Oct 15, 2025 Planning Commission

[00:00:04]

I WOULD LIKE TO

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? COMMISSIONER PINEDA PRESENT.

COMMISSIONER GUZMAN PRESENT, COMMISSIONER GRIM PRESENT.

COMMISSIONER JEWEL PRESENT, VICE CHAIR MCBURNEY.

PRESENT CHAIR, WHITE PRESENT.

COMMISSIONER BENSON HAS AN EXCUSED ABSENCE FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU.

STAFF.

MAY I HAVE THE REPORT? OH, I'M SORRY.

[3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

UH, HAS EVERYONE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE MINUTES OF THE JUNE 18TH, 2025 MEETING? AND ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS, HEARING AND SEEING NONE.

CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES PLEASE? MOTION MADE AND SECONDED, MADE BY PINEDA COMMISSIONER PINEDA, SECONDED BY GUZMAN.

PLEASE VOTE THE VOTE IS PASSED.

UH, SIX TO ZERO UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU.

[a. Avondale Tech Center – Minor General Plan Amendment – Application PL-25-0120]

[b. Avondale Tech Center – Rezoning – Application PL-25-0121]

I AM MONICA SMRITI, SENIOR PLANNER.

I'M PRESENTING THE AGENDA ITEMS FOUR A AND FOUR B, UH, MINOR GENERAL PLAN, AMENDMENT AND REZONE REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS PL DASH TWO FIVE DASH 0 1 20 NPL DASH 25 DASH 21.

THE PURPOSE OF THESE ITEMS IS TO REVIEW THE PROPOSED MINOR GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT AND REZONE FOR THE AVONDALE TECH CENTER.

CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND FORWARD A RECOMMENDATION ON EACH ITEM TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

UH, THE SUBJECT SITE IS APPROXIMATELY 38 NET ACRES AND IT IS LOCATED AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF CORPORATE DRIVE AND HUNDRED AND 17TH AVENUE.

AND IT WAS ANNEXED IN JULY, 1976, NORTH OF THE SUBJECT, PROPERTIES OF VACANT COUNTY ISLAND ZONED FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, EAST AND SOUTH OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTIES BORDERED BY MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT AND THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY BORDERS AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT NAMED FAIRWAY 10, UM, AND ZONED AVONDALE 50.

PLAN AREA DEVELOPMENT.

HERE ARE A COUPLE OF SITE PHOTOS.

UH, THIS PHOTO SHOWS THE SITES LOOKING NORTH FROM HUNDRED AND 19TH AVENUE TOWARD I FREEWAY.

THE BUILDING ON THE LEFT IS FAIRWAY 10 AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.

UH, THE AREA ON THE RIGHT IS THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT SITE.

THIS PHOTO SHOWS THE SITE LOOKING SOUTH FROM HUNDRED AND 17TH AVENUE.

THE BUILDING ON THE LEFT IS A MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT AND THE AREA ON THE RIGHT IS THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT SITE.

SO THE FIRST REQUEST IS, UH, FOR A MINOR GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT, UH, TO AMEND THE GENERAL PLAN LAND USE DESIGNATION OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY FROM MIXED TO USE TO BUSINESS PARK.

AND THE SECOND REQUEST IS TO REZONE THE SUBJECT PROPERTY FROM CITY CENTER DISTRICT, UH, CCD TO AVONDALE TECH CENTER PLANNED AREA DEVELOPMENT PAD WITH UNDERLYING ZONING OF COMMERCIAL PARK CP.

THE SITE IS ONLY REMAINING PARCEL IN THE CITY WITH CCD ZONING CLASSIFICATION AS OF NOW.

UH, THE PROPOSED USE DEVIATIONS FROM COMMERCIAL PARK ZONING, UM, ARE GENERALLY CONSISTENT WITH THE COMMERCE PARK ZONING DISTRICT WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTIONS.

MOTION PICTURE PRODUCTIONS, UM, IS CHANGING FROM CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO PERMITTED USE RETAIL SALES THAT PRIMARILY SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYEES OF THE COMMERCE PARK AND NOT THE GENERAL POPULATION.

CHANGING FROM CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO PERMITTED USE.

WAREHOUSING IS CHANGING FROM ACCESSORY USE TO PERMITTED USE AND WHOLESALING IS CHANGING FROM NOT PERMITTED TO PERMITTED USE.

THERE ISN'T ANY OTHER CHANGE IN THE DEVELOPMENT STANDARD EXCEPT FOR, UH, PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT FROM 35 FEET TO 55 FEET.

UM, HERE IS THE MAP OF THE SITE PLAN.

UH, THE PROPOSAL IS FOR AN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY CAMPUS TO SUPPORT LIGHT INDUSTRIAL WAREHOUSING AND OFFICE USERS.

[00:05:01]

ALL PROJECT RELATED SEMI-TRUCK TRAFFIC WILL BE ROUTED TO THE FAIRWAY DRIVE INTERCHANGE, UH, VIA HUNDRED AND 19TH AND CORPORATE DRIVE TO MINIMIZE IMPACTS ON NEARBY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT'S ACCESS AND TRANSPORTATION NEEDS FROM IT.

10 FREEWAY, THE DEVELOPER WILL CONTRIBUTE AN AGREED UPON AMOUNT TOWARD CONSTRUCTING A NEW TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT THE INTERSECTION OF CORPORATE DRIVE AND FAIRWAY DRIVE.

STAFF ANALYSIS FINDS THAT THE PROPOSED MINOR GENERAL PAN AMENDMENT MEETS ALL THE FOUR REQUIRED FINDINGS OUTLINED IN THE GENERAL PLAN 2030.

THE BUSINESS PARK DESIGNATION SUPPORTS EMPLOYMENT GENERATING USES, WHICH ALSO ALIGNS WITH THE CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOALS.

UH, REQUEST IS RESULT IN DEVELOPMENT THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE COMPLEMENTARY AND EXISTING USES IN THE AREA.

UH, THE DEVELOPMENT WILL MEET THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS AS WELL.

UH, SIMILAR TO, UH, THE MINOR GPA, THE STAFF FINDS THAT THE PROPOSED, UH, PAD ZONE ALSO MEETS ALL THE REQUIRED FINDINGS ESTABLISHED IN THE ZONING CODE AND THE DEVELOPMENT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE LAND USE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOALS.

IN THE GENERAL PLAN 2030 PROJECT SHALL MEET COMMERCE PARK STANDARDS WITH REQUESTED DEVIATIONS AND THE DEVELOPMENT SHALL FOLLOW THE ZONING CODE, SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS, DESIGN MANUALS, AND ALL OTHER REGULATIONS UNLESS MODIFIED.

UM, IN TERMS OF THE THE MANDATORY PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, UH, THERE WAS A NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING HELD ON SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2025.

THERE WAS ONE ATTENDEE PRESENT.

ASIDE FROM THE APPLICANT'S TEAM AND CITY STAFF.

UH, DISCUSSION TOPICS WERE ABOUT POTENTIAL TENANTS, TRUCK CIRCULATION, PROPOSED AMENITY AREA, AND UH, PROJECT TIMELINE.

TO DATE, STAFF HAS RECEIVED ONLY ONE PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, MENTIONING THAT THE SITE IS ALREADY BEING ADVERTISED FOR LEASE AND QUESTION THE NEED FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS IF THE PROJECT APPEARS ALREADY APPROVED.

WITH THAT, I'M CONCLUDING MY PRESENTATION AND STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF APPLICATIONS PL DASH 25 DASH 0 1 20 AND PL DASH 25 DASH 1 21.

UM, FOR THE REASONS SET FORTH IN THE STAFF REPORT AND, UM, CHAIR BY CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS, UH, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION ONE MORE TIME THAT THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION OF THESE TWO ITEMS, UH, CAN BE OPENED TOGETHER, BUT THE MOTIONS WILL BE SEPARATE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.

THANK YOU.

DO ANY COMMISSIONERS HAVE QUESTIONS OF THE STAFF HEARING AND SAY NONE.

WOULD THE APPLICANT LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION? AND PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS COMMISSION.

UH, STEVEN ANDERSON, 40 NORTH CENTRAL 20TH FLOOR IN PHOENIX.

I'M A LAND ATTORNEY AT GAM JIM BURNHAM.

WE ARE REPRESENTING CREATION, UH, IN THIS PROJECT AND I'M JOINED THIS EVENING BY MY CLIENT, JAGGER EVERETT.

UM, JAGGER IS GOING TO BE LATE FOR HIS OWN FUNERAL, BUT HE MADE IT, UM, UH, IF IT MAKES YOU ALL FEEL ANY BETTER, HE WAS A LITTLE LATE TO THE COMMUNITY MEETING AS WELL.

UM, WE'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ, UH, THE STAFF REPORT, UH, AND WORK WITH THE STAFF ON THE 10 STIPULATIONS.

WE APPRECIATE THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR APPROVAL ON BOTH THE MINOR GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT AND THE REZONING PROPOSAL.

UM, UH, THE 10 STIPULATIONS, UH, HAVE BEEN WORKED THROUGH WITH, UH, THE STAFF AND THE APPLICANT, UM, AND WE ARE COMFORTABLE WITH ALL OF THEM.

UH, WE'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY INDIVIDUAL STIPULATIONS THAT THE COMMISSION HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT AS STAFF NOTED, UH, IN THEIR REPORT.

UH, WE DID HOLD A COMMUNITY MEETING.

UH, WE HAD ONLY, UH, A SINGLE CITIZEN IN ATTENDANCE AT THE MEETING.

UH, I DID GIVE A, UH, PRESENTATION AT THAT MEETING.

IT'S LONGER THAN THREE MINUTES.

UM, IF YOU ARE SO INCLINED, I'M HAPPY TO DO IT AGAIN.

UM, BUT I UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY GIVEN THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION APPROVAL AND THE GENERAL APPARENT LACK OF CONTINUED INTEREST IN THE CASE.

I WOULD NOTE, UH, TWO THINGS FOR YOU IN THAT REGARD.

FIRST, I WOULD ATTRIBUTE THE GENERAL LACK OF INTEREST IN THE SITE, UH, TO THE FACT THAT THE SITE IS ISOLATED.

UH, IT'S IN AN INFILL POCKET IN THE CITY, UM, AND

[00:10:01]

THIS SITE DOES NOT FACE ANY ARTERIAL STREETS.

UM, FROM A TRAFFIC PERSPECTIVE, IT WILL BE IN THAT REGARD SOMEWHAT INVISIBLE TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND CERTAINLY PHYSICALLY IT WILL BE CONCEALED BY ALL OF THE DEVELOPMENT THAT IS OCCURRING AROUND US.

THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO NOTE, UH, JUST IN CASE ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS NOTED IT ON THE STAFF SITE PLAN THAT WAS SHOWN IN MONICA'S, UH, PRESENTATION, YOU SAW AN EMPLOYMENT AMENITY AREA IN THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE SITE.

I JUST WANTED TO NOTE FOR THE COMMISSION, THAT IS NOT THE ONLY EMPLOYEE AMENITY AREA.

WE DO HAVE EMPLOYEE AMENITY AREAS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE SITE, BUT THAT ONE IS NOTABLE BECAUSE IT INCLUDES TWO PICKLEBALL COURTS THAT WILL BE OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE AND AT OUR COMMUNITY MEETING, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE ATTENDEE WAS QUITE EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT.

AND WITH THAT, UH, MR. CHAIRMAN MEMBERS THE COMMISSION, UH, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, SIR.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? I DO.

UH, COMMISSIONER MCBURNEY PLEASE.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS, UH, APPROPRIATELY DIRECTED AT YOU OR, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH THE STAFF.

UM, WHAT'S THE TIMEFRAME FOR THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT CORPORATE AND FAIRWAY? UH, OKAY.

UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, UH, VICE CHAIR, UH, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.

I'LL TAKE THE FIRST SHOT AT THAT, UH, AND THEN LET STAFF CHIME IN.

'CAUSE I THINK YOUR QUESTION IS APPROPRIATELY RESPONDED TO BY BOTH OF US.

UM, THE, THE SIGNAL AT FAIRWAY AND CORPORATE, UM, IS A LITTLE BIT UNUSUAL AS I THINK YOU ALL ARE AWARE.

UM, THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THAT INTERSECTION IS STILL OCCUPIED, UH, BY A HOME.

UM, AND SO WHETHER THAT SITE CHOOSES TO DEVELOP OR IS IT COMES UNDER CONTRACT OR NOT, IS SOMETHING OF A QUESTION MARK.

AND THAT'S WHY THE TIMING OF THE SIGNAL IS A LITTLE BIT UNKNOWN.

IF THAT PROPERTY CHOOSES TO DEVELOP LIKE THE ONE WE'RE DEVELOPING, UM, UH, DOES AND LIKE OTHER SURROUNDING PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED, THEN OF COURSE IN THE, IN THE COURSE OF DEVELOPMENT, THE CITY WILL TAG THAT PROPERTY.

THEY'LL GET THE LAND THAT THEY NEED, UH, AND IT WILL BE PRO OF, UH, APPROPRIATE TO DEVELOP THE SIGNAL AS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT PROPERTY.

GIVEN THAT THERE'S SOME UNCERTAINTY.

HOWEVER, UM, THERE'S A NUMBER OF QUESTION MARKS.

UH, TWO IN PARTICULAR.

ONE WILL BE IF THE PROPERTY CHOOSES NOT TO SELL, WHICH OF COURSE IS ITS RIGHT, THE CITY WILL BE CONFRONTED WITH THE QUESTION OF WHETHER TO CONDEMN.

THAT'S NOT A DECISION A PRIVATE DEVELOPER CAN MAKE.

OF COURSE, THAT'S A DECISION FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.

UM, SO THEY MAY HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT QUESTION.

AND THAT LEADS TO THE SECOND, UM, ASPECT OF THE FINANCIAL COMMITMENT THAT WE'VE MADE.

THE STIPULATION YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED IS A LITTLE BIT ODDLY WORDED BECAUSE IT ANTICIPATES THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE SIGNAL MAY NOT ACTUALLY GET BUILT, UM, IN A REASONABLE OR, OR SHORT TIMEFRAME.

AND SO IF IT DOES NOT, OUR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION ACTUALLY UNDER THE LANGUAGE OF STIPULATION COMES BACK TO US.

UM, SO WE WRITE THE CHECK EARLY, YOU HOLD THE FUNDS, UM, AND THEN IT'S UP TO YOU TO BUILD THE SIGNAL AT YOUR LEISURE.

AND WITH THAT, I'LL LET STAFF JUMP IN IF THEY WISH TO CHAIR VICE CHAIR COMMISSIONERS.

UM, THE APPLICANT, THEY HAVE APPROPRIATELY ANSWERED THE QUESTION RELATED TO TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

FOR NOW, WE HAVE A 10 YEARS OF TIMELINE FOR THAT TRAFFIC SIGNAL TO BE BUILT.

AND THERE IS A LAND ACQUISITION PROCESS INVOLVED, AS WELL AS DEPENDS WHEN THE BUILDING IS GOING TO BE FULLY OCCUPIED.

UH, THEN ONLY THAT THERE WILL BE NEED FOR THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL TRIGGERED FOR THE SENIOR TRAFFIC ENGINEER, UM, OF OUR CITY.

SO IT IT FOR NOW, WE, WE WILL HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT ONCE WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.

ALL RIGHT.

I'M JUST CONCERNED I DRIVE FAIRWAY ON A DAILY BASIS AND THAT IS A VERY CHALLENGING INTERSECTION, ESPECIALLY WITH THE USPS FACILITY RIGHT THERE.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

ANYONE ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS? I HAVE ONE AND I'M GLAD YOU'RE STILL UP THERE BECAUSE I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE ASKED YOU THIS FIRST.

THE, UH, FAIRWAY 10 BUILDINGS TO THE WEST, DO WE KNOW THE HEIGHT OF THEM? ARE THEY 35 OR 55 OR SINCE, SINCE WE'RE, THEY'RE ASKING FOR A, A VARIANCE HERE OR A DIFFERENCE OF 35 TO 55 FOOT HEIGHTS? YES, CHAIR.

UH, WE COMPARED THE HEIGHT OF THE PROPOSED BUILDING WITH THE DISTANT ONE, THE FAIRWAY 10.

THAT IS LIKE A BETWEEN 40 TO 48 FEET.

OKAY.

AND THE ADJACENT MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS, THE HEIGHT RANGE IS APPROXIMATELY SIMILAR.

SO THE HEIGHT THAT IS REQUESTED IS APPROXIMATELY COMPATIBLE WITH THE

[00:15:01]

OKAY, PERFECT.

THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF OR THE DEVELOPER? OKAY, I WOULD LIKE TO NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM.

AND I HAVE, WELL FOR BOTH OF THESE ITEMS, UH, FOUR A AND FOUR B, I HAVE ONE REQUEST TO SPEAK BY, UH, STEVEN ANDERSON IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD.

THAT WAS YOU.

OH, OKAY.

SO YOU HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN, NOTHING ELSE TO ADD, CORRECT? YES.

OKAY.

ANY OTHER, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER REQUESTS TO SPEAK? THANK YOU CHAIR.

WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY OTHER REQUESTS TO SPEAK.

THANK YOU.

I WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR BOTH OF THESE ITEMS. ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION? HEARING NONE.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION? WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER JEWEL AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PINEDA.

PLEASE VOTE.

THE MOTION HAS PASSED, UM, UNANIMOUSLY SIX TO ZERO AND THAT, I'M SORRY, I SHOULD HAVE POINTED OUT.

THAT WAS FOR ITEM FOUR A.

WE NOW NEED A SEPARATE MOTION FOR ITEM FOUR B.

THERE WE GO.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GUZMAN AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PINEDA.

PLEASE VOTE.

THAT ITEM ALSO PASSED BY A MAJORITY OF SIX TO ZERO.

WE ARE

[c. Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments – Chapter 28, Article 1 (Administration and Procedures); Article 5 (Special Districts; Overlays) - Application PL-25-0189]

PLEASE THANK YOU AND THANK YOU, SIR FOR YOUR INTEREST IN SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH IN AVENDALE.

GOOD EVENING CHAIR, VICE CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS.

UH, MY NAME IS JOSH AND I'M A LEAD SENIOR PLANNER HERE WITH THE CITY OF AVONDALE'S PLANNING DIVISION.

UH, ITEM FOUR C IS A ZONING CODE TEXT AMENDMENT FOR THE BOULEVARD, UH, DISTRICT.

UH, THE PURPOSE OF THIS ITEM IS TO REVIEW THE PROPOSED ZONING CODE, TEXT AMENDMENTS, CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING, AND THEN FORWARD A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL.

TO GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND, THE ZONING, AVONDALE ZONING ORDINANCE WAS FIRST ADOPTED IN 1951 WITH THE LATEST UPDATES BEING APPROVED BY COUNCIL IN NOVEMBER OF 2024.

UH, THIS UPDATE SEEKS TO REFINE THE ZONING ORDINANCE TO ALIGN THE BOULEVARD, UH, DISTRICT WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES AND TRENDS, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED TO THE CITY.

UH, IT WILL ALSO ADD SOME DEFINITIONS AND USES THAT SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BOULEVARD SPECIFIC PLAN.

THE FIRST PROPOSED AMENDMENT IS TO SECTION 28 DASH 15.

THIS IS, UH, SOME DEFINITIONS THAT ARE BEING ADDED TO THE BOULEVARD ZONING CODE.

UH, THE PURPOSE OF THIS CHANGE IS TO ALLOW SOME MORE RETAIL ENTERTAINMENT AND SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES TO COME INTO THE BOULEVARD.

THIS WILL ALSO MODIFY SOME CONDITIONS FOR ALLOW, UH, EXISTING ALLOWED USES.

THE SECOND AMENDMENT IS TO REVISE THE LAND USE MATRIX.

AGAIN, THIS WILL ALLOW FOR MORE DEVELOPMENT TO COME INTO THE BOULEVARD AND ADJUST SOME OF THE ALLOWED USES FOR, UH, THOSE NEW DEFINITIONS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ADDING.

AGAIN, UH, THIS SECTION WILL BE AMENDED TO REMOVE THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REQUIREMENT FOR GAS STATIONS.

UH, THEY'LL BE ALLOWED NOW ONLY AS AN ACCESSORY USE TO A GROCERY STORE, AS WELL AS ALLOWING, UH, GROCERY STORES EXCEEDING 36,000 SQUARE FEET IN FOUR AREA.

WE'LL ALSO BE MODIFYING THE REQUIREMENT FOR GROCERY STORES TO CONTAIN CERTAIN COMPONENTS AND REDUCING THAT NUMBER FROM FOUR TO TWO.

ADDITIONALLY, FOR OUR ENTERTAINMENT USES, WE'RE GONNA BE ADDING SOME STANDARDS RELATED TO LIGHTING AND SOUND AMPLIFICATION FOR OUTDOOR CONCERT FACILITIES AND OUTDOOR COMMERCIAL RECREATION AND ENTERTAINMENT THESIS.

SO THESE ARE THE BOULEVARD SUBDISTRICTS THAT ARE GONNA BE AFFECTED.

THAT'S THE GATEWAY PARK AVENUE VILLAGE AND PROMENADE DISTRICTS.

THIS LARGELY LEAVES

[00:20:01]

I'M SORRY.

AND FINALLY THERE WILL BE A PROPOSED, THERE'S A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO, UH, REVISE THE MINIMUM DISTANCE THAT ON STREET PARKING AND OFF STREET SURFACE PARKING AND PARKING STRUCTURES MUST BE LOCATED FROM COMMERCIAL USES.

IT'LL BE REVISED FROM 400 FEET TO APPROXIMATELY A QUARTER MILE.

THIS MOSTLY AFFECTS THE PARKING GARAGE THAT'S LOCATED IN THE BOULEVARD AND ALLOWS MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR NEW USES TO COME IN TO DERIVE THE REQUIRED PARKING FROM THOSE PUBLIC PARKING FACILITIES.

AS PART, AS THE OF THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, UH, ALL REQUIRED NOTIFICATIONS WERE COMPLETED AND A POST WAS MADE ON AVONDALE CONNECT.

TO DATE, NO COMMENTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED OR, UH, QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED FROM, FROM THE PUBLIC.

AND WITH THAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING, UH, THAT PLANNING COMMISSION MAKE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF APPLICATION PL 25 DASH 0 180 9 REQUEST FOR TEXT AMENDMENTS TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE FOR THE REASONS SET FORTH IN THE STAFF REPORT.

THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, SIR.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE STAFF? I HAVE ONE QUESTION.

UH, COMMISSIONER CRIM PLEASE.

UH, THE CHANGE TO THE PARKING, WHAT DOES THAT DO FROM A, UM, A DA STANDPOINT, HAVING THAT DISTANCE NOW AND FOR THE UNDEVELOPED AREAS, WHAT, WHAT DOES THAT REALLY MEAN? BEING A QUARTER MILE FROM ANY PARKING SPOTS OR JUST FROM SURFACE PARKING? CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE MORE? SO CERTAINLY.

SO, UH, CHAIR, VICE CHAIR AND COMMISSIONER GRAHAM, UH, THE REQUIRED PARKING FOR ANY COMMERCIAL USE, UH, USUALLY EXCEEDS THE AMOUNT THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE AT THAT SITE.

THEY'LL STILL BE REQUIRED TO HAVE A DA PARKING, UH, IT'S JUST THAT THAT REQUIRED PARKING CAN BE LOCATED FURTHER AWAY.

UM, AS FAR AS THE SPECIFIC A DA REQUIREMENTS, I'D HAVE TO DEFER TO OUR, OUR BUILDING DIVISION ON THAT AS FAR AS THE, UM, THE, UH, WHAT THE LAW ACTUALLY REQUIRES.

UM, BUT AS FAR AS THEIR TOTAL REQUIRED PARKING, THEY CAN JUST USE SOME OF THE PARKING THAT'S IN THE, THE SURFACE LOTS.

MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I MAY ADD, UM, ALL THE REQUIRED A DA PAR PARKING WOULD BE STILL IN THE APPROPRIATE PROXIMITY TO THE USE.

UM, THIS IS SIMPLY GIVING THE ABILITY FOR A NEW, UM, PROJECT TO COUNT SOME OF THE PARKING EITHER ON STREET OR IN THE GARAGE TOWARDS THEIR PROJECT.

AND AT WHAT POINT DOES THAT, WHEN THE GARAGE FILLS UP OR HITS CAPACITY, AS FAR AS HOW DOES THOSE COUNTS TAKE PLACE? IS THERE A LIMIT OF HOW MUCH PERCENTAGE THAT CAN BE? OR AT WHAT POINT IS THAT GARAGE BEING DOUBLE COUNTED OR CAN IT BE, SO THERE'S NO NECESSARILY LIMIT, ARE YOU SAYING, WELL, IF, IF WE HAVE 10 DIFFERENT, UM, BUILDINGS THAT REQUIRE 50 SPOTS A PIECE, BUT WE ONLY HAVE A HUNDRED SPOTS, AT WHAT POINT DOES, DOES, DOES THAT PARKING COUNT NOT BE ABLE TO COUNT? IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

SO AS FAR AS THE AVAILABLE PARKING, UH, THAT'S IN THOSE OFF STREET OR OFF, UH, SITE LOTS, UM, SOME OF IT MAY BE DOUBLE COUNTED AS AS PART OF A TOTAL PUBLIC PARKING FACILITY.

UM, IT KIND OF SPEAKS TO THE URBAN FORM OF THE BOULEVARD, UM, HOW A LOT OF THOSE USERS END UP GOING TO MULTIPLE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

UM, SO THAT'S PART OF THE OVERALL DESIGN.

THAT'S KIND OF THE INTENT THAT THEY WOULD PARK IN ONE LOCATION AND THEN WALK TO THOSE OTHER, UM, SPACES AND, AND UTILIZE MULTIPLE COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES.

THANKS.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SINCE THE CITY IS THE APPLICANT, WE DO NOT NEED TO ASK FOR AN APPLICANT TO COMMENT, SO I WOULD LIKE TO NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM FOUR C AND I HAVE NOT SO FAR RECEIVED ANY REQUEST TO SPEAK.

ARE THERE ANY NEW ONES? THANK YOU, CHAIR.

WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REQUEST TO SPEAK, BUT IF THERE IS ANYONE, UM, THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP, YOU MAY PROCEED TO THE PODIUM HEARING AND SEEING NONE, I WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC MEETING FOR THIS ITEM.

ANY UH, FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE STAFF BEFORE WE EX? I WOULD NOW

[00:25:01]

COMMISSIONER JEWEL HAS MADE THE MOTION TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL AND WE HAVE A SECOND.

PLEASE VOTE.

THE MOTION PASSES.

SIX TO ZERO.

THANK YOU ALL.

[d. General Plan Text Amendment – Central Business District for Middle Housing — Application PL-25-0190]

[e. Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments – Chapter 28, Article 1 (Administration and Procedures); NEW Article 14 (Middle Housing) — Application PL-25-0188]

THANK YOU CHAIR, VICE CHAIR COMMISSIONERS.

I AM AGAIN PRESENTING, UH, THE AGENDA ITEMS FOUR D AND FOUR E GENERAL PLAN AND ZONING CODE TAX AMENDMENTS FOR MIDDLE HOUSING APPLICATIONS PL DASH 25 DASH 0 1 90 AND PL DASH 25 DASH 0 180 8.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS, THESE ITEMS IS TO REVIEW THE PROPOSED CITY INITIATED GENERAL PLAN AND ZONING CODE, TEXT AMENDMENTS, CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND FORWARD A RECOMMENDATION ON EACH ITEM TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS RESPOND TO HOUSE BILL 27 21, UH, WHICH ALLOWS A DUPLEX, TRIPLEX, FOURPLEX OR TOWN HOME, WHICH WE ARE CALLING MIDDLE HOUSING AS A PERMITTED USE ON A LOT ZONED FOR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL USE WITHIN ONE MILE OF THE CITY'S CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.

AND AT LEAST 20% OF A NEW DEVELOPMENT OF MORE THAN 10 CONTIGUOUS ACRES ZONED FOR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL USE.

UH, PER THE NEW STATE LAW CITIES REQUIRED TO ADOPT MIDDLE HOUSING REGULATIONS BY JANUARY 1ST, 2026.

IF THE CITY DOES NOT ADOPT THESE REGULATIONS BY THE DEADLINE, THE MIDDLE HOUSING WILL BE ALLOWED ON ALL LOTS IN THE CITY'S, UM, UH, LOTS ZONED FOR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL USE WITHOUT ANY LIMITATIONS.

SO TO COMPLY WITH THE STATE LAW, UH, THE CITY OF AVONDALE'S PROPOSAL INCLUDES THREE STEPS.

FIRST, SINCE THE CITY CURRENTLY DOES NOT HAVE A CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, UH, CITY'S PROPOSING TO DESIGNATE A CBD FOR MIDDLE HOUSING PURPOSES BY RESOLUTION AND THEN AMENDING THE GENERAL PLAN TO INCORPORATE THE CBD DESIGNATION INTO THE GENERAL PLAN TEXT AND THEN FINALLY AMENDING THE Z ZONING CODES TO ADOPT MIDDLE HOUSING REGULATIONS AS REQUIRED BY THE STATE LAW.

SO, UM, IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THE FIRST STEP CITIES ESTABLISHING THE DEFINITION OF CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, FIRST, THAT ALIGNS WITH THE DEFINITION OF CBD, UH, IN THE STATE LAW AS WELL.

THEN THE CITY'S PROPOSAL TO SELECT THREE DISTRICTS, THE GATEWAY VILLAGE AND PARK A VENUE FROM THE BOULEVARD LAND USE CATEGORY AND DESIGNATING THEM AS CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT FOR MIDDLE HOUSING CBD.

IF A, IF APPROVED COUNCIL WILL, UH, ADOPT THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT FOR MIDDLE HOUSING BY RESOLUTION.

YOU CAN SEE HERE ON THIS SLIDE, UH, THE OUTLINE OF THE DESIGNATE TO BE DESIGNATED CBD BOUNDARY.

UH, THESE THREE DISTRICTS FROM THE BOULEVARD LAND USE CATEGORY WERE SELECTED, UH, BECAUSE THEY ARE CENTRALLY LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY.

THEIR LAND USES ALIGN WELL WITH THE STATE'S DEFINITION OF CBD AS UM, MENTIONED ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.

AND THE PROCESS TO ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT THE CBD BECOMES RELATIVELY SIMPLER IN COMPARISON TO ANY OTHER LOCATION IN THE CITY.

AND HERE IS THE MAP SHOWING THE PROPOSED CBD BOUNDARY AND THE CORRESPONDING ONE MILE RADIUS.

UM, THE GREEN AREAS SHOWN ON THE MAP, UM, ARE ZONED FOR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL USE AND THESE AREAS ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY THIS MIDDLE HOUSING, UH, NEW ARTICLE.

UH, NOW, UH, THE SECOND STEP IN THE PROCESS OF ADOPTING MIDDLE HOUSING IS TO AMEND THE GENERAL PLAN 2030 AND TO INCLUDE THE CBD IN THE GENERAL PLAN TEXT.

UH, THE NEW TEXT IS HIGHLIGHTED IN RED AND THE FINAL STEP IN THE PROCESS OF ADOPTING MIDDLE HOUSING IS TO AMEND THE ZONING CODE TEXT TO INCLUDE MIDDLE HOUSING REGULATIONS AS REQUIRED BY THE STATE LAW.

THE PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENT WILL ESTABLISH A NEW ARTICLE SPECIFICALLY FOR MIDDLE HOUSING AND UPDATE THE DEFINITION SECTION OF THE CODE, INCLUDING, UM, NEW AND UPDATED TERMS RELATED TO MIDDLE HOUSING, UM,

[00:30:01]

UH, IT IS ALSO STAFF'S UNDERSTANDING THAT ANY PRIVATE AGREEMENT SUCH AS A COVENANT CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS BY HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION GOVERNING THE USE OF SINGLE FAMILY ZONED PROPERTY WOULD REMAIN A PRIVATE MATTER.

AS MENTIONED EARLIER, THE PROPOSED ZONING CODE TEXT AMENDMENT INCLUDES REVISIONS TO THE DEFINITION SECTION OF THE CODE.

NEW DEFINITIONS ARE BEING ADDED AND SOME OF THE EXISTING DEFINITIONS ARE BEING UPDATED IN SUPPORT OF THE NEW MIDDLE HOUSING ARTICLE AND TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENCY THROUGH THE ZONING CODE.

UH, THE NEW ARTICLE FOR THE MIDDLE HOUSING INCLUDES FOUR NEW SECTIONS.

UH, THE NEW SECTIONS ESTABLISHED PURPOSE OF THE ARTICLE, THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, AND THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.

UH, THESE STANDARDS WILL GENERALLY ALIGN WITH THOSE FOR SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS WITHIN THE SAME ZONING DISTRICT, WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS RELATED TO PARKING AND FLOOR AREA RATIO.

UM, WITH, IN TERMS OF THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, ALL REQUIRED NOTIFICATIONS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, UH, AND TO DATE, NO COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED BY THE STAFF REGARDING MIDDLE HOUSING.

WITH THAT, I'M CONCLUDING MY PRESENTATION AND STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF APPLICATIONS P DASH 25 DASH 0 1 90 AND PL DASH 25 DASH 0 180 8, UH, GENERAL PLAN AND ZONING CODE TEXT AMENDMENTS FOR MIDDLE HOUSING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION AND THE MOTIONS WILL BE TAKEN IN A SIMILAR MANNER, LIKE THE FIRST ITEMS A AND B.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

ANY COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? AND AGAIN, SINCE THIS IS CITY INITIATION, OH, AND JUST AS SHE STATED, UM, BE SURE YOU'RE AWARE, UH, SHE PRESENTED BOTH ITEMS FOUR D AND E AND I'M GOING TO HAVE ONE PUBLIC HEARING FOR BOTH ITEMS AND THEN WE WILL NEED TWO MOTIONS.

I WOULD LIKE TO NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR BOTH ITEMS, AGENDA ITEMS FOUR D AND FOUR E.

DO WE HAVE ANY REQUEST TO SPEAK? THANK YOU CHAIR.

WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REQUESTS TO SPEAK, BUT IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, YOU MAY PROCEED TO THE PODIUM HEARING AND SEEING NONE.

I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THESE TWO ITEMS. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ANYONE WOULD HAVE? HEARING AND SEEING NONE, I WOULD NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THE ITEM FOUR D.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GUZMAN AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER JEWEL TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL, PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES BY A VOTE OF SIX TO ZERO UNANIMOUSLY, AND NOW I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON AGENDA ITEM FOUR E.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER JEWEL AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PINEDA.

PLEASE VOTE.

AND THAT MOTION ALSO PASSES UNANIMOUSLY BY A VOTE OF SIX TO ZERO.

THAT CONCLUDES THE AGENDA ITEMS. WE ARE NOW READY FOR COMMISSION ANNOUNCEMENTS.

ANY COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS TO MAKE? WE ARE

[6. PLANNING DIVISION REPORT]

AGENDA ITEM SIX.

UH, THANK YOU MR. CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS.

I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, UM, WE CURRENTLY HAVE 130 ACTIVE PLANNING APPLICATIONS.

UH, 30 OF THOSE, UM, CAME IN IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.

SO AGAIN, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A HEALTHY AMOUNT OF ACTIVITY GOING ON.

UH, A LOT OF THESE ARE REVIEWED AND APPROVED, UM, ADMINISTRATIVELY BY STAFF.

AND THEN, UM, OF COURSE YOU SEE THE, THE IMPORTANT, UM, PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU.

UH, AGENDA

[7. CALENDAR]

THE NEXT, UH, MEETING WILL BE ON NOVEMBER 19TH, 2025.

[00:35:01]

WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND.

PLEASE VOTE AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.