1.	Call to Order and Roll Call. Meeting called to order at 6:33 p.m. with a quorum of 16 members present.
2.	Review and approval of the June 24, 2008 minutes. Committee approved the minutes as written.
3.	Announcements and public comments concerning items not on the agenda (not for committee discussion). No announcements made.
4.	Comments by Councilman Claude Mattox. Councilman Mattox addressed the VPC and spoke of the current budget issues the city is facing, possible future budget cuts, encouraged residents to attend upcoming budget hearings, the opening of light rail in December, spoke of the reversible lane study and unfunded mandates passed by the legislature. The Councilman answered questions from the committee regarding speed and photo radar enforcement, light rail construction on 19th Avenue and an update on the West Phoenix Revitalization efforts.
5.	Presentation and discussion regarding the 7th Street and 7th Avenue Reversible Lane Study conducted by ASU and the Street Transportation Department. Presentation by Mr. Kerry Wilcoxon, Traffic Engineer III, Street Transportation Department. For information only, no action. Mr. Kerry Wilcoxon presented a brief history of the reversible, the genesis of the joint ASU/Streets Transportation Dept. study, crash rates and types of crashes that occur during the lane reversals, hours of operation, traffic volumes of the lanes, travel times for vehicles using the lanes, estimated future traffic volume and the resident support and opposition of the lanes. Kerry also answered questions from the VPC. VPC members spoke of their experiences while driving the reversible lanes, recent lane reductions on 15th Ave., possible capacity issues and travel time increases if the lanes are removed, possible increased cut thru traffic if lanes are removed, the possibility of designating 7th St or 7th Ave. for one way traffic, increased vehicle speeds, the need for improved signage and instructions, possibility of photo enforcement, how Phoenix is constructed using a street grid system and is different than most municipalities. A resident asked if the Streets Dept. had researched 3rd St. as a possible solution to traffic volume b/c of recently constructed bike lanes on 15th Ave. VPC members had questions regarding the methodology of the data collected by the Streets Dept., if Streets Dept. had studied east and west bound streets for possible reversible lanes, cost of additional signage, cost of removal of the lanes, cost of digital signs, support and opposition to the lanes, light rail impacts to traffic volumes on the reversible lanes and possible cut thru traffic increases in neighborhoods if lanes are removed.
6.	Presentation and discussion regarding the ASU Camelback Corridor Spring Semester Studio recommendations and next steps. This ASU studio examined design and development concepts for the area along Camelback Road between 7th Street and 21st Avenue. For information only, no action. Presentation by staff. Mr. Marc Thornton provided an overview of the ASU Camelback Corridor 2008 Spring Semester Studio. Mr. Thornton discussed the opportunities and challenges identified by the students throughout the corridor, the five student projects, their proposed urban design strategies and next steps in the development of the station area plan. VPC members commented on identity and theme ideas for the corridor, concerns with water concepts and possible evaporation, the corridor as it relates to TOD and the necessity of periodic public reviews of the plan once adopted.
7.	Z-75-08-5: Presentation, discussion and possible recommendation for a request to rezone approximately .51 acres located 400 feet west of the northwest corner of 27th Avenue and Bethany Home Road from R1-6 to C-1. Request is for a new neighborhood retail center. The Planning Commission will review this request on October 7, 2008. MOTION: Ms. Ardyce Edstrom motioned, with a second from Mr. Alan Feirstein, to deny Z-75-08 as filed. VOTE: 16-0 Motion to deny carried unanimously. DISCUSSION: Mr. Marc Thornton gave a brief overview of the application and noted staff recommendation for denial citing the General Plan Residential Conversion Policy. The applicant described the project noting the proximity to Bethany Home Rd., the C-1 neighborhood commercial request, the possible noise mitigation the additional landscaping will provide adjacent residents, long term investment, will provide services for area residents to walk to and did not have proprietors established for proposed retail center. VPC members had questions regarding trash collection, parking, easements with the property owner to the east, if tenants have been identified, owner moving forward with the project, schedule of construction, commercial vacancies at the intersection of 27th Ave. & Bethany Home Rd., possible uses, what neighbors thought, what changes were made from the VPC’s recommendations when this application was presented in April of 2008, possible increase in noise b/c of removal of homes, if applicant would pursue RO zoning instead. VPC members commented they thought the application was premature, applicant needs to identify possible tenants and uses more thoroughly, that the area needs new development but concerned it may sit vacant, concerns that no changes had been made to plan since last presentation to the VPC and concerns of increased noise to adjacent single family homes.
8.	Z-TA-14-08 (Citywide): Presentation, discussion and possible recommendation regarding a text amendment to the Phoenix Zoning Ordinance for Sections 622, 623, 627, 642, 647 and 659 to allow massage therapy as a primary use in the C-1 Zoning District and delete existing accessory use references in various zoning districts and the special permit requirement. Presentation by staff. The Planning Commission will review this request on October 22, 2008. MOTION: Mr. Ron Heckenberg abstained from this item. Mr. Tim Becker motioned, with a second from Ms. Leslie LeMense, to approve Z-TA-14-08 as filed. VOTE: 15-0-1 Motion to approve. DISCUSSION: Mr. Marc Thornton gave a brief overview of the application discussing the genesis of the request, the licensing requirements for the City Clerk and the State, the number of training hours required, annual renewal of licenses and enforcement. VPC members requested clarification on the staff recommendation, had questions regarding oversight and enforcement of codes and were supportive of the request.
9.	Future agenda items and committee member requests for information or follow-up items (not for committee discussion or action). No requests for information or follow-up were made by the VPC. NEXT MEETING IS TUESDAY OCTOBER 28, 2008.
10.	Staff update on zoning cases recently reviewed by the Committee (not for committee discussion or public input). Mr. Marc Thornton updated the VPC on recent rezoning case Z-SP-29-07-5.
10.	Subcommittee Reports: Mid/High-Rise Subcommittee Light Rail Subcommittee Parks/Trails Subcommittee Chairs gave updates for their respective subcommittees.
11.	Adjournment. Meeting adjourned at 8:56 p.m.

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