Tempe DRC January 25, 2022: Approvals for Bartow Residence and Haven at Apache
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Tempe Development Review Commission Meeting - January 25, 2022
The Tempe Development Review Commission (DRC) held a public hearing on January 25, 2022, to consider a consent agenda and a major mixed-use development. The meeting involved approval of prior minutes, a use permit for required parking in a front yard setback, and a comprehensive application for Haven at Apache, a 182-unit mixed-use project. The commission also previewed upcoming agenda items.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The DRC approved the minutes from the December 14, 2021, study session and regular meeting (motion carried unanimously with one minor edit).
- Bartow Residence: A request for a Use Permit to allow required parking within the front yard setback at 517 West 11th Street. This was included on the consent agenda and approved without discussion or public comment.
Public Comments & Testimony
No members of the public offered testimony on either agenda item.
Discussion Items
- Haven at Apache (PL210332): A request for a General Plan Land Use Map Amendment (0.71 acres from Residential to Mixed-Use), Density Map Amendment (1.16 acres from Medium/High to High Density), Zoning Map Amendment (from CSS-TOD to MU4-TOD), Planned Area Development Overlay, and Development Plan Review for a 3- to 5-story mixed-use development at 1916 East Apache Boulevard. The applicant (Brennan Ray, representing Geffen Development Partners) and staff (Karen Stolbo) presented details: 182 dwelling units at 64 du/ac, 237 parking spaces, a public fitness center, and design features stepping down from 5 stories at Apache to 3 stories north. Staff recommended approval with conditions, including an additional condition that the north property line wall be constructed of masonry or concrete (not aluminum slats). Commissioner Amorosi praised the project’s sensitivity to the neighborhood, while Chair Domenico expressed concern that the mixed-use designation was superficial, arguing the fitness center might become a resident-only amenity. He described the project as a “wink and a nod” toward mixed-use intent.
Key Outcomes
- Haven at Apache: The commission voted 6–1 to recommend approval of the request (PL210332), including the General Plan amendment, zoning amendment, PAD overlay, and development plan, subject to the added wall material condition. Chair Domenico was the sole dissenting vote. The recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for final decision.
- Next Meeting: The DRC announced a study session on February 8, 2022, at 5:15 PM covering the Mobility Hub and Transportation Demand Management, followed by a regular agenda with two use permit items.
Meeting Transcript
Chair Domenico. Yes. We are ready to go. We're ready to go. Thank you. And it looks everyone's back. I'm out of practice on how to scroll and find all the right pictures. Okay. All right. Welcome to the January 25th, 2022 Development Review Commission hearing. 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, 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 interests 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 the City Council are not final decisions. Also Vice Chair Steve Bauer, and I'm Chair Mike D. Domenico. With us from staff is Ryan LeBake, Steve Abraham, Separna Descupta, Karen Stolbo, Lily Drosas, Joanna Barry, and from Media Jason Wolfe is running the show. If I missed anybody, I apologize. Those are the study session and regular meeting minutes for December 14th, 2021. We discussed those minutes during our study session, and we have one uh small edit uh to those sets of minutes to add one of our alternate members who were as in attendance but not listed on those minutes. So uh I will entertain a motion for approval of those two sets of minutes with that uh small edit to be made. Mr. Chairman, Commissioner Cassano. I would make a motion for approval of the Development Review Commission study session, December 14th, 2021, and the regular meeting 1214, 2021. We have a second. Commissioner Amorosi second. Thank you. Uh it's been moved and seconded. I'll do a roll call vote uh for approval of the minutes. Commissioner Schwartz. Aye. Commissioner Cassano. Aye. Vice Chair Bauer. Aye. I vote aye. Commissioner Sumner's. Aye. Commissioner Amarosi. Aye. And Commissioner Lloyd Aye. The meeting minutes are approved. Uh now into the meat of the agenda. Uh we have one item. It's listed on the agenda is item number three, uh, known as the Bartow residence. Uh this is a use permit to allow required parking within the front yard setback. Uh, in study session, we determined that we were going to recommend uh this case to our consent agenda. It's our intention uh to vote on this in the affirmative, uh, thereby approving uh this use permit. Um staff, do we have anyone who wishes to be heard on this matter from the public? No, we do not.
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