Fountain Hills planning commission continues debate on downtown overlay ordinance to June 9

The Fountain Hills Planning and Zoning Commission on April 21 continued consideration of Ordinance 25-02, a proposed downtown overlay that would create a three-part “downtown overlay” including an Avenue District with requirements for active ground-floor uses, modified residential density limits and new special-use permit rules for some first-floor uses.

The commission voted unanimously to continue the item to the June 9 regular meeting so staff can return with revised calculations and additional stakeholder input. Commissioner Gray made the motion to continue and Commissioner Proctor seconded; a roll call recorded six ayes and no nays.

Why it matters: The ordinance would change what types of businesses can locate along the Avenue of the Fountains, alter how many residential units are allowed on upper floors and affect how parking obligations are applied to several large corner parcels in Plat 208. Property owners and business representatives said the proposed text could limit use of existing buildings and leave large parcels hard to redevelop.

Staff presentation and proposal

A planning staff member summarized the ordinance as a consolidation of two existing overlay zones into a single downtown overlay with three subdistricts. The presentation described an Avenue District where, within about 50 feet of the right-of-way, the…