Back in 2004, a group of very dedicated neighborhood activists and leaders from several organizations including the local Kiwanis Club, John C. Lincoln Health Network and the Sunnyslope Village Alliance, formed the Sunnyslope Business Coalition to support the local businesses in Sunnyslope. Early on the Business Coalition met to determine their mission and to create a vision to improve their community. Three ideas resulted from those early conversations; 1) address the image and marketing efforts for Sunnyslope, 2) address crime and blight issues and 3) improve the community one street at a time and focus the initial efforts on Hatcher Road.

One response to this was the creation of the Hatcher Road Subcommittee by the Sunnyslope Business Coalition. (Hatcher Road is a major collector street that traverses the entire length of Sunnyslope and serves as a secondary commercial area. Over time, the aesthetic of Hatcher Road has changed, in part from neglect but also, by high traffic volumes that impede its ability to serve as a pedestrian oriented retail area.)

The proposition that Hatcher Road is an underutilized commercial asset was embraced by the Sunnyslope Business Coalition in 2005, and the Hatcher Road Improvement Committee began work on a revitalization plan and implementation strategy that includes the Hatcher Road Overlay District. The revitalization plan was the first document created as part of the Hatcher Road Revitalization strategy. It established the vision for Hatcher Road as a pedestrian-friendly commercial corridor and it served as a tool for the communication of this vision to all interested parties. Ultimately the revitalization plan served as a guide in directing the committee’s work, including determining the language for an overlay document to support this vision.

The Hatcher Overlay District encompasses the corridor from Seventh Avenue to Seventh Street along Hatcher Road. An overlay district is an additional zoning requirement that is placed on a geographic area but does not change the underlying zoning.

The Hatcher Road Overlay District will help to transition the street into a pedestrian-friendly retail and commercial destination. This will be accomplished through the establishment of new development standards that include the following:

• Promoting a mix of residential, commercial, office and civic development along Hatcher Road in a pedestrian-friendly setting

• Encouraging mixed-use development for new and redevelopment parcels, utilizing a building’s second floor and above for residential

• Encouraging economic development by establishing Hatcher Road as a shopping and dining destination for the rest of the city of Phoenix

• Creating a safe and accessible environment for Hatcher Road for walking and viewing outdoor display of merchandise

• Encouraging development of convenient, off-street parking facilities for Hatcher Road

• Encouraging shared parking for multiple-uses on a single or multiple parcels

• Creating an attractive and cohesive streetscape that enhances the Hatcher Road commercial and residential corridor

The Hatcher Road Subcommittee held three public meetings on Nov. 14, 2007, Jan. 8 and March 11 to gather input and answer questions regarding the Overlay District. On March 12, a request was made to the city of Phoenix Planning commission to initiate a text amendment to pave the way for the overlay. The overlay must still be approved by the North Mountain Village Planning Committee, the Planning commission and ultimately, the City Council.

Many dedicated individuals have worked tirelessly on this project, including Joel McCabe, chair of the Hatcher Road Subcommittee. I truly appreciate all of the time and energy that the committee has put into this project and I believe the fruits of their labor will have a long lasting impact on our community.

If you would like more information about how you can get involved in your neighborhood, please call my office at 602-262-7441 or e-mail me at council.district.3@phoenix.gov.

Councilmember Maria Baier represents Phoenix City Council District 3, which includes parts of North Central Phoenix. You can reach her at 602-262-7441 or via e-mail at council.district.3@phoenix.gov.