All Forum Posts by: Matt Everling

@Brandon Payne Are you saying there is a SFR on a lot zoned commercial? If so, and there is an approved variance, then get a copy of the staff report and a copy of the Resolution that the Planning Commission or Zoning Administor approved and signed to look for any Conditions of Approval that affect the site.

@Brandon Payne Call the City’s Planning Dept. and ask what the specific zoning is for the subject site. Typically, Commercial zoning does not allow for residential uses unless it is a mixed use zone. A variance to allow residential in a commercial zone is unusual in my experience.

@Roger Verastegui I have made a career out of attending City Council and Planning Commission meetings. They are meetings that contain public hearing items. If you wish for your ideas to be heard, a Planning Commission meeting is not the best choice. I would recommend you attend a City Council meeting. At the beginning of every meeting, the agenda will specify time that the Mayor will allow a member of the public to speak on any item that is NOT on the agenda. This is your chance to explain your ideas and request that the Council direct staff to place the item on a future agenda for consideration. You will have 3 minutes. I recommend you send each Council member an email outlining your ideas prior to the meeting. Good luck.

@Chris Martin I have spent the last 25 years reading and interpreting Zoning Ordinances and General Plans. I have even written Sign Programs for new large scale commercial developments. It does take some getting used to.

@Matthew Lukas Inside every city’s Municipal Code lies the Zoning Ordinance. Usually Title 17. This document will outline all of the adopted zoning designations within the city and their associated definitions and development standards. It will also list the permitted and conditionally permitted land uses. Typically, if the zoning code does not specify a certain land use, then it is not permitted.

@Kory Knapp The number of structures don’t matter as much as the allowed density. R3 is multifamily zoning. Look up the permitted density in the R3 zone of the City of Phoenix Zoning Code. The General Plan should also tell you the allowed density and number of dwelling units per acre.

@Aaron Brown Just found this great report by Mr. Sterling White: 

The Investor’s Guide to Grading Indianapolis Neighborhoods

Run a search in BP and this should come up. 

@Aaron Brown I am looking at Indy for the same valid reasons you stated. I have also been researching other areas like Cleveland (OH) Dayton (OH), Louisville (KY) and Lexington (KY). I've even heard good things about Madison (WI). I like buy and hold small MFR. Goal is to keep things small and scale up to large apartment buildings and/or use the "stack" method taught by Brandon Turner.

This post now has me more interested in Indy. Time to focus on finding quality A, B and C neighborhoods.

@Aaron Brown I am looking at Indy too. Can I ask what made you decide to land there?

@Nathan Williams so would you still consider Cleveland or Columbus or will you now focus on Indianapolis?

@Nathan Williams what do you mean by avoiding floor areas?