Council backs mixed-use retail activation recommendations; staff to study vacancy and report back

City staff presented recommendations aimed at reducing ground-floor retail vacancy in future mixed-use developments, and the council agreed to forward the proposals to the city manager for implementation and monitoring.

Ty Lee, council assistant, outlined a four-part approach: "The 1st strategy here is to study the areas of future mixed use developments," conduct a market analysis to identify retail gaps, implement site-plan review changes to set expectations early for lease-ready commercial space, and "determine how receptive developers are to site plan review changes and if future code amendments are needed to compel them." Vice Mayor Chin praised the process and urged councilmembers to be "intentional and having the conversation about what we've all agreed upon and moving forward together." The city manager agreed to calendar a six-month update to report on early results.

The recommendations focus on the Transportation Overlay District (including the Apache Corridor example discussed) and call for community input, aerial surveys, and written documentation from planners about developer receptivity. The council indicated consensus to forward the recommendations; staff will perform the studies and return with findings that could include zoning or code amendments if voluntary uptake is insufficient.