Shadow Rock-Gold Key Neighborhood Association

Secondhand Thrift Store & AJ's Shopping Center

Feb 09, 2007

Notice of Public Hearing, zoning adjustment hearing.

Pursuant to A.R.S. Section 38-431-02, notice is hereby given the Zoning Adjustment Hearing Officer and to the general public, that the City of Phoenix Zoning Adjustment Hearing Officer will hold a meeting open to the public on February 8, 2007 at the Assembly Room C, Phoenix City Hall, 200 W. Washington St., Phoenix, Az.

Application # ZA-20-07-3
Existing PSC
Zoning:
Location: 13206 N. 7th St., Ste. #2
Block Location: 1300 N. ??“ 700 E.
Quarter 32-28
Section:
Proposal: Use permit to allow secondhand/used merchandise
Sales (Salvation Army). Use permit required.
Ordinance 622.D.143.b
Sections:
Applicant: James Boyd/Salvation Army
Representative: James Boyd/Salvation Army
Owner: Dr. Edison/ EG Investments, LLC

For further information, please call Tricia Gomes, Planner II, Planning Department at 602-262-7927, or contact via electronic mail at zoning@phoenix.gov . This electronic mail address will not accommodate zoning enforcement/violation complaints.

For reasonable accommodations, call Theresa Damiani at Voice/602-262-6368 or the City TTY/602-534-5500 as early as possible to coordinate needed arrangements.

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Dr. Leslie Edison MD
Moon Valley Medical Center
AJ??™s Shopping Center
13206 N. 7th Street

I was able to attend the City Zoning Adjustment Hearing of Feb 8th 2007 at 1:30pm. The item of rezoning was the property at 13206 N. 7th Street Suite 2. This is the old location of the ACE hardware store.

The rezoning is needed because the present zoning will not allow a second hand thrift store location. The Salvation Army intends to provide a retail store outlet in this location.

Captain James Boyd of the Salvation Army provided information and reasons for approval of the zoning change. Dr. Leslie Edison owner of the Moon Valley Medical Center located in the shopping center was present at the zoning meeting and provided a positive view of why the change should be made to allow the Salvation Army to open their retail store at that location. Dr. Edison is also the owner of the building property with the EG Investments LLC.

Their reasons for the zoning change were positive in nature to provide a service to the area of high-end merchandise for retail to the average and upper income families in the area. The retail store will be a ??œfund raising mechanism??? to support the needed revenue of operating a substance abuse program that is located elsewhere in the city according to Captain Boyd of the Salvation Army.

There were several positive comments made by James Boyd of the Salvation Army, Mr. Don Dewitt (working with James Boyd and the Salvation Army), Dr. Leslie Edison owner of the Moon Valley Medical Center, and Dorothy Beran E&G Investments LLC owner of the building, provided positive reasons for the change in zoning.

One of their comments indicated there was a precedence set when the shopping center allowed a ??œsecondhand furniture??? store located there. However this is not true. The furniture store was a retail sales store of ??œmodel home furniture???, not a used merchandise retail store. There was no precedence set.

Overall there were eight to ten speakers and additional non-speakers that opposed the zoning change to allow a thrift store opening in the shopping center. It??™s very simple the present zoning doesn??™t allow for it. The majority of the neighborhood residents are adamantly opposed to any secondhand thrift store in the area.

The Salvation Army is the right store for charitable donations to be made; the AJ??™s Shopping Center is the wrong location.

The meeting ended with the Zoning Officer stating that he would take this under advisement and respond with an answer to a change within a weeks time. He indicated he wanted to research how many thrift stores were in the area. And that should the zoning change be allowed there would be stipulations with a one-year review period.

I see only a small positive affect from the opening of the thrift store, and find that the negative side far outweighs any positive good that could come from this.

I personally suggest that everyone who has an interest in this topic contact the zoning office with written objection. Also it would be a good idea to contact our councilperson Peggy Bilsten.

It was indicated that Councilwoman Peggy Bilsten was opposing this zoning change, however I have not yet been able to substantiate it.

City of Phoenix, Councilwoman Peggy A. Bilsten's Office
200 W. Washington St., 11th floor
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Phone: 602-262-7441
TTY: 602-495-5810
Fax: 602-534-4190
Email: peggy.bilsten@phoenix.gov
Chief of Staff: Chris Smith