From: "Friends of Transit" To: Subject: Arizona Republic article in case you missed it. Date: Tuesday, March 16, 2004 10:31 AM City's vision for Central: Beauty, busy advertisement Light-rail system stations would become focal points Bob Golfen The Arizona Republic Mar. 16, 2004 12:00 AM A bustling urban landscape with people strolling sidewalks, shopping and eating at storefront businesses, living nearby and, most important, riding the train. That's how Phoenix planners envision the eventual impact of light rail on the city, with stations becoming the focal points of traditional, pedestrian-based urban living. The vision has resulted in transit-oriented development, adopted by the city in December, that creates a zoning overlay along Phoenix's portion of the light-rail line. The plan is to guide business and residential development away from automobiles and more toward walking and public transit. "The transit-oriented district is a development style that will cater to pedestrians and focuses on mixed uses where people can live, shop, work and play," said Sandra Zwick, principal planner for Valley Metro Rail. The idea is something of a sea change for Phoenix, which is based almost exclusively on automobile traffic and suburban-style development. Nothing changes immediately, though. TOD is a long-range plan, intended to guide construction over the decades. "Over time, we believe this will change the land-use patterns," said Daina Mann, spokeswoman for Valley Metro Rail. "You'll start to see different kinds of development around light-rail stations than anywhere else in Valley." Eventually, the areas around the stations would be more akin to that in a big city. The zoning encourages buildings set close to the street with wide sidewalks, outdoor restaurants, coffee shops, newsstands and loft apartments. No more shopping centers surrounded by parking lots, big-box retailers, gas stations or drive-through businesses could be built, among other banned uses. Parking would be behind or next to businesses, with shop entrances facing the street for walk-in traffic. The district does not affect existing businesses, only new development or expansion, the planner added. "It would be directed to new development and redevelopment that will occur within the TOD-designated area along the light-rail corridor," she said. "That's the quarter mile or five- to 10-minute walk surrounding light-rail stations within the city of Phoenix." The ultimate goal of TOD is to encourage light-rail ridership. Construction begins this summer on the 20-mile "starter" segment of light-rail line that links west-central Phoenix with Tempe and Mesa. Tempe has a similar development plan in the works, said Amanda Nelson, a spokeswoman for the Planning Department. The "pedestrian overlay district" specifies areas around light-rail stations and major intersections north of Broadway Road, she said. The proposal is undergoing its second round of public hearings. The way Phoenix envisions its transit district, city life would go on round-the-clock, seven days a week. People could live and work around the stations, enjoying theaters, museums and shops, and using light rail for transportation. Phoenix is pushing for "more coffee shops and service-oriented businesses that will recognize a ready market," said Joy Mee, deputy director of Phoenix's Planning Department. Development along Portland and Roosevelt streets west of Central and on Washington near Seventh Street is bringing residents into the city. Shops and service businesses such as dry cleaners and small markets are sprouting up around the multifamily buildings. It's all part of a mix to create a vibrant downtown, Mee said, while making it easy to walk, use transit and leave the car home. Carol McElroy, one of the owners of Durant's Fine Foods, a landmark Central Avenue restaurant, said Central Avenue business people are being consulted by the city and Valley Metro in meetings and surveys. But there are still many questions. "People are at the 'I need information' stage. What's it going to look like? How's it going to be on my corner?" McElroy said. "It always seemed to me that Central has been our grand boulevard. I think it should continue to be beautiful." TOD has two levels, the higher tier affecting most sections of Central Avenue and Camelback Road, plus some of the downtown corridor along Washington and Jefferson streets and parts of 19th Avenue north of Camelback. The central downtown Phoenix core is unaffected by the overlay since it contains the desired elements of urban development. The second tier of TOD is directed toward eastern sections of Washington and Jefferson streets, where it incorporates existing industrial businesses. "It's not all about coffee shops but anything that draws people," Mann said. Reporter Yvonne Wingett contributed to this article.