The Phoenix City Council approved the proposed Arts, Culture & Small Business Overlay on Wednesday evening.  This is good news for Downtown and surrounding neighborhoods in terms of paving the way for Art Galleries, Coffee Shops, and a variety of other businesses who want to open retail locations in existing small homes & older buildings.  The overlay will further stimulate the Arts & creative establishments springing up in our older downtown neighborhoods by allowing these uses in properties currently zoned R-5, while not imposing the normal parking and other requirements placed on retail establishments in suburban settings.

There are several other features to the new overlay.  To read the whole overlay text and supporting documents, visit the City Planning Department webpage devoted to the overlay.