Section 1304. General site development standards.
A. Block Size. For all new development, the maximum continuous length of blocks, measured along the centerline of the street, and between intersecting street centerlines, shall not exceed 600 feet unless conditions of Section 1304.G.2 are met.
B. Building Placement. Buildings must be set back from lot boundaries as specified in Tables 1303.1 and 1303.2, and according to the following:
1. Frontage setbacks may be expanded or reduced by as much as 20 percent in order to match adjacent frontage setbacks.
2. For corner lots, see Section 31-13 of the City Code.
3. Planning and Development Department staff have the authority to modify the setback measurements identified in each transect district up to 20 percent to accommodate existing conditions or a design solution consistent with a pedestrian environment.
4. Where public utility easements conflict with required setbacks or build to dimensions, the measurement can be taken from the back of the easement.
C. Building Design.
1. All sides of a structure should exhibit design continuity and contain multiple exterior accent materials that exhibit quality and durability.
2. Visible side and rear building facades should have a level of trim and finish compatible with the front facade.
3. Monotonous building elevations should be avoided, building accents should be expressed through differing materials or architectural detailing rather than applied finishes such as paint, graphics, or forms of plastic or metal panels.
4. Multiple buildings on the same site should borrow and incorporate (not duplicate) architectural styles, materials, forms, features, colors and compatible elements from the same site. These should include: continuation of distinctive rooflines, covered walkway alignments, consistent detailing of finish, accent features on all visible sides of structures, compatible shapes, material, wall and landscaping treatment.
5. The orientation of buildings, windows and balcony features should not significantly reduce or infringe on the existing privacy of adjacent single-family or multifamily residential districts.
D. Lighting Requirements. Lighting standards from Section 507 Tab A.II.A.8 and Section 23-100 of the City Code shall apply.
E. Canal Banks. Standards from Section 507 Tab A.II.E.2 shall apply for projects adjacent to the Grand Canal. Building height may be measured from the canal bank grade.
F. Building and Shade.
1. A minimum of 75 percent of the sidewalk or pedestrian way should be shaded.
a. Shade calculations shall be based on the summer solstice at 12:00 p.m.
b. Shade cast from a building may count towards shade calculations.
2. Developments should include shading along their entire frontage, excluding driveways, loading, and service berths.
3. Required shade can be accomplished by one or a combination of the following methods:
a. Landscape and shade trees within the front setback, as per Section 1309.B.
b. Structural shade elements, trellises, or covered walkways attached to the primary building. Depth should be a minimum of six feet measured from any point of ground floor facade to the exterior column or vertical plane of the overhang. The maximum head clearance should not exceed 20 feet measured from finish grade.
c. Detached shade structures should be a minimum of six feet in depth and a minimum of 16 feet in height and should incorporate architectural elements and design of the primary structure. Footers should be a minimum six feet from public utilities, measured from the outside of the utility.
d. Structures within six feet of a public utility (water/sewer line) should have a minimum 16-foot clear height and be removable.
e. Any projections into public right-of-way should be permitted only upon issuance of an encroachment permit as administered by the City of Phoenix and, if applicable, approval from affected public utility companies.
4. Private and/or public open space shade requirements per Section 1310.
G. Large Scale Development Requirements.
1. Large developments are intended to create and reinforce pedestrian urban environments with a mix of housing, civic, retail and service choices within a compact, walkable, and transit oriented environment, in order to provide greater integration of public and private improvements and infrastructure, and to enable thoroughfare connectivity.
2. Block length exceeding the maximum block length permitted under Section 1304.A, or assemblages over five acres in size, are permitted under the following conditions:
a. Master Development Plans must be provided to the Planning and Development Department.
b. Plans should include a mix of housing and mixed-use types.
c. At least five percent of its aggregated lot area shall be provided as an open space available to the public. Developer shall be responsible for the construction and maintenance of the open space available to the public.
d. The plan shall include improvements to thoroughfares and pedestrian access.
(1) Thoroughfares may include existing alleyways and cross-block access within the development.
(2) Pedestrian ways/paseo for circulation, access and connectivity should be provided at:
(A) Any point along a frontage that is more than 300 feet from a thoroughfare intersection or existing pedestrian way;
(B) Cross-block access when the lot is a through lot;
(C) Lots other than through lots should provide a pedestrian paseo up to the mid-block shared lot line or alley. Where existing pedestrian access exist on adjacent lots, they should be completed.
H. Pedestrian Accessway Guidelines. Pedestrian ways, including paseos, should meet the following minimum standards:
1. Pedestrian ways should be open for public access from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., or during the public hours of any off-street parking areas to which they provide access, whichever is longer.
2. Pedestrian ways should be a minimum of ten feet in width or a minimum of six feet in width when combined with a thoroughfare, or when provided as improved pedestrian alley access.
3. Pedestrian ways don’t have to be straight, but should be entirely visible from one or both of the thoroughfares or private accessways which they connect.
4. All ADA guidelines shall apply.
5. Lighting should be provided to ensure safety and security. The following lighting treatment should be provided within pedestrian ways and paseos:
a. Fifteen-foot maximum height of lighting fixtures.
b. A minimum of one foot candle illumination should be maintained throughout the paseo.
c. Uniform lighting should be placed along entire paseo to avoid bright high glare areas and low visibility dark areas.
6. One of the following elements should be provided at each street entrance to the paseo:
a. Bollard path light.
b. Public art.
c. Decorative directional signage.
d. Building design elements that emphasize the paseo entrance.
7. Alternative paving materials such as permeable pavers, porous concrete or similar materials should be used for on-site hardscaping to reduce urban heat island effect, and to allow natural drainage and filtration.
I. Access/Circulation.
1. All requirements of Section 507 Tab A.II.A.6.3 shall apply except Section 507 Tab A.II.A.6.3.1.
2. Private driveways and off-street parking should be accessed from alleys as much as possible.
3. The entrances to alleys should be directed away from the primary frontages of T5 and T6 lots, except where it is unavoidable that they cross such a frontage.
4. Vehicular maneuvering in an alley is allowed if no single-family or historic preservation zoned district or historic neighborhood is adjacent to the alley. (Ord. No. G-6047, 2015; Ord. No. G-6962, § 8, 2022)