Development Review Commission Regular Meeting - October 25, 2022
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Development Review Commission Regular Meeting - October 25, 2022
The Development Review Commission held a regular meeting on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, in the evening. The meeting was chaired by Mike Dietomenico and included seven commissioners. The agenda covered 14 items, including consent calendar approvals, a continuance, and two major mixed-use development approvals. One public comment was heard in person, and one written comment was read into the record.
Consent Calendar
- The commission approved the minutes from the September 13, 2022 study session and regular meeting (6-0-1, with Commissioner Joe Forte abstaining).
- The consent agenda, consisting of items 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 15, and 16, was approved 7-0. Item 15 (Perry & Rio Salado) was pulled from consent due to a public comment card and was heard separately.
- Items 9 (YW Relaxation) and 13 (Caliendo Residence) were withdrawn or rescheduled; item 9 was withdrawn, item 13 was rescheduled to November 8, 2022.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 14 (Modera Rio Salado): A written comment from Jay DeWitt, representing Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, was read into the record. The comment objected to the project, citing an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Tempe and Phoenix that prohibits residential development in the 65 DNL noise contour. The applicant later disagreed, stating the city of Tempe supports the project.
- Item 15 (Perry & Rio Salado): Phillip Yates, president of the Riverside Neighborhood Association, spoke in person. He expressed concerns about increased density along Rio Salado Parkway, potential parking issues, and traffic impacts on the neighborhood, given the nearby Coyotes proposal and other developments.
Discussion Items
- Item 12 (Apache River Apartments): The applicant requested a use permit for residential in the CSS zoning district and a development plan review for a 12-unit multi-family development with 1,744 sq. ft. of commercial space at 1292 South River Drive. Commissioners raised concerns about the viability of the small retail space, the underutilization of the site given its transit-oriented location, and the split zoning (R4 and CSS). The applicant noted parking constraints and zoning limitations. After discussion, the commission voted 7-0 to continue the case to a date not specified, allowing the applicant to explore design alternatives or a rezoning.
- Item 14 (Modera Rio Salado): The applicant sought a General Plan land use amendment (from Public Open Space to Mixed Use), density amendments, a zoning map amendment (from GID RSOD to MU-4 RSOD), a Planned Area Development overlay, and a development plan review for a 7-story, 319-unit mixed-use development at 835 West Rio Salado Parkway. The site, formerly a city traffic operations center, includes a 14-foot streetcar easement. Staff recommended conditions to address airport compatibility (navigation easement, tenant disclosure) and a trash compactor requirement. The commission voted 7-0 to approve the request with all conditions.
- Item 15 (Perry & Rio Salado): The applicant requested a zoning map amendment from General Industrial to MU-4, a Planned Area Development overlay, and a development plan review for a 6-story, 308-unit mixed-use development (including 4 live-work units and 3,069 sq. ft. of commercial) at 1891 East Rio Salado Parkway. The project aligns with the Smith Innovation Hub design guidelines. Parking ratios were discussed; the applicant provided 464 spaces (1.46 per unit) and a parking study. The commission approved the request 7-0 with conditions as written.
Key Outcomes
- Approved: Modera Rio Salado (PL220082) – 7-0.
- Approved: Perry & Rio Salado (PL220181) – 7-0.
- Continued: Apache River Apartments (PL220030) – 7-0 to a date not specified.
- Consent agenda approved 7-0.
- Next meeting: November 8, 2022, with two items: a use permit for a wall at 1824 East Caroline Lane and the rescheduled Caliendo Residence zoning map amendment and preliminary plat.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome everyone uh to the development review commission hearing for October twenty fifth, two thousand twenty two. Uh we've got a pretty lengthy agenda today, and uh so after we get through some of our uh preliminary business here, I'll kind of lay out the agenda so everyone knows what we're doing and what the order will be. Uh the purpose of the redevelop or the development review commission is to create uh 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, 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 fourteen calendar days after the development review commission has rendered its decision. Today we have uh with us from the commission, uh commissioners Michelle Schwartz, Don Cassano, Vice Chair Andy Johnson, uh Chairman Mike Dietomenico to my left, uh Commissioners Barbara Lloyd, Linda Spears, and Joe Forte. Uh with us from staff. I've lost my list. Uh, Ryan Levake, Steve Abrahamson, Separna Daskupta, Diana Kaminsky, Lee Jimenez, Karen Stovall, uh Bini at Kingsby the Second, Lily Drosas, Sidney Dietering, Joanna Barry, uh, and Jason Wolfe. Tonight uh we have uh two sets of minutes that we'll be voting on. Um for the record, uh Commissioner Joe Forte will be abstaining, he was not present for that meeting. We have several items that we are going to propose for our consent agenda. And I'll read a list of those off here in a second. Um we have two items that were originally advertised for tonight's meeting. That is item number nine and item number thirteen. Uh if you are here to hear uh be heard on either of those items, we will not be hearing those cases tonight. Uh item nine has been withdrawn, and item 13, which was the Caliendo residence uh zoning map amendment, that has been rescheduled for our next meeting uh November 8th. Uh so if you're here for that, uh sorry for your travels. Uh but we have other exciting cases that you can stick around for. Uh our intention with our consent agenda is to vote on the following cases in one single motion uh and to vote in the affirmative to pass those cases. Uh those would be items number three, four, five, six, seven, eight, ten, eleven, fifteen, and sixteen. Is anyone here to the public to be heard on any of those matters? Chairman, uh, we do have a comment card for uh item number 15. Perry and Rio Salado. All right. And what's the other one? Okay, is 14 we're already hearing. Uh so we will pull item number 15 from consent, Perry and Rhea Salado, and we will also hear that case. All right, anything else? Anyone still waiting to fill out a comment card? Just hasn't gotten to it. All right. Then that will be our consent agenda. Uh commissioners, the minutes for the September 13th, uh 22 uh regular and study session. Uh we discussed those in uh pre-session. Uh can I have a motion? Mr. Chairman. Commissioner Cassano. Yes, I would make a motion for approval of the development review commission study session of uh September 13th, 2022, and the development review commission meeting minutes of the regular meeting of December December, September 13th, 2022. Do we have a second? Second. It's been moved by Commissioner Cassano, seconded by Commissioner Spears. All those in favor, signify by raising your hand. Opposed. And one abstention, motion carries six to zero. Uh entertain a motion for approval of our consent agenda. Vice Chair. I move for the approval of the consent agenda. Do we have a second?
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