Phoenix City Council Delays Vote on ‘missing Middle’ Housing Ordinance
PHOENIX – The Phoenixโ City Council on Wednesday postponed a vote on a controversial zoning ordinance aimed at increasing housing density, citing concerns from residents and โขa need for further review. The decision to table the voteโฃ until November 19 comes afterโ hours โof public comment and debate surrounding the proposed โ”overlay district,” designed to comply with recent โstate legislation.
Theโ ordinance, often referred โฃto as โa “missingโ middle” housing proposal, would allow โfor increased density in โcertain areas of the city, perhaps โคpermitting duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, and other housingโข types between single-family homes and largeโ apartment complexes. Proponents argue โit’s a โฃnecessaryโฃ step toโ address Phoenix’sโค housing shortage and affordability crisis.
Councilmember Ann O’Brien โhighlighted the urgency, stating theโฃ city is facing a “housingโฃ crisis that affects thousands of our neighbors.” She also emphasized the financial โฃimplications of non-compliance with state law,noting Phoenixโข could lose nearly $700 million in state-shared revenue.”Phoenix is required toโข follow the โstate law โno matter how poorly it is written,” O’Brien said, adding she would support โขthe ordinance to protect essential city services.
However, concerns remain about the potential impact on the character of established neighborhoods.Several โคcouncilmembers, includingโ Debra Stark, Kesha Hodge Washington, and Betty Guardado, expressedโค a desire to find โsolutions that address both the need for more housing and the preservation of โneighborhood identity.
State Representative Mariana Ortiz, a proponent ofโ the overlay zone, shared her personal experience with the city’s housing challenges during the meeting. she noted the median age โof first-time homeownersโค is 40 and described her recent difficulty finding affordable housing inโ Maryvale, leading to her move from a โ1,700-square-foot rental home due to rising rent. “The few that were on the market were very old and not in great condition as it hasโข become so hard to build missing โคmiddle housing,” Ortiz said. She also acknowledged the ordinance’s initial scopeโข was broader and credited the League of Arizona Cities and Towns with advocating for a more narrowly tailored approach focused on downtowns and city centers.
Councilmember Pastor, representing District 4, requested the delay to allow for further review with legal โคcounsel and city staff. “I want to work on โฃsomeโฃ ofโ the issues โthat have been brought to my attention, to work with lawyers and city staff on some ofโค the concerns that have popped up,” Pastor stated.
The council is scheduled to revisit the ordinance at โคits November 19 meeting.
