ARIZONA DAILY STAR: Weds., Nov. 26, 2008

City moves ahead on changes to land code

By Rob O'Dell

The Tucson City Council is pushing forward with a comprehensive overhaul of the city land-use code. The code, last revamped in 1995, is seen by council members and other city officials as a suburban code that doesn't reflect today's realities, especially for Downtown and the area around the University of Arizona.

Councilwoman Karin Uhlich said there is a "real sense of urgency to fix this" among different parties.

Planning Director Albert Elías told the council the city has hired Clarion Associates, consultants who will take two years to reform and reformat the code. Elías also said the city is finalizing an ad-hoc committee of between 20 and 22 interested parties, which will include developers, land-use attorneys, neighborhood interests and consultants.

He told the council, in addition to the comprehensive reforms to the land-use code the consultant will also focus on changing code requirements for the reuse of existing buildings, to cut down on red tape that often holds up or prevents redevelopment.

Critics have said the city's land-use code promotes only low-density growth and has little or no flexibility for infill, which doesn't mesh with the city's goals of revitalizing Downtown, luring business and residential complexes to transit corridors or creating mixed-use communities and transit hubs on the city's suburban edges.

FULL STORY: http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/269016