Phoenix lifts CamelSquare's zoning restrictions

The Phoenix City Council has voted to strip zoning restrictions from the northwest corner of 44th Street and Camelback Road.

It means a developer could build taller buildings on the CamelSquare site as early as February. Building heights, currently capped at two stories, or 36 feet, could increase to four stories, or 56 feet, thus increasing the density on the four parcels from 300,000 square feet to more than a million square feet.

Paul Barnes, an Arcadia resident and neighborhood activist, said neighbors of the 17-acre property are disheartened by the vote, and others should pay attention.

Compromises between property owners, developers and neighborhoods can be undone through the unusual stipulation modification process, Barnes said. In one vote, multiple stipulations that protected this Arcadia neighborhood for more than 40 years were erased, Barnes said.

An effort to collect signatures to force the council to reconsider its decision or put the matter before the voters in August is unlikely, Barnes said.

"Getting enough signatures for a referendum is tough," Barnes said. "I don't know that they would try to get signatures for four parcels."

The council also approved a new stipulation establishing a committee to review any proposed redevelopment of the site. The committee won't have leverage on issues that matter to neighbors, Barnes said.

"This committee can not reduce the 56-foot height, increase the setbacks or reduce the square footage approved by City Council," Barnes said. "There's no provision for mediation."

REDEVELOPMENT NEEDED

Larry Lazarus, a Phoenix zoning attorney representing the property owner, Dallas Police and Fire Pension Fund, told the City Council that removing the restrictive stipulations would attract new development, and that the request was backed by the Camelback East Village Planning Committee and the city Planning Commission.

During the public hearing process, Lazarus said that because of the desirability of the location, the owner intends to develop Class-A office buildings, the swankiest and most-expensive class of office space.

"It's their intent to redevelop this property," Lazarus said. "They want to know they'll have the ability to build a real commercial office (development)."

CONTENTIOUS CORNER

Steve Sanchez and other residents previously succeeded in halting redevelopment of the property in 2007, when developer Scott Schirmer proposed a mixed-use development of single-family homes, townhouses, condominiums, retail, restaurants and a hotel, with a maximum height of 98 feet. Neighborhood opposition was a factor when Schirmer withdrew the rezoning application.

This time, the Dallas Police and Fire Pension Fund sought to remove the height limitations previous owners and residential neighbors agreed to in 1966, 1974, 1979 and 1984.

Sanchez said the City Council's vote hurts Phoenix.

"It simply enriches an out-of-state pension fund, blocks out vistas and creates more traffic nightmares in an otherwise beautiful part of Phoenix," Sanchez said.

THE VOTE

Councilman Tom Simplot declared a conflict and did not vote. Mayor Phil Gordon voted to have the issue mediated. The remaining seven members supported the request.

Councilman Sal DiCiccio, who represents the area, said a majority of people who contacted his office favored the property owner's request.

"The project has no entitlements greater than the standard office building similarly zoned," DiCiccio said.

Councilwoman Peggy Neely said that during her three terms, the council reviewed several proposals for the property and the vote would allow a vibrant commercial corner to be redeveloped.

"It takes into consideration the character of the existing neighborhood and it has allowed the community as a whole to participate in the process from beginning to end, including the design phase," Neely said.

by Sadie Jo Smokey The Arizona Republic Dec. 30, 2010 02:19 PM





Phoenix lifts CamelSquare's zoning restrictions