Title
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Land Reuse Strategy (Phase I)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to forward to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) the community’s goals for redevelopment of the Aviation Department parcels of land west of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (Sky Harbor).
Report
Summary
The Aviation Department voluntarily acquired more than 780 parcels of land west of Sky Harbor for noise compatibility purposes. The acquisition program area generally included the area between Washington Street on the north, University Drive on the south, 7th Street on the west, and 16th Street on the east. The program ended in 2016. The FAA requires airports to keep current their long-term plans for acquired property and to release land that can be compatibly developed. Currently, the parcels of land are planned for continued “buffer” purposes and are not planned for development. In 2014, the Aviation Department was successful in working with the FAA to secure a pilot study grant intended to support airport noise-land redevelopment community planning and redevelopment implementation. Aviation Department staff has completed the initial phase of this community-led process and wants to submit the updated Reuse Plan to the FAA. The Reuse Plan provides the results of the highly collaborative community planning process and details the variety of potential redevelopment concepts for the land.
An executive summary of the Land Reuse Strategy is attached to this report. The final draft plan, the background project documents, presentations, and meeting summaries have been maintained throughout the project at <https://www.skyharbor.com/LandReuseStrategy>.
Financial Impact
There is no financial impact to the City in forwarding the community’s preference for land reuse to the FAA.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
On Feb. 4, 2015, the City Council authorized Aviation Department staff to enter into negotiation with C&S Companies, the recommended consultant for the first phase of the land reuse planning effort.
On Jan. 3, 2017, the Planning & Development Subcommittee of the Phoenix Aviation Advisory Board reviewed the community’s goals for land reuse and recommended moving the plan forward.
On Jan. 19, 2017, the Phoenix Aviation Advisory Board reviewed the community goals for land reuse and recommended moving the plan forward.
On April 10, 2017, the Central City Village Planning Committee reviewed the community’s goals for land reuse and recommended moving the plan forward.
On Nov. 1, 2017, by a vote of 4-0, the Downtown, Aviation, Economy and Innovation Subcommittee recommended moving the plan forward with one condition, that an addendum report go with the Land Reuse Strategy submittal to FAA showing 1) a supplemental Land Use Framework prepared by the Nuestro Barrio Unidos Neighborhood Association and 2) a supplemental concept concerning the formation of a historic district focused on key historical figures and institutions in the planning area.
Public Outreach
A total of 20 formal, interactive community meetings were conducted throughout a 16-month study process. Meetings were advertised through a variety of media, including the project web page, direct mail, flyers at elementary schools, posters strategically placed throughout the study area, community newsletters, and postings to the City’s open meetings law web page. In addition, numerous small group meetings were held, as well as presentations to neighborhood and business associations, boards, commissions, and a variety of interest groups. Based on community recommendations, the project team hand-delivered bilingual project information door hangers to area residents and businesses, and mailed project information letters and materials to over 700 former residents that voluntarily relocated from the area. Aviation Department staff also participated in neighborhood walks in support of the community’s goal of creating a neighborhood association, and facilitated meetings with other City departments and local interest groups to raise awareness about quality of life concerns expressed by area residents during the Aviation Department's planning and outreach efforts.
Location
The acquisition program area generally included the area between Washington Street on the north, University Drive on the south, 7th Street on the west, and 16th Street on the east.
Council District: 8
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Deanna Jonovich and the Aviation Department.