By Aparna Sekhar | East Valley Tribune
Gilbert is looking at ways to minimize the impact of several housing laws that the Legislature passed last session and that reduce municipalities’ zoning and permit authority.
The town council, in a study session last week, discussed the impact of House Bills 2297 and 2720 and Senate Bill 1162, which take effect January 1.
Like most other Arizona municipalities, Council will have to make changes in the Municipal Code to conform to the new laws after the town planning commission makes its recommendations on November 6. Council will then formally vote on December 3.
Town Planning Manager Eva Cutro said that HB 2297 addresses the standards of multi-family residential development and adaptive reuse in the town.
“Some of the requirements of this house bill include that you are allowed to have multi-family development or adaptive reuse on up to 10% of the town’s existing commercial office or mixed-use buildings,” she said.
While even today, residents can choose to reuse such buildings, the process involves a hearing and review.
Under the new law, the reuse is allowed by right, without a hearing, but only on buildings that are in disrepair or have a 50% vacancy in the leasable square footage.
