By Paul Maryniak | Ahwatukee Foothills News
Village planning committees throughout Phoenix will soon be asked to weigh in on zoning code changes aimed at increasing affordable housing options amid rising home prices and rent.
Seven so-called text amendments that will start rolling out June 1 reduce parking space requirements for multifamily projects, lower minimum acreage for mobile home parks and address “accessory living units,” potentially rentable units on single-family homes’ lots.
While they are still finalizing as the final wording of the seven proposed so-called text amendments, city Planning Director Josh Bednarik told a council subcommittee last week that his department aims to get three amendments related to mobile home parks before City Council by early July while others might not be ready for final approval until September.
Another amendment addresses short-term rental regulations, though details were not disclosed either last week or at a March 22 hearing on those zoning code changes.
However, it apparently will create a permitting system and regulations for short-term rentals similar to those adopted by other cities that are trying to curb nuisance complaints.
“As we are finalizing the language,” Bednarik said, “part of what we’re looking at as we allow for an (accessory dwelling unit) is what …to allow for a duplex or even a triplex. So, there’s some minor modifications that we’re having to make across the board.”
Speaking at a Feb. 22 meeting of the same Economic Development and Equity Subcommittee, Bednarik defined an accessory dwelling unit as “a structure that’s positioned on a lot that is smaller than the primary structure.”
