Attachment C - VPC Summary-Info Only - Z-12-20-7.pdf

City of Phoenix • Planning & Development Department 
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor • Phoenix, Arizona 85003-1611 • (602) 262-6882 
Village Planning Committee Meeting Summary 
Z-12-20-7 
INFORMATION ONLY 
Date of VPC Meeting 
July 13, 2020 
Request From 
R1-8 (Single-Family Residence District) (0.57 acres), R-
2 (Multifamily Residence District) (0.41 acres), R-3A 
(Multifamily Residence District) (18.72 acres), C-1 
(Neighborhood Commercial District) (3.12 acres) and C-
2 HGT/WVR (Intermediate Commercial District, Height 
Waiver) (48.93 acres) 
Request To 
PUD (Planned Unit Development) (71.75 acres) 
Proposed Use 
Planned Unit Development to allow commercial, 
multifamily and single-family residential development 
Location 
Northwest corner of 59th Avenue and Baseline Road 
VPC DISCUSSION: 
Ms. Susan Demmitt, introduced herself and her team to the Committee, and prefaced 
her presentation by explaining that the ultimate purpose of this PUD rezoning request is 
to simplify the assortment of zoning districts present on the site today. She provided a 
brief overview of the site, including its size, location, surrounding planned and existing 
developments, and recent right-of-way improvements. She outlined the existing zoning 
districts present on the site and explained that the intent is not to change the underlying 
permitted uses, but rather provide some flexibility on where those uses can go within 
the boundaries of the property. Further, the PUD designation will allow for customized 
development standards that will ensure the site’s proposed enhanced architecture and 
main pedestrian streetscapes, which will exceed the standards required by the existing 
zoning. The proposed PUD land uses will continue to be consistent with the existing 
General Plan Land Use Map designations on the site. Ms. Demmitt then provided an 
overview of the zoning and development history of the site, including a development 
concept that included a wide variety of residential units, ranging from single-family to 
multifamily, major commercial uses, retail pad sites and a gas station. She explained 
that the proposed PUD will be comprised of three development sub-areas, with the 
commitment that Sub-Area 1 will prohibit residential uses and will be a strictly 
commercial area, intended to be complementary to the Laveen Park Place development 
across the street. The Baseline Road and 59th Avenue street frontages will function as 
the main pedestrian and multimodal connectivity corridors on the site and will feature 
enhanced landscaping standards. Sub-Area 2 will be the largest development sub-area 
and is envisioned to include a mix of uses, which could include commercial, 
Attachment C

City of Phoenix • Planning & Development Department 
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor • Phoenix, Arizona 85003-1611 • (602) 262-6882 
employment uses, multifamily, self-service storage facility, hotel, and so on. Sub-Area 3 
will be strictly residential, consistent with the zoning that is currently on the site. She 
then provided some context on the right-of-way frontages, explaining that Baseline 
Road was recently improved by the city, so this development will build on what is 
already there, with an expansion of the city’s multi-use trail systems and enhanced 
landscaping. Further, this development will include half-street improvements to 59th 
Avenue, including enhanced pedestrian, landscape and shade standards. 
 
Ms. Stephanie Hurd expressed her concern with losing quality commercial users such 
as Target and Costco, and with the mixed-use nature of Sub-Area 2, specifically that it 
won’t look as nice as the concept images shown. She expressed her preference for true 
mixed uses, with residential uses stacked on top of commercial uses. Ms. Demmitt 
explained that this configuration is difficult to achieve due to building and land use 
complexities. Mr. Colby Fincham, responsible for commercial market research, 
explained that retailers such as Target have not been building large-footprint stores 
anymore, and have shifted instead to more urban markets. Additionally, commerce has 
been shifting more and more to online retail, so there is now a larger demand for more 
service-oriented facilities and restaurants within physical commercial sites, which is 
what this project is trying to achieve. Ms. Hurd added that Laveen is missing 
developments that reflect its modern rural character. 
 
Ms. Cinthia Estela expressed her excitement with this development, which will 
enhance the community and provide services that they need in the area. She echoed 
Ms. Hurd’s comment that the modern rural aesthetic will need to be better represented 
in new developments. 
 
Ms. Jennifer Rouse also expressed her excitement for this project but added that she 
is concerned with the lack of development commitment for Sub-Areas 2 and 3, where 
they may get stuck with only residential developments. She praised the enhanced 
streetscaping and emphasized the importance of both shade and statement trees that 
provide an enhanced entry to Laveen. 
 
Mr. Gary Flunoy stated that the proposed development is impressive but that he has 
some concerns with the unknowns of future development on the site. He asked if the 
residential component of the development will consist of apartments or condos. Ms. 
Demmitt replied that the details of the multifamily development have not been solidified, 
but that the most likely outcome will be a mix of both traditional two- to three-story 
multifamily buildings as well as low-density detached single-family rental units in an 
amenitized setting. She added that senior housing will also be a type of living 
opportunity that is possible on the site. 
 
Mr. Carlos Ortega stated that he would prefer to see retail users such as the Apple 
Store in this area, or office spaces to serve local professionals. He asked if the portion 
of 59th Avenue that will be developed with this project will connect to the north or if it will 
dead-end. He also stated that each phase of development should come back to the 
Laveen Village Planning Committee for approval of development plans. Ms. Demmitt 
replied that the city has planned for 59th Avenue to connect all the way through. Mr. 
Fincham explained that office spaces will be available as a possibility within 
Development Sub-Areas 1 and 2.

City of Phoenix • Planning & Development Department 
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor • Phoenix, Arizona 85003-1611 • (602) 262-6882 
Ms. Linda Abegg agreed that the PUD designation will simplify the zoning that is 
currently on the site and will provide flexibility as the market shifts with time. She 
echoed Mr. Ortega’s concern that this will prevent the Laveen Village Planning 
Committee from having a say in each subsequent phase of development, so some 
provision to require the developers to come back to the Committee through the 
legislative process is desired. 
 
Vice Chair Tonya Glass expressed her concern with a blanket zoning approval on the 
entire site, which would allow for any user to come in and develop their portion, and also 
with the height waiver on the site, especially since there are no specific development 
plans being presented for this site. Further, she stated that this is the time to work with 
corporations and big-box stores to do something different, to provide stores that break 
away from the traditional commercial corridor. She stressed that this area was meant to 
be a representation of downtown Laveen, which was supposed to include a technology 
corridor, so she questioned why this development isn’t including opportunities for 
coworking or incubator spaces to serve the community, at the very least. She 
bemoaned the lack of enthusiasm shown by developers for building new, unique 
products in Laveen. 
 
Ms. Demmitt pointed out that the site already has entitlements in place that allows for 
everything that is being proposed, and that the purpose of the PUD is simply to clean up 
the assortment of zoning districts, provide for some more flexibility in location of the 
uses, and provide enhanced development standards. This PUD does not propose any 
changes to the current entitlements and, in fact, will allow for more control over what will 
ultimately be developed on the site. 
 
Chair Robert Branscomb stated that this project provides an opportunity for the 
community to be more involved and provide input to ultimately create a development 
that will enhance the community. He echoed the other members’ concerns with not 
knowing the specifics of future development, and also suggested that the applicant work 
with the Community and Economic Development Director to bring more desirable 
businesses and offices to this location. He further asked that the applicant continue 
working with the community to ensure a development that will benefit the area. 
 
Public Comment 
 
Mr. Phil Hertel echoed most of the Committee members’ concerns with the lack of 
commitment and details regarding future development on the site and stressed that the 
community should have the opportunity to review and vote on each phase of the 
development.