Planning commission approves mixed‑use project on Evergreen and Decatur with tree and design conditions
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Summary
The Planning Commission approved a rezoning and site plan for a mixed‑use development at Evergreen Avenue and Decatur Boulevard after the developer repositioned the building to better front Decatur and agreed to larger trees and additional landscaping.
The Planning Commission approved a mixed‑use project by Green Development at the southwest corner of Evergreen Avenue and Decatur Boulevard (project 24‑0486), after the applicant revised plans to shift building frontage closer to Decatur and agreed to additional landscaping conditions.
Staff recommended approval of the rezoning to C‑2 because the site’s Transit‑Oriented Development (TOD) land‑use designation supports redevelopment. However, staff originally recommended denial of the parking reduction variance (requested 461 spaces vs. 475 required), the perimeter landscape buffer waiver and the site development plan review (SDR), because the initial plan placed a row of parking adjacent to Decatur and was “auto‑centric,” which contradicted TOD objectives.
The applicant told the commission they shifted the building closer to Decatur, reduced the amount of parking facing the boulevard, and would add retail on the ground floor fronting Decatur. The applicant also said the proposed 14‑space parking shortfall was modest for a one‑ and two‑bedroom residential project and that redeveloping the site with residential and limited retail would generate less traffic than a full commercial redevelopment.
Adjacent property owners and the owner of a nearby shopping center raised parking and trespass concerns and asked how existing shared parking for Arizona Charlie’s would be affected. The applicant said an existing parking study shows capacity in the area and reiterated that vehicle circulation and parking supply had been evaluated.
Commissioners asked the applicant to improve tree sizes to help mitigate the urban heat‑island effect and to address the number of trees on Evergreen. The applicant agreed to plant 36‑inch‑box trees along Decatur and to work with staff to increase tree counts along Evergreen. Public Works and staff read the tree and landscape commitments into the record as added conditions. The motion passed and the approvals will go to City Council on June 18 for final consideration.
