New Parking Rules Proposed For Some Phoenix Restaurants, Bars

Published: Thursday, March 2, 2017 - 6:49am
Updated: Thursday, March 2, 2017 - 9:06am
(Photo by Christina Estes - KJZZ)
The owner of a commercial parking lot in downtown Phoenix wants to build a parking garage.
(Photo by Christina Estes- KJZZ)
Neighbor complaints about customers from The Yard near 7th Street and Missouri Avenue led to the new parking proposal.

Certain restaurants and bars looking to open in Phoenix could soon face new parking requirements. The change stems from the success of a restaurant cluster on 7th Street just north of Missouri Avenue.

Not long after The Yard opened in 2013, residents started complaining about customers’ cars filling their neighborhood streets and blocking their driveways.

The complex features three restaurants and a spacious courtyard with games like ping pong, foosball and bean bag toss.

When city staffers approved the plan to turn the former motorcycle garage and dealership into a dining destination, they based parking requirements on dining space and not the recreation area.

On Wednesday, a city subcommittee approved a rule to require new restaurants and bars provide one parking space per 200 square feet of outdoor recreational area. The full council must still approve.

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