The city council approved rezoning of two parcels south of City Hall Tuesday to Neighborhood Commercial zoning, which will allow for the growth of small business in the area, creating a walkable village. [City of Maricopa]
By Jay Taylor | InMaricopa
The Maricopa City Council took a step toward one of its village concepts becoming a reality Tuesday night as it approved the rezoning of about 23 acres south of City Hall to neighborhood commercial.
The council approved a zoning map amendment to rezone a total of 22.87 acres on both sides of West Bowlin Road, between North White and Parker Road and West Civic Center Plaza from the existing “Transitional” to “Neighborhood Commercial.” It then approved an ordinance adopting an amendment to the City’s zoning map to rezone that land to “Neighborhood Commercial.”
The zoning will allow for the placement of the upscale Mexican restaurant, Cocina Madrigal, on a half-acre parcel directly south of the library. It also opens up over 22 acres south of Bowlin to “neighborhood” commercial zoning, meaning it will consist of small businesses without the presence of big-box stores.
The “Neighborhood Commercial” zoning allows for neighborhood businesses such as restaurants, nail salons, physical therapy centers or chiropractor offices to be developed in the area. It would not allow for big-box retailers or even a large grocery store such as Fry’s or Sprouts.
The sites are across White and Parker Road from the Desert Cedars community.
“A small grocer would be allowed under Neighborhood Commercial but a larger one would not,” said Byron Easton a senior planner in the city’s planning department who made the city’s presentation to the Council.
The city’s development plan calls for several urban “villages” around the city that provide residential, recreational and commercial opportunities within the village, removing the need for residents to travel to a single area of town to get needed services.
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