Tempe Development Review Commission Regular Meeting - July 28, 2026
Tempe Development Review Commission Regular Meeting - July 28, 2026
The Development Review Commission held its regular meeting on July 28, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. (evening session). The meeting included approval of meeting minutes, a consent agenda covering six use permits, and a contested use permit application (Item 4E) for a residential property at 1612 East Gaylon Drive. Public comment was heard on the contested item, and the Commission voted unanimously to approve all items.
Consent Calendar
- Meeting Minutes: Minutes from the June 9, 2026 study session and regular meeting, and the June 23, 2026 study session and regular meeting were approved unanimously in two separate motions.
- Use Permit 4A: Approved a Use Permit to allow live entertainment in the CSS zoning district for Mills Modern Social, located at 83 East Broadway Road.
- Use Permit 4B: Approved a Use Permit to allow two required parking spaces within the front yard setback and an engineered shade structure over the existing driveway for the Messinger Property at 504 West 15th Street.
- Use Permit 4C: Approved a Use Permit to allow two required parking spaces in the front yard building setback for the Panagiotakopoulos Residence at 1421 West 7th Street.
- Use Permit 4D: Approved a Use Permit to allow two required parking spaces in the front yard building setback for the Carreno Residence at 621 West Howe Street.
- Use Permit 4F: Approved a Use Permit to allow two required parking spaces within the front yard setback for the Hill Garage Conversion at 432 East Garfield Street.
- Use Permit 4G: Approved a Use Permit to allow a fitness center in the GID zoning district for Redline Athletics at 1231 West Warner Road, Suite 101.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 4E (Malm Residence): Jana Lynn Brunill, a resident of 1615 East Gaylon Drive (directly across the street), spoke in opposition. She stated she has lived in the neighborhood for over 30 years and expressed concerns about excessive parking from student renters, nuisance events (including a limousine bus for a water skiing event), and that the property owner had not attempted to contact her. She requested that conditions be placed on the property to address these issues.
Discussion Items
- Item 4E – Use Permit for Malm Residence (PL260176): Applicant Austin Malm requested a Use Permit to allow two required parking spaces in the front yard building setback. The property had a pre-existing carport conversion (circa 2013–2015) that added a fifth bedroom, eliminating the original covered parking. The two spaces will now be located in the driveway. Staff planner Whitney Mayfield presented the staff recommendation for approval, noting that the property is a rental, the driveway can accommodate two tandem spaces, and the street (42-foot width) allows for guest parking. One written comment in opposition had been received prior to the meeting. Commissioner questions addressed the city's limit on unrelated persons (up to five per code, but enforcement is case-by-case) and parking capacity. The applicant acknowledged past issues with student tenants but stated he has since contracted a professional property management company (since September/October 2025) to improve tenant screening and oversight. Current tenants are a family with two children under 18.
Key Outcomes
- Item 4E (PL260176): Commissioner Spears moved to approve the use permit; Commissioner Richter seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
- Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously.
- Meeting Minutes: All four sets of minutes approved unanimously.
- Next Meeting: The next scheduled regular meeting is August 11, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the Development Review Commission regular meeting. Today is Tuesday, July 28th, 2026. 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. The development review commission recognizes that the creation of a desirable environment throughout the city for residents, businesses, and industry is a prime requisite for the interdependence of land values, aesthetics, and good site planning by promoting harmonious, safe, attractive, and competitive 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 file an appeal to the city council within 14 calendar days after the development review commission has rendered its decision. Development review commission recommendations to City Council are not final decisions. Tonight with us on the commission. Next to Kendon is Linda Spears and Commissioner Charles Redman. To my far right is now our regular member, Robert Miller. Tonight with us from staff, I would like to call out uh Jeff Tamolivich, Ryan Levake, Michelle Valky, Chris Jasper, Whitney Mayfield, Warren Rivera, Joanna Barry, and Jason Wolfe. Anyone wishing to speak on an item tonight, uh please fill out one of these forms and bring it up to the front here to Joan and Barry, and we will hear your comments. Uh those members of the public wishing to speak will be given up to three minutes to speak, and staff will be monitoring on that timer. Um first on the agenda, we have consideration of our meeting minutes. I'll take the first two items together, item two A and two B, development review commission study session and regular meeting minutes from June 9th, 2026. So moved. We have a motion for approval from Ken Jung. Is there a second? Second. Seconded. By Stefan Richter. All in favor, please raise your hand. All right, and that passes unanimously. And the next two items will be items 2C and 2D, Development Review Commission study session and regular meeting minutes from June 23rd, 2026. Could I get a motion for approval of those? We'll spread the both. Move uh by Commissioner Miller. Um, is there a second? Second. Second by Christian Richter. All those in favor, please raise your hand. All right. And that passes unanimously. Um next, I we during our study session, we agreed on a consent agenda. All these items will be voted on together without hearing each one of these cases. If anyone here tonight wishes to speak on one of these items, please get my attention after I read out that item. Uh first up on our consent agenda is item 4A, request use permit to allow live entertainment in the CSS zoning district for Mills Modern Social located at 83 East Broadway Road. Is anyone here wishing to speak on that item tonight? Okay. Um next item on our consent agenda is item 4B. Request use permit to allow two required parking spaces within the front yard setback and a use permit to allow an engineered shade structure over the existing driveway for Messinger property located at 504 West 15th Street. Does anyone here wishing to speak on that item? Okay. Uh item 4C is the next item on our consent agenda, which is request use permit to allow two required parking spaces in the front yard building setback for panio talk, sir. Uh Panaggio Tacopolis residents. Is that good? Yeah. Uh located at 1421 West 7th Street. Located at 1421 West 7th Street.
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