Sheaborhood residents are concerned about possible traffic danger if zoning is changed.

It was a full house at Shadow Mountain High School on Thursday (Oct. 23) night regarding the rezoning of the office building at 3420 E Shea Blvd to Multifamily Residence (see highlighted area below).

The attorney showed renditions of the owner’s ideas of a 4-story apartment building with underground parking, a dog park, a pool, and a pickleball court. It would not be subsidized by the City to be Affordable Housing.

The group appeared to be unanimously opposed. Some complained about losing views or apartments not fitting our neighborhood style. But by far the largest concern was traffic. The office building parking lot has only two exits. One on the east and one on the west side of the building. Both exit onto Shea right at a highly congested area where cars are going west and merging onto the freeway going either north or south. In rush hour traffic, this area can be backed up to 36th St. An even worse scenario is pulling out onto Shea from the office plaza and trying to make a left to go east. This is impossible in rush hour traffic.

The attorney said no traffic studies have been done as of now, but stated the City of Phoenix will advise him as to what is required regarding traffic studies. There was no promise that a study would be done, or if it was, that it would be shared with the community. But the attorney was convinced that this rezoning and apartment project would not happen easily.

The audience was heated but kept in control. It was a great outpouring of voices from the Sheaborhood. A petition has been started about this issue. Here is the site in case you are interested www.sheaborhoodpc.org/.

This rezoning will have to go before the Village Planning Committee. This will be an important meeting for the community to attend. If it gets to that point, I will notify everyone on the details of the meeting.