October 28, 2025 Development Review Commission Meeting Summary
October 28, 2025 Development Review Commission Meeting Summary
The Development Review Commission convened on October 28, 2025, to review consent calendar items, hear appeals and specific use permits, and consider zoning code amendments. The meeting featured a significant appeal regarding building address numerals, several use permit requests involving ADUs and autonomous vehicle charging stations, and a major mixed-use development proposal. The commission generally favored continuing deliberation on complex appeals to allow for further staff negotiation while approving routine rezoning and minor development requests.
Consent Calendar
- Unanimous Approval: The commission unanimously approved the September 9, 2025 study session and regular meeting minutes.
- Unanimous Approval of Consent Agenda: Items 3A (Sky Harbor Logistics), 4A (Apache Square), 4C, 4F (Break Time Market), 4G (University Sports Grill), 4H (Casper Additions), 4K (One Spa), 4L (806 University Townhomes), 4M (Operisu Carport), 4N (Angelic Touch Spa), 4O (Racing Rituals), 4P (Francis Street), and 5A (Rio 2100 Residences) were approved as a single vote.
- Removed from Consent: Item 4I (Venegala Residents) was pulled for individual discussion due to public interest.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Kyrene Commerce Plex (Item 3B): Staff expressed that the proposed 5-7 foot tall building numbers were not in scale with the elevations and functioned as attention-getting devices rather than architectural enhancements. The applicant argued the numbers were necessary for heavy industrial wayfinding and truck access, agreeing to resolve the lighting glare issue. Staff recommended denial. Residents generally supported the denial, citing excessive glare and non-compliance with design standards.
- 519 East Alameda (Item 4I): Opponents, including neighborhood association presidents and long-term residents, expressed strong opposition to granting a use permit for an ADU created from an illegal garage conversion. They argued it rewarded illegal construction, increased housing density (5-6 bedrooms) in single-family zones, and undermined neighborhood character. Supporters, including the applicant, argued for compliance with state ADU legislation and the need for affordable housing, emphasizing the driveway parking does not exceed original vehicle capacity.
- Terrace Road EV Charging (Item 4J): Residents expressed significant concern regarding the siting of an autonomous vehicle charging and staging facility adjacent to a high school and residential area. Key positions included fears of increased traffic, safety risks to children, light pollution, and surveillance capabilities. Supporters argued the use reduces overall traffic compared to traditional commercial uses and aligns with city sustainability goals.
- Ballin Elite (Item 4M/O): Neighbors expressed concern about parking overflow and traffic noise similar to a nearby "Court One" facility. The applicant and staff countered that the facility operates with staggered appointments, limited occupancy (10-15 people per hour), and shared parking, making it a low-impact use.
- Dorsey Station (Item 5B): Residents supported the density and affordable housing goals but requested a larger grocery store (20,000 sq ft instead of 10,000 sq ft) and expressed concerns about traffic cut-throughs near Chief Jones Way. One speaker advocated for higher density, arguing current standards are discriminatory against affordable housing.
Discussion Items
- Kyrene Commerceplex (Plenary 250277): The Commission debated whether to uphold the staff denial of the address numeral appeal or continue the item for negotiation. The Chair noted the confusion in the code regarding maximum sizes for address numerals. The Commission decided to continue the item to November 18th to allow the applicant to work with staff on lighting modifications, standardized sizing, and color consistency.
- 519 East Alameda (Use Permit): Staff confirmed that state law prevents the city from requiring additional parking for ADUs even if the total bedroom count increases. Despite public opposition to the illegal construction, the Commission proceeded to a vote, with staff recommending approval subject to conditions requiring building permits for the actual construction.
- Terrace Road EV Charging (PL 250149): The Commission discussed the lack of a traffic impact study due to trip generation thresholds and the safety concerns raised by neighbors. Staff clarified that the applicant's contract would enforce routes to avoid entering the residential neighborhood and that photometric plans would ensure zero light trespass. The Commission considered the conditions regarding traffic routing and noise limits.
- Ballin Elite (PL 250236): The discussion focused on the shared parking model and the applicant's commitment to appointment-based, low-impact operations. Staff noted the use would provide evening surveillance for the industrial area.
- Dorsey Station (Plenary 250278): The Commission discussed the 10,000 sq ft grocery store requirement, which is specified in the RFP, and the code constraints regarding parapets screening mechanical equipment. No amendments to the grocery store size were requested by the Commission.
Key Outcomes
- Continuance: The appeal for the Kyrene Commerceplex address numerals (Item 3B) was continued to November 18, 2025. The applicant is directed to work with staff on lighting fixes, standardized sizes, and colors.
- Approval (Vote 5-1): Use Permit PL 240437 for 519 East Alameda was approved. Commissioner Forte abstained, stating the state legislation superseded local control. Conditions include obtaining building permits for the construction.
- Approval (Vote 4-2): Use Permit PL 250149 for the Autonomous Vehicle Charging Center on Terrace Road was approved. Commissioner Miller and Commissioner Forte opposed the motion citing traffic concerns, but the motion passed with conditions regarding traffic routing, noise limits, and no backup beeper usage.
- Unanimous Approval: Use Permit PL 250236 for Ballin Elite (Fitness Center) was approved.
- Unanimous Approval: Planned Area Development PO 250278 for Dorsey Station (Mixed-Use with 400 units) was approved.
- Unanimous Approval: Zoning code amendments regarding photovoltaic systems (Item 6) were approved and recommended to City Council.
Meeting Transcript
Brand new house. Don't be shy. You know what I'm going to say? Don't do it much, but we're not doing that. Tonight is October 28th, 2025. Thank you all for being here. This is the Development Review Commission. I am Andrew Johnson. I am the chair of the Commission. The Development Review Commission is created to hold public meetings and hearings to provide analysis and recommendations to the City Council regarding general land use policies and applications where the commission has recommendatory power and to render final decisions on specified applications where the commission has final decision-making power, including but not limited to all aspects of a proposed and future development. The development review commission recognizes that the creation of a desirable environment through the city for residents, residents, business, and industry is a prime requisite for the interdependence of land values, aesthetics, and good site planning by promoting harmonious, safe, attractive, and compatible development that is therefore considered to be in the best interest of public health, safety, and general welfare. Any person agreed by a final decision of the development review commission may appeal, may file an appeal to the city council within 14 calendar days after the development review commission has rendered its decision. We ask you to fill out one of these cards and you can bring that up to Miss Berry here up at the front. Staff will assist in monitoring that time. Also please note that the WebEx chat box is not monitored or moderated. Okay, tonight uh I will review uh our agenda. We have met in our study session and developed the consent agenda. I will discuss each one of those consent agenda items and offer an opportunity if someone wishes to speak on one of those tonight, then I can pull that from our consent agenda. But if we do have it on our consent agenda, we will vote on that consent agenda as a whole in affirmative and approve all of those items on the consent agenda. Um but before that, I would like to get a uh recommendation for uh consideration of our meeting minutes from September 9th, 2025 from the study session and regular meeting. Can I get a motion for that item? For those meeting minutes. Okay, I have a motion from Commissioner Miller. Is there a second? Seconded by Commissioner Forte. All those in favor, please raise your hand. And that passes unanimously. Okay, next I will go through our consent agenda. And if anyone here is wishing to speak on one of these items that I'm calling out, please get my attention and we can pull that. First item on our consent agenda is item 3A, which is a request for a development plan review for two new industrial buildings for Sky Harbor Logistics. Okay, we'll keep that one on our consent agenda. Item 4A, which is a request a time extension for a use permit to reduce required 60% ground floor use requirements in the TOD station area for mixed use development, consisting of 272 dwelling units and commercial use on 1.95 acres for Apache Square. Okay, that will remain. Item 4C request a use permit to allow two required parking spaces within the front yard set box setback home improvement. Okay, that will remain on our consent. Item 4E, which is request a use permit to allow two required parking spaces within front yard setback for black residents. Item 4F, request a use permit to allow retail with vehicle service station fuel sales in the general industrial district zoning for break time market. And with this one, we do have approval, which we'll discuss in our study session. Okay, so we'll keep that one on consent. Item 4G, which is request to use permit to allow a bar in the zoning district for university sports grill. Item 4H is request to use permit to allow two required parking spaces within the front yard setback and a use permit for a detached engineer shade structure for Casper additions. On our consent agenda for I request a use permit to allow two required parking spaces within the front yard setback for Venegala residents. Yes. I have somebody who wants to speak on that item. On 4I. Okay. So we'll pull that one from our consent agenda. Um item 4J on our consent agenda, request use permit to allow one required parking space within the front yard setback, and use permit to increase the maximum height of wall fence within the required front yard setback for the pendagraph residents. Okay, item 4K, request a use permit to allow massage establishment for the one spa. Item 4L, request a use permit to reduce the front yard setback from 20 to 16 feet.
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