. You are responsible to everyone that lives and works in the
area. Not just the homeless who call it home. Property owners and business owners have
rights too.
The City, County, State and HSC have had 35 years to improve the situation near the HSC. Since
1985, residents and business owners have told city officials about their concerns and described the
negative impact caused by this facility. Representatives of various government organizations have
agreed on the need to reduce the number of homeless in the area. At this time, the area near the
HSC is worse than it has ever been. In fact, on March 2, 2020, in a press conference, Mayor Gallego
called the area a “crisis.”
Letter to City of Phoenix (COP)
Central City Village Planning Committee
Page 4
from Katherine Roxlo
Subject: HSC Special Permit
Application No. Z-SP-2-19
The HSC mission is to “end homelessness”. Based on their website (hsc-az.org), their community
includes all of Maricopa County. In fact, the homeless from all over Arizona and the USA are likely
welcome to shelter at this facility. Is it fair to ask this small Phoenix neighborhood to shelter all of
the Maricopa County homeless? The HSC has no right to ask for an expansion given the deplorable
state of the surrounding neighborhood because of their location, and their impact to the larger
community. The City has no right to approve the permit given their inability to provide sufficient
police and other support to keep the area safe.
The City, County, and State have abdicated their responsibility to develop comprehensive homeless
solutions and have defaulted to the HSC to be their catch-all to address unsheltered homeless in
Maricopa County (and perhaps the State), thus creating an unsustainable situation around the HSC.
Studies show that homeless shelters in multiple locations averaging 50 to 70 beds are more effective
and humane for the people using the service and the community than the unmanageable
concentration currently at the HSC.
Please take into consideration the adverse conditions as a result of the HSC on the area.
Photographs are attached to help the reader visualize what the neighborhood is subjected to daily.
The HSC is not a positive impact on the neighborhood as they declare in their application. Deny
application Z-SP-2-19 for expansion of the HSC boundaries and do not allow any additional shelter
beds at their campus near 11th Avenue and Jackson Street in Phoenix, Arizona.
Sincerely,
Katherine Roxlo
7506 N 22nd Place
Phoenix, AZ 85020
cc:
Mayor Kate Gallego
mayor.gallego@phoenix.gov
Vice Mayor Betty Guardado
council.district.5@phoenix.gov
Council Member Thelda Williams
council.district.1@phoenix.gov
Council Member Jim Waring
council.district.2@phoenix.gov
Council Member Debra Stark
council.district.3@phoenix.gov
Council Member Laura Pastor
council.district.4@phoenix.gov
Council Member Sal DiCiccio
council.district.6@phoenix.gov
Council Member Michael Nowakowski
council.district.7@phoenix.gov
Council Member Carlos Garcia
council.district.8@phoenix.gov
Ed Zuercher, City Manager
ed.zuercher@phoenix.gov
Alan Stephenson, COP Planning Director
alan.stephenson@phoenix.gov
Figure 1. Example of City of Phoenix Police Statistics on Violent Crimes in 2020* (January)
*Violent crimes include: homicide, assault, kidnapping, sexual offences, sexual exploitation, family offenses.
HSC Location
Letter to City of Phoenix (COP)
Central City Village Planning Committee
Page 5
from Katherine Roxlo
Subject: HSC Special Permit
Application No. Z-SP-2-19
Attachment - Photographs
.
Photograph 1. Human waste in alley
between Jefferson and Madison Street,
13th to 12th Avenue, January 2017,
Photograph provided by COP.
Photograph 2. Encampments near 12th
Avenue and Madison Street, January 24,
2017, Photograph provided by COP.
Photograph 3. Garbage in the area of
Madison Street. March 4, 2020.
Photograph provided by Ian Francis.
Letter to City of Phoenix (COP)
Central City Village Planning Committee
Page 6
from Katherine Roxlo
Subject: HSC Special Permit
Application No. Z-SP-2-19
Photograph 4. Illegal drug use not
allowed at HSC so it occurs on the
streets nearby. March 8, 2020.
Photograph provided by Ian Francis.
Photograph 6. Woman defecating on parked
car after alley that is typically used as a
bathroom was fenced off. May 2, 2020.
Photograph provided by Joel Coplin.
Photograph 5. Encampments on
Madison Street between 9th Avenue
and 15th Avenue. Many of these
people do not want to stay inside the
HSC. March 24, 2020. Photograph
provided by Freddy Brown, Jr.
Letter to City of Phoenix (COP)
Central City Village Planning Committee
Page 7
from Katherine Roxlo
Subject: HSC Special Permit
Application No. Z-SP-2-19
Photograph 8. Tent fire near 9th Avenue between
Madison and Jackson Street. May 21, 2020.
Photograph provided by Ben Boe.
Photograph 7. Notice of five sex offenders being
released near the HSC received on May 2, 2020. These
people cannot receive shelter at the HSC but use the
area streets as their primary residential address.
Photograph provided by Joel Coplin.
Six-minute talk by Katherine Roxlo, July 13, 2020 to
Central City Village Planning Committee, City of Phoenix
Thank you for allowing me to speak. My name is Katherine Roxlo. I do not live near the HSC but I oppose
the special permit application including the addition of any more shelter beds at HSC.
Since 1985 citizens have objected to the manner in which human services have been provided at what is
now the Human Services Campus. The only changes have been that the facility is larger and the offenses
to the neighborhood are worse.
In 1984, the City of Phoenix opened a homeless shelter where the HSC is now. In 1985, a use permit was
approved for a charity dining hall and homeless shelter for a period of four years and an estimated 220
beds.
In 1990 the use permit was reviewed; the community overwhelmingly disapproved of a large facility.
The facility had expanded to 400 beds plus an outdoor camping area. Citizens from Madison Street
businesses, the Phoenix Historic Preservation Commission, the Woodland Historic District, the Capitol
Mall Association, and the Oakland University Park Association spoke of the negative impacts to their
communities at the final City zoning hearing.
•
Bonnie Towles, of the Capitol Mall Association said COP Planners agreed that the shelter was a
catalyst for at least 13 other agencies that showed up after the City facility known as CASS was
permitted. She said the CASS budget included contributions from other municipalities because
it’s easier to send homeless to CASS, than to develop a shelter in another municipality. She
asked that the CASS shelter be downsized to 50 beds. Why? In 1986 (2 years after the shelter
opened), a 6-year old child was sodomized and murdered by a known sex offender from the
shelter. In 1988 and 1989, an off and on shelter resident murdered and raped three women. She
said “I’m incensed that we’re constantly led to believe that we’re hysterical about this. If that
was your neighborhood how would you feel? Wouldn’t you be a little incensed?”
•
Mrs. Helene Threadgill spoke for the Oakland University Park Association. She said you must not
enlarge the homeless shelter in the Capitol Mall District. “Not because CASS has failed in their
efforts to help homeless families, or single people, but because our shelter has been, since it
opened in 1984, … … a magnet for all of the other homeless people from all over the state. CASS
is … … just what its initials indicate, Central Arizona, not Phoenix, Shelter Services. … … CASS was
designed to serve self-motivated homeless families and single people. We must … … recognize
that it is the other homeless… …. that has caused our shelter to fail. We must not … …allow the
other homeless to ever again, do … … what they have done to our Capitol Mall area.”
•
Mr. Coppersmith, a member of the hearing board, noted that many people who are refused
admission or expelled from the campus for violent or illegal acts, stay in the neighborhood and
become a neighborhood problem.
•
Ms. Orton of CASS, said “there was a survey done before CASS opened … … that counted 1831
people in that area.” Ms Towles said that is not a true count. The reason the people were in the
Capitol Mall area is that the city pushed all of the homeless from Central and downtown into the
Governmental Mall area…. … That survey went all the way down to Broadway and incorporated
a vast number of riverbeds and those people were herded into the neighborhood.
The board approved the shelter but stipulated it be downsized to 200 beds.
So what is the situation today?
•
The HSC has 420 beds currently.
•
The neighborhood has violations of health and safety codes that would not be allowed
anywhere else in the City. Nowhere else would the City allow people to defecate in streets,
alleys and easements.
•
State Nuisance laws are being violated.
•
Police statistics show the area immediately outside the front door of the HSC has the highest
violent crime statistics in the city.
•
138 registered sex offenders use the area within 1/4 mile of the HSC as their primary address.
•
The permit expansion violates the Legislative Government Mall Commission planning
documents.
•
The permit expansion violates the Capital Mall Overlay Guidance documents
•
It violates the City Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance.
My request to the CCVPC:
1. Direct staff to conduct research on health and safety issues in the area, violent crime statistics,
number of sex offenders using the HSC neighborhood as their primary residence.
2. Compare the HSC permit application with the Capital District Development Guidelines, the CMO
District purpose and intent, State Private property rights, State nuisance laws, and the
Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance. Research the number of fires and the number of people
who are congregating there that don’t want to go inside the HSC, who are not seeking shelter.
3. Focus this application review on the points outlined in your Village Planning Handbook. The role
of the Village Planning Committee is to make a decision based on the following questions:
•
Is this good for the nearby community? No.
•
Is there an overabundance of this type of service in the area? Yes.
•
Is the application plan consistent with neighborhood, overlay, and district plans for the
area? No.
•
What are the impacts on adjacent land uses? Can negative impacts be mitigated? The
impacts are encampments, garbage, food waste, hazardous waste, noise, odors, fires,
violent crimes. The impacts have not been mitigated for 35 years.
Your job is not to solve the homeless problem in Phoenix. It is to protect and serve the Central City
Village. You are responsible to everyone that lives and works in the area. Not just the homeless that call
it home.
I am willing to work with HSC, Inc. to create one or more other campuses to handle additional human
service needs, but I oppose the HSC permit expansion in the Central City Village. History shows that
enlarging this facility only makes the situation worse.
Petition to Arizona Department of Health Services
Attention: Dr Cara Christ, Director
To Address Immediate and Long-term Needs for Area
Near Human Services Campus
Phoenix, Arizona
3 March 2020
1
Subject: Petition to Address Immediate and Long-term Health and Safety Risks in
Area located within and bounded by Washington Street to the north, Grant Street to the
south, 7th Avenue to the east, and 17th Avenue to the west, Phoenix, Arizona
Dear Dr. Cara Christ;
This petition is submitted by the undersigned in our individual capacities as citizens of the City of
Phoenix, Maricopa County, and the State of Arizona. This petition is also submitted on behalf of
residents and business owners directly affected by the subject problem. Many of them are members of
the Madison Pioneers Coalition and some have signed their name below. Currently, residents, business
owners, and property owners between and near the area bounded by Washington Street to the north,
Grant Street to the south, 7th Avenue to the east, and 17th Avenue to the west are at extreme risk to
their health and safety. Today, March 3, 2020, Mayor Kate Gallego, in a press conference, called the
situation a “crisis.” We agree and believe it needs your immediate attention.
Pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) Title 36, the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS)
has authority and an obligation to protect the health and safety of Arizonans and to conduct Arizona
health planning (ARS 36-103.01). Furthermore, the ADHS authority includes public health support
services. At a minimum, the ADHS has oversight for (ARS 36-104)
•
general sanitation, vector control
•
epidemiology and disease control programs
•
accident and injury control
•
communicable diseases, tuberculosis, venereal disease, and others
•
program coordination, evaluation, and development
As director, it is your responsibility to (ARS 36-104):
•
“Determine when a health care emergency or medical emergency situation exists or occurs
within this state that cannot be satisfactorily controlled, corrected or treated by the health care
delivery systems and facilities available. When such a situation is determined to exist, the
director shall immediately report that situation to the legislature and the governor. The report
shall include information on the scope of the emergency, recommendations for solution of the
emergency and estimates of costs involved.
•
Provide a system of unified and coordinated health services and programs between this state
and county governmental health units at all levels of government.
•
Formulate policies, plans and programs to effectuate the missions and purposes of the
department.”
Statute ARS 36- 601 is submitted herein as Attachment A. This statute lists “public nuisances, dangerous
to public health” that the director of ADHS has authority and an obligation to address. It includes:
•
(15) “The maintenance of public assemblage or places of assemblage without providing
adequate sanitary facilities.”
•
(17) “The storage, collection, transportation, disposal and reclamation of garbage, trash,
rubbish, manure and other objectionable wastes other than as provided and authorized by law.”
Petition to Arizona Department of Health Services
Attention: Dr Cara Christ, Director
To Address Immediate and Long-term Needs for Area
Near Human Services Campus
Phoenix, Arizona
3 March 2020
2
Furthermore, ARS 36-601 parts B and C state that the director of ADHS should promptly take actions to
stop public practices that are contrary to the health laws of this state.
Statute ARS 36-602 is submitted herein as Attachment B. This statute provides the “county board of
health, local health department, the county environmental department” to take actions to remove “a
nuisance, source of filth or cause of sickness.” By the authority vested in the State, the undersigned
respectfully request that you immediately direct these entities to work together to fulfill their
obligations to address the health and safety risks in this area and to implement solutions. We request
that you immediately form one or more emergency coalitions that include other State, County and City
agencies with authority, and direct them to propose and adopt immediate and long-term solutions to
the problems plaguing this neighborhood.
The current situation in the subject area is an emergency. General sanitation, vector control, the risk of
the spread of communicable diseases currently exists. Policies and plans need to be developed to address
these issues. Never has there been a greater need for a health risk assessment and plan of action on the
part of you and ADHS to maintain a healthy and safe environment for the citizens of Arizona.
The Human Services Campus (HSC) is a collaborative partnership of 15 to 20 organizations located on a
13-acre campus within this area at 230 South 12th Avenue. As a non-profit organization, HSC has the goal
to “connect individuals with a wide array of services” and maintain “a safe and secure campus
environment”. The HSC campus includes:
•
Brian Garcia Welcome Center
•
Brighter Way Institute
•
Circle the City
•
Community Bridges Inc.
•
ELAINE
•
Homeless Court
•
Maricopa County Adult Probation
•
Homeless ID Project
•
HSC Post Office
The HSC includes the largest provider of emergency shelter and housing to adults and families
experiencing homelessness in Arizona. Because of the location of HSC and associated organizations
within this neighborhood, the area has become a converging place for people of need in our community
and also for illegal and unsafe activities. Three different problems are converging on the neighborhood
that make the area an immediate and long-term risk to the health, safety, and wellbeing of Phoenix
Citizens. The magnitude of the issues facing this community has dramatically increased to a point that,
as Mayor Gallego stated “there is a crisis.”
The problem is three-fold:
1. Unsanitary conditions pose immediate and long-term health risks. There are NO public toilets
or waste facilities, so the people living on the streets, and in tents and vehicles in the area are
using the streets, alleys, easements and driveways for their toilets. Trash is overflowing
everywhere, creating a breeding ground for rats, with cases of Hepatitis A and B already
recorded. Camp and cooking fires on the streets, parkways and easements have become the
norm, posing a serious hazard for everyone.
•
St. Joseph the Worker
•
Catholic Charities Veteran Outreach Center
•
New Leaf Rapid Rehousing
•
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul
•
Central Arizona Shelter Services
•
Az. Department of Economic Security
•
Chaplaincy for the Homeless
•
Store to Explore
Petition to Arizona Department of Health Services
Attention: Dr Cara Christ, Director
To Address Immediate and Long-term Needs for Area
Near Human Services Campus
Phoenix, Arizona
3 March 2020
3
2. Numerous homeless encampments occur on streets. By the City’s own count as of January
2020, there were more than 230 encampments within a five-block area. Encampments include
tents and hand-made shelters that have been erected along the streets in the neighborhood,
usually with multiple occupants per encampment, and even more living in parked cars. More
than 375 tents were counted on weekends in January 2020. Many of the people populating the
streets and alleys are homeless, sick, and/or mentally ill adults, and families who need a place to
live and sleep. Many of the individuals are dealing with addictions, have been banned from the
HSC, refuse services, or are dealing with mental illness. The extreme number of encampments
makes it difficult to live, walk the streets and conduct legal business in the area.
3. Illegal activities abound. There are many people preying on the poor and mentally weak in the
area who commit crimes, including selling and using illegal drugs and stolen goods. Prostitution
is occurring inside tents. Fights, assaults, and thefts are common occurrences. There have been
knifings and beatings. There was a drive by shooting with four shots fired at 11th Avenue on
February 16, 2020. These activities make it unsafe for neighbors and business owners to live,
and walk safely to their cars and businesses.
This Petition to ADHS. The current situation poses an immediate health and safety emergency for the
entire community. We request the ADHS take the following actions to address the immediate crisis
situation and set up long term remedial solutions to remedy this crisis including:
1. Address immediate and long-term sanitation and health risks.
•
Immediately report the subject situation to the State legislature and the governor.
Include in the report, information on the scope of the emergency, recommendations for
solution of the emergency and estimates of costs involved.
•
Conduct an Environmental, Health and Safety Assessment and Remedial Option Analysis
of the subject area within 1.5 miles of the HSC to see the impact the HSC is having on
businesses, residents and property owners, both economically and with respect to
health and safety.
•
Work with City, County and State agencies to implement daily cleanup of the streets,
sidewalks, and alleys including sanitization, to prevent the spread of disease. This must
be implemented now and continue until the conditions causing this health risk are fully
removed. This will help prevent the spread of disease caused by human and food waste
throughout the area.
•
Work with other State, County and City agencies to install public toilets and waste
disposal facilities in the area. Full time oversight and maintenance will be required for
public toilets and waste disposal facilities for both health and safety reasons.
2. Work with the City and County to provide shelter or a safe place for the large number of people
living in encampments that make it unsafe to walk the streets in the area:
•
Immediately open an emergency overflow shelter, preferably in a different location.
•
Work with those serving the homeless community to open more shelters in other
portions of the State, County and City. This part of the City has more than its share of
homeless and people requiring public assistance.
•
Evaluate State lands and State leased land for the purpose of creating additional
shelters in other parts of the State or County to fulfill the current shelter crisis situation
and as a long-term solution.
Petition to Arizona Department of Health Services
Attention: Dr Cara Christ, Director
To Address Immediate and Long-term Needs for Area
Near Human Services Campus
Phoenix, Arizona
3 March 2020
4
3. Mitigate illegal activity in the area that makes it unsafe to live, walk, work, or visit the area:
•
Work with City Police and County Sheriff’s Office, and Fire Departments to stop the
continuing occurrence of illegal and unsafe activities in the area.
•
Provide adequate resources to the police and fire departments assigned to the area to
enable them to enforce laws.
•
Clarify how the City interprets the 9th Circuit Court Ruling, which we understand is the
reason the police are unable to enforce the city code regarding loitering and camping on
sidewalks in accordance with signs that the City itself has installed in the area.
•
Provide public toilets and more sleeping areas to make it easier to enforce sanitary
behavior.
•
Some of the individuals populating the streets have been kicked out of HSC due to illegal
behavior. Instead of being kicked out, a policy of arrest and/or removal from the area
needs to be implemented for the betterment of everyone in the neighborhood.
This crisis will not go away on its own. Immediate action is needed to stop a potential communicable
disease outbreak. Emergency actions are needed to stop the spread of communicable diseases and to
stop the violence and illegal activities that abound. A long-term plan needs to be implemented to fix the
problems that have caused this situation. We respectfully request immediate action to avert the current
neighborhood crisis.
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please do not hesitate to contact any of
the undersigned.
Sincerely,
Katherine Roxlo
Grow Phoenix Smart
7506 N 22nd Place; Phoenix, AZ 85020
Home Phone: 602-943-9044; Email: katherine@roxlo.com
cc:
Governor Doug Ducey;
azgov@azgov.com
Mayor Kate Gallego;
mayor.gallego@phoenix.gov
Vice Mayor Betty Guardado;
council.district.5@phoenix.gov
Council Member Thelda Williams;
council.district.1@phoenix.gov
Council Member Debra Stark;
council.district.3@phoenix.gov
Council Member Sal DiCiccio;
council.district.6@phoenix.gov
Council Member Michael Nowakowski; council.district.7@phoenix.gov
Council Member Carlos Garcia;
council.district.8@phoenix.gov
Ed Zuercher, City Manager, Phoenix;
ed.zuercher@phoenix.gov
Jeri Williams, City of Phoenix Police Chief; jeri.williams@phoenix.gov
Phx Police Commander Dennis Orender; Dennis.Orender@phoenix.gov
Arizona Republic
newstips@arizonarepublic.com.
The New Times
www.phoenixnewtimes.com/about/contact
Petition to Arizona Department of Health Services
Attention: Dr Cara Christ, Director
To Address Immediate and Long-term Needs for Area
Near Human Services Campus
Phoenix, Arizona
3 March 2020
6
Attachment A
Arizona Revised Statutes 36-601
36-601. Public nuisances dangerous to public health
A. The following conditions are specifically declared public nuisances dangerous to the public health:
1. Any condition or place in populous areas that constitutes a breeding place for flies, rodents, mosquitoes
and other insects that are capable of carrying and transmitting disease-causing organisms to any person or
persons or any condition or place that constitutes a feral colony of honeybees that is not currently
maintained by a beekeeper and that poses a health or safety hazard to the public.
2. Any spoiled or contaminated food or drink intended for human consumption.
3. Any restaurant, food market, bakery or other place of business or any vehicle where food is prepared,
packed, processed, stored, transported, sold or served to the public that is not constantly maintained in a
sanitary condition.
4. Any place, condition or building that is controlled or operated by any governmental agency and that is
not maintained in a sanitary condition.
5. All sewage, human excreta, wastewater, garbage or other organic wastes deposited, stored, discharged
or exposed so as to be a potential instrument or medium in the transmission of disease to or between any
person or persons.
6. Any vehicle or container that is used in the transportation of garbage, human excreta or other organic
material and that is defective and allows leakage or spillage of contents.
7. The presence of ectoparasites such as bedbugs, lice, mites and others in any place where sleeping
accommodations are offered to the public.
8. The maintenance of any overflowing septic tank or cesspool, the contents of which may be accessible
to flies.
9. The pollution or contamination of any domestic waters.
10. The use of the so-called common drinking cup used for drinking purposes by more than one
person. This paragraph does not apply to receptacles properly washed and sanitized after each service.
11. The presence of common towels for use of the public in any public or semipublic place unless
properly washed and sanitized following each use.
12. Buildings or any parts of buildings that are in a filthy condition and that may endanger the health of
persons living in the vicinity.
13. Spitting or urinating on sidewalks, or floors or walls of a public building or buildings used for public
assemblage, or a building used for manufacturing or industrial purposes, or on the floors or platforms or
any part of a railroad or other public conveyance.
14. The use of the contents of privies, cesspools or septic tanks or the use of sewage or sewage plant
effluents for fertilizing or irrigation purposes for crops or gardens except by specific approval of the
department of health services or the department of environmental quality.
Petition to Arizona Department of Health Services
Attention: Dr Cara Christ, Director
To Address Immediate and Long-term Needs for Area
Near Human Services Campus
Phoenix, Arizona
3 March 2020
7
15. The maintenance of public assemblage or places of assemblage without providing adequate
sanitary facilities. Open surface privies are adequate sanitary facilities if they are outside populous
areas and meet reasonable health requirements.
16. Hotels, tourist courts and other lodging establishments that are not kept in a clean and sanitary
condition or for which suitable and adequate toilet facilities are not provided.
17. The storage, collection, transportation, disposal and reclamation of garbage, trash, rubbish,
manure and other objectionable wastes other than as provided and authorized by law.
18. Water, other than that used by irrigation, industrial or similar systems for nonpotable purposes, that is
sold to the public, distributed to the public or used in production, processing, storing, handling, servicing
or transportation of food and drink and that is unwholesome, poisonous or contains deleterious or foreign
substances or filth or disease causing substances or organisms.
19. The emission of mercaptan in a concentration level that causes endangerment to the health or safety of
any considerable number of persons of a neighborhood or community.
20. The operation of an environmental laboratory in violation of chapter 4.3, article 1 of this title.
B. If the director has reasonable cause to believe from information furnished to the director or
from investigation made by the director that any person is maintaining a nuisance or engaging in
any practice contrary to the health laws of this state, the director shall promptly serve on that
person by certified mail a cease and desist order requiring the person, on receipt of the order,
promptly to cease and desist from that act. Within fifteen days after receipt of the order, the
person to whom it is directed may request the director to hold a hearing. The director, as soon as
practicable, shall hold a hearing, and if the director determines the order is reasonable and just and
that the practice engaged in is contrary to the health laws of this state, the director shall order the
person to comply with the cease and desist order.
C. If a person fails or refuses to comply with the order of the director, or if a person to whom the
order is directed does not request a hearing and fails or refuses to comply with the cease and desist
order served by mail under subsection B, the director may file an action in the superior court in the
county in which a violation occurred, restraining and enjoining the person from engaging in further
acts. The court shall proceed as in other actions for injunctions.
D. Notwithstanding subsection A, paragraph 19, the emission of mercaptan as a by-product of a pesticide
is not a nuisance if applied according to state and federal restrictions.
E. Notwithstanding subsection A, paragraph 3, a restaurant that uses sawdust on the floors of its dining
areas is not in violation of this section or local health department sanitary rules if the restaurant replaces
the sawdust each day with clean sawdust and complies with applicable standards for fire safety.
Petition to Arizona Department of Health Services
Attention: Dr Cara Christ, Director
To Address Immediate and Long-term Needs for Area
Near Human Services Campus
Phoenix, Arizona
3 March 2020
8
Attachment B
Arizona Revised Statutes 36-602
36-602. Abatement of nuisances, sources of filth and causes of sickness; civil penalty; property
assessment; procedure
A. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, when a nuisance, source of filth or cause of
sickness exists on private property, the county board of health, the local health department, the
county environmental department or the public health service district shall order the owner or
occupant to remove it within twenty-four hours at the expense of the owner or occupant. The order
may be delivered to the owner or occupant personally, or left at the owner or occupant's usual
place of abode or served on the owner or occupant in the same manner as provided for service of
process under the Arizona rules of civil procedure. If the order is not complied with, the board or
department may impose a civil penalty pursuant to section 36-183.04 and shall cause the nuisance,
source of filth or cause of sickness to be removed, and expenses of removal shall be paid by the
owner, occupant or other person who caused the nuisance, source of filth or cause of sickness.
B. A city or county may prescribe by sanitary ordinance or regulation a procedure for making the actual
cost of this removal or abatement, including the actual costs of any additional inspection and other
incidental costs in connection with the removal or abatement, an assessment on the lots and tracts of land
on which the nuisance, source of filth or cause of sickness was abated or removed, subject to the
following:
1. Any such ordinance or regulation shall include a provision for appeal of the assessment to the
governing body or the board of supervisors or its designee.
2. The assessment, from the date of its recording in the office of the county recorder in the county where
the lot or tract of land is located, is a lien on the lot or tract of land until paid.
3. Any assessment recorded is prior and superior to all other liens, obligations or other encumbrances,
except liens for general taxes and prior recorded mortgages.
4. The city or county may bring an action to enforce the lien in the superior court in the county in which
the property is located at any time after the recording of the assessment, but failure to enforce the lien by
this action does not affect its validity. The recorded assessment is prima facie evidence of the truth of all
matters recited in the assessment and of the regularity of all proceedings before the recording of the
assessment.
5. A prior assessment for the purposes provided in this section is not a bar to a subsequent assessment or
assessments for these purposes, and any number of liens on the same lot or tract of land may be enforced
in the same action.
6. An assessment or lien recorded pursuant to this section does not limit, restrict or otherwise affect the
authority of a city or county to undertake any additional enforcement action that is authorized by law,
including applicable ordinances or regulations.
7. The ordinance or regulation shall provide notice to all lienholders.
Petition to Phoenix Mayor and City Council
To Address Emergency and Long-term Needs for Area within City of Phoenix
Madison Pioneers Coalition
19 February 2020
1
Mayor Kate Gallego;
mayor.gallego@phoenix.gov
Vice Mayor Betty Guardado;
council.district.5@phoenix.gov
Council Member Thelda Williams;
council.district.1@phoenix.gov
Council Member Jim Waring;
council.district.2@phoenix.gov
Council Member Debra Stark;
council.district.3@phoenix.gov
Council Member Laura Pastor;
council.district.4@phoenix.gov
Council Member Sal DiCiccio;
council.district.6@phoenix.gov
Council Member Michael Nowakowski; council.district.7@phoenix.gov
Council Member Carlos Garcia;
council.district.8@phoenix.gov
Subject: Petition to the Phoenix Mayor and City Council
To Address Emergency and Long-term Needs for Area located within and bounded by
Washington Street to the north, Grant Street to the south, 7th Avenue to the east, and 17th
Avenue to the west, City of Phoenix
Honorable Mayor Kate Gallego and members of the Phoenix City Council,
Pursuant to Chapter 4, Section 22 of the Phoenix City Charter, this petition is submitted by the
undersigned, in her individual capacity as a citizen of Phoenix. She also submits this petition on behalf of
the Madison Pioneers Coalition, a neighborhood group of residents, business owners, and property
owners between and near the area bounded by Washington Street to the north, Grant Street to the
south, 7th Avenue to the east, and 17th Avenue to the west.
The Human Services Campus (HSC) is a collaborative partnership of 15 to 20 organizations located on a
13-acre campus within this area at 230 South 12th Avenue. As a non-profit organization, HSC has the goal
to “connect individuals with a wide array of services” and maintain “a safe and secure campus
environment”. The HSC campus includes:
•
Brian Garcia Welcome Center
•
Brighter Way Institute
•
Circle the City
•
Community Bridges Inc.
•
ELAINE
•
Homeless Court
•
Maricopa County Adult Probation
•
Homeless ID Project
•
HSC Post Office
•
St. Joseph the Worker
Petition to Phoenix Mayor and City Council
To Address Emergency and Long-term Needs for Area within City of Phoenix
Madison Pioneers Coalition
19 February 2020
2
•
Catholic Charities Veteran Outreach Center
•
New Leaf Rapid Rehousing
•
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul
•
Central Arizona Shelter Services
•
Az. Department of Economic Security
•
Chaplaincy for the Homeless
•
Store to Explore
The HSC includes the largest provider of emergency shelter and housing to adults and families
experiencing homelessness in Arizona. Because of the location of HSC and associated organizations
within this neighborhood, the area has become a converging place for people of need in our community
and also for illegal and unsafe activities. Three different problems are converging on the neighborhood
that make the area an immediate and long-term risk to the health, safety, and wellbeing of Phoenix
Citizens. The magnitude of the issues facing this community has dramatically increased to a point that
there are current negative impacts that must be resolved.
The problem is three-fold:
1. Unsanitary conditions pose immediate and long-term health risks. There are NO public toilets
or waste facilities, so the people living on the streets, and in tents and vehicles in the area are
using the streets, alleys, easements and driveways for their toilets. Trash is overflowing
everywhere, creating a breeding ground for rats, with cases of Hepatitis A and B already
recorded. Camp and cooking fires on the streets, parkways and easements have become the
norm, posing a serious hazard for everyone.
2. Numerous homeless encampments on streets. By the City’s own count as of January 2020,
there are more than 230 encampments within a five-block area. Encampments include tents and
hand-made shelters that have been erected along the streets in the neighborhood, usually with
multiple occupants per encampment, and even more living in parked cars. More than 375 tents
were counted on weekends in January 2020. Many of the people populating the streets and
alleys are homeless, sick, and/or mentally ill adults, and families who need a place to live and
sleep. Many of the individuals are dealing with addictions, have been banned from the HSC,
refuse services, or are dealing with mental illness. The extreme number of encampments makes
it difficult to live, walk the streets and conduct legal businesses in the area.
3. Illegal activities abound. There are many people preying on the poor and mentally weak in the
area who commit crimes, including selling and using illegal drugs and stolen goods. Prostitution
is occurring inside tents. Fights, assaults, and thefts are common occurrences. There have been
knifings and beatings. There was a drive by shooting with four shots fired at 11th Avenue on
February 16, 2020. These activities make it unsafe for neighbors and business owners to live,
and walk safely to their cars and businesses.
Petition to Phoenix Mayor and City Council
To Address Emergency and Long-term Needs for Area within City of Phoenix
Madison Pioneers Coalition
19 February 2020
3
Our Petition. This situation poses a current health and safety emergency for the entire community. We
request the City take the following actions to address the immediate crisis situation and set up long
term remedial solutions to remedy this crisis as follows:
1. Address immediate and long-term sanitation and health risks.
•
Implement daily and weekly cleanup of the streets, sidewalks, and alleys including
sanitizing, to prevent the spread of disease. This must be implemented now and
continue until the conditions causing this health risk are fully removed. This will help
prevent the spread of disease caused by human and food waste throughout the area.
•
Install public toilets and waste disposal facilities in the area. These facilities will need to
be managed and cleaned. We request full time clean up crews of public toilets and
waste disposal facilities for both health and safety reasons.
•
Conduct an Environmental, Health and Safety Assessment and Remedial Option Analysis
of the subject area within 1.5 miles of the HSC to see the impact the HSC is having on
businesses, residents and property owners, both economically and with respect to
health and safety.
2. Provide housing or a safe place for the large number of homeless living in encampments that
make it unsafe to walk the streets in the area:
•
Immediately open a 24/7 overflow homeless living shelter.
•
Work with those serving the homeless community to open more shelters in other
portions of the city and county.
3. Mitigate illegal activity in the area that makes it unsafe to live, walk the streets, work, or visit the
area:
•
Work with City and County Police Departments and Fire Departments to stop the
continuing occurrence of illegal and unsafe activities in the area.
•
Provide adequate resources to the police and fire department assigned to the area to
enable them to enforce laws.
•
Clarify how the City interprets the 9th Circuit Court Ruling, which we understand is the
reason the police are unable to enforce the city code regarding loitering and camping on
sidewalks in accordance with signs that the City itself has installed in the area.
•
Provide public toilets and more sleeping areas to make it easier to enforce sanitary
behavior.
•
Some of the individuals populating the streets have been kicked out of HSC due to illegal
behavior. Instead of being kicked out, a policy of arrest and/or removal from the area
needs to be implemented for the betterment of everyone in the neighborhood.
Petition to Phoenix Mayor and City Council
To Address Emergency and Long-term Needs for Area within City of Phoenix
Madison Pioneers Coalition
19 February 2020
4
Long-term, we support the City’s desire to make servicing the homeless more of a regional issue, but we
respectfully request action to avert the current neighborhood crisis.
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Angela Ojile
President, Madison Pioneers Coalition
214 South 11th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Email: AngieOProperties@gmail.com
Telephone: (602) 692-8812
cc:
Ed Zuercher, City Manager, City of Phoenix; ed.zuercher@phoenix.gov
Jeri Williams, City of Phoenix Police Chief; jeri.williams@phoenix.gov
Paul Penzone, Sheriff, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Headquarters, 550 W Jackson Street, Phoenix 85003
David Cates, Captain, AZ Department of Public Safety, 2222 W. Encanto Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85009
Arizona Republic; newstips@arizonarepublic.com.
The New Times; www.phoenixnewtimes.com/about/contact
Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting; info at azcir.org
Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS), Office of Environmental Health;
EnvironmentalHealth@azdhs.gov
Petition to Darcy Kober, Director
Maricopa County Environmental Services Department
Emergency, Health and Safety Risks for Area Near Human Services Campus
Phoenix, Arizona
2 April 2020
1
Subject: Petition to Address Emergency Needs, Health and Safety Risks in
Area bounded by Washington Street to the north, Grant Street to the south,
7th Avenue to the east, and 17th Avenue to the west, Phoenix, Arizona
Director Darcy Kober:
This petition requests that immediate action be taken by the Maricopa County Environmental Services
Department (MCESD) to mitigate environmental health risks in the subject area. Mayor Gallego called
the subject area a “crisis” on Monday March 2, 2020. Pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) Title
36, the MCESD has the authority and obligation to mitigate this health and safety crisis. Additionally,
based on information obtained from the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), it has delegated
its authority under ARS 36.601 to the MCESD to mitigate this health and safety crisis.
Pursuant to the Maricopa County Environmental Health Code (MCEHC, July 31, 2019) Chapter XII
regarding Camp Grounds, the City of Phoenix (COP), County and State of Arizona are maintaining public
use camp grounds that are extremely out of compliance in the subject area and thereby creating an
emergency public health risk. MCEHC Chapter XII for Camp Grounds is included as Attachment A.
The Human Services Campus (HSC) is a collaborative partnership of 15 to 20 organizations located on a
13-acre campus within this area at 230 South 12th Avenue. The HSC includes the largest provider of
emergency shelter and housing to adults and families experiencing homelessness in Arizona. Because of
the location of HSC and associated organizations within this neighborhood, the area has become a
converging place for people of need in our community and also for illegal and unsafe activities. By the
City’s own admission, more than 230 encampments were counted within a five-block area in January
2020; more than 375 tents were counted on weekends in January 2020. The encampments are located
on public streets, alleys, and easements. There are no public toilets and insufficient waste facilities.
People living in the tents are using the streets, alleys, easements as their toilets and for food waste
disposal.
MCEHC Chapter XII, Regulation 1, Scope (part a) states this camp ground regulation applies to any city,
county, or county-state “offering for public use with[in] Maricopa County, any tract of land on which
persons may camp … … either free of charge or by payment of a fee.”:, Regulation 1 continues “Each
and every owner … … of any public camp … … shall be held responsible for full compliance with these
regulations.” (Note: Regulation 1, part b exemptions do not apply to the subject area camp grounds
because the area is not “remote in nature and without accessibility to public infrastructure…”.) The
following camp ground regulations need to be enforced immediately:
Regulation 2, a. states “The management of every public camp or picnic ground shall assume
responsibility for maintaining in good repair all sanitary appliances on said ground.” As
owners of the property, the City, County, and State need to be held responsible for sanitary
maintenance of the area.
Regulation 2, b. states a “caretaker shall do whatever may be necessary to keep said ground
and its equipment in a clean and sanitary condition.” Police typically oversee the area but not
sufficiently to keep the area sanitary. The area is not clean or sanitary.
Petition to Darcy Kober, Director
Maricopa County Environmental Services Department
Emergency, Health and Safety Risks for Area Near Human Services Campus
Phoenix, Arizona
2 April 2020
2
Regulation 2, c. states: “Each camping party shall be allotted usable space of not less than 350
square feet.” Currently, tents are located next to each other along easements, many with less
than five feet between each tent.
Regulation 3, a. states: a “water supply system shall be provided in ample quantity to meet all
requirements … . … not more than 300 feet from a camp or picnic spot with such ground.”
There is no public water supply for cooking, cleaning, or drinking in the vicinity of the
encampments.
Regulation 5, a., regarding supervision and equipment for sewage and refuse disposal states:
“Supervision and equipment sufficient to prevent littering of the ground with rubbish, garbage
or other refuse shall be provided and maintained. Fly tight depositories for such materials
shall be provided and conspicuously located. Each and every camp or picnic spot on said
ground shall be within a distance of not over 200 feet from such a depository. These
depositories shall not be permitted to become foul smelling or unsightly or breeding places for
flies.” Residents, and business owners in the subject area have complained to the City about the
foul smell for months. There are only two or three public waste bins in the subject area and they
are insufficient and not available within 200 feet of each camp site.
Regulation 5, c. regarding basins states: “A sufficient number of basins, iron hoppers or sinks
shall be provided and each shall be collected with a sewerage system; … … for the disposal of
domestic waste waters.” To date, no public toilets or sinks are available for use by the people
utilizing the camp grounds.
Regulation 6. Regarding toilets states: “Fly tight privies or water-flushed toilets shall be
provided and shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. Separate toilets for men
and women shall be provided, one for each 25 men, and one for each 25 women, or fraction
thereof, or the maximum number of persons occupying such ground at any time. No camp or
picnic spot within such ground shall be at a greater distance than 400 feet from both a
women’s and men’s toilet. The location of all toilets shall be plainly indicated by signs.” To
date, no public toilets are available to the more than 500 people typically camping in the area.
Regulation 7, regarding permit required states: “No campground shall be operated or
maintained in Maricopa County without a permit in force by the Department.” I know of no
permit obtained and in force for the subject area. This permit requirement needs to be enforced
immediately.
Even if the encampments in the vicinity of the Human Services Campus (HSC), ie., the subject area, do
not meet the legal definition of a camp ground according to the MCEHC (although we think it does), it
certainly should be maintained in a similar fashion for health risk mitigation in the area. Sufficient public
toilets, showers, drinking water, and trash facilities are needed to abate the foul smells and maintain
safe and healthy living.
This petition is not our first attempt to have the County address the emergency health and safety needs
in the area. Katherine Roxlo submitted a complaint form to the Maricopa County Environmental Services
web site. The case number is CC-20-08603. To the best of our knowledge, a response has not been
received.
The City of Phoenix has been notified and requested to assist several times by various people. A petition
was submitted to the City Council on February 19, 2020 (Attachment B). Ed Zuercher, the City Manager
verbally agreed to address the concerns of business owners in the area. On Monday March 2, 2020,
Petition to Darcy Kober, Director
Maricopa County Environmental Services Department
Emergency, Health and Safety Risks for Area Near Human Services Campus
Phoenix, Arizona
2 April 2020
3
Mayor Gallego held a press conference and labeled the situation a “crisis.” We applaud her naming it
what it is. To date, two extra trash bins and a weekly trash pickup have been provided but this is not
sufficient. One sanitary cleanup was conducted but it did not clean all alleys or streets in the subject
area that need cleaning. Sanitary cleanup is needed daily due to human waste and food waste disposed
in streets, alleys, and easements (because there are no public toilets and insufficient trash bins).
Members of the Madison Pioneers Coalition met with City of Phoenix Police Chief Geri Williams and
requested additional police surveillance and enforcement of laws. This does not appear to be occurring.
A petition was submitted to the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) to address the situation
based on their jurisdiction, on March 4, 2020. A response was received from Dr Cara Christ, the Director
of the ADHS. Both the petition and the response are enclosed as Attachment C. In her response, Dr Cara
Christ stated ADHS “has delegated its authorities under ARS 36.601 to the Maricopa County
Environmental Services Department.” She also encouraged us to “continue working with the City of
Phoenix and Maricopa County to address the issues of concern.”
This Petition to Maricopa County Environmental Services Department (MCESD). The current situation
poses an immediate health and safety risk for the entire City of Phoenix. We request the MCESD take
immediate actions to address the crisis situation and set up long term remedial solutions to remedy this
crisis including:
1. Enforce MCEHC Chapter XII Camp Ground regulations in the subject area.
2. Address immediate and long-term sanitation and health risks.
•
Conduct an Environmental, Health and Safety Assessment and Remedial Option Analysis of
the subject area within 1.5 miles of the HSC to evaluate the impact the HSC is having on
businesses, residents and property owners, both economically and with respect to health
and safety.
•
Work with the City to implement health and safety protocols similar to, or stricter than
those required of camp grounds in the MCEHC. This should include daily cleanup of the
streets, sidewalks, and alleys including sanitization, to prevent the spread of disease. This
must be implemented now and continue until the conditions causing this health risk are fully
removed. This will help prevent the spread of disease caused by human and food waste
throughout the area.
•
Work with the City and private agencies to install public toilets and waste disposal facilities
in the area. Full time cleanup crews will be needed for public toilets and waste disposal
facilities for both health and safety reasons.
3. Work with the City and State to provide a low-barrier-to-entry shelter or a safe place for the
large number of people living in encampments elsewhere. The subject area is too small and
unequipped to handle the large number of encampments. The goal should be to make it safe to
walk the streets in the subject area:
•
Immediately open a 24/7 overflow homeless living shelter. This living shelter should be
away from the HSC because there are too many people converging on this area.
•
Work with those serving the homeless community to open more shelters in other portions
of the city and county.
4. Mitigate illegal activity in the area that makes it unsafe to live, walk the streets, work, or visit:
•
Direct the Sheriff’s Office to work with the City Police and Fire Department to stop
continuing illegal and unsafe activities. Police should cover the area continuously (24/7).
Petition to Darcy Kober, Director
Maricopa County Environmental Services Department
Emergency, Health and Safety Risks for Area Near Human Services Campus
Phoenix, Arizona
2 April 2020
4
•
Direct the City to provide adequate resources to the police and fire department assigned to
the area to enforce all laws. (based on Chapter XII of the MCEHC requirements for caretaking).
This crisis will not go away on its own. Immediate action is needed to stop a potential communicable
disease outbreak. The onset of the Covid-19 outbreak in Arizona make emergency actions even more
critical to stop the spread of communicable diseases. A long-term plan needs to be implemented to fix
the problems that have caused this situation. We respectfully request immediate action to diffuse the
current neighborhood crisis.
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please do not hesitate to contact any of
the undersigned.
Sincerely,
Katherine Roxlo
7506 N 22nd Place
Phoenix, AZ 85020
Home Phone: 602-943-9044
cc:
Mayor Kate Gallego;
mayor.gallego@phoenix.gov
City of Phoenix Council Members
Ed Zuercher, City Manager, Phoenix;
ed.zuercher@phoenix.gov
Roberto Frietz, City of Phoenix
roberto.frietz@phoenix.gov
Jeri Williams, City of Phoenix Police Chief; jeri.I.williams@phoenix.gov
Phx Police Commander Dennis Orender; Dennis.Orender@phoenix.gov
Governor Doug Ducey
engage@az.gov
Dr. Cara Christ, AZ Dept Health Services epht@azdhs.gov
Donna LaGuardia, Maricopa Co. Dept of Emergency Preparedness; donna.laguardia@maricopa.gov
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors
Will Humble
willhumble@azpha.org
Elizabeth Whitman, New Times
Elizabeth.whitman@newtimes.com
John Riches, The Goldwater Institute
jriches@goldwaterinstitute.org
Christina Estes, KJZZ/NPR
cestes@rioradio.org
Octavio Pulido, Telemondo
Octavio.puliconevarez@nbcuni.com
Laurie Roberts, Arizona Republic
laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com;
Ed Montini, Arizona Republic
ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com;
Jessica Boehm, AZ Family, Arizona Republic
Jessica.boehm@gannett.com
John Danna, Arizona Republic
John.danna@arizonarepublic.com
Sean McLaughlin, AZ Family Channel 3 sean.mclaughlin@azfamily.com
Channel 10 news
FoxPHoenixPress@Foxtv.com
Channel 12 News
Desk@12news.com
Channel 15 News
share@abc15.com
John Davidson, Fox News
John.Davidson@FOXTV.COM
MPC = Madison Pioneers Coalition Member
MPC = Madison Pioneers Coalition Member
Attachment A Petition to Darcy Kober, Director
MCESD, 2 April 2020
Petition to Darcy Kober, Director
Maricopa County Environmental Services Department
Emergency, Health and Safety Risks for Area Near Human Services Campus
Phoenix, Arizona
2 April 2020
7
Attachment B
Petition to the City of Phoenix Mayor and Council from Angela Ojile, February 19, 2020
Letter to City of Phoenix Mayor and Council from Angela Ojile, March 18, 2020
Petition to Phoenix Mayor and City Council
To Address Emergency and Long-term Needs for Area within City of Phoenix
Madison Pioneers Coalition
19 February 2020
1
Mayor Kate Gallego;
mayor.gallego@phoenix.gov
Vice Mayor Betty Guardado;
council.district.5@phoenix.gov
Council Member Thelda Williams;
council.district.1@phoenix.gov
Council Member Jim Waring;
council.district.2@phoenix.gov
Council Member Debra Stark;
council.district.3@phoenix.gov
Council Member Laura Pastor;
council.district.4@phoenix.gov
Council Member Sal DiCiccio;
council.district.6@phoenix.gov
Council Member Michael Nowakowski; council.district.7@phoenix.gov
Council Member Carlos Garcia;
council.district.8@phoenix.gov
Subject: Petition to the Phoenix Mayor and City Council
To Address Emergency and Long-term Needs for Area located within and bounded by
Washington Street to the north, Grant Street to the south, 7th Avenue to the east, and 17th
Avenue to the west, City of Phoenix
Honorable Mayor Kate Gallego and members of the Phoenix City Council,
Pursuant to Chapter 4, Section 22 of the Phoenix City Charter, this petition is submitted by the
undersigned, in her individual capacity as a citizen of Phoenix. She also submits this petition on behalf of
the Madison Pioneers Coalition, a neighborhood group of residents, business owners, and property
owners between and near the area bounded by Washington Street to the north, Grant Street to the
south, 7th Avenue to the east, and 17th Avenue to the west.
The Human Services Campus (HSC) is a collaborative partnership of 15 to 20 organizations located on a
13-acre campus within this area at 230 South 12th Avenue. As a non-profit organization, HSC has the goal
to “connect individuals with a wide array of services” and maintain “a safe and secure campus
environment”. The HSC campus includes:
•
Brian Garcia Welcome Center
•
Brighter Way Institute
•
Circle the City
•
Community Bridges Inc.
•
ELAINE
•
Homeless Court
•
Maricopa County Adult Probation
•
Homeless ID Project
•
HSC Post Office
•
St. Joseph the Worker
Petition to Phoenix Mayor and City Council
To Address Emergency and Long-term Needs for Area within City of Phoenix
Madison Pioneers Coalition
19 February 2020
2
•
Catholic Charities Veteran Outreach Center
•
New Leaf Rapid Rehousing
•
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul
•
Central Arizona Shelter Services
•
Az. Department of Economic Security
•
Chaplaincy for the Homeless
•
Store to Explore
The HSC includes the largest provider of emergency shelter and housing to adults and families
experiencing homelessness in Arizona. Because of the location of HSC and associated organizations
within this neighborhood, the area has become a converging place for people of need in our community
and also for illegal and unsafe activities. Three different problems are converging on the neighborhood
that make the area an immediate and long-term risk to the health, safety, and wellbeing of Phoenix
Citizens. The magnitude of the issues facing this community has dramatically increased to a point that
there are current negative impacts that must be resolved.
The problem is three-fold:
1. Unsanitary conditions pose immediate and long-term health risks. There are NO public toilets
or waste facilities, so the people living on the streets, and in tents and vehicles in the area are
using the streets, alleys, easements and driveways for their toilets. Trash is overflowing
everywhere, creating a breeding ground for rats, with cases of Hepatitis A and B already
recorded. Camp and cooking fires on the streets, parkways and easements have become the
norm, posing a serious hazard for everyone.
2. Numerous homeless encampments on streets. By the City’s own count as of January 2020,
there are more than 230 encampments within a five-block area. Encampments include tents and
hand-made shelters that have been erected along the streets in the neighborhood, usually with
multiple occupants per encampment, and even more living in parked cars. More than 375 tents
were counted on weekends in January 2020. Many of the people populating the streets and
alleys are homeless, sick, and/or mentally ill adults, and families who need a place to live and
sleep. Many of the individuals are dealing with addictions, have been banned from the HSC,
refuse services, or are dealing with mental illness. The extreme number of encampments makes
it difficult to live, walk the streets and conduct legal businesses in the area.
3. Illegal activities abound. There are many people preying on the poor and mentally weak in the
area who commit crimes, including selling and using illegal drugs and stolen goods. Prostitution
is occurring inside tents. Fights, assaults, and thefts are common occurrences. There have been
knifings and beatings. There was a drive by shooting with four shots fired at 11th Avenue on
February 16, 2020. These activities make it unsafe for neighbors and business owners to live,
and walk safely to their cars and businesses.
Petition to Phoenix Mayor and City Council
To Address Emergency and Long-term Needs for Area within City of Phoenix
Madison Pioneers Coalition
19 February 2020
3
Our Petition. This situation poses a current health and safety emergency for the entire community. We
request the City take the following actions to address the immediate crisis situation and set up long
term remedial solutions to remedy this crisis as follows:
1. Address immediate and long-term sanitation and health risks.
•
Implement daily and weekly cleanup of the streets, sidewalks, and alleys including
sanitizing, to prevent the spread of disease. This must be implemented now and
continue until the conditions causing this health risk are fully removed. This will help
prevent the spread of disease caused by human and food waste throughout the area.
•
Install public toilets and waste disposal facilities in the area. These facilities will need to
be managed and cleaned. We request full time clean up crews of public toilets and
waste disposal facilities for both health and safety reasons.
•
Conduct an Environmental, Health and Safety Assessment and Remedial Option Analysis
of the subject area within 1.5 miles of the HSC to see the impact the HSC is having on
businesses, residents and property owners, both economically and with respect to
health and safety.
2. Provide housing or a safe place for the large number of homeless living in encampments that
make it unsafe to walk the streets in the area:
•
Immediately open a 24/7 overflow homeless living shelter.
•
Work with those serving the homeless community to open more shelters in other
portions of the city and county.
3. Mitigate illegal activity in the area that makes it unsafe to live, walk the streets, work, or visit the
area:
•
Work with City and County Police Departments and Fire Departments to stop the
continuing occurrence of illegal and unsafe activities in the area.
•
Provide adequate resources to the police and fire department assigned to the area to
enable them to enforce laws.
•
Clarify how the City interprets the 9th Circuit Court Ruling, which we understand is the
reason the police are unable to enforce the city code regarding loitering and camping on
sidewalks in accordance with signs that the City itself has installed in the area.
•
Provide public toilets and more sleeping areas to make it easier to enforce sanitary
behavior.
•
Some of the individuals populating the streets have been kicked out of HSC due to illegal
behavior. Instead of being kicked out, a policy of arrest and/or removal from the area
needs to be implemented for the betterment of everyone in the neighborhood.
Petition to Phoenix Mayor and City Council
To Address Emergency and Long-term Needs for Area within City of Phoenix
Madison Pioneers Coalition
19 February 2020
4
Long-term, we support the City’s desire to make servicing the homeless more of a regional issue, but we
respectfully request action to avert the current neighborhood crisis.
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Angela Ojile
President, Madison Pioneers Coalition
214 South 11th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Email: AngieOProperties@gmail.com
Telephone: (602) 692-8812
cc:
Ed Zuercher, City Manager, City of Phoenix; ed.zuercher@phoenix.gov
Jeri Williams, City of Phoenix Police Chief; jeri.williams@phoenix.gov
Paul Penzone, Sheriff, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Headquarters, 550 W Jackson Street, Phoenix 85003
David Cates, Captain, AZ Department of Public Safety, 2222 W. Encanto Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85009
Arizona Republic; newstips@arizonarepublic.com.
The New Times; www.phoenixnewtimes.com/about/contact
Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting; info at azcir.org
Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS), Office of Environmental Health;
EnvironmentalHealth@azdhs.gov
1 of 4
Letter to City of Phoenix Mayor and Council
from Angela Ojile, President,
Madison Pioneers Coalition
March 18, 2020
Mayor Kate Gallego;
mayor.gallego@phoenix.gov
Vice Mayor Betty Guardado;
council.district.5@phoenix.gov
Council Member Thelda Williams;
council.district.1@phoenix.gov
Council Member Jim Waring;
council.district.2@phoenix.gov
Council Member Debra Stark;
council.district.3@phoenix.gov
Council Member Laura Pastor;
council.district.4@phoenix.gov
Council Member Sal DiCiccio;
council.district.6@phoenix.gov
Council Member Michael Nowakowski; council.district.7@phoenix.gov
Council Member Carlos Garcia;
council.district.8@phoenix.gov
Subject: Lack of Emergency Response to area near HSC, Phoenix, Arizona
Dear Honorable Mayor and City Council:
I was hoping to have some follow up from Ed Zuercher on the council’s behalf long before now,
especially in light of Mayor Gallego declaring this situation near the Human Services Campus (HSC) in the
City of Phoenix “a crisis.”
The Madison Pioneers Coalition (MPC) neighborhood is still drowning in debris, feces, urine, drug
paraphernalia, stench and other bio hazards.
We're still unable to conduct business, use our properties or walk in our neighborhood.
The two token trash containers that were added along with additional trash picks-ups are appreciated,
but a mere drop in the bucket (no pun intended). Despite these extra trash containers, the streets
remain littered as most people do not use them.
Our weekly Wednesday clean-up is extremely insufficient. This area needs daily pick-up from the City of
Phoenix. Speaking with the people in the city department that do the actual work, they concur.
We have NEVER had this area disinfected as promised, and now we have the Coronavirus looming over
us.
We heard from Andre House and the shelter at the time of the supposed “Big Clean-up” that it was all
for show. We went to bat for Ed Zuercher and the council. We believed that you were going to do
something more than to simply attempt to pacify us.
2 of 4
Letter to City of Phoenix Mayor and Council
from Angela Ojile, President,
Madison Pioneers Coalition
March 18, 2020
After repeatedly asking about the elusive disinfecting that was cancelled the night before the “Big Clean-
up”, we were told it would be rescheduled. Later, speaking with Tamyra Spendley about rescheduling
this, I was told that the City of Phoenix doesn't deal with human excrement, syringes etc.
I was told the City had subbed this out to a company that was doing a favor for someone. Supposedly,
that company cancelled the night before the Clean-up was scheduled to happen. When I asked who that
was and for their contact information, I was told I couldn’t have this because Tamyra didn't want to
throw anyone under the bus.
That was about six weeks ago and the only one thrown under the bus that we can see is Madison
Pioneers Coalition's neighborhood: the businesses, residents, property owners, and the truly homeless
that are still sitting here in front of our businesses and homes in their own contaminated squalor. Three
people have died in fourteen days and mum’s the word.
MPC doesn't need a favor. We need the City of Phoenix to step up and do their jobs. We need the City of
Phoenix to get ahead of this if there's even time now to be pro-active before it's too late.
We gave you a plan via our petition. A petition that's been put on hold until possibly mid-April to even
be considered. It's been pushed back because of the Coronavirus that's now officially here on our
doorsteps. This rationale defies logic.
At a time when every other major city is stepping up their game and implementing plans for their
homeless and the areas around them that have been put at risk, Phoenix is putting theirs on hold!
You have announced that groups should limit themselves to no more than gatherings of ten. How does
four hundred plus individuals with no sanitation, no running water, no way to clean or sanitize
themselves, many with serious drug and alcohol addictions and severe mental issues all sardined
together fit into this plan?
Many of these consider themselves as a part of the HSC. What about the HSC itself? The HSC is another
five hundred plus bodies on top of each other. They are comingling during the better part of the day and
evening with the five hundred people in tents. How does this register to you?
This is an emergency of unprecedented proportion for the City of Phoenix. The City is basically shutting
down and leaving us to fend for ourselves.
3 of 4
Letter to City of Phoenix Mayor and Council
from Angela Ojile, President,
Madison Pioneers Coalition
March 18, 2020
I'm sure the City of Phoenix must have a plan for the shelter, the people residing in tents and on the
streets and the people who live and work here. You must have something in place from some time ago,
correct? We've all seen this coming.
What is the plan to keep Coronavirus from erupting and devastating this vulnerable, ripe, high risk
population and spreading like wildfire to the rest of downtown?
What’s to prevent it from engulfing the ASU Campus and the other colleges and institutions there?
What's to stop it from infiltrating the offices, restaurants, events and government buildings surrounding
this area of tents and bodies compacted into these city blocks?
The answer right now is NOTHING! There are no preventative measures at all in place to address
Coronavirus. There are no plans to stop it or even slow it down, particularly in the vicinity of the HSC.
So far, the filth and biohazard has been allowed to build up for over four months with absolutely
NOTHING being done about it.
What is the plan for this area before the virus hits here in full force and it's too late? We've got people
sharing tents, food and needles crammed into tight spaces.
What is the plan City of Phoenix? Does the City even have time to implement one at this point?
In addition to cleaning, we need containment and relocation for those at risk on the streets.
St. Luke’s Medical Center at 18th St and Van Buren is sitting vacant. That would be perfect as one of the
locations to be used for anything from emergency medical triage to temporary housing.
The National Guard needs to be mobilized to help address and assist. National Guard armories in
Phoenix, Tucson and Mesa could be used to shelter individuals. We need containment for those at risk
on the streets as well.
The time to act is now, not tomorrow.
What are you waiting for City of Phoenix? For the Coronavirus to clean up this neighborhood so
that you don’t have to?
4 of 4
Letter to City of Phoenix Mayor and Council
from Angela Ojile, President,
Madison Pioneers Coalition
March 18, 2020
We want to hear your plan. Please contact us as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Angela Ojile, President
AngieOProperties@gmail.com
angieoproperties@gmail.com
(602) 692-8812
And the Members of the Madison Pioneer’s Coalition
Copied:
Ed Zuercher, City Manager, City of Phoenix; ed.zuercher@phoenix.gov
Tamyra Spendley • tamyra.spendley@phoenix.gov
Gregory Gonzales • gregory.s.gonzales@phoenix.gov
PHXCares NSD • phxcares@phoenix.gov
Lisa Huggins • lisa.huggins-hubbard@phoenix.gov
David Cates, Captain, AZ Department of Public Safety, 2222 W. Encanto Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85009
Roberto Frietz roberto.frietz@phoenix.gov
Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS), EnvironmentalHealth@azdhs.gov
Darcy Kober, Director, Maricopa County Environmental Services Department; DarcyKober@mail.maricopa.gov
Governor Ducey; engage@az.gov
Arizona Republic; newstips@arizonarepublic.com.
The New Times; www.phoenixnewtimes.com/about/contact
Sean McLaughlin, Channel 5, Sean.McLaughlin@azfamily.com
Channel 12 News, Desk@12news.com
Channel 15 News; Share@abc15.com
FOX 10 News; Fox10.desk@foxtv.com
Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting; info@azcir.org
Bill Morlan; bmorlan@electricsupply.com
Dane Blake; daneblake@mac.com
Freddy Brown Jr., President PBF Mfg Co.; freddy@pbfmfg.com
Joel Coplin; joel.coplin@gmail.com
Joe - Old Station Subs; dsubmkr@yahoo.com
Dan and Pat Langmade; dlangmade@mfmca.com
John Westerdale; john.c.westerdale@gmail.com
Ian Francis; • ianfrancisgreen@gmail.com
Dolph DeRoos; dolf@dolfderoos.com
Mike Godbehere; lopmike@hotmail.com
Katherine Roxlo, Grow Phoenix Smart; katherine@roxlo.com
Petition to Darcy Kober, Director
Maricopa County Environmental Services Department
Emergency, Health and Safety Risks for Area Near Human Services Campus
Phoenix, Arizona
2 April 2020
8
Attachment C
Communication with Arizona Department of Health Services
Letter to ADHS from Katherine Roxlo, March 4, 2020
Letter from ADHS to Katherine Roxlo, March 16, 2020
Petition to Arizona Department of Health Services
Attention: Dr Cara Christ, Director
To Address Immediate and Long-term Needs for Area
Near Human Services Campus
Phoenix, Arizona
3 March 2020
1
Subject: Petition to Address Immediate and Long-term Health and Safety Risks in
Area located within and bounded by Washington Street to the north, Grant Street to the
south, 7th Avenue to the east, and 17th Avenue to the west, Phoenix, Arizona
Dear Dr. Cara Christ;
This petition is submitted by the undersigned in our individual capacities as citizens of the City of
Phoenix, Maricopa County, and the State of Arizona. This petition is also submitted on behalf of
residents and business owners directly affected by the subject problem. Many of them are members of
the Madison Pioneers Coalition and some have signed their name below. Currently, residents, business
owners, and property owners between and near the area bounded by Washington Street to the north,
Grant Street to the south, 7th Avenue to the east, and 17th Avenue to the west are at extreme risk to
their health and safety. Today, March 3, 2020, Mayor Kate Gallego, in a press conference, called the
situation a “crisis.” We agree and believe it needs your immediate attention.
Pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) Title 36, the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS)
has authority and an obligation to protect the health and safety of Arizonans and to conduct Arizona
health planning (ARS 36-103.01). Furthermore, the ADHS authority includes public health support
services. At a minimum, the ADHS has oversight for (ARS 36-104)
•
general sanitation, vector control
•
epidemiology and disease control programs
•
accident and injury control
•
communicable diseases, tuberculosis, venereal disease, and others
•
program coordination, evaluation, and development
As director, it is your responsibility to (ARS 36-104):
•
“Determine when a health care emergency or medical emergency situation exists or occurs
within this state that cannot be satisfactorily controlled, corrected or treated by the health care
delivery systems and facilities available. When such a situation is determined to exist, the
director shall immediately report that situation to the legislature and the governor. The report
shall include information on the scope of the emergency, recommendations for solution of the
emergency and estimates of costs involved.
•
Provide a system of unified and coordinated health services and programs between this state
and county governmental health units at all levels of government.
•
Formulate policies, plans and programs to effectuate the missions and purposes of the
department.”
Statute ARS 36- 601 is submitted herein as Attachment A. This statute lists “public nuisances, dangerous
to public health” that the director of ADHS has authority and an obligation to address. It includes:
•
(15) “The maintenance of public assemblage or places of assemblage without providing
adequate sanitary facilities.”
•
(17) “The storage, collection, transportation, disposal and reclamation of garbage, trash,
rubbish, manure and other objectionable wastes other than as provided and authorized by law.”
Petition to Arizona Department of Health Services
Attention: Dr Cara Christ, Director
To Address Immediate and Long-term Needs for Area
Near Human Services Campus
Phoenix, Arizona
3 March 2020
2
Furthermore, ARS 36-601 parts B and C state that the director of ADHS should promptly take actions to
stop public practices that are contrary to the health laws of this state.
Statute ARS 36-602 is submitted herein as Attachment B. This statute provides the “county board of
health, local health department, the county environmental department” to take actions to remove “a
nuisance, source of filth or cause of sickness.” By the authority vested in the State, the undersigned
respectfully request that you immediately direct these entities to work together to fulfill their
obligations to address the health and safety risks in this area and to implement solutions. We request
that you immediately form one or more emergency coalitions that include other State, County and City
agencies with authority, and direct them to propose and adopt immediate and long-term solutions to
the problems plaguing this neighborhood.
The current situation in the subject area is an emergency. General sanitation, vector control, the risk of
the spread of communicable diseases currently exists. Policies and plans need to be developed to address
these issues. Never has there been a greater need for a health risk assessment and plan of action on the
part of you and ADHS to maintain a healthy and safe environment for the citizens of Arizona.
The Human Services Campus (HSC) is a collaborative partnership of 15 to 20 organizations located on a
13-acre campus within this area at 230 South 12th Avenue. As a non-profit organization, HSC has the goal
to “connect individuals with a wide array of services” and maintain “a safe and secure campus
environment”. The HSC campus includes:
•
Brian Garcia Welcome Center
•
Brighter Way Institute
•
Circle the City
•
Community Bridges Inc.
•
ELAINE
•
Homeless Court
•
Maricopa County Adult Probation
•
Homeless ID Project
•
HSC Post Office
The HSC includes the largest provider of emergency shelter and housing to adults and families
experiencing homelessness in Arizona. Because of the location of HSC and associated organizations
within this neighborhood, the area has become a converging place for people of need in our community
and also for illegal and unsafe activities. Three different problems are converging on the neighborhood
that make the area an immediate and long-term risk to the health, safety, and wellbeing of Phoenix
Citizens. The magnitude of the issues facing this community has dramatically increased to a point that,
as Mayor Gallego stated “there is a crisis.”
The problem is three-fold:
1. Unsanitary conditions pose immediate and long-term health risks. There are NO public toilets
or waste facilities, so the people living on the streets, and in tents and vehicles in the area are
using the streets, alleys, easements and driveways for their toilets. Trash is overflowing
everywhere, creating a breeding ground for rats, with cases of Hepatitis A and B already
recorded. Camp and cooking fires on the streets, parkways and easements have become the
norm, posing a serious hazard for everyone.
•
St. Joseph the Worker
•
Catholic Charities Veteran Outreach Center
•
New Leaf Rapid Rehousing
•
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul
•
Central Arizona Shelter Services
•
Az. Department of Economic Security
•
Chaplaincy for the Homeless
•
Store to Explore
Petition to Arizona Department of Health Services
Attention: Dr Cara Christ, Director
To Address Immediate and Long-term Needs for Area
Near Human Services Campus
Phoenix, Arizona
3 March 2020
3
2. Numerous homeless encampments occur on streets. By the City’s own count as of January
2020, there were more than 230 encampments within a five-block area. Encampments include
tents and hand-made shelters that have been erected along the streets in the neighborhood,
usually with multiple occupants per encampment, and even more living in parked cars. More
than 375 tents were counted on weekends in January 2020. Many of the people populating the
streets and alleys are homeless, sick, and/or mentally ill adults, and families who need a place to
live and sleep. Many of the individuals are dealing with addictions, have been banned from the
HSC, refuse services, or are dealing with mental illness. The extreme number of encampments
makes it difficult to live, walk the streets and conduct legal business in the area.
3. Illegal activities abound. There are many people preying on the poor and mentally weak in the
area who commit crimes, including selling and using illegal drugs and stolen goods. Prostitution
is occurring inside tents. Fights, assaults, and thefts are common occurrences. There have been
knifings and beatings. There was a drive by shooting with four shots fired at 11th Avenue on
February 16, 2020. These activities make it unsafe for neighbors and business owners to live,
and walk safely to their cars and businesses.
This Petition to ADHS. The current situation poses an immediate health and safety emergency for the
entire community. We request the ADHS take the following actions to address the immediate crisis
situation and set up long term remedial solutions to remedy this crisis including:
1. Address immediate and long-term sanitation and health risks.
•
Immediately report the subject situation to the State legislature and the governor.
Include in the report, information on the scope of the emergency, recommendations for
solution of the emergency and estimates of costs involved.
•
Conduct an Environmental, Health and Safety Assessment and Remedial Option Analysis
of the subject area within 1.5 miles of the HSC to see the impact the HSC is having on
businesses, residents and property owners, both economically and with respect to
health and safety.
•
Work with City, County and State agencies to implement daily cleanup of the streets,
sidewalks, and alleys including sanitization, to prevent the spread of disease. This must
be implemented now and continue until the conditions causing this health risk are fully
removed. This will help prevent the spread of disease caused by human and food waste
throughout the area.
•
Work with other State, County and City agencies to install public toilets and waste
disposal facilities in the area. Full time oversight and maintenance will be required for
public toilets and waste disposal facilities for both health and safety reasons.
2. Work with the City and County to provide shelter or a safe place for the large number of people
living in encampments that make it unsafe to walk the streets in the area:
•
Immediately open an emergency overflow shelter, preferably in a different location.
•
Work with those serving the homeless community to open more shelters in other
portions of the State, County and City. This part of the City has more than its share of
homeless and people requiring public assistance.
•
Evaluate State lands and State leased land for the purpose of creating additional
shelters in other parts of the State or County to fulfill the current shelter crisis situation
and as a long-term solution.
Petition to Arizona Department of Health Services
Attention: Dr Cara Christ, Director
To Address Immediate and Long-term Needs for Area
Near Human Services Campus
Phoenix, Arizona
3 March 2020
4
3. Mitigate illegal activity in the area that makes it unsafe to live, walk, work, or visit the area:
•
Work with City Police and County Sheriff’s Office, and Fire Departments to stop the
continuing occurrence of illegal and unsafe activities in the area.
•
Provide adequate resources to the police and fire departments assigned to the area to
enable them to enforce laws.
•
Clarify how the City interprets the 9th Circuit Court Ruling, which we understand is the
reason the police are unable to enforce the city code regarding loitering and camping on
sidewalks in accordance with signs that the City itself has installed in the area.
•
Provide public toilets and more sleeping areas to make it easier to enforce sanitary
behavior.
•
Some of the individuals populating the streets have been kicked out of HSC due to illegal
behavior. Instead of being kicked out, a policy of arrest and/or removal from the area
needs to be implemented for the betterment of everyone in the neighborhood.
This crisis will not go away on its own. Immediate action is needed to stop a potential communicable
disease outbreak. Emergency actions are needed to stop the spread of communicable diseases and to
stop the violence and illegal activities that abound. A long-term plan needs to be implemented to fix the
problems that have caused this situation. We respectfully request immediate action to avert the current
neighborhood crisis.
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please do not hesitate to contact any of
the undersigned.
Sincerely,
Katherine Roxlo
Grow Phoenix Smart
7506 N 22nd Place; Phoenix, AZ 85020
Home Phone: 602-943-9044; Email: katherine@roxlo.com
cc:
Governor Doug Ducey;
azgov@azgov.com
Mayor Kate Gallego;
mayor.gallego@phoenix.gov
Vice Mayor Betty Guardado;
council.district.5@phoenix.gov
Council Member Thelda Williams;
council.district.1@phoenix.gov
Council Member Debra Stark;
council.district.3@phoenix.gov
Council Member Sal DiCiccio;
council.district.6@phoenix.gov
Council Member Michael Nowakowski; council.district.7@phoenix.gov
Council Member Carlos Garcia;
council.district.8@phoenix.gov
Ed Zuercher, City Manager, Phoenix;
ed.zuercher@phoenix.gov
Jeri Williams, City of Phoenix Police Chief; jeri.williams@phoenix.gov
Phx Police Commander Dennis Orender; Dennis.Orender@phoenix.gov
Arizona Republic
newstips@arizonarepublic.com.
The New Times
www.phoenixnewtimes.com/about/contact
Petition to Arizona Department of Health Services
Attention: Dr Cara Christ, Director
To Address Immediate and Long-term Needs for Area
Near Human Services Campus
Phoenix, Arizona
3 March 2020
6
Attachment A
Arizona Revised Statutes 36-601
36-601. Public nuisances dangerous to public health
A. The following conditions are specifically declared public nuisances dangerous to the public health:
1. Any condition or place in populous areas that constitutes a breeding place for flies, rodents, mosquitoes
and other insects that are capable of carrying and transmitting disease-causing organisms to any person or
persons or any condition or place that constitutes a feral colony of honeybees that is not currently
maintained by a beekeeper and that poses a health or safety hazard to the public.
2. Any spoiled or contaminated food or drink intended for human consumption.
3. Any restaurant, food market, bakery or other place of business or any vehicle where food is prepared,
packed, processed, stored, transported, sold or served to the public that is not constantly maintained in a
sanitary condition.
4. Any place, condition or building that is controlled or operated by any governmental agency and that is
not maintained in a sanitary condition.
5. All sewage, human excreta, wastewater, garbage or other organic wastes deposited, stored, discharged
or exposed so as to be a potential instrument or medium in the transmission of disease to or between any
person or persons.
6. Any vehicle or container that is used in the transportation of garbage, human excreta or other organic
material and that is defective and allows leakage or spillage of contents.
7. The presence of ectoparasites such as bedbugs, lice, mites and others in any place where sleeping
accommodations are offered to the public.
8. The maintenance of any overflowing septic tank or cesspool, the contents of which may be accessible
to flies.
9. The pollution or contamination of any domestic waters.
10. The use of the so-called common drinking cup used for drinking purposes by more than one
person. This paragraph does not apply to receptacles properly washed and sanitized after each service.
11. The presence of common towels for use of the public in any public or semipublic place unless
properly washed and sanitized following each use.
12. Buildings or any parts of buildings that are in a filthy condition and that may endanger the health of
persons living in the vicinity.
13. Spitting or urinating on sidewalks, or floors or walls of a public building or buildings used for public
assemblage, or a building used for manufacturing or industrial purposes, or on the floors or platforms or
any part of a railroad or other public conveyance.
14. The use of the contents of privies, cesspools or septic tanks or the use of sewage or sewage plant
effluents for fertilizing or irrigation purposes for crops or gardens except by specific approval of the
department of health services or the department of environmental quality.
Petition to Arizona Department of Health Services
Attention: Dr Cara Christ, Director
To Address Immediate and Long-term Needs for Area
Near Human Services Campus
Phoenix, Arizona
3 March 2020
7
15. The maintenance of public assemblage or places of assemblage without providing adequate
sanitary facilities. Open surface privies are adequate sanitary facilities if they are outside populous
areas and meet reasonable health requirements.
16. Hotels, tourist courts and other lodging establishments that are not kept in a clean and sanitary
condition or for which suitable and adequate toilet facilities are not provided.
17. The storage, collection, transportation, disposal and reclamation of garbage, trash, rubbish,
manure and other objectionable wastes other than as provided and authorized by law.
18. Water, other than that used by irrigation, industrial or similar systems for nonpotable purposes, that is
sold to the public, distributed to the public or used in production, processing, storing, handling, servicing
or transportation of food and drink and that is unwholesome, poisonous or contains deleterious or foreign
substances or filth or disease causing substances or organisms.
19. The emission of mercaptan in a concentration level that causes endangerment to the health or safety of
any considerable number of persons of a neighborhood or community.
20. The operation of an environmental laboratory in violation of chapter 4.3, article 1 of this title.
B. If the director has reasonable cause to believe from information furnished to the director or
from investigation made by the director that any person is maintaining a nuisance or engaging in
any practice contrary to the health laws of this state, the director shall promptly serve on that
person by certified mail a cease and desist order requiring the person, on receipt of the order,
promptly to cease and desist from that act. Within fifteen days after receipt of the order, the
person to whom it is directed may request the director to hold a hearing. The director, as soon as
practicable, shall hold a hearing, and if the director determines the order is reasonable and just and
that the practice engaged in is contrary to the health laws of this state, the director shall order the
person to comply with the cease and desist order.
C. If a person fails or refuses to comply with the order of the director, or if a person to whom the
order is directed does not request a hearing and fails or refuses to comply with the cease and desist
order served by mail under subsection B, the director may file an action in the superior court in the
county in which a violation occurred, restraining and enjoining the person from engaging in further
acts. The court shall proceed as in other actions for injunctions.
D. Notwithstanding subsection A, paragraph 19, the emission of mercaptan as a by-product of a pesticide
is not a nuisance if applied according to state and federal restrictions.
E. Notwithstanding subsection A, paragraph 3, a restaurant that uses sawdust on the floors of its dining
areas is not in violation of this section or local health department sanitary rules if the restaurant replaces
the sawdust each day with clean sawdust and complies with applicable standards for fire safety.
Petition to Arizona Department of Health Services
Attention: Dr Cara Christ, Director
To Address Immediate and Long-term Needs for Area
Near Human Services Campus
Phoenix, Arizona
3 March 2020
8
Attachment B
Arizona Revised Statutes 36-602
36-602. Abatement of nuisances, sources of filth and causes of sickness; civil penalty; property
assessment; procedure
A. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, when a nuisance, source of filth or cause of
sickness exists on private property, the county board of health, the local health department, the
county environmental department or the public health service district shall order the owner or
occupant to remove it within twenty-four hours at the expense of the owner or occupant. The order
may be delivered to the owner or occupant personally, or left at the owner or occupant's usual
place of abode or served on the owner or occupant in the same manner as provided for service of
process under the Arizona rules of civil procedure. If the order is not complied with, the board or
department may impose a civil penalty pursuant to section 36-183.04 and shall cause the nuisance,
source of filth or cause of sickness to be removed, and expenses of removal shall be paid by the
owner, occupant or other person who caused the nuisance, source of filth or cause of sickness.
B. A city or county may prescribe by sanitary ordinance or regulation a procedure for making the actual
cost of this removal or abatement, including the actual costs of any additional inspection and other
incidental costs in connection with the removal or abatement, an assessment on the lots and tracts of land
on which the nuisance, source of filth or cause of sickness was abated or removed, subject to the
following:
1. Any such ordinance or regulation shall include a provision for appeal of the assessment to the
governing body or the board of supervisors or its designee.
2. The assessment, from the date of its recording in the office of the county recorder in the county where
the lot or tract of land is located, is a lien on the lot or tract of land until paid.
3. Any assessment recorded is prior and superior to all other liens, obligations or other encumbrances,
except liens for general taxes and prior recorded mortgages.
4. The city or county may bring an action to enforce the lien in the superior court in the county in which
the property is located at any time after the recording of the assessment, but failure to enforce the lien by
this action does not affect its validity. The recorded assessment is prima facie evidence of the truth of all
matters recited in the assessment and of the regularity of all proceedings before the recording of the
assessment.
5. A prior assessment for the purposes provided in this section is not a bar to a subsequent assessment or
assessments for these purposes, and any number of liens on the same lot or tract of land may be enforced
in the same action.
6. An assessment or lien recorded pursuant to this section does not limit, restrict or otherwise affect the
authority of a city or county to undertake any additional enforcement action that is authorized by law,
including applicable ordinances or regulations.
7. The ordinance or regulation shall provide notice to all lienholders.
Douglas A. Ducey | Governor Cara M. Christ, MD, MS | Director
150 North 18th Avenue, Suite 500, Phoenix, AZ 85007-3247 P | 602-542-1025 F | 602-542-0883 W | azhealth.gov
Health and Wellness for all Arizonans
March 16, 2020
Ms. Katherine Roxlo
7506 North 22nd Place
Phoenix, Arizona 85020
katherine@roxlo.com
Dear Ms. Roxlo:
Thank you for your letter and petition, as well as your concern for the health and safety of your
community. I understand the difficult issue you describe and the multitude of concerns and
contributing factors that your letter articulates.
You have accurately captured the statutory authorities of the state and local health
departments in your descriptions of Title 36 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. Pursuant to A.R.S.
§ 36-136(E), the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) has delegated its authorities
under A.R.S § 36-601 to the Maricopa County Environmental Services Department (MCES). As
such, MCES retains the authority to address the concerns you bring forward related to
unsanitary conditions. Our Office of Environmental Health has reached out to MCES to ensure
they are aware of the concern and familiar with the contents of your petition. I also encourage
you to reach out to them directly at 602-506-6616. In regards to your second and third
concerns around homeless encampments and illegal activities, ADHS does not have authority to
address these matters.
Your letter raises some important concerns about the health and wellbeing of our vulnerable
populations in Arizona, which is something that public health partners at the state and county
are working to address. For example, ADHS is working with partners to develop our new
Arizona Health Improvement Plan (AzHIP) for 2021-2025, which will identify strategies and
track progress across areas impacting homelessness under our new priority area Health in All
Policies/Social Determinants of Health. We just hosted a planning summit last week around
AzHIP development and a few of the presentations there touched on this topic, which will be
posted online this week. In addition, the Maricopa County Health Improvement Plan is hosting
a meeting on their priorities, one of which is a focus on veteran homelessness in the county.
Information about this is available here.
I encourage you to continue working with the City of Phoenix and Maricopa County to address
the issues of concern. Thank you for your continued efforts to support the health and wellness
of your community.
Sincerely,
Cara M. Christ, MD
Director
Laurel Langmade
eagleii@cox.net
Beus Gilbert McGroder, PLLC
4 Aug 2020
701 N 44th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85008-6504
RE: Draft Stipulations – Z-SP-2-19-7, your letter dated July 31, 2020
Dear Mr. Paul Gilbert,
1. What follows are my comments and suggestions to the stipulation regarding the permit to
increase to 1,000 the number of beds at the Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS) building? As
you recall at the Central City Village Planning Committee meeting on 13 July, 2020, numerous
home and business owners made statements regarding the problems created from having such
a high concentration of homeless people on the streets in the Central City neighborhoods.
Among the problems discussed from the high concentration of homeless in the Central City
neighborhoods were damage and crime to personal property, human waste and trash left on
both public streets and personal property, and unsafe conditions to the surrounding community.
2. PLEASE NOTE WITH AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF BEDS TO CASS, THIS WILL CAUSE AN
ECONOMIC HARDSHIP TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS, BUSINESS OWNERS AND INDIVIDUALS
LIVING AND WORKING IN THE CENTRAL CITY NEIGHBORHOOD. PLEASE DO NOT MOVE
FORWARD WITH THE SPECIAL PERMIT TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF BEDS.
3. Mr. Gilbert, you need to address how you, and the organizations you are representing, will
provide the individuals working and residing in the Central City neighborhood the health, safety,
security, and rights to personal property by allowing this permit to increase the number of beds
to proceed. Your stipulations provided fall way short of what is required to provide a safe area
around the Human Services Campus. Below are my comments and recommendations I hope I
can get a response.
4. Item #5. Please provide additional comments how only providing a minimum of two toilet
facilities between the hours of 7:00am to 5:00pm will decrease the amount of human waste the
proposed increase of individuals to the CASS are depositing on the streets and property will be
accommodated? It was noted in the 13 July meeting that the current facilities are inadequate to
contain the amount of human waste being deposited on the private property around the
campus. How are two more toilets open between 7am – 5pm going to help???
a. Please explain how having two extra toilets for an additional 1,000 people meets Phoenix
Building and Plumbing Code requirements? Will these toilets be ‘port-a-potties’ or flush
toilets? Will there be both women and men’s toilet?
b. Recommend that you have extra toilet facilities outside the Human Service Campus to
accommodate 1,000 individuals within a 1-2 mile radius of the CASS for these people to use
during all hours of the day and night. As you are aware, the homeless currently are
Laurel Langmade
eagleii@cox.net
defecating and urinating in the streets and private property. This is creating a health issue
for the neighborhood.
c. That the Human Services Campus shall pay and maintain from private funds, not public
funds, an adequate number of these toilet facilities.
5. Item #6. Please provide additional information how the Human Services Center will keep the
neighborhood streets clean of garbage, debris … or blight? Having rubbish clean-up within 25
feet of the Campus DOES NOT keep the neighborhood streets clean from the debris deposited
on the neighborhood’s property from the individuals seeking shelter at the CASS.
a. In Item #4 you mention providing trash/recycling receptacles within the boundaries of the
Campus during business hours. This is not enough to handle the trash in the neighborhood.
b. Recommend the CASS provide, and shall pay and maintain from private funds, not public
funds, and weekly street trash clean-ups within a 1-2 mile radius of the Human Service
Campus.
6. Item #10. Providing security cameras at the Human Services Campus does not provide the
needed security for the surrounding neighborhood. Having a “City’s Virtual Block Watch
Program” does not prevent crime and destruction of property the neighborhood is currently
experiencing.
a. The Central city neighborhood, around the Human Services Center, has the highest total and
property crime in the City. Total crime is 287% above the national average, property crime
is 249% above the national average and the area has received an “F” rating from the
‘areavibes’ website. Please advise how providing security cameras will reduce the crime in
our neighborhood caused by the increased concentration of homeless in our neighborhood?
b. Recommend that CASS provide, and shall pay and maintain from private funds, not public
funds, round the clock private security for the Central City neighborhood.
7. Item #12. You outline how the Human Service Campus shall work collaboratively with the City
Of Phoenix as well as adjacent property owners on reducing negative impacts in the area
surrounding the CASS.
a. Mr. Gilbert, in your lengthy description at the CCVPC meeting on 13th July, 2020, you
outlined in detail how you had met with individuals and organizations within the
community. I recall a number of those who later were given 2 minutes to speak
contradicted your statements about your meetings and claimed you had never met with
them. If you did meet, you did not listen to their concerns, plus these individuals form the
neighborhood were not part of your initial discussions on the listed stipulations. If you and
your clients could not do an adequate community outreach prior to this date, how can you
and the CASS be trusted to do an adequate outreach program now to reduce negative
impacts by increasing the number of homeless beds in the area?
b. You mention only a ½ mile radius for this Central City neighborhood collaboration. This is
not enough of a radius. The collaboration should cover the complete Central City
neighborhood.
Laurel Langmade
eagleii@cox.net
c. At these Community Outreach meetings, what resources will be provided to the
neighborhood to fix any problems? The Central City neighborhood needs action, not just
talk.
d. Furthermore, in item 12.e. topics of discussion are to include working together to encourage
street maintenance and organize rubbish clean-ups. I recall one participant at the CCVPC
meeting on 13th July, 2020 mentioning they did organize a neighborhood rubbish clean-up
and invited the organizations at the HSC to participate. No one from the HSC showed up.
To date the organizations associated with the Human Services Campus appear to have a
poor track record of collaboration with neighborhood clean-ups.
e. In item 12.f. outlines how community meetings are to be documented. There is no mention
for community members to provide comments or approval for the minutes to the
community meetings. There should be a means to provide feedback by the community to
what is documented. There also ought to be a web portal to provide access to past meeting
minutes, and the action plans that result from these meetings for review and reference.
8. Item #13. Regarding the annual report you make reference to, “Number of people served.”
Who are the “people” you are referencing? Is it the homeless or the people who live and work
in the Central City neighborhood? You should document in the report how the actions by the
HSC will lessen the impact of the homeless in and on the Central City neighborhood.
9. Item #15. Who is the “developer” you are referring to?
10. Items #17, 18, and 19. Regarding needing a minimum of a Phase I for an archaeological survey
my understanding is, “All development projects on City property which involve construction
activities that will disturb the ground surface more than 2 inches in depth and more than 2
square feet in area should have their project reviewed for the presence of archaeological
resources.” That also, “Projects which are reviewed by the City Archaeologist’s Office are
documented on an Archaeology Assessment Result form. That form will state the result of the
assessment and what recommendations the City Archaeologist’s Office has made concerning
the need for additional archaeological investigations.” Please make this documentation
available for the neighbors in the Central City.
11. Item #20 regarding Proposition 207. Please advise why your clients are going to execute a
Proposition 207 waiver of claims form?
a. My understanding of Arizona Proposition 207, a 2006 ballot initiative officially titled the
"Private Property Rights Protection Act", requires the government to reimburse land owners
when regulations result in a decrease in the property's value, and also prevents government
from exercising eminent domain on behalf of a private party. Proposition 207, which was
officially titled the “Private Property Rights Protection Act,” has been codified at Ariz. Rev.
Stat. section 12-1134. The Act provides that “If the existing rights to use, divide, sell or
possess private real property are reduced by...any land use law enacted after the date the
property is transferred to the owner and such action reduces the fair market value of the
property the owner is entitled to just compensation.” Landowners are entitled to
Laurel Langmade
eagleii@cox.net
compensation only if the challenged regulation continues to apply to their property 90 days
after filing a claim, allowing the government to grant waivers in lieu of compensation.
b. Mr. Gilbert, are you trying to avoid any claims from Central City property and business
owners against your client due to a reduction of property values resulting from an increase
to 1,000 beds in the CASS?
12. Please address what action you are taking to address the requirements of The Legislative
Government Mall Commission? This commission was made to develop and maintain a
comprehensive long-range plan for the development of the Government Mall area. The
commission also has an Urban Design Plan containing guidelines for development and includes
the boundaries for the area between 7th and 19th Avenues, from Harrison Street on the south
to Van Buren Street on the north. Under the Commission’s Planning and Development
Concepts, please address item 7. "The concentration of homeless services within the area
should be reduced."
a. Mr. Gilbert can you enlighten me how and when you are going in front of The Legislative
Government Mall Commission to review the development proposed before the issuance
of permit to increase the number of beds to 1,000?
b. This is state law.
13. As you requested, you were looking forward to receiving any input or suggestions in connection
with the draft Stipulations dated July 31, 2020. Now I am looking forward to your response to
the items listed above to the address below.
cc:
Sarah Stockham
Village Planner
City of Phoenix Planning & Development Dept
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor
Phoenix, Arizona 85003
Phone: 602-261-8701
sarah.stockham@phoenix.gov
Sincerely,
Laurel Langmade
Laurel Langmade, neighborhood land owner
eagleii@cox.net
From:
Dianne Langmade
To:
Sarah Stockham; pgilbert@beusgilbert.com; ajochums@beusgilbert.com
Subject:
Draft Stipulation - Z-SP-2-19-7 increase of homeless beds
Date:
Tuesday, August 4, 2020 6:33:41 PM
Attachments:
Stipulation response.pdf
Mr Paul Gilbert, per your request in the letter dated July 31, 2020 attached are my inputs and
suggestions to the draft Stipulations. Also including your co-worker Andy Jochums, the
Planning Consultant, in this message,
Sarah, I have also included you in this message. I would like the attached to be passed on to
the members of the Central City Village Planning members as they heard many of the
neighborhood's concerns at the July 13th CCVPC meeting.
Mr, Gilbert, I am looking forward to your response on how you plan to keep the Central
Phoenx neighborhoods safe.
Laurel Langmade
7‐31‐2020 HSC Team’s Proposed Stipulations
Draft
Stipulations
Z‐SP‐2‐19‐7
1. The development shall be in general conformance to the site plan date stamped
____________, as approved by the Planning and Development Department.
(Submitted site plan attached at end of this document)
2. There shall be a maximum of 1,000 beds within the Special Permit area broken down as
follows:
• Up to 700 beds shall be located in the Central Arizona Shelter
Services (CASS) building.
• Up to 100 bed shall be provided within the Andre House buildings.
• Up to 200 temporary beds/mats shall be permitted within the
Campus’ existing buildings for weather relief.
a. A minimum of 50 beds shall be provided in a low barrier shelter. This low
barrier shelter shall provide shelter to individuals without imposition of
identification, time limits, or other program requirements, such as
abstention from alcohol or drugs, except within the facility; and shall adopt
a policy to provide accommodations for pets and personal belongings.
b. The low barrier shelter described in 2.a, shall obtain a certificate of
occupancy within two years of Council approval.
c. Any operator of temporary shelter beds within the Special Permit area
shall not enter into a contract/agreement to reserve bed space, in excess
of 10% of their total capacity, with any jurisdiction or organization located
outside of a 10 mile radius surrounding the Human Services Campus. An
increase above the 10% limitation may be exceed if the City Manager
determines that the contract/agreement will not reduce the accessibility of
shelter space to those experiencing homelessness.
The current bed count of 400 has already created an unbearable situation for the
neighborhood residents and business with the homeless loitering around during
the day and defecating in our yards. Adding hundreds of additional beds will
destroy any chance of economic stability to the neighborhood and any chance of
neighborhood cohesiveness. High Density Concentration Camps should not be
allowed. In regards to paragraph 2.a . A minimum of 50 beds shall be provided in a low
barrier shelter. This low barrier shelter shall provide shelter to individuals without imposition of
identification, time limits, or other program requirements, such as abstention from alcohol or
drugs except within the facility. As I understand it there will be a number beds excess
of 50 that will be for habitual drug users and alcoholics. How do you plan to keep
the drugs out of the facility when Department of Corrections can’t keep drugs out
of our Nation Prison System? Do you propose strip and cavity searches? This zip
code you are asking for the expansion in has perhaps the highest crime rate in the
State of Arizona, three times higher than the national average for VIOLENT CRIME
RE: https://www.bestplaces.net/crime/zip‐code/arizona/phoenix/85007
Adding the potential for more criminal activity is a terrible burden to put on the
families in the area. Please explain your justification in this.
3. The Human Services Campus shall pursue abandonment of public rights‐of way to
develop a cohesive and secure campus. A fence/wall plan demonstrating a cohesive
and secure campus shall be submitted prior to final site plan approval for any future
construction. The fence plan shall specify locations of any proposed, pending or
approved right‐of‐way abandonments.
right‐of‐way abandonments will limit access and maneuverability to
business in the neighborhood and will have a negative impact. How will
business be compensated?
4. The Human Services Campus shall provide for trash/recycling receptacles within the
property boundaries and accessible to the public during the Campus’ business hours of
7:00am to 5:00pm. A waste receptacle plan demonstrating sufficient quantities and
locations of receptacles located within the Human Services Campus shall be submitted
to the Planning and Development Department within 90 days of Council approval of the
7‐31‐2020 HSC Team’s Proposed Stipulations
Special Permit and shall be administratively approved by the Planning Hearing Officer.
This is a disingenuous statement, providing for trash/recycling receptacles within
the property boundaries will not be of any benefit to the neighborhood. The
trash left behind in our neighborhood by homeless is on our property, not the
Campus. Please address how you plan to have the human waste and trash left by
the homeless in areas just outside the Campus, or are the families and business
supposed to BRING you the trash left by the homeless?
The Planning Hearing Officer will work directly with the Public Works Department,
Director’s Office to determine if the plans are sufficient.
5. The Human Services Campus shall provide a minimum of two toilet facilities accessible
to the public during the Campus’ business hours of 7:00am to 5:00pm. Directional signs
shall be provided to identify the location.
Two toilets per 1000 people for use during daylight hours will not prevent people
defecating and urinating in our yards and on our properties during the night.
6. The Human Services Campus property owners, with assistance by the City of Phoenix,
shall endeavor to maintain the sidewalks, alleys, easements and streets (within 25 feet
of the abutting property lines along public rights‐of‐way including Jackson Street, 11th
Avenue, 12th Avenue and Madison Street) free from any hazard or accumulation of
garbage, debris, rubble, hazardous waste, litter, rubbish, refuse, waste material, or
blight.
How and why a determination of 25 feet with the property boundary was chosen?
Why not make it 2500 feet? As a resident and business owners I must pick up the
detritus left by the homeless on a daily bases and my property is a block away
from CASS not 25 feet
7. At a minimum, all temporary shelter facilities with vacancies, shall be open and
accepting temporary shelter clients until 11:00 p.m. A minimum of 5 traditional shelter
beds and 2 low barrier shelter beds shall be reserved each evening for the Phoenix
Police Department to bring in someone they deem vulnerable and in need of shelter.
That can be done with the current bed count
8. An “authority to arrest” agreement shall be completed and maintained for all property
owners and organizations operating within the Special Permit area. The agreements
shall be signed and delivered to the Phoenix Police Department.
An “authority to arrest” if only effective when the police are called. I currently
have that for my property and is ineffective unless I take action.
9. Security, certified by the Department of Public Safety, shall be on the site daily to
ensure the security of the site, and coordinate with the Phoenix Police Department for
criminal activity or crime related issues.
10. Security cameras (or other monitoring devices, as approved by the Police Department)
shall be provided, in perpetuity, to continually capture images of activities along the
street frontages. Videos/Images shall be preserved for a minimum of 90 days. Property
owners within the Human Services Campus shall enroll in the City’s Virtual Block Watch
Program.
11. A Security Master Plan shall be submitted to the Phoenix Police Department on an
annual basis for review and recommendations, to ensure a safe environment and
coordination with the Police Department. The plan shall include, at minimum, the
following elements:
a. A central point of contact for security matters.
b. Coordination of security personnel with the Police Department.
c. Required number of security personnel.
d. Provisions for security cameras and lighting.
e. Procedures for storing and handling the disposal of controlled substances
and weapons.
7‐31‐2020 HSC Team’s Proposed Stipulations
f. Procedures for screening and monitoring of clients.
12. shall work collaboratively with the City of Phoenix as well
as adjacent property owners and associations on reducing any negative impacts or
concerns stemming from those experiencing homelessness in the area surrounding the
Campus and Special Permit area.
As far as I know The Human Services Campus has never work with adjacent
property owners or neighborhood associations in the past and has ignored
complaints in the past. If past performance is any indications of the future they
will continue to be bad neighbors
a. The City of Phoenix and all neighborhood associations registered with the
Neighborhood Services Department within a half mile of the site shall be
provided with a designated contact person for the Human Services Campus
to communicate any issues/concerns.
How was a half mile determination was made? It should be within two miles
b. With the help of Council Districts 7 and 8, the Mayor, and city staff, the
Human Services Campus shall facilitate community outreach meetings to
discuss compliance with the zoning stipulations, future development of the
campus, any issues/concerns from the community, and how those
concerns could be addressed by the Campus or the City if possible.
c. The community outreach meetings shall be held quarterly for the first
three years following approval and then annually thereafter, unless the
Planning and Development Department Director requests that additional
meetings be necessary during any particular calendar year.
d. Notification for the community meeting shall be sent to all property
owners within a half mile; all neighborhood associations registered with
the Neighborhood Services Department within a half mile; any individuals
or organizations who attended previous meetings; and staff designated by
each respective department director from the Human Services
Department, Neighborhood Services Department, Planning and
Development Department, and Police Department.
Again, why a half mile and not two miles? There are many schools that fall just
outside a half mile and well within a mile. They should be made aware of sexual
predators staying at the Shelter. How will that be addressed?
e. Topics of discussion shall include, but not be limited to how the Human
Services Campus and the surrounding community can:
1) Encourage street maintenance;
2) Organize rubbish clean‐ups;
3) Discourage illegal street feeding or donations of other items
in the area surrounding the Campus; and
4) Prevention of crime.
f. A summary of the community meetings and any notes from the public shall
be submitted to the Planning and Development Department. The
community meeting summaries shall include the following meeting details:
1) Date, time, and location;
2) Number of participants;
7‐31‐2020 HSC Team’s Proposed Stipulations
3) Questions or concerns that arose; and
4) How the questions or concerns were addressed.
13. An annual report shall be provided to the Planning and Development Department, to
include the following items:
a. Number of people served.
b. Number of positive exits.
c. Meeting summaries as detailed above.
14. The Special Permit shall be reviewed one year after issuance of the Certificate of
Occupancy for the low barrier shelter. The review shall be through the Planning Hearing
Officer process where additional stipulations may be imposed. This is a legislative
review. Specific development standards and requirements may be determined by the
Planning Hearing Officer and the Planning and Development Department.
15. The developer shall construct all streets within and adjacent to the development 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.
16. The developer shall record a Notice to Prospective Purchasers of Proximity to Airport in
order to disclose the existence and operational characteristics of Phoenix Sky Harbor
Airport (PHX) to future owners or tenants of the property.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. Prior to any future permit issuance, 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.
Since the re‐zoning area falls within the Capital Mall Area. How is permission
being obtained and why haven’t the neighborhood residents, business or
neighborhood association been made aware of any meeting in regards to the
Capital Mall approval?
From:
Daniel Langmade
To:
Paul E. Gilbert; ajochums@beusgilbert.com
Cc:
Sarah Stockham; Roberto Frietz; Council District 7 PCC; Council District 4; Council District 8 PCC; Mayor Gallego
Subject:
RE: Human Services Campus Draft Stipulations
Date:
Monday, August 10, 2020 11:03:05 AM
Attachments:
Homeless draft stipulations. Z-SP-2-19-7 COMMENTS.pdf
Mr Paul Gilbert,
Per your request in the letter dated July 31, 2020 attached are my inputs and suggestions to the
Draft Stipulations. Also copied in this email: your co-worker Andy Jochums, the Planning Consultant,
and City Council Members in the surrounding districts as mention in your Stipulations and Phoenix
Neighborhood Services.
Sarah, I have also included you in this message. I would like the attached to be passed on to the
members of the Central City Village Planning members as they heard many of the neighborhood's
concerns at the July 13th CCVPC meeting.
Mr. Gilbert, I am looking forward to your response on how you plan to keep the Central Phoenix
neighborhoods safe.
I’m also requesting information how this expansion fits into the City of Phoenix Re-Development
Plans for the Governmental Mall Dated March 11, 1987 (see the following link for reference)
https://www.phoenix.gov/villagessite/Documents/pdd_pz_pdf_00056.pdf as increasing the bed
count seems contrary to Section III.A.2 of the Re-Development Plans.
Respectfully Submitted,
Daniel Langmade
From: Paul E. Gilbert [mailto:pgilbert@beusgilbert.com]
Sent: Friday, July 31, 2020 9:30 AM
Subject: Human Services Campus Draft Stipulations
You are receiving this email because you registered to speak at the Central City
Village Planning Committee Meeting earlier this month. Please find a letter from
Beus Gilbert McGroder PLLC sharing the updated draft stipulations for the Human
Service Campus’ Special Permit with you.
Paul
Paul E. Gilbert
BEUS GILBERT MCGRODER PLLC
701 North 44th Street | Phoenix, AZ 85008
Direct: 480.429.3002 | Main: 480.429.3000 | Fax: 480.429.3100
Email: PGilbert@beusgilbert.com
Secretary: Jeanette Williams | 480.429.3102 | JWilliams@beusgilbert.com
This message may contain confidential and privileged information. If it has been sent to you in error,
please reply to advise the sender of the error and then immediately delete this message.
JOEL COPLIN
www.joelcoplinfineart.com
119 S 11th Ave
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Phone 602-576-0338
joel.coplin@gmail.com
8/13 2020
BEUS GILBERT MCGRODER PLLC
701 North 44th Street | Phoenix, AZ 85008
Dear Mr. Gilbert,
I am writing you concerning the HSC Team’s proposed stipulations Z-SP-2-19-7
My wife and I moved our business and home to Central City Village three years ago.
We live and work here 24/7. I personally know many of the people now calling our streets
their home. I believe this gives us an educated but fresh look on the homeless crisis we are
enduring.
I believe the HSC and the Andre House’s permit to expand the campus for over 1000 beds
is the wrong way to go. I know their hearts and spirits mean well.
Not only will the beds be rejected in favor of the freedom of the streets but those who are
truly homeless and want to reenter the work force and find a home will fall through the
cracks.
Right now, if you get your ID from CASS, and put in for services like applying for a
Section 8 housing voucher it will take you at least a year before you are even considered.
Then after a year you get on the waiting list. All this time, even if you wanted a bed in the
shelter if there were none you’d be living on our streets.
This with 475 beds as it is at CASS right now, how long will you have to wait if there are
1000 people before you? It’s just too much! People with chronic mental health issues, the
physically infirmed, the drug addled will fall through the cracks and they will be
permanently relegated to the streets only to fall into arrest warrants for vagrancy and for
some, ultimately back to prison which starts the carousel of recidivism.
I know a lady who applied at CASS for dental work. After using our personal computer to
apply for AHCCC, she had to jump threw all the various hoops which a normal person
not experiencing homelessness would find daunting to use CASS’s dental program for
dentures.
She was given a date to start the procedures but unfortunately violated her probation and
wound up in the penitentiary for a year. She was released out of jail and still was in time
for her appointment! How long would she have to wait if there were 1000 people in front
of her? This just an example for all the services rendered at CASS and the stress they
would be under housing such a huge population.
We, the Madison Pioneer Coalition of which I am a founding member, believe smaller
more specialized shelters would be a better approach.
Other municipalities should be made to take part . especially if the homeless person
became homeless from that municipality.
Shelters housing 100 or less guests could be separated by age.
Housing seniors 55 plus where they have access to social workers who have 10 or less
clients who help them navigate through health care, social security, and housing.
Shelters housing 100 or less people 25 and under could be placed close to vocational
schools like EVIT in the East Valley where young men could be taught a trade with
structured cognitive behavior living skills.
People 25 to 55 should given opportunities for drug rehab, job referrals, and eased back
into supervised housing.
We should have ten shelters with 100 guests not one with a thousand!
So to summarize, I know that the problem is not just homeless Phoenicians. People from
all points come here because they’ve heard in Phoenix they give you free food, free clothes,
that any and all kinds of drugs are easily available along with prostitution and where free
sex abounds.
1000 beds will bring 2000 people. Two port o potties will not do the trick.
Waste Styrofoam, garbage of all kinds will be unbearable. Even with two dumpsters!
Crime will increase, drug use will increase. Deaths will increase. We have had over twenty
deaths this summer. The HSC better plan to include body bags with 1000 more people.
This plan is neither good for the homeless for reasons already stated nor for the residences
and businesses of the area.
If you take into consideration of the Capital Mall plan which is a vision of how this
neighborhood is supposed to be modeled after, this neighborhood has some of the highest
potential for expansion and development left in Phoenix. We have Arizona history here,
There are many historic buildings. The light rail is coming this way in three years! There’s
rumoring of a new Museum and sculpture park for Arizona artists in the old Carnegie
Library building.
It could be a point of destination and attract tourists to learn about our history through
art. This could bring restaurants and boutiques garnering revitalization and revenue
streams for the city.
Or it could be skid row. A blight on our city
Which is what it would be if this permit is granted.
Respectfully,
Joel Coplin
joel.coplin@gmail.com
Jo-Ann Lowney
Gallery 119
119 S 11th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Response to 7-31-2020 HSC Team's Proposed Stipulations
Draft Stipulations
Z-SP-2-19-7
Item 2-C, concerning operators of temporary shelter beds within the Special Permit
area, etc.:
The current bed count of 400 has created a desperate situation in the surrounding
neighborhood because the homeless people who loiter around during the day and defecate
in our yards and sidewalks. These people are not allowed on the property of the shelters
during the day.
Adding hundreds of beds will completely destroy any chance for economic development
of our neighborhood. There are numerous businesses here, struggling as it is to keep the
doors open and pay the property and sales taxes as it is. Our area, which includes some
of the city’s most precious historic gems: The Pioneer’s Cemetery, The Carnegie Library,
etc., has also one of the highest crime rates in the State. These high-density shelters
which are being promulgated are the cause, not the answer.
The idea of ‘allowing the operators of these shelters to enter into contracts to reserve beds
outside of our 10-mile radius’ is outrageous. We should not be IMPORTING
HOMELESS FROM OTHER CITY JURISTICTIONS! Each city should take care of
their own.
Item 4
Trash receptacles provided within the property boundaries will not help the
neighborhood. The trash left behind by the homeless is on our property, and on the street
in front of our businesses, not on the Campus. How do you plan to have the human waste
and the trash created which is now all over the streets and will be made worse by this
plan taken care of?
Item 5
The provision of 2 toilets to be used during the day on HSC property is an inadequate
answer to the problem of 1000 homeless loiterers. They will still defecate on our
properties and on the sidewalks day and night just as they do now.
Item 6
The HSC plan to maintain the areas within 25 feet of the abutting property lines, etc.
This is inadequate. As a resident and business owner, I pick up the trash left by the
homeless every day, and we re 2 blocks from CASS, not 25 feet. Also, what does ‘shall
endeavor to maintain’ actually mean? That is a weak statement. If they cannot do it
now, will they be able to keep the neighborhood decent with 1000 loiterers?
Item 8
Authority to Arrest Agreements are only effective when the police are called. We have
filed the Authority to Arrest with the Phoenix police Department, and the police are still
unable to do anything unless I take action. When I have called, little has happened.
Citations are given if anything. I see people taking their clothes off, defecating,
committing sexual intercourse, smoking drugs, etc., but they move on by the time the
police arrive.
Item 12
The Human Services Campus has not worked with adjacent property owners nor our
neighborhood associations in the past and has ignored our complaints. They have proven
themselves to be terrible neighbors. We do not believe that they will become any better
by getting bigger.
Also, providing contact to the interested p0arties within a half mile is not adequate, two
miles is the minimum that would be necessary, the fallout from the shelters effects the
school districts and the neighborhoods for miles around us.
Item 20
The re-zoning area falls within the Capital Mall Area. How is permission being obtained,
and why have we, the residents, business and neighborhood associations of concern, not
been made aware of meetings in regard to the Capital Mall approval?
September 15, 2020
Mayor Kate Gallego
200 W. Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Dear Mayor Gallego,
We write to express concern regarding the Human Services Campus (HSC) application to
expand its campus in Central Phoenix. HSC recently submitted a special permit rezoning request
to add additional beds and expand the boundaries of its 10-acre campus, which also includes the
Andre House, and would allow for a low-barrier shelter. We recognize the good work of HSC
and the overwhelming challenges related to securing affordable and safe opportunities for those
experiencing homelessness. However, the special permit rezoning request to expand the campus
from 420 beds to 1,000 raises concerns that we feel must first be addressed.
Although large shelters are one potential solution to the problem of homelessness, advocates
have long espoused that the key to connecting individuals with housing is to do so as quickly as
possible and then find ways to offer permanent housing. HSC does not address the ultimate goal
of how to maintain homeless housing independently. This idea of Rapid Housing for those
experiencing homelessness is a short-term solution that brings with it many concerns. To be
specific:
The location is too close to an elementary school;
Unsanitary conditions including the lack of adequate restrooms and showers to account
for the increase in the homeless population;
Severe health concerns, as attested by a Hepatitis A outbreak prior to COVID-19;
Public safety resource concerns;
Public health concerns;
Unknown effect the quality of life in the neighborhood;
Local business owner concerns about security;
The potential for a 1,000-bed shelter to aggravate the sometimes unsafe and unsanitary
conditions in the surrounding area;
REBECCA RIOS
Senator, District 27
602‐926‐3043
rrios@azleg.gov
SENATOR, DISTRICT 27
Arizona State Legislature
1700 W. Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ 85007
REGINALD BOLDING JR.
House Democratic Co‐Whip
Representative, District 27
602‐926‐3132
rbolding@azleg.gov
DIEGO RODRIGUEZ
Representative, DISTRICT 27
602‐926‐3285
rrodriguez@azleg.gov
The prospect that parks in the area which are permanently closed to the neighborhood
will remain so and;
HSC is not governed or overseen by any type of board and doesn’t have metrics to follow
or set up for Health and Safety codes.
The rate of unsheltered homeless in not just a problem for big cities like Phoenix. Longer-term
solutions need to be established which support permanent and independent housing for the
unsheltered, in addition to short-term rapid housing options.
While we encourage and appreciate the efforts of HSC to provide shelter options for the
unsheltered, but we are also concerned about how the proposed expansion will further impact the
neighborhood. As homelessness continues to rise in times of COVID-19 and we see more
families and individuals seeking sustainable shelter. Now is the time to act and call for
accountability in the current HSC plan to shelter the unsheltered.
We hope that you will take our comments into consideration, as well as those of the many
citizens who have also expressed their thoughts and concerns on this subject. We are committed
to helping solve these tough challenges so please reach out to us if there is something we can
help with on our end.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Rios
Senator, District 27
Reginald Bolding Jr.
House Democratic Co‐Whip
Representative, District 27
Diego Rodriquez
Representative, District 27
Letter to HSC Legal Counsel,
City of Phoenix (COP) Mayor,
City Council, and Central City Village Planning Committee
Page 1 of 5
from Ian Francis, Katherine Roxlo
Subject: HSC Special Permit
Application No. Z-SP-2-19
Draft Stipulations
September 21, 2020
Paul Gilbert, Beus Gilbert McGroder PLLC
pgilbert@beusgilbert. com
Andy Jochums, Planning Consultant
ajochums@beusgilbert.com
Mayor Kate Gallego
mayor.gallego@phoenix.gov
Vice Mayor Betty Guardado
council.district.5@phoenix.gov
Council Member Thelda Williams
council.district.1@phoenix.gov
Council Member Jim Waring
council.district.2@phoenix.gov
Council Member Debra Stark
council.district.3@phoenix.gov
Council Member Laura Pastor
council.district.4@phoenix.gov
Council Member Sal DiCiccio
council.district.6@phoenix.gov
Council Member Michael Nowakowski
council.district.7@phoenix.gov
Council Member Carlos Garcia
council.district.8@phoenix.gov
Central City Village Planning Committee
CentralCityVPC@phoenix.gov
Sarah Stockham, Staff Planner
sarah.stockham@phoenix.gov
Subject: Human Services Campus (HSC) Special Permit Application No. Z-SP-2-19
Suggested Revisions to Draft Stipulations
Dear Mr. Gilbert, Mr. Jochums, Phoenix Mayor, City Council, and Central City Village Planning
Committee (CCVPC):
During the CCVPC meeting on July 13, 2020, Human Service Campus (HSC) neighbors described
adverse conditions they have had to endure and requested those conditions be abated rather
than add new beds to the facility. Mr. Gilbert, legal counsel for HSC, assured the neighbors that
the permit stipulations would rectify those conditions. We received a letter from Mr. Gilbert on
July 31, 2020, with an attachment labeled “Draft Stipulations Z-SP-22-19-7; 7-31-2020 HSC
Team’s Proposed Stipulations.”
We find the draft stipulations inadequate for the purpose of rectifying our concerns regarding
threats to public safety, public health, and business prosperity caused by conditions at the
campus. While it is apparent that the Campus has disregarded our request to halt any plan to
enlarge the facility, it is particularly offensive that the stipulations include items that could
reduce some of our concerns, but only as part of the plan to enlarge the campus.
We respectfully request that the HSC revise the proposed stipulations so that those items
pertaining to the planned expansion of the facility are clearly distinguished from those items
addressing local public safety, health, and business prosperity concerns. Furthermore, we
request that each of the items purportedly addressing neighbor concerns (e.g., additional
bathrooms, trash cans, cameras, clean-up of streets) be implemented immediately as a show of
good faith to the neighbors.
Letter to HSC Legal Counsel,
City of Phoenix (COP) Mayor,
City Council, and Central City Village Planning Committee
Page 2 of 5
from Ian Francis, Katherine Roxlo
Subject: HSC Special Permit
Application No. Z-SP-2-19
Draft Stipulations
Comments to the draft stipulations are listed below.
Item 2. As part of a permit review process, the City should consider the reduction in number of
beds for the area or a transfer of this facility to another location. This neighborhood has been
abused for too long by actions and inactions of this facility and the City. Research shows that
homeless shelters with greater than 100 beds are typically unsafe (as this one is) and difficult to
control.
HSC along with the COP, County and State, is not able to control the public nuisance, health
risks and safety issues created in the HSC neighborhood with its current 420 shelter beds. All
homeless are asked to leave the facility during the day to look for work. An increase of 580
people sleeping at the facility and then sent out during the day will only result in more people
during the day and night on the nearby streets, and higher threats to the health and safety of
the neighborhood. The current HSC facility is a magnet for people seeking drugs and to prey on
mentally ill or helpless individuals. A larger HSC facility will create a larger magnet. Expansion of
this facility will create inhumane conditions for the homeless and the neighborhoods.
Item 2a-b. By no means should these stipulations be included. In addition to the 1000 beds it
appears the HSC is maneuvering to manage an unlimited supply of low barrier shelter beds in
the area. This was not mentioned in the July 31, 2020 meeting and indicates a lack of honesty
and integrity on the part of HSC. HSC has not adequately managed the 425 beds they currently
oversee. They should not be permitted to manage additional low barrier shelter beds.
Item 2c. Other jurisdictions and organizations should not be allowed to contract for HSC beds
unless they have a reciprocal agreement to shelter Phoenix residents. The HSC mission is to cure
homelessness; the HSC is financing their growth on the backs of this neighborhood. This
neighborhood cannot shoulder all the homeless of the city (much less the county, state or
country). This non-reciprocal policy is exactly what has caused the negative impact to the health
and safety of this neighborhood. It needs to stop. This is not equitable for the city, much less the
neighborhoods nearby. Any people housed from other jurisdictions or organizations should be
charged for the clean-up, health and safety of the neighborhood; jurisdictions and organizations
need to be charged for 24 x 7 police oversight in the neighborhood, clean-up of streets, alleys,
and easements, sanitary cleanup of hazardous waste, food waste, human waste, etc.
Item 3. People of the neighborhood deserve the free use of their streets, alleys, and easements.
Abandonment of roads will create dead end streets more dangerous for the neighborhood and
for people living near the HSC facility. Through-streets are necessary for public safety in the
area and for business prosperity. This seems to be another attempt for HSC to take more public
lands and we request that streets remain public property.
Items 4 and 5. The HSC campus is creating trash, hazardous waste, food waste and human waste
in the streets near its campus simply because of the number of people that come to visit the
facility, stay around before or after visits, stay outside during the day and night time to visit
friends, and commit crimes and do drugs not allowed inside the campus. HSC should provide
Letter to HSC Legal Counsel,
City of Phoenix (COP) Mayor,
City Council, and Central City Village Planning Committee
Page 3 of 5
from Ian Francis, Katherine Roxlo
Subject: HSC Special Permit
Application No. Z-SP-2-19
Draft Stipulations
more trash receptacles, toilets, and clean-up of streets now. Trash receptacles and toilets should
be provided based on engineering design standards for public areas in relation to the number of
people encamped and visiting the area as a result of the HSC location. Maricopa County
Environmental Health Code Chapter XII for Campgrounds regulates water supply, sewage, refuse
receptacles, and toilets for public campgrounds; it includes the number and location of these
facilities in relation to camping and picnic areas. These regulations should be enforced for the
purpose of public health (or a similar health standard should be) within the HSC stipulations.
Two toilets are not sufficient, nor is their location inside HSC acceptable, for all of the people
that encamp in the area. There should be no expectation for people encamped in the streets to
“hold it” until morning. Toilets on HSC property, within their boundaries need to be made
available to the public on a 24 x 7 schedule because their facility creates the crowds of people
drawn to the area.
Item 6. HSC needs to be responsible for maintaining sidewalks, easements, and streets free
from any hazard or accumulation of garbage, debris, etc., throughout the entire area impacted
by their presence. This includes the entire area with encampments in the area and certainly
further than 25 feet from their property.
Item 7. Perhaps HSC should be open for public use of bathrooms, toilets, showers, and water
fountains inside the facility. Perhaps some beds should be held for COP police 24 hours each day.
Item 8. COP needs to have authority to search and arrest on the HSC campus at any time it
deems necessary. How will they access the campus if the facility is closed?
Item 9. Security service is needed for the neighborhood and HSC. Health and safety of the
neighborhood needs to be addressed. Modify this stipulation to include coverage of entire area
with encampments outside the campus. Who will pay for the police, how many police will be on
site at all times? Who will the police report to? If other jurisdictions and organizations are
allowed to contract for beds, they need to pay for the security of the neighborhood.
Item 10. This stipulation should be modified to include camera capture and security for the
entire area with encampments. Will HSC pay for the security cameras and maintain the files?
COP police should have immediate access to the files.
Item 11. More details for the plan need to be stipulated. The number of security personnel, the
location and method of storing security information and transferring that information to the
COP. This plan should include maintaining a safe and healthy environment around the campus
as far away as encampments and mass gatherings extend due to the presence of the campus in
the area.
Item 12. HSC needs to be held accountable for local area public health, safety and nuisance
conditions because those adverse conditions are there as a result of the HSC. Stipulations
should include metrics with which to assess the success of HSC’s efforts to be a good neighbor
and address neighborhood needs. HSC responsibility needs to cover the entire area impacted
by their presence. Meeting with the HSC has been ineffective and a waste of time for neighbors
seeking a safe and healthy neighborhood.
Letter to HSC Legal Counsel,
City of Phoenix (COP) Mayor,
City Council, and Central City Village Planning Committee
Page 4 of 5
from Ian Francis, Katherine Roxlo
Subject: HSC Special Permit
Application No. Z-SP-2-19
Draft Stipulations
• The COP should create a review board to oversee HSC activities with respect to
maintaining their permit in safe and healthy conditions.
• The facility should not be allowed to remain open if basic health and safety and
nuisance statutes and codes are not met.
• An annual review of permit conditions should be made with option to close the facility if
the facility does not maintain safe and healthy minimum levels for the clients and the
neighborhood.
Item 12 c-d. Community outreach should be led by the COP and COP should be available for
calls and complaints by neighbors 24 x 7. Is a half mile radius large enough? If metrics of public
health and safety cannot be met, the facility should be closed down or reduced in size.
Responsible contact people and phone numbers need to be provided.
Item 12e. The wording for this stipulation needs to be strengthened. HSC needs to be held
responsible for street maintenance, clean up, illegal street feeding, donations, and crime in the
area because those conditions exist due to the HSC location. If these conditions persist, the HSC
campus should be closed, moved, or the number of occupants reduced.
Item 13. Again, the annual report should include metrics and health and safety information.
Number of deaths, violent crimes, fires, drug arrests, etc. in the area needs to be monitored.
Number of people from each municipality, city and organization needs to be documented.
Number of negative exits. Number of fights, people removed, and number of people visiting the
site who can not stay at the facility for various reasons needs to be documented.
Item 14. No low barrier occupancy should be permitted in the area. The area is already critically
overrun. The HSC special permit should be reviewed annually. If the facility is not creating a
healthy and safe environment for clients and/or the neighborhood, the facility should be closed.
Item 15. Who is the developer? In addition to ADA compliance, night lighting should be
provided throughout the neighborhood to reduce criminal activity.
Item 16-19. No comment.
Item 20. Please provide more information to the public about Proposition 207 liabilities and
waivers. Can property owners in the area receive compensation for negative impacts to their
life, liberty and happiness due to the location and increase in number of beds at HSC?
There should be consequences for the HSC if adverse conditions exist, as they have near this
facility for more than 30 years. At the very least, there should be no violations of health, safety,
or neighborhood codes if a facility wishes to be allowed to operate in a neighborhood. Violation
of these codes should be enough justification for a facility to be closed down. That would be the
case for a bar, liquor store, day care facility, Walmart, or any other facility.
Letter to HSC Legal Counsel,
City of Phoenix (COP) Mayor,
City Council, and Central City Village Planning Committee
Page 5 of 5
from Ian Francis, Katherine Roxlo
Subject: HSC Special Permit
Application No. Z-SP-2-19
Draft Stipulations
City of Phoenix, other Maricopa cities, Maricopa County, and the State should work with HSC to
open and expand at other locations. The size of the campus at this location is already negatively
impacting the neighborhood as noted by violent crime statistics, unsanitary conditions, and loss
of businesses.
If the campus continues to rent beds in their facility to other municipalities and organizations,
then the cost of providing a clean, safe, prosperous neighborhood needs to be passed on to
these entities. We do not want that, but at least the neighborhood should not be neglected and
damaged for the benefit of other cities and entities.
Sincerely,
Ian Francis
Katherine Roxlo
813 West Madison Street
7506 N 22nd Place
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phoenix, AZ 85020
cc:
Ed Zuercher, City Manager
ed.zuercher@phoenix.gov
Alan Stephenson, COP Planning Director
alan.stephenson@phoenix.gov
Rebecca Rios, LD27 State Senator
RRios@azleg.gov
Reginald Bolding, LD27 State Representative RBolding@azleg.gov
Diego Rodriguez, LD27 State Representative DRodriguez@azleg.gov
Roberto Frietz, COP Neighborhood Rep
roberto.frietz@phoenix.gov
Madison Pioneers Coalition
madisonpioneerscoalition@gmail.com
From:
Madison Pioneers Coalition
To:
Sarah Stockham; Alan Stephenson
Subject:
Letters to Submit for Oct 12th CCVPC Meeting
Date:
Thursday, October 1, 2020 12:29:29 PM
Attachments:
Downtown Voices Coalition Statement Human Services Campus Permit Request to Increase Shelter Beds
9_22_20.pdf
HSC expansion letter to Mayor Gallego.docx
CASS Letter MN.pdf
Hi, Sarah and Alan
On behalf of the Madison Pioneers Coalition, I am requesting that these letters are inserted
into the information for the October 12th meeting.
All three letters refer to Agenda Item 7, Hearing Case Z-SP-2-19.
One is from Phoenix City Councilmember Michale Nowakowski.
One is from State Senator Rebecca Rios and State Representatives Bolding and Rodriguez.
One is from the Downtown Voices Coalition.
Can these be included in the information provided to all CCVPC Members as they evaluate
the HSC Zoning Request?
Is there a Staff Report being prepared for the Hearing? Can these be included?
And can I get a copy of the staff report?
Thanks
--
Madison Pioneers Coalition
Health and Safety For Our Homes and Businesses
Angela Ojile, President
200 W. Washington St., 11th Floor, Phoenix, Arizona 85003-1611
phoenix.gov/district7
September 23, 2020
To Whom It May Concern,
The Human Services Campus (HSC) remains one of the only homeless shelters of its kind in
all of Maricopa County. Although the HSC provides lifesaving services for hundreds of homeless
residents every day, it is not fair for them, nor the surrounding overburdened neighborhoods and
businesses, to bear the full weight of homeless issues for the Phoenix Metro-area. In order to best
provide equitable and sustainable access to services and resources for homeless residents, a
comprehensive, regional approach is vital.
I have heard countless testimonials from surrounding residents and businesses regarding the
growing amount of garbage, crime, and loss of quality of life they are experiencing. It is long overdue
for their voices to be heard. I am fully supportive of helping homeless residents by providing and
identifying additional resources to help them break the cycle of homelessness, such as increased
access to affordable housing, jobs, treatment for mental and behavioral disorders. However, further
concentration of these issues into such a small, under-served area will not be a sustainable solution.
It is apparent that these issues would not occur in affluent neighborhoods located in other parts
of Phoenix. The current location of the campus is in a predominantly minority and low-income
neighborhood. These residents are hardworking, and a vital part of our community. They deserve to
live in a neighborhood where they feel proud and safe. The discrimination of these communities of
color cannot continue.
After vast consideration and public input, I cannot support the rezoning application of the
Human Services Campus (HSC) for a total 1,000 shelter beds.
Sincerely,
Michael Nowakowski,
City of Phoenix Councilman District 7
Chair, Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee
Michael Nowakowski
Councilmember
District 7
602.262.7492
Fax: 602.534.4816
TTY: 602.495.5810
Council.district.7@phoenix.gov
Downtown Voices Coalition Statement
Human Services Campus Permit Request to Increase Shelter Beds
September 22, 2020
I’m writing on behalf of Downtown Voices Coalition, which was created in 2004 as a community
response to the need for greater neighborhood-focused planning in and around Downtown
Phoenix. The Coalition is composed of a wide range of individuals from neighborhood leaders,
developers, preservation advocates, urban planners, and policy experts. Over the past year we
have held three meetings regarding the current zoning request for an amendment to the
Special Permit to increase the maximum number of shelter beds at the Human Services
Campus (HSC), located at 12th Avenue and Madison Street in downtown Phoenix. During
thoughtful discussion at these meetings it has been clear that this issue lays bare the neglect
of services provided to the neighborhoods adjacent to the campus, and that the City of
Phoenix, Maricopa County, and State of Arizona are all culpable in this neglect.
City of Phoenix
Every Mayor, City Manager, and Council Member has had the opportunity to lift these adjacent
neighborhoods up with additional services, programs, and facilities. To responsibly zone an
intensively difficult use (such as a homeless shelter in a residential neighborhood) requires
added and equally positive benefits to the neighbors and property owners. The City has had 20
years to demonstrate how such a shelter is not a burden on a neighborhood, but rather is a
trade-off for increased municipal services, capital improvements, and increased security
support. Instead, the City has seemingly provided less and less support around the HSC while
wealthier Phoenix neighborhoods receive more, even as they refuse to house our homeless
population in kind. This is selective neglect based on wealth, district, and zip code. It’s a
shameful way for local leaders to treat neighborhoods that the City itself subjected to this
zoning.
The campus is a shining example of how organizations and a community can improve the lives
of our least fortunate. The staff and volunteers at the HSC (e.g., CASS, Andre House, St.
Vincent de Paul, and others) are remarkable in the many services they provide to persons
experiencing homelessness. They should not have been abandoned by elected leaders and had
to advocate and facilitate this zoning process on their own – just as the neighborhoods should
not have been put in the position of having to fight the HSC when it is clearly our elected
leaders who have failed. The abdication of responsibility by City Hall on this matter is
unacceptable and it shows a failure of leadership over two decades. It is not HSC’s
responsibility to provide extra support for local property owners; it is the City’s.
State of Arizona
The State of Arizona is the primary property owner and primary authority for facilitating the
quality of life for all Arizonans. The State has not only neglected to provide adequate funding
for homeless services, it has allowed the egregious deterioration of our State Capitol and
surrounding neighborhoods. While there were some improvements made leading up to
Arizona’s Centennial in 2012, failure to designate an improvement district around the Capitol
Mall and adjacent political core shows a lack of basic pride. The area around our Capitol should
be the pinnacle of what Arizona has to offer its residents and visitors, yet little has been
invested into the adjacent neighborhoods. The land that the State Capitol is built on was
generously donated by Phoenix benefactors and this was once a neighborhood of extreme City
and State pride. Now it is an area where residents and businesses struggle to maintain safety
and quality of living.
Maricopa County
While the County can do very little to help these particular neighborhoods, the inciting issue is
a request to increase the maximum allowable beds at the HSC. We cannot continue to
concentrate this burden solely on one campus in one Council district in one City within the
County’s 9,224 square miles. As the primary physical and mental healthcare provider in the
region and as a government agency with zoning authority, it is clearly time for the County to
establish additional full shelters with wrap-around services and strongly urge cities to match,
on a percentage basis, Phoenix’s funding levels. The nexus of finding solutions to the Valley’s
growing homeless crisis falls mainly upon our County Supervisors.
In summation, our cities must prove that they are not only willing to put significant resources
into homelessness (for example, the City of Phoenix’s $20 million appropriation this year), but
also into the neighborhoods that house homeless care facilities. Without a broad solution, the
City of Phoenix will continue to pit residents and human service organizations against each
other, and certain neighborhoods will continue to live under the pressure created by a vacuum
of places to shelter people. As a majority property owner in the affected area, the State of
Arizona has an increased mandate to help improve the adjacent neighborhood as well as
providing adequate shelter funding to alleviate the burden on Phoenix. Maricopa County has
the ability to decrease the pressure currently placed on the HSC by coordinating with other
municipalities to establish county-wide services facilities and regional funding options.
Two summers – one the hottest in Phoenix history – have passed since the HSC began the
zoning process to amend their Special Permit to add beds. Since then, there have been no
concrete solutions to otherwise accommodate the demand for shelter beds. As our leaders it is
your responsibility to ensure that another year doesn’t pass with the status quo while the
neighborhoods you represent struggle.
Thank you for your attention in this matter. If you have any questions or comments, please do
not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely yours,
Jeff Sherman
Chair, Steering Committee
DVC@downtownvoices.org
cc:
Steering Committee Members, Downtown Voices Coalition
"A community organization working to make Downtown Phoenix sustainable for all through
smart growth, great neighborhoods, vibrant ideas, and honest discussion... "
downtownvoices.org / @downtownvoices / info@downtownvoices.org
September 15, 2020
Mayor Kate Gallego
200 W. Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Dear Mayor Gallego,
We write to express concern regarding the Human Services Campus (HSC) application to
expand its campus in Central Phoenix. HSC recently submitted a special permit rezoning request
to add additional beds and expand the boundaries of its 10-acre campus, which also includes the
Andre House, and would allow for a low-barrier shelter. We recognize the good work of HSC
and the overwhelming challenges related to securing affordable and safe opportunities for those
experiencing homelessness. However, the special permit rezoning request to expand the campus
from 420 beds to 1,000 raises concerns that we feel must first be addressed.
Although large shelters are one potential solution to the problem of homelessness, advocates
have long espoused that the key to connecting individuals with housing is to do so as quickly as
possible and then find ways to offer permanent housing. HSC does not address the ultimate goal
of how to maintain homeless housing independently. This idea of Rapid Housing for those
experiencing homelessness is a short-term solution that brings with it many concerns. To be
specific:
• The location is too close to an elementary school;
• Unsanitary conditions including the lack of adequate restrooms and showers to account
for the increase in the homeless population;
• Severe health concerns, as attested by a Hepatitis A outbreak prior to COVID-19;
• Public safety resource concerns;
• Public health concerns;
• Unknown effect the quality of life in the neighborhood;
• Local business owner concerns about security;
• The potential for a 1,000-bed shelter to aggravate the sometimes unsafe and unsanitary
conditions in the surrounding area;
REBECCA RIOS
Senator, District 27
602-926-3043
rrios@azleg.gov
SENATOR, DISTRICT 27
Arizona State Legislature
1700 W. Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ 85007
REGINALD BOLDING JR.
House Democratic Co-Whip
Representative, District 27
602-926-3132
rbolding@azleg.gov
DIEGO RODRIGUEZ
Representative, DISTRICT 27
602-926-3285
rrodriguez@azleg.gov
• The prospect that parks in the area which are permanently closed to the neighborhood
will remain so and;
• HSC is not governed or overseen by any type of board and doesn’t have metrics to follow
or set up for Health and Safety codes.
The rate of unsheltered homeless in not just a problem for big cities like Phoenix. Longer-term
solutions need to be established which support permanent and independent housing for the
unsheltered, in addition to short-term rapid housing options.
While we encourage and appreciate the efforts of HSC to provide shelter options for the
unsheltered, but we are also concerned about how the proposed expansion will further impact the
neighborhood. As homelessness continues to rise in times of COVID-19 and we see more
families and individuals seeking sustainable shelter. Now is the time to act and call for
accountability in the current HSC plan to shelter the unsheltered.
We hope that you will take our comments into consideration, as well as those of the many
citizens who have also expressed their thoughts and concerns on this subject. We are committed
to helping solve these tough challenges so please reach out to us if there is something we can
help with on our end.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Rios
Senator, District 27
Reginald Bolding Jr.
House Democratic Co-Whip
Representative, District 27
Diego Rodriquez
Representative, District 27
From:
Pat Morlan
To:
Sarah Stockham
Subject:
Objection to the expansion of the Human Services Campus
Date:
Thursday, October 1, 2020 4:12:35 PM
I would like to register an objection to expanding the Human Services Campus – this is coming up for
consideration on Oct 12th at 6 PM. This would create an even greater problem of homelessness in
an area that has a tremendous problem right now. The homeless population is too great in this
particular area to be well served by the agencies in this area, and creating more space for the
homeless to sleep will encourage an even larger population than now with no increase in the ability
to serve the population. In my opinion, increasing the numbers without increasing ALL of the
services does not serve anyone well. And it will put an even greater burden on the residents of the
area who already have multiple problems as a result of the homeless – trash, drugs and drug related
trash, human waste, crime, and much more.
Please do not allow the services to expand unless you are trying to drive out all the residents and
businesses and create a Homeless Island in Phoenix less than a few blocks from the police
department and city offices and Arizona government buildings!!!
Pat Morlan
602-944-4725
jpmorlan@cox.net
From:
K S Roxlo
To:
Mayor Gallego; Council District 1 PCC; Council District 2 PCC; Council District 3 PCC; Council District 4; Council
District 5 PCC; Council District 6 PCC; Council District 7 PCC; Council District 8 PCC; PDD Central City VPC; Sarah
Stockham
Cc:
Ed Zuercher; Alan Stephenson; RRios@azleg.gov; RBolding@azleg.gov; DRodriguez@azleg.gov; Roberto Frietz;
madisonpioneerscoalition@gmail.com; chickman@mail.maricopa.gov; chucris@mail.maricopa.gov;
sellersj@maricopa.gov; district3@mail.maricopa.gov; district5@mail.maricopa.gov; azgov@azgov.com;
epht@azdhs.gov; EnvironmentalHealth@azdhs.gov; Katherine Roxlo; "Ian"
Subject:
Letter to City of Phoenix, CCVPC, copied to state and county representatives
Date:
Saturday, October 3, 2020 7:22:18 PM
Attachments:
FrancesRoxloLet2HistoryofOpposition to HSCSpecialPermit10-3-20.pdf
FrancisLetAttA COP1985PermitDecisionZA-584-85_ZA585-85.pdf
FrancisLetAttBFederalDevlopGuidelines1997.pdf
Attached is the first part of a letter being sent to the City of Phoenix for submittal in the special
permit file for the HSC expansion.
The Letter has three attachments: A, B, and C.
Attachment C will be sent separately but please include it as part of this letter. It is very important. I
hope everyone will read it.
Thank you,
Katherine Roxlo and Ian Francis
Phoenix residents
Letter to City of Phoenix (COP) Mayor,
Phoenix City Council, and
Central City Village Planning Committee
1 of 10
from Ian Francis, Katherine Roxlo
Subject: History of Permit Opposition
Application No. Z-SP-2-19
October 3, 2020
Mayor Kate Gallego
mayor.gallego@phoenix.gov
Vice Mayor Betty Guardado
council.district.5@phoenix.gov
Council Member Thelda Williams
council.district.1@phoenix.gov
Council Member Jim Waring
council.district.2@phoenix.gov
Council Member Debra Stark
council.district.3@phoenix.gov
Council Member Laura Pastor
council.district.4@phoenix.gov
Council Member Sal DiCiccio
council.district.6@phoenix.gov
Council Member Michael Nowakowski
council.district.7@phoenix.gov
Council Member Carlos Garcia
council.district.8@phoenix.gov
Central City Village Planning Committee
CentralCityVPC@phoenix.gov
Sarah Stockham, Staff Planner
sarah.stockham@phoenix.gov
Subject:
History of Impact to Neighborhoods, Opposition to Large Homeless Shelter
and City of Phoenix Promises
Human Services Campus (HSC); Southwest Corner of 11th Avenue and Jackson Street
Phoenix, Arizona
Special Permit Application No: Z-SP-2-19
Dear Phoenix Mayor, City Council, and Central City Village Planning Committee (CCVPC):
The purpose of this letter is to remind city personnel of some of the promises made to communities near the
HSC for clean-up, safety, and reduction of human service facilities in their area. We wish to remind the COP how:
•
numerous times, residents near the HSC have complained and asked the City to maintain health,
safety and quality of life in their neighborhoods because of a large shelter in the area;
•
many times, the COP has promised to reduce the number of human services in the area;
•
The City, County and State have used the HSC (and its predecessors) to pass the buck on their
obligation to provide for people in need;
•
the area was not the center of the homeless crisis until COP pushed homeless into this
neighborhood;
•
during previous permit application periods, the COP cleaned the area up and provided sufficient
police oversight to decrease crime and unhealthy conditions; after permit approval, the area
returned to its unsafe and unhealthy condition.
Please read this letter and the attachments; note that the situation has not changed, except perhaps for the
worse. The same problems have plagued the area for 35 years as a result of COP and/or shelter facility
actions and inactions. The State and County also have responsibility for the homeless and human services
needed in our state and so they are copied on this letter in hopes they will step up and provide support.
In 1984, the City of Phoenix permitted a vacant lot in a portion of the current HSC, to allow homeless
people to congregate. The original City permit was for one year. The 1984 permit is essentially the
beginning of what has become the HSC.
In 1985, two permits were approved without opposition present to continue the 1984 COP permit and
expand the area of the permit (Attachment A). In the findings of fact, it states: “the initiation of operation
of a homeless shelter at this location has been done in a fashion so as not to create an adverse impact
upon surrounding areas.” Robert Fenley spoke on behalf of the City of Phoenix and said he was the
Letter to City of Phoenix (COP) Mayor,
Phoenix City Council, and
Central City Village Planning Committee
2 of 10
from Ian Francis, Katherine Roxlo
Subject: History of Permit Opposition
Application No. Z-SP-2-19
October 3, 2020
coordinator for the homeless project. “He [Robert Fenley] noted this is the final phase of that project. The
first phase has been placed for approximately one year.” He also estimated that about 220 beds would be
placed at the site.
In 1985, separately, the Legislative Government Mall Commission (LGMC) was established and consisted
of representatives from the City, County, State and Federal governments. The purpose of this commission
was to “develop and maintain a comprehensive long-range plan for the development of the Government
Mall area.” This includes the subject area. Public participation was extensive in 1985 and it elicited concerns
of those living and working in the area. These concerns were “transformed into a set of goals and objectives
for future development. The Government Mall Urban Design Plan was subsequently adopted by the
Governmental Mall Commission in June of 1989.” These goals and objectives were carried forward into the
1990’s and essentially remain unchanged (LGMC, 1997). Based on the initial long-range plan and public
comments, in June 1997, the Commission established the Capital District Development Guidelines,
establishing criteria for the review and approval of development proposals within the Governmental Mall
boundaries.
Capital District Development Guidelines are outlined in the 1997 LGMC report as agreed upon by State,
County, and City officials and the public (Attachment B). The purpose of the Development Guidelines is:
•
To present the expectations of the Government Mall Commission in reviewing future development
proposals.
•
Establish criteria for review and approval of development proposals.
The Goals and Objectives of the development guidelines include (parts bolded for emphasis):
•
Plan and design an environment that will discourage crime, provide alternative location(s) for
the homeless outside the area, and discourage land uses and conditions which cause high noise
levels or emit noxious odors.
•
Make the area more attractive and pleasant for residents, workers, and visitors.
•
Improve the economic vitality of the area by making the area more interesting and dynamic.
Planning and Development Concepts included (parts bolded for emphasis):
•
Future land uses should be developed in a manner that has a positive impact on neighboring uses.
•
Open space in the area should be designed to preserve, enhance, and increase its use by the public.
•
The concentration of homeless services within the area should be reduced.
In 1989, an application was submitted to the City of Phoenix Planning Department to allow a charity dining
hall/homeless shelter …; and 2) a residential use in an A-1 Industrial Zoning District. The applicant operator
was identified as Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS) and the owner was listed as the City of Phoenix
and Maricopa County (COP, 1990).
In 1990, the final zoning hearing was held on November 1 at a meeting of the Board of Adjustment.
Comments were made by members of the City Board of Adjustment, COP Planning Department, and
citizens of the City of Phoenix (Attachment C). In opening comments, the Vice Chairman of the Board, Mr.
Micou, stated (text bolded for emphasis) that “The burden of proof is on the applicant, specifically to
show that the use covered by the permit and the manner of conducting the use, and any building that is
involved, will not be detrimental to persons residing or working in the vicinity, to adjacent property, to
Letter to City of Phoenix (COP) Mayor,
Phoenix City Council, and
Central City Village Planning Committee
3 of 10
from Ian Francis, Katherine Roxlo
Subject: History of Permit Opposition
Application No. Z-SP-2-19
October 3, 2020
the neighborhood, or the public welfare in general, and the use will be in full conformity to conditions,
requirement, or standards prescribed by or pursuant to the Zoning Ordinance.”
The City Planner stated “… the shelter and outdoor area meet all health codes. … … I have never seen the
neighborhood so clean. I don’t know if it was cleaned up just for this hearing to present a good face. … I
would only presume that we can assume the same level of neighborhood maintenance will continue.”
Mary Orton, Executive Director of CASS spoke about increased police protection in the area and
sanitation services, including garbage pick-up. One point that she made clear was “I think if all services for
the homeless are concentrated between 7th Avenue to 15th Avenue, and Madison Street to downtown
Phoenix, we are going to see a neighborhood that is overloaded unfairly with this problem.” She
expressed a hope that homeless services would be distributed county wide rather that concentrated in
this one spot.
Mr. Jim Moorland, President of Electric Supply, said “no governmental agency has really lived up to the
problem that exists, to the magnitude [of the homelessness in Phoenix]. The City of Phoenix uses CASS to
“pass the buck.” … … “they’re hiding behind CASS to waive their duty to address the “hundreds of people
who are on the street.”
Members of the public who opposed the permit application spoke next. Donna Schober, Chair of the City
of Phoenix Historic Preservation Commission said “the large transient and migrating population served
by the CASS Shelter and other facilities in this area is having an adverse impact on the Woodland Historic
District and other historic properties within the immediate vicinity.” She cited a disproportionate number
of requests for demolition in the area due to “economic hardship” and “arson.” She said her commission
was told “there is little hope for a reasonable rate of return on properties in this district… maintenance
costs have increased dramatically due to crime and vandalism. The increase in crime and vandalism is
attributed to the … … large transient and migrating population … … in the immediate area.” Based on
their evaluation of property values, demolition requests, and a lack of construction certificates “the Historic
Preservation Commission concluded that the concerns brought to us by the residents and property owners
are legitimate. Ones we must listen to before it is too late. We believe we are seeing a beginning of a very
dangerous trend which we are obligated to alert you to and alert the rest of the City as well. It seems
clear to us that the transient and migrating population being served by the CASS shelter or attracted by
the CASS shelter or related services in this area is impacting this historic district adversely and negatively
impacting the ability of the property owners to preserve their historic properties.”
Bonnie Towles, Executive Director of the Capitol Mall Association spoke next. She said “members of the
Capitol Mall have studied this situation seriously. … we have looked at the impact of the shelter. We have
attempted to array for you a number of statistics to prove that impact not just from a sociological point of
view, but from a police and crime statistics, from fire statistics, by impact on the State Capitol Mall… Mr.
Atonna [Peter Atonna, Deputy Director of COP Planning Department] said that the location of the shelter
has been a catalyst for other activities, which continue to increase the intensity of the population of
homeless in the area … … at least 13 … … ancillary agencies … … located just along Madison alone. … [All
but St Vincent DePaul] came to the area after CASS.” “If you look at the CASS budget, you will see the
number of municipalities contributing to their budget. Why do you think those people do that? Because
it’s much easier to send their homeless to CASS, than it is to begin to develop shelters in their own
area….” On behalf of the Capitol Mall Association she recommended that the CASS shelter be sized down
to a 50-person shelter, a number that “is still considered a large size anywhere else in the country.” She
continued, “I got involved in this in 1986 when a young 6-year old child was sodomized and murdered,
Letter to City of Phoenix (COP) Mayor,
Phoenix City Council, and
Central City Village Planning Committee
4 of 10
from Ian Francis, Katherine Roxlo
Subject: History of Permit Opposition
Application No. Z-SP-2-19
October 3, 2020
brutally murdered by a transient from the CASS shelter, who was a known child offender and molester
and who had lived there for some months. That was 1986. In 1988 and 1989, a Mr. McCume roamed our
neighborhood and north central Phoenix and murdered and raped three women. He also was a resident
off and on of CASS.” She mentioned other criminal acts and police reports for the area. She continued “Mr.
Brookhart even remarked on the bus, he’d never seen it so clean and you won’t see it that clean again
unless we keep these proceedings going or unless the Grand Prix is on. “She showed photographs of
damaged properties and bodies she had to walk over. She said “I’m incensed that we’re constantly led to
believe that we’re hysterical about this. If that was your neighborhood how would you feel? Wouldn’t
you be a little incensed?”
Two lawyers with offices in the area (Joe Aboedeely and Robert Swan) supported the Capitol Mall
Association recommendation of scaling down the size of the shelter. Comments included: “I feel that the
Capitol Mall Association’s request for the reduction of residents sheltered at the … site … is more than fair
and reasonable. … … It is unfair to expect, however, that we continue to absorb an attempt to serve
homeless and transient people from throughout Arizona.” His final point was about “responsibility and
liability.” Joe Aboedeely said “liability … …will arise for public nuisance when one person’s acts set in
motion a force or chain of events resulting in the invasion. I submit to you, members of the board, that
we have a problem here and I submit to you that the CASS shelter is the problem. I submit to you that it
should be dwindled down to 50 and I submit to you that the use permit should not be extended as long as…
…suggested.”
Mr. Ed Bull, a representative for CASS said “… we wholeheartedly hope that every governmental entity,
not just the City of Phoenix, but other cities and the County and the State, Federal government all work
together to help solve this big picture problem.” CASS’ budget at that time came from federal
government (21%), state government (10%), various cities and the county (44%), and 26% from private
donations. “CASS not only has gone out and encouraged other cities to open their shelters and conduct
their programs, but they have said ‘folks, until you open your own shelter, send us a few bucks to help us
out, so we can provide services to all of these people.’” He said it is hard to believe that other providers
in the area are innocent, when CASS, who brings “4 or 5, or 600 people a night … … off the street and
insist that they get themselves enrolled in programs to get their lives back together are [sic] the one that is
to blame for the problems that the neighborhood has talked about.”
Mrs. Helene Threadgill of University Park, part of the Oakland University Park Association, spoke for the
Oakland University Park Association. She said “You must say no to any further homeless activity in our
Capitol Mall and historic districts. This includes the CASS use permit before you. Not because CASS has
failed in their efforts to help homeless families, or single people, but because our shelter has been, since
it opened in 1984, and I say our shelter because it is all of ours, it has been a magnet for all of the other
homeless people from all over the state. CASS is and has been from the start, just what its initials
indicate, Central Arizona, not Phoenix, Shelter Services. … … CASS was designed to serve self-motivated
homeless families and single people. We must conscientiously recognize that it is the other homeless… ….
that has caused our shelter to fail. We must not only move it to a non-residential rural area, but we must
not allow the other homeless to ever again, do to another neighborhood, what they have done to our
Capitol Mall area.”
Mr. Paul Spears spoke next. He submitted 400 signatures on a petition requesting that the use permit be
denied. He mentioned that some people who were part of the Madison business group did not support the
permit application. He indicated that CASS was not a good neighbor, that a few good things had
Letter to City of Phoenix (COP) Mayor,
Phoenix City Council, and
Central City Village Planning Committee
5 of 10
from Ian Francis, Katherine Roxlo
Subject: History of Permit Opposition
Application No. Z-SP-2-19
October 3, 2020
happened recently (at that time) because neighbors had forced the issue. “The fact that a few good
things have happened recently, and that some of the stipulations have begun to take affect recently uh
might obscure the fact that the problem is not solved.” [CASS is a] “magnet.” … … it continues to draw
from all parts of our metropolitan area, as well as, other parts of the state. In fact some indications are
that it draws from … … outside … … [the state] as well.”… … “CASS has had 6 years to solve some of the
problems that exist in the area and what has it done during that period of time? It has multiplied itself
almost 500 percent…. We started out with 220 now, we’re pushing a thousand.” On behalf of property
owners, he said “We cannot accept a 5-year renewal, that is just unbelievable. … …. It’s like a prison
sentence to us… …. [We will be restricted in our actions to the point that] “you might as well not own
your property, you can’t do anything with it. You are sure not going to be able to get anybody to buy it or
develop it.” … … “we have had enough. … … We simply cannot wait and hope that the administrative
actions of various boards, committees, and commissions, governmental agencies are going to come to our
rescue.”
Near the end of the meeting Ms. Towles said CASS gets many people “referred to them by the County
hospitals and the jails for people who are released from jail and have no place to go and end up at CASS,
you will realize that they then refer those people out in turn because they cannot cope with many of
them.” … …. “by ’84 they were already … …admitting a large segment of their population was so violent
that they couldn’t deal with them. But what did they do? And what did the City do? … … they kicked
them out. And interestingly enough, they ended up in the lot across the street…. …we need you to reduce
that population to the point where it can be managed both by CASS and by the neighborhood.”
Mr. Coppersmith, a member of the committee reiterated: “even then once they are out of the program,
even though they are no longer receiving services at CASS, then we have a neighborhood problem that we
have to deal with the violent population that’s not necessarily in CASS anymore.” Ms. Towles said
“Right. They were brought to the area by CASS and many of them were previous CASS residents.” Mr.
Coppersmith went on to say “it sounds … … like we have another problem where we know that people
who were refused admission or expelled from the program … … are still a problem for your
neighborhood.” Ms. Towles said “Absolutely.” She continued “these people who are kicked out “know
the system, they know there’s people down there they can deal drugs with and do other kinds of stuff
with…. “
Chairman Alvord of the committee said “it appears to me that the underlying problem that we have here
is a proliferation of numerous social services within this geographical area….“ He asked ”What has been
done and what can be done to generate a long term plan that could possibly reduce the number of social
services in this area?” Mr. Brookhart of the COP Planning Department said the COP “is aware of the need
for what I call a strategic or implementation type plan for the 1989 Regional Partnership and Homeless
Valley of the Sun Mag Plan, which in various slight modifications is being used by most of the agencies in
the Valley to deal with the homeless issue. The Mag Plan sets forth a framework for how to set up and
operate various types of facilities necessary to deal with the homeless problems. There is no
implementation strategy as far as site selection, as far as funding.” Mr. Alvord continued “We need to
spread the services out to different geographical regions and let other people accept some of the
responsibility… …. I know that’s an easy statement but it’s a fact, and without a plan we’re going to
continue the way that we’re progressing right now. … … “the City has got to take some measures to start
providing some type of regional centers and pulling away some of the proliferation social services in this
area.” Ms. Towles asked to speak and said “there are three plans already on the book…. We don’t need
any more plans, we need implementation and that was the point that Mr. Killiam was here to make, that if
Letter to City of Phoenix (COP) Mayor,
Phoenix City Council, and
Central City Village Planning Committee
6 of 10
from Ian Francis, Katherine Roxlo
Subject: History of Permit Opposition
Application No. Z-SP-2-19
October 3, 2020
you do not force this issue, those plans will never be implemented.” Ms. Towles made a plea for creating
several regionalized centers for homeless facilities and services. There was a stipulation suggested that
the homeless shelter population at the HSC be reduced through attrition to 50 people. Ms. Jones, of the
board of Adjustment, said homeless people were being transported into the Phoenix area and then
shopped out because of Phoenix’s reputation for having open arms. “They were coming from Texas, they
were coming from California… I’m just curious if [it is not] because we are developing a reputation for
having a large population and offering a lot of these services.”
Ms. Orton of CASS, said “there was a survey done before CASS opened … … by Phoenix South Community
Mental Health Center … … that counted 1831 people in that area on the street before we were open.” Ms
Towles said “that is not a true count. The reason the people were in the Capitol Mall at all, and this is
documented… … they created an imaginary line at 7th Avenue and when some of their Board members
developed a downtown crime task force, they pushed each and all of the homeless from Central and
downtown, that’s documented in newsletters as well and … … over across that imaginary line into the
Governmental Mall and they ended up in Library Park. The count on Library Park was less than 200
people… … As for Tent City, those people were imported from the riverbeds and elsewhere if you really
want the long history and politics of this situation. But the point is, we never had that number in our
immediate area, never. That study [referred to by Ms. Orton] went all the way down to Broadway and
incorporated a vast number of riverbeds and other places, and those people were eventually imported
into our neighborhood.”
The Capitol Mall Association asked that the shelter be reduced to 50 beds through attrition and that the
permit be reviewed every 6 months. They also asked that the outdoor area be closed permanently, and
that CASS provide the COP Police a check-in sheet and that people with alcohol, drug addiction or mental
health problems be identified. Ms. Orton of CASS said that would be problematic “We have contractual
relationships with the City of Phoenix which is very interested in seeing us reopen that outdoor area, …
…. They wanted us to increase the number of people we service, not decrease it. That is the same with
the DES (Department of Economic Security). We have a contract with the Maricopa County that sets
minimum units of service that we provide. … … If we went down to 50 [people]… … it would put us in
violation of virtually every contact that I can think of that we have., because we do commit to serving a
certain number of people… …” She also mentioned that they do not collect information about alcoholism,
drug problems at the entry point so they would not be able to provide that information.
Mr. Coppersmith of the COP Planning Department Board of Adjustment said “The City has an obligation
to this neighborhood” to set up another separate regional facility. “A number of actors have the
opportunity to step in and provide the other regional shelters and address what is a regional problem to
provide the second and third tiers that have never been provided once the City took the initial step in ’84. …
… The City can’t on the one hand go to CASS and say reopen the outdoor area, in fact, increase the
population and at the same time not provide the police and safety services that are needed in the
neighborhood to deal with the problem that has been created…. … This is a regional problem that is being
borne the brunt of by a particular neighborhood…. … CASS is necessary. … … But the City has to understand
that you can’t just open up the shelter and provide particular services that’s being done. … … There’s a
need to address the problems of this neighborhood because they’re being asked to shoulder more than
their fair share.”
Mr. Micou, on the City board, asked that there be some discussion before the final vote for the application
permit was made. He said “I guess I have to come down on the side of the neighborhoods here… … I felt
Letter to City of Phoenix (COP) Mayor,
Phoenix City Council, and
Central City Village Planning Committee
7 of 10
from Ian Francis, Katherine Roxlo
Subject: History of Permit Opposition
Application No. Z-SP-2-19
October 3, 2020
like they have a right to enjoy their substantial property rights and peace and I feel like these folks have
been thrust upon them by our City fathers. In 1984, in their wisdom, the shelter and I’m not sure that the
Mayor and Council at that time understood the total import of the decision that they made.” He said he
felt that “our City fathers and elected representatives need to review and underscore the decision that
was made six years ago relative to the location and size and the magnitude of the shelter and the impact
on this community. … … I can’t fully buy the argument that if the use permit is not granted, that
conditions will become worse in the neighborhood because the homeless will continue to congregate
there because of other supported facilities there… … I feel like the citizens have a right to enjoy the
property rights that are guaranteed to them under the law, and I feel that their rights have been severely
compromised by perhaps maybe just the magnitude and size of what the facility has become…. “
Mr. Smith of the City board said “I’m not going to be able to support the motion either, and the reason
I’m not going to support the motion is I feel that there has been a load placed on this area that should
never have been there to start with because some agencies of government, some levels of government
have been malfeasance in carrying out their responsibility and not done them and passed the buck down
to the City in one location. I think it is wrong and I cannot support it because I think, again, that the
citizens of that community should have the right to their property and the protection of it.”
Ms. Jones, also on the City board, said “I think one of the pivotal points on this is the impact to the
neighborhood versus the need for the existing shelter to serve the homeless and not to attract an
increasing transient population, and though there may be some problems with trying to reduce that
population number, it’s certainly not a perfect solution but it might start the momentum back in the other
direction to try to give that neighborhood a chance to have the enjoyment of their property…. “
Mr. Smith, on the COP board, said “I think there’s a lot of people coming into here because of the MAG
center or regional center and I think we should let them go back to Mesa and Glendale, or wherever town
or city they come in to [sic] and let those cities take on some of the responsibility. As long as we allow them
to all collect here and allow that population to grow, they’re going to come from all over the state, right
here. And they’re not only going to come from all over the state, they’re going to come from other states
and come here, and collect here and we’re going to accept bigger and bigger and a bigger problem. I think
we’ve gotta start putting some limitations on what comes there. “
The final vote that passed included a stipulation that the CASS shelter would house not more than 400
shelter beds through May 1, 1991; and then after May 1, 1991 until the expiration of the use permit on
November 30, 1991, a maximum of 200 beds would be allowed. The vote also included a stipulation that
the outdoor area remain closed (that had been used for camping).
In 2001, the citizens of COP approved an Affordable Housing and Homeless Shelter bond. Bond funds
included funding for one additional shelter north and one additional shelter south of the HSC. These
facilities were never constructed, primarily due to neighborhood objections. In 2005 an 80-bed facility
and a 24-bed facility were approved north of Camelback Road. A 200-bed facility was never pursued or
constructed south of HSC.
In 2003, the COP Council approved a special permit to allow human services to be combined into what is
now the HSC at the subject location. The applicant was the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and the
owner was identified as Maricopa County. Pieces of property within the facility were documented to be
owned by COP and Maricopa County.
Letter to City of Phoenix (COP) Mayor,
Phoenix City Council, and
Central City Village Planning Committee
8 of 10
from Ian Francis, Katherine Roxlo
Subject: History of Permit Opposition
Application No. Z-SP-2-19
October 3, 2020
In March 2006, citizens of Phoenix approved an $85 million bond to provide affordable housing, revitalize
neighborhoods, and develop “shelters for the homeless.” Another shelter was never constructed.
On August 16, 2017, an open community meeting was held in “response to city wide concerns … … about
the homeless population in neighborhoods and the negative impact to the quality of life for the residents
and businesses.” Presenters of information included: The City of Phoenix Human Services Department,
HSC, CASS, and the City of Phoenix Police Department. A total of 144 comments were submitted from 42
neighborhoods and seven of the eight City Districts. Specifically, concerns were voiced that the City of
Phoenix and HSC service providers were not responding to city wide concerns, frustrations, and inquiries
about the negative impact to the quality of life that the homeless population has on residents and
businesses in nearby neighborhoods.
A document was prepared to inform homeless service providers, municipalities, and other interested
parties of the weight of the problem, and how the impact of the homeless in neighborhoods has become as
critical as the homeless issue itself (Homeless and Our Neighborhoods, 2017; link:
http://www.phxrevitalization.org/homeless/HomelessMtgSummary2017(rev).pdf
Of the 144 comments, the top three issues expressed were:
•
Safety – Perceptions of not feeling safe and secure
•
Blight – Trash, litter, dumpster diving, etc.
•
Crime – Theft, breaking and entering, trespassing, pan handling, loitering, etc.
The document was delivered to the Mayor, city council members, HSC, CASS, United Way, St. Vincent de
Paul, and other interested parties. The document was also made available on line.
Concluding statements by the community organizing team and members of the public included:
•
Resident concerns should have the same value as concerns for the homeless.
•
The community does “not support additional buildings or housing units at the downtown Human
Services Campus.”
•
The goal of the conversation was twofold: to improve the quality and quantity of services for the
homeless and; to minimize the impact of homelessness on neighborhoods.
Other specific concerns voiced by individuals in the community about health and safety near the HSC
included:
•
The neighborhood closest to the HSC was being invaded by homeless people, trespassing,
encamping, using alleys as bathrooms, dumping over trash cans, breaking into homes and cars,
using and selling drugs, leaving needles and other litter, feces and urinary discharges, nakedness,
openly engaging in sex, stealing, and shouting obscenities,
•
Residents were unable to let children play at the parks due to crime and nuisance activities.
•
Residents unable to have grandchildren visit them at home because it is not safe in their house or
yard.
•
Children cannot walk to school in the neighborhoods nearby.
•
The area is not a safe place to live work and play.
•
Wine bottles, toilet paper, human waste, pill bottles, drugs in streets, alleys, and on private
property.
•
Mosquitos, odor
Letter to City of Phoenix (COP) Mayor,
Phoenix City Council, and
Central City Village Planning Committee
9 of 10
from Ian Francis, Katherine Roxlo
Subject: History of Permit Opposition
Application No. Z-SP-2-19
October 3, 2020
•
Neighborhood by HSC had the highest number of registered sex offenders in the state because the
State of Arizona drops them off at the HSC, although, the HSC does not accept sex offenders.
•
The State of Arizona drops off paroled inmates at the HSC and they have nowhere to go, no
facilities to accept them.
•
Faith groups provide meals and food on the streets but this food ends up as trash in the
neighborhood.
•
Larger police presence and enforcement of laws needed on regular basis.
Separately, on October 4, 2017, Maricopa County deeded the Human Services Campus, including all the
real property and tenements, to Human Services Campus, Inc. The property (identified as four parcels for a
total of 11.2405 acres) was granted to Human Services Campus, Inc., “for the sole purpose of providing
facilities and social services directly related to, or ancillary to, the homeless population of Maricopa County
and other similarly situated persons….” The deed was signed by representatives of Maricopa County, the
City of Phoenix, and Human Services Campus, Inc.
IN CONCLUSION
The Human Services Campus (HSC) located at 204 S. 12th Ave. is responsible for creation of a horrible,
inhumane nuisance that the City, County and State have known about for decades. The City should take
this permit review opportunity to decrease the allowable number of beds there.
Property owners, and people living and working in the neighborhoods near the HSC overwhelmingly
oppose any expansion at the HSC. The current HSC is a public nuisance. It creates an offense to the senses
and obstructs the free use of property for the comfort and enjoyment of life, and for business prosperity
for an entire community, including numerous nearby neighborhoods. The facility causes a situation that
is dangerous to the health and safety of people in the area including the homeless.
This letter documents 35 years of failure to address this health and safety risk in the middle of an otherwise
aspiring, historic community. Despite frequent and continuous notifications to City, County, State and
Federal officials, those officials have failed to perform their legal duty to correct this public nuisance. The
only time any mitigation is done is at permit renewal times, when all eyes are upon it.
During those same 35 years, City, County, State, and Federal government officials have promised to make a
positive change in the area via their written and oral statements in City documents including public review
board meetings, permit documents, and published area development guideline documents. However,
these promises/documents have gone unheeded.
The “one location for all human service needs” philosophy is unsuccessful in other communities and it is
unsuccessful here. The logic seems to be that it’s better to continue to ignore one grossly affected,
disenfranchised neighborhood than to face dealing with this by establishing other service centers where
needed. Distributed services not only minimize the impact on a single neighborhood, but are far more
accessible and better accepted by those served. Furthermore, if you attended to your duties in this
neighborhood with sufficient police and cleanup (as you do when the permit is under review), other
neighborhoods would not be so justified in fighting to keep a similar, smaller facility out of their
neighborhood.
Letter to City of Phoenix (COP) Mayor,
Phoenix City Council, and
Central City Village Planning Committee
10 of 10
from Ian Francis, Katherine Roxlo
Subject: History of Permit Opposition
Application No. Z-SP-2-19
October 3, 2020
We care about homeless persons and strongly support more beds and increased services. Expanding this
location is not the way to do it. Resident concerns have equal value as concerns for the homeless.
As such, expansion of the special use permit property boundaries and additional beds should not be
granted. The HSC should not be granted even one more bed or 0.01 more acreage just because their facility
has caused to occur a nuisance, unhealthy and unsafe conditions in its surrounding community.
Sincerely,
Ian Francis
Katherine Roxlo
813 West Madison Street
7506 N 22nd Place
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phoenix, AZ 85020
cc:
Ed Zuercher, City Manager
ed.zuercher@phoenix.gov
Alan Stephenson, COP Planning Director
alan.stephenson@phoenix.gov
Rebecca Rios, LD27 State Senator
RRios@azleg.gov
Reginald Bolding, LD27 State Representative
RBolding@azleg.gov
Diego Rodriguez, LD27 State Representative
DRodriguez@azleg.gov
Roberto Frietz, COP Neighborhood Rep
roberto.frietz@phoenix.gov
Madison Pioneers Coalition
madisonpioneerscoalition@gmail.com
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors
chickman@mail.maricopa.gov; chucris@mail.maricopa.gov;
sellersj@mail.maricopa.gov; district3@mail.maricopa.gov;
district5@mail.maricopa.gov
Governor Doug Ducey
azgov@azgov.com
Dr. Cara Christ, State Health and Safety
epht@azdhs.gov; EnvironmentalHealth@azdhs.gov
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - COP Approved Permits 584-85 and 585-85 for COP owned homeless shelter facilities, 1985
Attachment B - Capitol District Development Guidelines, prepared by the Legislative Government Mall
Commission – Phoenix, Arizona, June 1997
Attachment C - Transcript of Final Meeting to Review Application No 518-89-7, by COP Planning
Department, recorded November 1, 1990, at the meeting of the Board of Adjustment.
July 18, 1985
Case No.: 584-85
1. APPROVED - STIPULATION, 2. APPROVED - STIPULA-
TION, 3. APPROVED - STIPULATION 4. APPROVED *
S.
APPROVED - STIPULATIONS
Applicant:
Marvin Andrews (Owner: City of Phoenix)
Subject:
I. USE PERMITS requested for: 1) residential use in
an A-1 industrial sone; 2) charity dining
hall/homeless shelter within the area bounded by
19 Avenue - 20 Street, McDowell Road - Buckeye Road.
II. VARIANCES requested to:
I) reduce the required
parking spaces for a group home/homeless shelter;
2) reduce front, rear and side yard setbacks for a
residential use in an A-I zone; 3) exceed @wampum lot
coverage for residential use in an A-1 zone.
U. :
I. 2) Use Permits required. (II.
1) One space for
each two beds required. (II. 1) Maximum 50% lot
coverage allowed.
Secs. 420-8- 1, 104-A-7-c, 420-C-2, SOO-E-2
Pr.eeises:
1201 - 1211 West Madison
A - 1
Present wert Robert Fenley and Jim Kelly.
There was no opposition present.
DECISION:
1) The request for a residential use in an A-1
industrial zone is approved for a period of four years. 2) The request for a
charity dining hall/homeless snelter within the area bounded by 19th Avenue -
20th .,treet, McDowell Road and Buckeye Road is approved for a period of four
years. 3) The request to reduce the required parking spaces for a group
hone/boneless shelter is approved subject to approval of an off-site parking
plan by the Zoning Administrator. 4) The request to reduce the front, rear and
side yard setbacks for a residential use in an A-1 district is approved.
5) The request to emceed the maximum lot coverage for a residential use in an
A-1 zone is approved for the existing build-s.
FINDINGS OF FACT:
1) In the request for a residential use in an A-1
inaustrial zone, it is found that the initiation of operation of a homeless
shelter at this location has been done in a fashion so as not to create an
adverse impact upon surrounding areas. It
:4 recognLzed that this use,
although unique, is in an area which offers a degree of compatibility not
possible at other locations. 2.1 The request for the .1. harity dining
hall/homeless shelter within tfte area cf the transients and inebriates ordi-
nance is approved based an the fact that th.i L-:IIity is specifically designed
to house and care for persons who may te ass3ciated with the populations who
are the subjects of tn:s ordinance.
AS such, this contributes to assistance in
containing this problez and not to its aggravation.
3) In the request to
reduce the required parking spaces for the hamele s shelter and proposed dormi-
tory, it is found that the subject population is unique as a result of its
income and transient status. Automobile ownership is a relatively minor occur-
rence and subject to providing sufficient parking spaces for staff, resident
and visitor needs, the full ordinance requirements snail be
71
July 18, 1985
Case Mo.: 584-85 (Continued)
excessive in relationship to the actual needs of this property. 4) The request
to reduce setbacks in conjunction with the A-1 zoning district is approved in
recognition of previously existing buildings and characteristic development
within this older area of the City. The building under construction shall
maintain front yard setbacks consistent with the ordinance standards and, in
fact, relief is granted only for the rear building setback which shall be
consistent with adjacent buiLdings and which impact is only internal to the
site which although split by an alley, functions as an entity. 5) The request
to exceed lot coverage for a residential use in an A-1 zone is granted in
recognition of existing buildings on the site. So long as they contribute to
exceeding lot coverage, Variance relief is necessary in that the site functions
as an entity and consists primarily of an open park area. The net result of
this nomeless facility shall be such that it not only provides code required
minimum open space but a substantial amount beyond that appropriate to the
functioning of that facility.
SUMMARY:
Robert Fenley, on behalf of the applicant, said he is
coordinator of the homeless project. He noted this is the final phase of that
project. The first phase has been placed for approximately one year. He said
the site is operated by a broad spectrum of citizens and organizations.
This
phase will provide additional bed space and an activity center with laundry and
shower facilities.
Mr. Atonna noted that he has had no plans to review regarding this request.
Mr. Fenley said there are no facilities on the site tor the preparation of
food, only a dining area to eat pre-prepared food. He said there is a health
clinic and a counseling clinic at the site planned also. They estimate about
220 beds to be placed on the new site.
He said parking isn't necessary because of the people that use this facility.
There is some staff parking on the site and some on the northwest corner of
12th Street and Madison for approximately 30-50 spaces, which is exclusively
for staff. He said there are 60 spaces on 12th Avenue for people who use this
facility.
Jim Kelly, with the City of Phoenix Engineering Department, said the setback
reduction is necessary for the rear yard only. They have also requested a
Variance from Building Safety to build to the property line.
Pr-"-
July 18, 1985
Case No.: )85-85
Applicant:
Subject:
1. APPROVED - STIPULATION, 2. APPROVED - STIPULA-
TION, 3. APPROVED - STIPULATION, 4. APPROVED A
5. APPROVED - STIPULATIONS
Marvin Andrews (Owner: City of Phoenix)
I. USE PERMITS requested for: 1) residential use in
an A-1 industrial zone; 2) charity dining
hall/homeless shelter within the area bounded by
19 Avenue - 20 Street, McDowell Road
Lekeye Road.
II. VARIANCES requested to: 1) reduce the required
parking spaces for a group home/homeless shelter;
2) reduce rear yard setback for a realdential use in
an A-1 zone; 3) exceed maximum lot coverage for
residential use in an A-1 zone. (I.
I & 2) Use
Permits required. (11. 1) One update for each two
beds required. (II. 3) Maximum No% lot coverage
allowed.
Secs. 420-B-1, 109-A-7-c, 420-C-?,
Premises:
1221 West Madison
A-1
Present were Robert Fenley and Jim Kelly.
There was no opposition present.
DECISION:
1) Tte request for a residential use in an A-1
industrial zone is approved tor a period of four years. 2) The request tor a
charity dining hall/homeless shelter within the area bounded by 19th Avenue -
20th Street, McDowell Road and BuLkeye Road is approved for 4 perir 4 of four
years. 3) The request to reduce the required parking spares for a group
home/homeless shelter is approved subject to approval of an off -site parking
plan by the Zoning Administrator. 4) The request to reduce the front, rear and
side yard setbacks for a residential use in an A-1 district is approved.
5) The request to exceed the maximum lot coverage for a residential use in an
A-1 zone is approved for the existing buildings.
FINDINGS OF FACT:
1) In the request for a residential use in an A-1
industrial cone, it is found that the initiation of operation of a homeless
shelter at this location has been done in a fashion so as not to create an
adverse impact upon surrounding areas. It is recognized that this use,
although unique, is in an area which offers 3 degree of eompatibility not
possible at other locations. 2) The request for the charity dining
hall/homeless shelter within the area of the transients and inebriates
ordinance is approved based an the fact that this facility is a specifically
designed to house and care for persons who may be associated with the popula-
tions who are the subjects of this ordinance. As such, this .:ontributes to
assistance in containirg this problem and not to its aggravation. 3) In the
request to reduce the required parking spaces for the homeless shelter an
proposed dormitory, it is found that the subject population is unique as a
result of its income and transient status. Automobile ownership is a relative-
•
ly minor occurrence and subject to providing sufficient parking spaces
July 18, 1985
Case No.: 585-85 (Continued)
for staff, resident and visitor needs, the full ordinance requirements shall be
excessive in relationship to the actual needs of this property. 4) The request
to reduce setbacks in conjunction with the A-1 zoning district is approved in
recognition of previously existing buildings and characteristic development
within this older area of the City. The building under construction shall
maintain front yard setbacks consistent with the ordinance standards and, in
fact, relief is granted only for the rear building setback which shall be
consistent with adjacent buildings and which impact is only internal to the
site wh!ct although split by an alley, functions as an entity. 5) The request
to exceed lot coverage for a residential use in an A-1 zone is granted in
recognition of existing buildings on the site. So long as they contribute to
exceeding lot coverage, Variance relief is necessary in that the site functions
as an entity and consists primarily of an open park area. The net result of
this homeless facility shall be such that it not only provides code required
minimum open space but a substantial amount beyond that appropriate to the
functioning of that facility.
SUMMARY:
Robert Fenley, on behalf of the applicant, said he is
coordinator of the homeless project.
He noted this is the final phase of that
project. The first phase has been placed for approximately one year. He said
the site is operated by a broad spectrum of citizens and organizations. This
phase will provide additional bed space and an activity center with laundry and
shcwer facilities.
Mr. Atonna noted that he has had no plans to review regarding this request.
Mr. Fenley said mere are no facilities on the site for the preparation of
food, only a dining area to eat pre-prepared food. He said there is a health
clinic and a counseling clinic at the site planned also. They estimate about
220 beds to be placed on the new site.
He said parking isn't necessary because of the people that use this facility.
There is some staff parking on the site and some on the northwest corner of
12th Street and Madison for approximately 30-50 spaces, which is exclusively
for staff. He said there are 60 spaces on 12th Avenue for people who use this
facility.
Jim Kelly, with the City of Phoenix Engineering Department, said the setback
reduction is necessary for the rear yard only. They have also requested a
Variance from Building Safety to build to the property line.
* * *
Prepared by: The Legislative Governmental Mall Commission - Phoenix, Arizona June 1997
Capitol District
Development Guidelines
LEGISLATIVE GOVERNMENTAL MALL COMMISSION
The Governmental Mall Commission was established by the Legislature in 1985 in order to develop and maintain a
comprehensive long-range plan for the development of the Governmental Mall area. The Commission is composed of
representatives from State, County and City government as well as from the general public.
Barry Starr, Chairman
Thomas Knapp, Acting Chairman
Senator David Petersen
David Richert
Polly Rosenbaum
Susanne Rothwell
Representative Tom Smith
Members:
Kent Bosworth
LeRoy Brady
John Clements
Frank Dubasik
Jill Herberg-Kusy
State of Arizona
Department of Administration
General Services Division
City of Phoenix
Planning Department
Maricopa County
Department of Planning and Infrastructure Development
Prepared by:
ABLE OF CONTENTS
IST OF FIGURES
History of the Plan
Boundaries
Purpose of the Plan
Goals and Objectives
Planning and Development Concepts
Current Land Use
Proposed Land Use
Circulation
Building Design Guidelines
Development Review Process
Amendment Procedure
Boundary Map
Existing State Buildings
Historic Properties
Land Use Plan
Building Setback Plan
Building Height Plan
Pedestrian Walkways in Surface Parking
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3
3
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4
7
9
10
13
13
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5
6
7
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1
Capitol District Development Guidelines
Map 1 - Boundaries
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The Governmental Mall Urban Design Plan
was subsequently adopted by the Governmental
Mall Commission in June of 1989. The plan
contained guidelines for new development
which assisted the Commission and City staff
in reviewing development proposals in the area.
In 1995, State legislation made a major change
in the boundaries of the Governmental Mall. In
early 1996, the Commission took on the task of
revising the urban design plan in order to: 1)
coincide with the new boundaries, and 2) make
the plan easier for both the public and staff to
use. The 1989 plan was the basis for this
revised document.
History of Planning in the Area
The first major study of the Governmental Mall
area was undertaken in 1957. In 1967, the
Arizona Legislature created a coordinating
committee of representatives from the State,
Federal, City and County governments to
prepare plans for the governmental corridor
along Washington Street from the City-County
complex to the State Capitol. The State, City
and County governments affirmed their support
for a Governmental Mall plan and concept in
1969.
Several early Governmental Mall plans
concentrated on: 1) lining the north side of
Washington Street and the south side of
Jefferson Street with government buildings, and
2) maintaining large tracts of open space
between the two streets creating an open mall
east of the capitol building. (Hence the term,
“Governmental Mall”.)
In 1985, the Legislature created the
Governmental Mall Commission comprised of
representatives from all three jurisdictions as
well as the U.S. Congressional district. As
directed by State law, this Commission
reviewed development plans and initiated an
intensive planning effort for the area. The
Commission hired planning and transportation
consultants who developed plans with the help
of the community and City staff. An extensive
public participation effort elicited the issues and
concerns of those living and working in the
area and transformed them into a set of goals
and objectives for future development.
Boundaries
The Governmental Mall is defined by State law
as the area between 7th and 19th Avenues, from
the Harrison Street alignment on the south to
Van Buren Street Street on the north including
the lots on the north side of Van Buren Street.
(See Map 1 - Boundaries)
2
Capitol District Development Guidelines
C
apitol District
Development Guidelines
VAN BUREN
MONROE
ADAMS
WASHINGTON
JEFFERSON
MADISON
HARRISON
3
Planning and Development
Concepts
1.
Major office and other people-intensive
uses should be located along the
Washington/Jefferson corridor in order to
facilitate and focus pedestrian activity as
well as to improve transit opportunities.
2.
Land uses in the area should be
compatible. Future land uses should be
developed in a manner that has a positive
impact on neighboring uses.
3.
Landscaping and pedestrian access should
be coordinated in the entire area with
particular attention given to linking these
elements among adjacent buildings.
4.
The visual focal point of the area should
be the State Capitol Building.
5.
Open space in the area should be
designed to preserve, enhance and
increase its use by the public.
6.
The historic character and structures of
the Woodland Historic District should be
preserved and enhanced through
rehabilitation and adaptive use.
7.
The concentration of homeless services
within the area should be reduced.
Purpose of the Development
Guidelines
Goals and Objectives
Present the expectations of the
Governmental Mall Commission in
reviewing future development
proposals.
Establish criteria for review and
approval of development proposals.
1.
Establish an orderly, planned environment
for the area.
2.
Provide for a diversity of development.
3.
Plan and design an environment that will
discourage crime, provide alternative
location(s) for the homeless outside the
area, and discourage land uses and
conditions which cause high noise levels or
emit noxious odors.
4.
Make the area more attractive and pleasant
for residents, workers and visitors.
5.
Improve the economic vitality of the area
by making the area more interesting and
dynamic.
Capitol District Development Guidelines
4
Capitol District Development Guidelines
Current Land Use
The State of Arizona Capitol complex
dominates the Governmental Mall. Land uses
within the Governmental Mall are varied and
include: offices, parking, commercial,
industrial, warehouse, museums, open space,
residential, and social services. Vacant lots and
abandoned structures are also scattered
throughout the area.
The Mall begins at Seventh Avenue,
immediately west of the downtown Phoenix
City and Maricopa County government
complexes. Industrial land uses are generally
located near the Southern Pacific Railroad
along the southern boundary of the Mall. West
of the Mall is a residential area (west of 19th
Avenue). The northern boundary of the mall is
composed of commercial development along
Van Buren Street Street, and the University
Park residential neighborhood.
The State Capitol complex contains over forty
buildings that house 8,500 employees. The
majority of State office buildings are located in
the area around the Capitol Building and
Wesley Bolin Plaza. In addition, State office
buildings are located along Washington and
Jefferson Streets from 15th Avenue east to 11th
Avenue.
Private office space can be found directly
across 18th Avenue from the Executive Tower
and in several dispersed locations. There are
also three credit unions, which primarily serve
State employees.
The State has constructed two major buildings
since the completion of the 1989 Governmental
Mall Urban Design Plan. The Courts Building
Office Buildings
(See Map 2 - Existing State Facilities)
at 15th Avenue and Washington added 70,000
square feet and the DES building at 18th
Avenue and Jefferson added 48,000 square feet.
The State also converted the Shriner’s Hall at
15th Avenue and Washington into the Mines
and Mineral Museum.
Most of the State buildings are served by off-
street, surface parking. The State owns about
35 parking lots and three parking garages.
There are over 8,500 spaces available in these
facilities.
The majority of commercial uses are located
along Van Buren Street west of 15th Avenue.
These uses include restaurants, fast food
outlets, used car dealers, a convenience store, a
laundromat, an auto repair shop, a medical
clinic, and a bank. Additional commercial uses
are also located in the area east of 13th Avenue
and south of Jefferson Street.
The area south of Jefferson Street and east of
Parking
Commercial
Industrial and Warehouses
13th Avenue contains most of the existing light
industrial uses. These include a machine shop,
a wood turning plant, a brake supply shop, a
lumber and building supply wholesale yard, and
a bus repair facility. This area also contains the
social service agencies that provide food and
temporary shelter.
The State has numerous support facilities
including warehouses and two motor pool
facilities, located south of Jackson Street
between 15th and 19th Avenues.
The majority of the open space in the
Governmental Mall is owned and maintained
by the State. The Capitol grounds, Wesley
Bolin Plaza and the Carnegie Library grounds
are the primary open spaces. Woodland and
University are two parks maintained by the
City. Woodland Park is a narrow linear space
located between 10th and 15th Avenues on the
south side of Van Buren Street. University Park
abuts the northern edge of Van Buren Street
between 10th and 12th Avenues.
Open Space
5
Map 2 - Existing State Facilities
VAN BUREN
MONROE
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1 - State Capital West Wing
2 - Capital Bldg. (1918-38 Addn.)
3 - Capital Museum
4 - Senate Bldg.
5 - House of Representitives
6 - Wesley Bolin Memorial Park
7 - Risk Management, DOA
8 - Arizona Power Authority
9 - Health Services Bldg.
10 - Joint Legislative Budget Office
11 - Revenue Bldg.
12 - 1688 Office Bldg.
13 - 1624 Office Bldg.
14 - 1616 Office Bldg.
15 - Health Laboratory
16 - Data Center
17 - 1512 Bldg.
18 - 1400 Bldg.
19 - 1300 Bldg.
20 - Corporation Commission
21 - Evans House Office
22 - Industrial Commission Bldg.
23 - Carnegie Library
24 - Law Bldg.
25 - Capital Center Bldg.
26 - State Courts Bldg.
27 - Education Bldg.
28 - Corrections Bldg.
29 - 1645 Office Bldg.
30 - 1717 DES
31 - 1720 DES
32 - 1789 DES
33 - Motor Vehicle Bldg.
34 - State Personnel Bldg.
35 - 1840 Maintenance Bldg.
36 - General Services Admin. Bldg.
37 - ADOT Materials Lab
38 - ADOT Admin. Bldg.
39 - ADOT Purchasing Bldg.
40 - ADOT Engineering Bldg.
41 - ADOT General Operations
42 - Surplus Property Facilities
43 - Motor Pool Facilities
Cemetery
Cemetery
43
40
41
42
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26
25
24
23
22
21
20
19
18
17
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28
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WASHINGTON
Capitol District Development Guidelines
Residential
Most residential land use within the
Governmental Mall is concentrated in the
Woodland Historic District, in the area bounded
by Van Buren Street on the north, Adams Street
on the south, 9th Avenue on the east and 16th
Avenue on the west. This area is expected to
remain as mixed use residential and
commercial.
Museums and Historic Properties
The State Capitol Building and the Wesley
Bolin Memorial Plaza serve as the centerpiece
of the State Capitol Complex. The
Governmental Mall also contains the Mines and
Minerals Museum and the Hall of Fame
(Carnegie Library). These facilities,
particularly the Capitol Museum, attract large
numbers of school groups.
Several historic cemeteries, Old City Cemetery,
Rosedale and Porter, are located between
Jefferson and Harrison Streets from 15th to
13th Avenues. The City of Phoenix has
relocated the historic Smurthwaite House to
this area. (See Map 3 - Historic Properties)
Map 3 - Historic Properties
SOUTHERN
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4
4
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7
3
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10
9
1 - Arizona State Capitol Building and Museum
2 - Arizona State Office Building/Capitol Annex
3 - El Zaribah Shrine/Mines and Minerals Resources Building
4 - Woodland Historic District
5 - J.M. Evans House
6 - Grace Court School
7 - Carnegie Library and Arizona
Hall of Fame Museum
8 - West End Hotel
9 - Phoenix Pioneer Military and
Memorial Park
10 - Smurthwaite House
9
6
Capitol District Development Guidelines
4
4
VAN BUREN
MONROE
ADAMS
WASHINGTON
JEFFERSON
MADISON
HARRISON
7
Isolated residential uses are scattered in the area
south of Jefferson Street and east of 12th
Avenue. Central Arizona Shelter Services
(CASS), located at 12th Avenue and Madison
Street, shelters up to 400 homeless people each
night. Other social services and eating facilities
serving needy and homeless people are located
in the area.
Proposed Land Use
Map 4 - Land Use Plan is a general plan of the
uses proposed for the area.
Currently, State office buildings and State
facilities associated with the Capitol are the
predominant land use in the Governmental
Office
Mall. The State also maintains various support
services such as parking, motor pools and
maintenance facilities. The State owns vacant
and underdeveloped land in the area which is
planned for future expansion. Office buildings
may be constructed on this land as funding
becomes available to the State. Consequently,
State facilities will continue to be the major
land use in the area and that role is expected to
expand in the future.
Map 4 - Land Use Plan
Proposed Uses
*Other uses may be permitted per City of Phoenix zoning
Residential/Commercial
Commercial/Industrial
Office
Open Space
Commercial/Office
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VAN BUREN
MONROE
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JEFFERSON
MADISON
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Capitol District Development Guidelines
The State of Arizona Department of
Administration has developed a list of five
building sites that are planned in the
Governmental Mall. The timing of the
construction of any of these buildings is
dependent upon legislative approval for the
funding. Each building would include a
parking structure. Size of the buildings are
expected to range between 72,000 and 340,000
square feet.
The five planned sites are:
Private development is also appropriate in the
area. New private development should also
follow the guidelines provided in this document
to ensure quality and consistency as well as to
promote improved pedestrian access,
convenience, comfort and safety.
Retail and other commercial uses should be
encouraged to expand their role in the area,
particularly since these uses are needed to
support the many office workers in the
Governmental Mall and residents in
Between Washington Street and Adams
and between 12th and 10th Avenue
Between Washington and Jefferson and
between 18th and 19th Avenues
Between Washington Street and
Jefferson Street east of 10th Avenue
Commercial/Office
Between Washington Street and
Adams Street to the west of the Mines
and Minerals Museum (15th Avenue)
The northeast corner of Adams Street
and 17th Avenue
surrounding neighborhoods. Generally, retail
uses that have traffic impacts should be located
on major streets such as Van Buren Street.
Locating retail and other support services on
the ground floor of parking garages and other
buildings improves the pedestrian environment
and should be encouraged.
Industrial zoning and various commercial and
industrial uses currently exist in the area
generally south of Madison Street. Within this
limited area, industrial development will
continue to be an important component. Future
industrial development should be compatible
with the nearby offices, and include features
which support the objective of establishing a
pleasant pedestrian environment.
The restoration and revitalization of the
Woodland Historic District to a mix of
commercial and residential uses should be
promoted. To the extent possible, the existing
historic houses in the area should be
rehabilitated. Within the limits of City zoning
regulations, these buildings may be used as
Commercial/Industrial
Residential/Commercial
offices while maintaining the generally
residential character of the area. A zoning
overlay may also be put in place to allow
carefully controlled commercial activities
which will enhance the distinctive urban
character of this historic neighborhood.
Open space should continue to be an important
component of the Governmental Mall. Wesley
Bolin Plaza and the Capitol Building grounds
should remain the focal point for the area.
Woodland Park, University Park, and Carnegie
Library should be preserved as open space and
efforts should continue to make them accessible
to the public without creating negative impacts
on surrounding residents and businesses. New
development should incorporate landscaped
areas and open space for its own users and
provide pedestrian pathways which link with
adjacent sites to create an integrated pedestrian
network.
Larger setbacks along the major east-west
routes where pedestrian activity is encouraged
should be provided as indicated on
.
Open Space
Map 5 -
Building Setback Plan
8
Capitol District Development Guidelines
9
Circulation
Interstate Freeways
Streets
The Governmental Mall is located in proximity
to two interstate highways. The east/west I-10
inner-loop is located to the north of the
Governmental Mall and the north/south I-17
Black Canyon Freeway is located to the west.
Access to the area is provided by several major
and minor streets.
Washington Street provides one way access
westbound from downtown Phoenix. This
street flows directly into Adams Street west of
15th Avenue. Adams Street provides the
principal westbound access to the I-17 freeway.
Jefferson Street is the major eastbound one-way
street that provides access from the I-17
freeway through the Mall to downtown. These
major multi-lane, one way streets support
through traffic in the mall, and allow relatively
easy automobile access into the Mall area.
Current traffic signalization supports the rapid
east/west movement of motor vehicles.
However, this street pattern also creates
constraints to north/south pedestrian activity.
Access into the Governmental Mall from the
I-10 inner-loop is provided by 7th Avenue on
the east end of the Mall and 19th Avenue on the
west. Seventeenth and 15th Avenues bisect the
mall. Both of these streets provide two lanes of
traffic in both the north and south directions.
The eastern half of the Governmental Mall has
numerous small blocks bounded by minor
streets from 7th Avenue to 15th Avenue. This
street pattern has remained virtually the same
since the 1950s, and existing infrastructure is
tied to this block and street pattern. These
factors have inhibited the development of larger
office and commercial structures. The street
pattern is also an impediment to continuous
pedestrian activity. Numerous intersections
lead to many pedestrian and motor vehicle
conflicts.
Railroad rights-of-way, which define the
southern and partial western boundaries of the
Governmental Mall, significantly influence
land use and circulation in the area. The main
east/west line of the Southern Pacific Railroad
parallels the Harrison Street alignment. This
line inhibits interaction with land uses south of
the mall. A north/south branch line, which
connects the Santa Fe to the Southern Pacific,
parallels 19th Avenue.
The Governmental Mall is served by local and
express bus service by Valley Metro. Local bus
routes include service along Washington Street
and Jefferson Streets, 7th, 15th, and 19th
Avenues. These routes provide service to and
from the downtown bus terminal which allows
connections with other bus routes. Numerous
express busses operate to and from the Capitol
during the morning and evening rush hours. A
downtown shuttle also serves the Mall from
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The Maricopa Association of Government’s
Regional Bikeway system traverses the
Governmental Mall. A designated bikeway
runs along the Washington Street/Adams Street
corridor and along Jefferson Street.
Railroads
Transit
Bikeways
Capitol District Development Guidelines
10
Capitol District Development Guidelines
Building Design Guidelines
The purpose of these building design guidelines
is to encourage quality and consistency and not
to impose a requirement for a specific
architectural style for the Governmental Mall.
The guidelines emphasize the need for
improved pedestrian access, convenience,
comfort and safety.
The guidelines are divided into the following
categories: All Uses (excluding residential),
Office/Commercial, Industrial, Parking
Structures, Surface Parking, and Signs.
1.
All development in the area should, at the
minimum, meet City of Phoenix
development standards. Certain
Governmental Mall design standards may
exceed City requirements. The more
restrictive standard will govern.
2.
City of Phoenix setbacks and height
limits will be required except in those
areas indicated in
and
.
3.
Architecturally and historically
significant buildings, structures, and
districts should be preserved and
enhanced to promote a link to the past.
4.
For safety and comfort of the pedestrian,
sidewalks should be separated from
traffic by an 8 foot width. This 8 foot
buffer may include landscaping, a bicycle
lane and/or on street parking.
All Uses (excluding residential)
Map 5 - Building
Setback Plan
Map 6 - Building
Height Plan
5.
New or replacement sidewalks should be
a minimum of 6 feet wide; new or
replacement sidewalks on Washington
Street and Jefferson Streets, and on
Adams Street west of 15th Avenue should
be a minimum of 8 feet wide.
6.
Exterior building colors may be reviewed
and approved at the discretion of the
Commission.
7.
Mechanical and service yards should be
screened from public view and away from
upper floor window view. All walls and
opaque gates should match the
architectural character of the project.
8.
Roof mounted mechanical equipment
should be screened from ground level
view and from the view of existing or
planned higher buildings with parapets.
Sight line studies relative to this issue
should be included in the schematic
design package.
9.
Loading docks should be located to face
away from public streets or open spaces
and should be screened from view from
streets and pedestrian areas.
Map 5 - Building Setback Plan
20
20
20
30
30
20
30
30
SOUTHERN
PACIFIC
RAILROAD
19TH AVE
18TH AVE
17TH AVE
16TH AVE
15TH AVE
13TH AVE
14TH AVE
12TH AVE
11TH AVE
10TH AVE
9TH AVE
8TH AVE
JACKSON
VAN BUREN
MONROE
ADAMS
ADAMS
WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON
MADISON
HARRISON
JEFFERSON
JEFFERSON
7TH AVE
7TH AVE
11
Office/Commercial
1.
Buildings should be designed so that the
primary entrances are easily identifiable
and provide access to major pedestrian
ways and parking. Main building entries
should be clearly defined through the use
of special architectural features.
2.
The exterior ground floor architectural
treatment should relate to pedestrian scale
and the adjoining streetscape
development where applicable.
3.
The use of arcades, awnings, and other
shade features is encouraged near streets
and other pedestrian ways.
4.
Major buildings should incorporate retail
uses such as shops and restaurants into
the ground floor.
5.
Building elevations should emphasize
shade and shadow, discouraging a flat
facade and glass curtain wall
construction.
6.
Building surfaces should have relief or
pattern.
Industrial Uses
1.
All industrial uses must be conducted
entirely within enclosed structures.
2.
Fences or walls should be wrought iron,
or decorative block wall, or a
combination of the two. Fences or walls
shall be placed behind a landscaped area.
(Landscaped area shall be adjacent to and
visible from the street.)
Signs
Signs should assist a visitor in identifying
buildings, building complexes and major
tenants. The address and name or function of
the building should be easily visible from the
adjacent roadway.
Capitol District Development Guidelines
Map 6 - Building Height Plan
2 Story maximum
4 Story maximum
6 Story maximum
8 Story maximum
Exception
VAN BUREN
MONROE
ADAMS
WASHINGTON
JEFFERSON
MADISON
HARRISON
SOUTHERN
PACIFIC
RAILROAD
19TH AVE
18TH AVE
17TH AVE
16TH AVE
15TH AVE
13TH AVE
14TH AVE
12TH AVE
11TH AVE
10TH AVE
9TH AVE
8TH AVE
7TH AVE
JACKSON
12
Capitol District Development Guidelines
Parking Structures
1.
Parking structures should incorporate
retail and office uses into the ground floor
along pedestrian corridors.
2.
Parking structure facades should match
the architectural materials, forms and
details of the principal corresponding
building or buildings.
3.
Minimize the number of entrances and
exits to and from parking structures along
Washington Street and Jefferson Street.
Surface Parking
1.
Surface parking should be screened by
low decorative walls,
trees, and
landscaping which may include berming.
A minimum landscaped separation of 5
feet is required between surface parking
and sidewalks.
2.
Surface parking lots should include trees
to provide an attractive landscape and
shade for the pedestrian.
3.
Provide parking lot street lighting at a
minimum of one foot candle.
4.
If separate from streets or parking lots,
walkways should be illuminated at a
minimum of two foot candles.
5.
Pedestrian walkways should be provided
in surface parking as shown in the
illustration to the right.
Building
Building
PARKING
PARKING
STREET
STREET
PARKING
PARKING
PARKING
PERPENDICULAR TO SIDEWALK
If parking rows are perpendicular to the building entrance,
provide one walkway per four rows of parked vehicles.
PARKING
PARALLEL TO SIDEWALK
If parking rows are parallel to the building entrance,
provide one walkway every ten spaces.
10 Spaces
2 TO 4 ROWS
OF PARKING
PEDESTRIAN
SIGNAGE
Pedestrian Walkways
13
Capitol District Development Guidelines
Phoenix Development Services
Department with his request for project
review which will allow the project to
resume the normal City review process
for building permit approval.
Amendment Procedure
This document may be amended upon approval
of the Governmental Mall Commission. Any
person may request a change by submitting the
proposed amendment in writing to the
Commission. Members of the Commission
may also propose changes during Commission
meetings. The proposed amendment will be
forwarded to the following agencies for their
review and comment:
Arizona Department of Administration,
General Services Division
City of Phoenix Planning Department
Maricopa County Office of Planning &
Infrastructure Development
These offices will be given at least 30 days to
review the proposal and submit comments to
the Commission. After it is submitted, the
proposed amendment will be listed on the next
available agenda of the Commission and may
be discussed by the Commission at that
meeting. Action on the request (approval and
adoption, modification and adoption, or denial)
may take place no sooner than the following
meeting of the Commission. The public and
any interested parties are encouraged to attend
and provide their views and opinions during the
public meetings.
The review process includes the following
steps:
1.
The developer/owner should contact staff
of the Governmental Mall Commission to
be placed on the next available meeting
agenda.
2.
Building plans should be prepared in
accordance with the Capitol District
Development Guidelines as well as City
of Phoenix building and zoning
regulations.
3.
The developer/owner should attend the
scheduled Commission meeting during
which he or she will explain the project to
the Commission (displaying relevant site
plans and/or renderings, etc.) and answer
any questions from the Commission.
4.
The Commission may recommend
approval, approval with some
modification(s) of the plan, or denial.
The Commission may also ask for more
information and hear the request again at
a later meeting.
5.
If the Commission makes a determination
to approve the request, minutes of the
meeting and a copy of a written approval
form shall be provided to the
developer/owner.
6.
The developer/owner shall submit a copy
of the written approval form to the City of
(The developer/owner should
contact the Governmental Mall
Commission as soon as possible in this
process to avoid undue delay. The
Commission generally meets monthly, but
at times has met on an irregular
schedule.)
Development Review Process
The major objective of the Commission is to
improve the overall environment of the
Governmental Mall by improving the quality
and compatibility of future development.
Legislation was approved that gave the
Commission the authority to review and
approve proposed development prior to the
issuance of building permits. In practice, this
means that those who propose to develop
buildings in the area that are valued over a
certain amount are required to submit their
plans to the Commission for review.
Commission members use the goals, objectives
and design guidelines included in the Capitol
District Design Guidelines to evaluate the
project and make a decision which is forwarded
to the City.
State Law requires the Governmental Mall
Commission to “review and approve or
disapprove...requests for permission to develop
structures or sites or award construction
contracts for new buildings or improvements
within the Governmental Mall.” This means
that, before the City can approve a building
permit for new development in the area, the
Governmental Mall Commission must review
and approve it. By policy, small projects with a
value of less than $25,000 are not formally
reviewed by the Commission.
Developers/owners wishing to construct a
project with a value greater than $25,000,
should contact City staff in the Planning or
Development Services Department to
determine the current contact person for setting
the Governmental Mall Commission’s agenda.
How a Project is Reviewed
Governmental Mall Commission
Liaison:
Robyn Hillyard
Senate Research Analyst
Government Committee
RHillyard@azleg.gov
602-926-3110 (direct)
602-926-3171 (main)