A.

SHD description. The "Surprise Heritage District" (SHD) is the area bounded by Bell Road on the north, Greenway Road on the south, El Mirage Road on the east and Dysart Road on the west.

B.

Purpose. The SHD overlay zoning districts enhance and protect the historic character of the original townsite (OTS) while providing infill opportunities and encouraging redevelopment for both residential and commercial uses that further reflect the scale and cultural character of this historic neighborhood.

C.

Establishment of zoning districts. The SHD zoning district is an umbrella district that is applicable to all properties within this geographic area and includes either the zoning regulations and standards present on the property at the time the SHD zoning was adopted or one (1) of the overlay zoning districts specifically associated with the SHD zoning district as further described below:

1.

SHD-RO. This residential overlay (RO) permits uses allowed as shown in Table 106-1c. Designs should be indicative of historic residential neighborhoods and the small scale cottage industry uses that are pedestrian-oriented and support the residents and allow for them to live, work, and play within their neighborhood. Limited commercial uses and multi-family uses shall be designed to match the scale, massing, and appearance of the single-family neighborhood may be appropriate on adequately sized infill parcels. Commercial structures are limited to three thousand (3,000) square feet. A minimum of five thousand (5,000) square feet of lot area per dwelling unit (5,000 sf/du) is required for all residential lots.Gross residential density for the SHD-RO zoning district shall be compliant with the suburban development type in the General Plan for up to eight (8) dwelling units per acre.

2.

SHD-CO. This commercial overlay (CO) permits uses allowed as shown in Table 106-1c in Article I of this chapter. Designs should promote the local arts and culture as well as business opportunities that are compatible with and supportive of the residential overlay. A mix of neighborhood-scale commercial, retail, entertainment establishments, live-work buildings, and mixed use development shall be the primary land uses. Commercial uses shall be limited to forty-five thousand (45,000) square feet. Multi-family complexes may also be permitted within this overlay district if appropriately located at the fringes of the district to serve as a buffer to the adjacent residential neighborhood. A minimum of four thousand (4,000) square feet of lot area per dwelling unit four thousand (4,000 sf/du) is required for allowed multi-family and mixed use developments. Gross residential density for the SHD-CO zoning district shall be compliant with the mixed use residential and commercial development types in the General Plan for up to ten (10) dwelling units per acre.

D.

Development incentives. Development that is zoned one (1) of the SHD overlay zoning districts shall be eligible for any of the following incentives:

1.

New mixed use projects and multi-family projects may be reduced to three thousand (3,000) square feet of lot area per dwelling unit three thousand (3,000 sf/du) when the development provides recreational facilities, community space, and connectivity to existing adjacent developments and the greater neighborhood.

2.

In lieu of providing on-site parking, participation in a joint use parking lot project or a parking improvement district shall be permitted.

(Ord. No. 2024-03, § 1(Exh. A), 3-5-24)

A.

Design standards.

1.

These design standards shall apply to any and all new development in the SHD and supersede any conflicting design standards in other parts of this ordinance. The regulations specific to commercial and mixed use land uses, in Article III of the PEDS, may apply to the design of new non-residential development when not in conflict with those outlined herein.

2.

Prior to any permits being issued for new development, or renovation of an existing building, the architectural, site, and landscape plans shall be reviewed by development services for adherence to these design standards, in addition to other adopted regulations.

3.

Plants and landscape materials shall be low water use, drought-tolerant plants as delineated in Appendix C of the PEDS. All areas of bare soil shall be covered with grass, drought tolerant plantings, or decomposed granite to discourage weeds and to control dust. Edible citrus and nut trees are also permitted. All landscaping shall be well-maintained with diseased and/or dead plant material removed and replaced promptly.

4.

Trellis work, open front porches, and cloth shade sails will not be counted as part of the lot coverage allowance.

5.

Architectural features of all buildings and structures shall reflect the historical character of Phoenix-valley architecture from the 1880's to the 1950's. These architectural features shall be present on all elevations.

a.

Residential architectural designs include but are not limited to Bungalow (Classical, California, and Craftsman), Spanish Colonial Revival, California Ranch, Southwest Style, and Pueblo Revival.

b.

All new construction should include features and embellishments that were prominent in historical architecture to avoid bland, monotone styles. The features include but are not limited to:

(1)

Projections and reveals; back and side porches on residential structures; varied roof and cornice lines; doors, windows, and window treatments such as shutters, awnings, and lintels; and traditional brick or river rock wainscoting, other architectural features such as porte-cocheres, garage doors, dormers, chimneys, and patios.

(2)

Building materials, textures, roof treatments and pitches, building heights, building mass, and proportions indicative of historical Phoenix-valley architecture.

6.

An open and covered porch on the front elevation for all new single-family residential development shall be required as a means to help create a pedestrian scale connection to the street, permit interaction with neighbors, enhance citizen block watch programs, and enhance the sense of neighborhood. Building orientation shall consider the existing environmental conditions and solar orientation.

7.

Although not required, residential fences may be built to a height not exceeding six (6) feet in a side or rear yard or thirty-six (36) inches in a front yard. The fence material shall be compatible with the design style and material of the main structure, preferably masonry, wrought iron, or painted wood. The use of chain link fencing (with or without slats) is prohibited.

8.

All non-residential land uses, excluding parks, that abut residential properties are required to provide visual screening from those residences by an opaque fence/wall or landscaping of approved drought-tolerant plant materials in combination with a wall. This screening shall include accessory uses, loading areas, and trash receptacles. The use of concertina wire is prohibited when adjacent to a public right-of-way.

9.

On-site retention shall be required for all non-residential properties, all multi-family residential properties, and residential properties with more than one (1) single-family dwelling. Rainwater harvesting for plant irrigation is encouraged.

10.

A color palette of earth tones shall be the predominate colors used. The use of accent colors is encouraged to provide a festive and lively streetscape. Accent color, contrasting the primary wall color, should be used to accent entryways and special architectural and trim elements (i.e. columns, trellises, lintels, sills, door and window frames, cornices, and moldings).

11.

Roof-mounted mechanical equipment shall be screened from public view and designed to appear as an integral part of the building, with the exception of solar panels. Mechanical equipment, propane tanks, water filters, coolers and air conditioning units, and similar utility equipment installed at grade or wall mounted shall be screened from public view.

12.

Assembly uses over five thousand (5,000) square feet and multi-family dwellings shall adhere to the following use-specific standards:

a.

The residential development shall have a building frontage presence to the neighborhood street rather than primarily facing a parking lot. The front entry shall include a walkway to the street or surrounding neighborhood.

b.

All multi-story buildings shall have unified and stylistic design elements present on all sides of the building(s). A variety of massing and building heights and stepping rooflines are strongly encouraged. Straight rooflines should be minimized by using offsets, differing heights, stepping, or different orientations to produce variety within a development.

c.

A color palette of earth tones shall be the predominate color used. The use of accent colors is encouraged to provide a festive and lively streetscape. Accent color, different from the dominate wall color, should be used to accent entryways and special architectural features of a building.

d.

The required off-street parking spaces shall be located in the rear, to the side, or beneath the structures with cars recessed one-half (½) level to avoid interrupting the rhythm of the established streetscape, to make land on site available for gardens and courtyards rather than for surface parking, and to provide a pedestrian level connection to the neighborhood.

e.

Mechanical equipment and similar utility devices, whether at grade or roof mounted, shall be screened from public view and designed to appear as an integral part of the building, with the exception of solar panels. The mechanical equipment screening shall be included in the overall allowed building height. Mechanical equipment shall be treated to be non-reflective. Electrical meters, service components, and SES cabinets should be screened from public view or designed to appear as an integral part of the building.

f.

Reflective building materials are prohibited. Metallic surfaces, including roof materials, shall be treated to be non-reflective.

g.

The use of metal or corrugated metal as the primary building material is prohibited; it may however be used as an architectural accent or decorative element.

h.

The building materials of a project shall be durable, require low maintenance, and be of the same or higher quality as surrounding developments. The city strongly encourages all new buildings to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification standards and building sites to utilize low impact development (LID) technologies.

i.

All buildings shall harmonize architecturally with the residential character of the neighborhood.

j.

Assembly uses may be required to provide a traffic study, depending on the specific location.

B.

Development standards.

1.

Existing mobile homes and manufactured homes that are not in compliance with the use-specific standards of Section 106-10.26 herein as of the effective date of this ordinance shall be considered as legal non-conforming structures. However, the existing mobile home or manufactured home may be replaced in its entirety with a conventional site-built home or with a manufactured home that complies with the use specific standards outlined in Section 106-10.26 herein.

2.

The development standards shown in Table 106-3a and Table 106-3b below are applicable to all properties within the SHD. These tables identify the development standards for properties zoned into one (1) of the overlay zones.

(Ord. No. 2021-17, § 1(Exh. A), 2-1-22; Ord. No. 2024-03, § 1(Exh. A), 3-5-24)