Tempe Development Review Commission Meeting - April 11, 2023
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Tempe Development Review Commission Meeting - April 11, 2023
The Development Review Commission (DRC) met on April 11, 2023, at 6:00 PM (approximate start) to consider minutes, consent agenda items, and two public hearings. The meeting included discussion of design changes to a proposed high-rise residential project at 16 East University Drive and a zoning amendment and development plan for the Vedana Tempe townhome project. All votes were unanimous.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of February 28, 2023 Minutes: The DRC approved the study session and regular meeting minutes of February 28, 2023 by a vote of 6-0, with Commissioner Schwartz abstaining due to absence.
- Bonfire Craft Kitchen and Tap House (PL230053): Request for a use permit to allow live entertainment (singing, dancing, karaoke, music) at 1617 West Warner Road. Approved consent agenda 7-0.
- Rio 2100 Residences (PL220255): Request for General Plan density amendment from High Density (up to 65 du/ac) to High Density-Urban Core (more than 65 du/ac), zoning map amendment from GID to MU-4, PAD overlay, and development plan review for a mixed-use project with 390 dwelling units and commercial co-work space at 2132 East Cameron Way. Approved consent agenda 7-0.
Discussion Items
16 East University (PL220343)
- Applicant: Darren Sender (Sender Associates) and Mark Oberholzer (architect) presented on behalf of CA Ventures. The project is a high-rise residential building at the corner of University Drive and Mill Avenue. The DRC had continued the item on February 28, 2023 over concerns about building materials, particularly the use of metal panel vs. EFIS (Exterior Insulation and Finish System).
- Proposed Changes: The applicant shifted from metal panel to a metallic-finish EFIS on more than half the building (gray portions), with a matte EFIS on the lighter areas. They increased window recesses on the west elevation, added Juliet balconies, and incorporated joint patterns to mimic metal panels. The goal was to achieve a consistent architectural expression while using EFIS that looks like metal.
- Staff Position: Senior Planner Karen Stovall expressed concerns about the EFIS actually appearing as metal. Staff proposed two additional conditions: (1) The gray EFIS portions must have reveals with a contrasting color to simulate metal panel joints; (2) The applicant must prepare and submit a mock-up of the metallic EFIS (including all three colors and a reveal) for inspection prior to construction. Commissioner Lloyd questioned the durability of metallic EFIS in Arizona's climate, noting potential performance issues and woodpecker damage from reveals.
- Other Modifications: The applicant agreed to conditions regarding sound transmission: an average STC of 54.63 between units, meeting 55 STC between adjoining bedrooms. Conditions 7 and 22 were added regarding tenant disclosure for nearby entertainment venues and coordination with the adjacent property owner at 26 East University.
- Vote: Motion to approve with conditions as revised (including the two new conditions) passed 7-0. The item will go to City Council on April 20, 2023.
Vedana Tempe (PL230035)
- Applicant: Ahmed Sudan (owner/developer) and Steve Greco (architect). The project proposes a zoning map amendment from R-2 to R-1 PAD and a development plan review for eight attached single-family residential units (three stories) on three lots at 2447 East University Drive, just east of the 101 freeway.
- Project Details: The site is currently vacant, zoned R-2, with surrounding single-family homes (R1-6). The applicant seeks to increase density from 10 to 13 dwelling units per acre (from 6 to 8 units) via the PAD overlay. The design includes four buildings (two duplexes each) with sloped roofs, brick bases, stucco upper floors, and standing-seam metal roofs. Parking: each unit has a two-car garage, plus four guest spaces. A dog park and mail kiosk are included.
- Neighbor Concerns: A neighborhood meeting in March raised concerns about privacy from south-facing third-floor windows. The applicant responded by recessing windows two feet and adding privacy screens and mature landscaping (Chinese elms and Swan Hill olive trees) along the south property line. Some neighbors also preferred a more traditional design and expressed concerns about gentrification.
- Staff Position: Senior Planner Diana Kaminsky recommended approval with conditions. The applicant agreed to all conditions; no additional special conditions were proposed by staff.
- Commission Discussion: Commissioner Lloyd complimented the design and materials. The commission asked about patio wall enclosures between the two middle south units; staff clarified that the applicant would add a fence to create private backyards. A condition was added to that effect.
- Vote: Motion to approve PL230035 as presented, with the added condition for the patio wall fence, passed 7-0. The DRC's approval is a recommendation to City Council.
Key Outcomes
- Approved Consents: Both Bonfire Craft Kitchen and Tap House and Rio 2100 Residences were approved on consent (7-0).
- 16 East University: Approved with two added conditions for contrasting reveals on gray EFIS and a pre-construction mock-up (7-0). Scheduled for City Council on April 20, 2023.
- Vedana Tempe: Recommended for approval to City Council with condition for patio wall at south units (7-0).
- Other: Commissioner announcements noted the Boards and Commissions event on May 13, 2023 at the Omni Hotel. Meeting adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Welcome to the April 11th, 2023 Development Review Commission hearing. The Development Review Commission hearing or development review commission has created a whole 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 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 the general welfare. Any person aggrieved by a final decision of the development review commission may file an appeal to the city court uh 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. Today, uh with us from the commission, uh we have commissioners Michelle Schwartz, Don Cassano, Vice Chair Andrew Johnson, I'm Chairman Mike D. Dominico, uh, Commissioners Barbara Lloyd, Linda Spears, and Joe Forte. With us from staff today, uh we have Jeff Tamulevich, Ryan Lebeck, Steve Abraham, Diana Kaminsky, Karen Stovall, Obenia, Kingsby the second, Joanna Barry, and Eddie Garcia. Uh I will make several attempts to make sure that we include everyone who wishes to be heard tonight. Uh we do have some problems uh with our WebEx system. So if you are uh if you know someone's at home and and uh we're trying to use WebEx to get on, you might want to send them a message telling them to uh either get to Cox Cable Channel 11 if they have it. Otherwise, you can go to the City of Tempe's website and there will be a link that you can watch it uh streaming uh by the internet. Uh but otherwise you're going to see us on WebEx, but you're not gonna you're not gonna get audio. We don't have anybody from the public who wish to be heard virtually tonight, so everybody who wants to speak is here in the audience. Uh but I'm gonna make sure to uh remind you a couple of times to fill out a white card and get our attention if that is uh your purpose here this evening. We have uh two sets of minutes, and those minutes are from our study session and regular meeting dated February 28th, 2023. We discussed those in study session, determined that there were no changes uh to those minutes. So I will entertain a motion to approve as as drafted. Mr. Chairman, I would make a motion to approve the review commission study session of February 28th and the Commission's regular meeting of the 28th of February. Uh we have a motion by Commissioner Cassano. Do we have a second? A second. Moved and seconded. All those in favor, raise your hand. Opposed by a vote of six to zero, with Commissioner Schwartz abstaining because she was not in attendance that evening. Uh those minutes are approved. We have two cases that in study session we have identified as being proposed for our consent agenda. And what our purpose is in the consent agenda is by one single motion and vote to pass both of these cases. Uh so the two cases to be her uh considered as part of the consent agenda are items number four, uh, which is Bonfire Craft Kitchen and Tap House, and item five, which is the Rio 2100 residents. Uh is any member of the public here to be heard on those cases. Seeing none, uh, I will entertain a motion uh to uh approve the consent agenda. I move for the approval of consent agenda, including items four and five. Do we have a second? Uh it was moved by Vice Chair Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Forte. Uh any discussion? All those in favor. Motion passes seven to zero to approve the consent agenda. That uh means that we have two additional items uh that we will hear tonight. Those are items three, 16 East University, and item uh six, which is Vidana Tempe. We also, just so everyone's aware, we have an interpreter with us this evening. There was a request from the public to make sure that we had a Spanish language interpreter that would be able to assist us in tonight's hearing, and uh they will be available uh for us here uh in the chamber as well as those uh tuning in online. Uh so with that, I would ask the applicant to come out up and uh present on 16 East University. Ms Center, it seems like we were just here yesterday. Just yesterday. Thank you very much. Um, Mr. Chairman, members of the commission, Darren Sender, Sender Associates, and Tempe. Um I'll be extremely brief.
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