The Tucson City Council heard from more than a dozen people Tuesday night about a controversial neighborhood-preservation zoning overlay but decided to continue the public hearing until next month.
The issue, which involves a public process to determine whether additional zoning regulations could be placed on certain neighborhoods, drew passionate pleas from members of the community in support of and against the overlay.
As proposed, a zoning overlay would be initiated if more than 25 percent of the property owners in a neighborhood petition for it. That starts a process that includes several public hearings.
The neighborhood would have to justify why it wants certain requirements, such as height restrictions. Someone who wanted to develop property also would have a chance to oppose the proposed zoning overlay. Ultimately, it would be up to the City Council to decide whether to impose the enhanced development restrictions.
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Jon Wilt told the council he uses his finance degree from the University of Arizona to invest in properties near campus. He buys them, improves them, and sells them to owner-residents who will fit in well with the existing community.
He urged the council not to approve the zoning overlay option because he worried it could prevent him from his livelihood.
Other neighborhood association members who spoke in favor of the zoning overlay said it is needed to help keep properties from turning into "slums" and eyesores quickly.
The issue involves those who are unhappy with "mini-dorm" developments — the kind of development that usually entails a landowner tearing down a house and building a new one that takes up a larger portion of the property and has more bedrooms than the average single-family residence. Opponents say these large homes rented by students cause disruption where they are built.
Those who want the process approved say they want to be able to have some input into what goes on in the neighborhoods they've also invested in.
The council voted unanimously to ask the city staff to return at the April 17 study session and present more information on the item. That vote also continued Tuesday's public hearing on April 24.
Cox talks to continue
The council also voted to continue negotiations with Cox Communications regarding an agreement for cable service and public-access channels.
Council members agreed during closed-door meetings with Cox that the "purchase option provision" will stay in the license agreement. The issue passed 5-2, Councilmen Jose Ibarra and Steve Leal voted against it.
If part of a new agreement that's reached, this provision would allow the city to buy Cox's cable franchise when the agreement expires in five years.
