Tempe Development Review Commission Regular Meeting – July 29, 2026
Tempe Development Review Commission Regular Meeting – July 29, 2026
The Tempe Development Review Commission held a regular meeting on July 29, 2026 (noted in the transcript as July 28, but the official date provided for this summary is July 29). The commission unanimously approved meeting minutes, a consent agenda covering six use permit requests, and a contested use permit for a carport conversion at 1612 East Galen Drive after hearing public testimony and applicant responses.
Consent Calendar
- Item 4A: Use permit for live entertainment in the CSS zoning district at 83 East Broadway Road (Mills Modern Social).
- Item 4B: Use permit for two required parking spaces within the front yard setback and an engineered shade structure at 504 West 15th Street (Messinger property).
- Item 4C: Use permit for two required parking spaces in the front yard building setback at 1421 West 7th Street (Pangeo Taco – Panagio Tecopolis residence).
- Item 4D: Use permit for two required parking spaces in the front yard building setback at 621 West Howe Street (Corino residence).
- Item 4F: Use permit for two required parking spaces within the front yard setback at 432 East Garfield Street (Hill Garage Conversion).
- Item 4G: Use permit for a fitness center in the GID zoning district at 1231 West Warner Road Suite 101 (Red Line Athletics). No member of the public requested to speak on any consent item. The consent agenda was approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jana Lynn Granillo, resident of 1615 East Galen Drive (across from the subject property), spoke in opposition to the use permit (Item 4E). She expressed concerns that the property has historically been rented to ASU students, leading to excessive street parking, noise, and nuisance (e.g., a coordinated waterski event with a limousine bus). She questioned the accuracy of the conversion timeline (stating changes occurred after 2015) and requested conditions to monitor occupancy and parking. She noted the owner had not personally contacted her.
Discussion Items
- Item 4E – Use Permit for Malm Residence at 1612 East Galen Drive: Applicant Austin Malm requested a use permit to allow two required parking spaces in the front yard driveway, necessitated by a pre-existing (circa 2013) conversion of a carport into a fifth bedroom and other living space. Staff planner Whitney Mayfield presented: the property is zoned R1-6, code compliance issued a correction notice in March 2026 for unpermitted work, and the use permit would allow the driveway spaces followed by an as-built building permit. Staff found all five approval criteria met. Commissioner Kendon Jung questioned occupancy limits under the city’s definition of family (no more than three unrelated persons per code, per Deputy Director Jeff Tamolivich). Commissioner Robert Miller raised concerns about parking overflow for five residents, given limited street capacity (42 feet of frontage, approximately one to two guest spaces). Ms. Mayfield noted the current tenant family consists of two parents and two children under 18, potentially reducing parking demand. The applicant responded that he has since hired a professional property management company (as of September–October 2025) to better manage tenant behavior and address neighbor concerns.
Key Outcomes
- Meeting Minutes (Items 2A/2B from June 9, 2026, and 2C/2D from June 23, 2026): Approved unanimously.
- Consent Agenda (Items 4A–4D, 4F, 4G): Approved unanimously.
- Item 4E – PL 260176 (Malm Residence): Motion to approve by Commissioner Linda Spears, seconded by Commissioner Stefan Richter. Approved unanimously.
- Next Meeting: Scheduled for August 11, 2026, at 6:00 PM.
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 compatible development that is therefore considered to be in the best interest of public health, safety, and general welfare. Any person aggrieved 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. I would like to introduce our newest commission member, Kendon Jung. Um adjacent uh next to Kendon is Linda Spears and Commissioner Charles Redman. To my far right is um now our regular member, Robert Miller, um Stefan Richter, Vice Chair Michelle Schwartz, and I am the chair Andrew Johnson. Tonight with us from staff, I would like to call out uh Jeff Tamolivich, Ryan Levake, Michelle Dalke, 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 Joanna 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 a 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. Could I get a motion for the approval of those two items? So moved. We have a motion for approval from Kenan Jung. Is there a second? Second. Seconded. By Stefan Richter. Is all in favor, please raise your hand. All right, and that passes unanimously. And the next two items will be items two C and two D, development review commission study session and regular meeting minutes from June 23rd, 2026. Could I get a motion for approval of those? Move approval. We'll spread the wealth. Move uh by Commissioner Miller. Um, is there a second? Second. Second move by Commissioner 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. Was 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. Was 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 Pangeo Taco Topical. Sorry, sir. Panagio Tecopolis residents. Is that good?
openpublica.com