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STRATEGIC OUTCOMES |
ACTION |
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Department: |
☒ Safe & Prosperous |
☐ Motion |
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Community Development |
☐ Active & Appealing |
☐ Resolution |
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☒ Respected & Responsible |
☐ Ordinance - Introduction |
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Division: |
☐ Connected & Engaged |
☒ Ordinance - Adoption |
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Community Planning |
☐ Unique & Creative |
☐ Public Hearing |
TITLE:
title
Rezoning of Properties: 2 E. 6th Street, 541 S. Gila Street, 599 S. Gila Street and Southeast Corner of 6th Street and Gila Street
end
SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION:
Summary Recommendation
The Planning and Zoning Commission recommends approval of the request to rezone the properties located at 2 E. 6th Street, 541 S. Gila Street, 599 S. Gila Street and the Southeast Corner of 6th Street and Gila Street, from the Heavy Industrial/Infill Overlay (H-I/IO) District to the Old Town/Infill Overlay (OT/IO) District. (Community Development/Community Planning) (Alyssa Linville)
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STRATEGIC OUTCOME:
Approval of this rezone will support commercial development in the City that will be responsibly constructed, meeting all codes and requirements. This rezone furthers the City Council’s strategic outcomes of Safe and Prosperous and Respected and Responsible.
REPORT:
The four subject properties are located within the Yuma North End - Old Town South Redevelopment Area and are bounded on the north by Giss Parkway, on the west by Madison Avenue, on the south by 8th Street, and on the east by the Union Pacific Railroad lines. The four properties range from .62 acres to 12.29 acres in size. Two properties are developed with commercial buildings on site while the other two remain undeveloped. The property at 2 E. 6th Street contains an empty shell building approximately 2,800 square feet in size owned by the City of Yuma, which historically served as the Associated Citrus Packers headquarters. The property at 599 S. Gila Street is developed with a 1,600 square foot building and two 320 square foot shipping containers, and contains an auto mechanic shop.
The City of Yuma is initiating the rezoning request for the city-owned properties and two privately owned parcels, with the full support and agreement of the private property owners. The proposed rezoning would change the current zoning designation from Heavy Industrial (H-I) to Old Town (OT).
The purpose of this rezoning is to support the continued revitalization of Downtown Yuma and to extend the established downtown character southward into the Downtown South area. This area has long been identified as a strategic opportunity for reinvestment and redevelopment, yet much of the land has remained vacant, underutilized, or impacted by historic industrial use.
The proposed Old Town zoning district is intended to create a more flexible, mixed-use development pattern that supports walkability, adaptive reuse, and urban-scale development. This rezoning will enable a broader range of uses that are compatible with Downtown Yuma, including employment, commercial, educational, and innovation-oriented uses, while maintaining appropriate development standards that support neighborhood compatibility and community character.
Redevelopment within the Downtown South area is envisioned as an Innovation District, focused on job creation, workforce development, and higher education partnerships. The Old Town zoning district is better aligned with this vision, as it supports employment-generating uses, entrepreneurial activity, and collaborative spaces that can attract both public and private investment. By allowing a mix of uses and urban design elements, the rezoning creates the regulatory framework necessary to support emerging industries, educational institutions, and innovation-driven development.
This rezoning also provides a pathway for reinvestment in properties that have remained vacant or underutilized for many years, including parcels impacted by brownfield conditions. Transitioning away from Heavy Industrial zoning will reduce barriers to redevelopment, encourage environmental remediation, and promote the productive reuse of land within the City’s urban core. Redeveloping these sites will help eliminate blight, improve public safety, and return underperforming properties to active use.
One privately owned parcel within the rezoning area currently contains an established automotive operation. The proposed rezoning from Heavy Industrial to Old Town will not impact this existing use, which may continue to operate as legally established and approved. However, should the property redevelop or transition to a new use in the future, any new development will be required to comply with the permitted uses and development standards of the Old Town zoning district.
This request is in support of the 2014 Old Town South Revitalization Plan and the City Council’s Strategic Plan which aims to promote the redevelopment of this underutilized area within Downtown Yuma.
On April 27, 2026, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted 4-0 to recommend the rezoning from Heavy Industrial/Infill Overlay (H-I/IO) District to the Old Town/Infill Overlay (OT/IO) District, subject to the following conditions:
1. The conditions listed below are in addition to City codes, rules, fees and regulations that are applicable to this action.
2. The Owner’s signature on the application for this land use action shall constitute a waiver of any claims for diminution in value pursuant to A.R.S. § 12-1134.
3. The owner/developer shall dedicate a road easement to the City of Yuma for the knuckle portion of the road at the intersection of 6th Street & Main Street that appears to be on the applicants property. Legal description to be determined by a survey.
4. Each of the conditions listed above shall be completed within two (2) years of the effective date of the rezoning ordinance or prior to the issuance of a Building Permit, Certificate of Occupancy or City of Yuma Business License for this site, whichever occurs first. If the conditions of approval are not completed within the above timeframe then the rezone shall be subject to ARS § 9-462.01.
PUBLIC COMMENTS- EXCERPTS FROM PLANNING AND ZONING COMISSION MEETING MINUTES:
Guillermo Moreno-nunez, Associate Planner summarized the staff report and recommended APPROVAL.
QUESTIONS FOR STAFF
“Commissioner Chelsea Malouff-Craig inquired whether the City-owned property was currently for sale. Moreno-nunez stated that he was not aware of any current plans to sell the property. Alyssa Linville, Director of Community Development, clarified that the property is not for sale, however the City is planning to purchase adjacent properties from the Railroad Company.
APPLICANT/APPLICANT’S REPRESENTATIVE - no additional comments.
PUBLIC COMMENT - None
“Motion by Commissioner Jorge Gonzalez second by Commissioner Chelsea Malouff-Craig to APPROVE ZONE-44919-2026 as presented. Motion carried unanimously, (4-0) with two absent and one vacancy.’
FISCAL REQUIREMENTS:
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CITY FUNDS: |
$ 0.00 |
BUDGETED: |
$ 0.00 |
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STATE FUNDS: |
$ 0.00 |
AVAILABLE TO TRANSFER: |
$ 0.00 |
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FEDERAL FUNDS: |
$ 0.00 |
IN CONTINGENCY: |
$ 0.00 |
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OTHER SOURCES: |
$ 0.00 |
FUNDING ACCOUNT/FUND #/CIP: |
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TOTAL |
$ 0.00 |
- |
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT:
NONE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS NOT ATTACHED TO THE CITY COUNCIL ACTION FORM THAT ARE ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK:
NONE
IF CITY COUNCIL ACTION INCLUDES A CONTRACT, LEASE OR AGREEMENT, WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ROUTING THE DOCUMENT FOR SIGNATURE AFTER CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL?
☐ Department
☐ City Clerk’s Office
☐ Document to be recorded
☐ Document to be codified
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Acting City Administrator: |
Date: |
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John D. Simonton |
05/26/2026 |
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Reviewed by City Attorney: |
Date: |
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Richard W. Files |
05/26/2026 |