Development Review Commission Meeting - June 22, 2021
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Development Review Commission Meeting - June 22, 2021
On June 22, 2021, the Tempe Development Review Commission (DRC) held a regular meeting to consider a Planned Area Development (PAD) overlay and Development Plan Review for Carvana's new corporate headquarters at 1275 West Rio Salado Parkway. The project includes one existing and two new three-story office buildings (totaling approximately 299,000 square feet) and two parking structures. The commission also approved previous meeting minutes and a consent agenda item.
Consent Calendar
- Unanimously approved the consent agenda item (CAR-GRAPH INC. project) without discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Public comment from Merrill Darcy (Tempe resident) expressed support for the Carvana project but urged the commission to uphold staff conditions regarding tree species and placement to maximize shade and greenery along Priest Drive.
Discussion Items
- Carvana PAD & DPR (PL210061): The applicant requested removal of staff condition #4, which capped parking at 1,411 spaces. Carvana sought 1,652 spaces (a ratio of ~5.5 spaces per 1,000 square feet) to accommodate their planned 1,700 employees. Staff recommended a lower cap of 1,411 spaces (~4.7/1,000 SF) citing design constraints (utility easements limiting street trees) and alignment with the city's Transportation Master Plan to reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips. Commissioner concerns included traffic congestion and design impact; others noted the project's gateway significance and the impracticality of reducing parking garage efficiency. The applicant stipulated the site will not be used for auto storage or retail sales.
Key Outcomes
- Vote on Carvana motion: The commission approved the PAD and DPR with staff's recommended conditions, except condition #4 (removing the parking cap). Motion passed 6-1 (Commissioner Amorosi dissenting). The parking structure will accommodate the requested 1,652 spaces.
- Commissioner farewells: Chairman David Lyon and Commissioner Andrew Johnson concluded their service on the DRC, with expressions of gratitude from staff and colleagues.
- Next meeting: Scheduled for July 27, 2021.
Meeting Transcript
All right. Well, in that case, let's call this meeting to order. Apologies, folks, that we're a little late. We've finished up with our study session, just a little behind there. Needed a couple of minutes to get everything finalized. So let me welcome you all to the Development Review Commission for the City of Tempe for June 22nd, 2021. 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 throughout the city for 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's therefore considered to be in the best interest of public health safety and general welfare. Now any person agreed by a final decision of the development review commission made final appeal to the city council within 14 calendar days after the development review commission has rendered its decision. Okay. So ladies and gentlemen, uh tonight we have with us from city staff, Miss Barna Daskupta, Mr. Steve Abrahamson, Miss Diana Kaminsky, and Miss Joanna Barry, and we're also joined by Mr. Greg Wolf. By way of Commissioners tonight, we have Commissioner Andrew Johnson, Commissioner Barbara Lloyd, we have Commissioner Don Cassano, Vice Chair Mike Dominico, Commissioner Philip Amorosi, and Commissioner Steven Bauer, and I am Chairman David Lyon. We have somewhat of a short agenda tonight, folks, but we hope that you'll enjoy it. First item on our agenda is consideration of meeting minutes. Those are the meeting minutes for. May 25th, is it? That's correct, Chairman. May 25th study session in regular. That's right. Okay. All right. So we have reviewed those meeting minutes and have not found any edits to be made to them. Can I hear a motion regarding the approval of those minutes, please? Mr. Chairman, this is Commissioner Casano. I make a motion for approval of the uh study session May 25th, and the uh regular meeting of May 25th for the Development Review Commission be approved. All right. Do I hear a second, please? Second. Motion to approve from Commissioner Cusano and seconded by Vice Chair D Dominico. Commissioner Bauer, how do you vote? Aye. Commissioner Cassano. Aye. Vice Chair D. Dominico. Aye. I abstain because I was not present at that meeting. Commissioner Lloyd. How do you vote? I also have stay in order than that. Commissioner Amarosi? Aye. And Commissioner Johnson. All right. Excuse me. Aye.
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