Development Review Commission Meeting – June 13, 2023
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Development Review Commission Meeting – June 13, 2023
The Development Review Commission (DRC) held a regular meeting on June 13, 2023, to consider several development applications. The Commission approved minutes from previous meetings, continued one item, approved two consent agenda items, and deliberated on three major projects. Key actions included approval of the Bonnie Lane Apartments (with added archaeological conditions), denial of the Skye Tempe mixed-use tower (recommendation to City Council), and approval of The Marshall at Tempe student housing project (with conditions, including a parking ratio stipulation).
Consent Calendar
- Items 4 and 5 were approved unanimously (7-0) without public testimony: a Use Permit for internet-based car sales at Tempe Motor Company (9229 South Hardy Drive) and a Use Permit for a decorative screen wall at the Gilmore Residence (326 East Broadmor Drive).
Discussion Items
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Item 3 – Bonnie Lane Apartments (1116 & 1120 South Bonnie Lane): The applicant requested a Use Permit for tandem parking in the R-4 district and a Development Plan Review for eight units in two multi-family buildings. Staff recommended approval subject to conditions, including two archaeological monitoring conditions (similar to those on other projects) due to the site's location in a known archaeologically sensitive area. The applicant agreed to these conditions. The Commission approved the request unanimously (7-0).
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Item 6 – 211 East 7th Street (29-story mixed-use): The applicant requested a continuance to a date uncertain (to July 25, 2023, or later). The Commission granted the continuance (7-0).
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Item 7 – Skye Tempe (780 South Myrtle Avenue): The applicant proposed a 27-story mixed-use development with 281 residential units and 6,650 sq. ft. of commercial space on approximately 0.5 acres. The project included a Planned Area Development (PAD) overlay and Development Plan Review. Staff recommended approval with conditions, including a revised solid waste plan and adjustments to parking striping. Discussion centered on density, pedestrian space, trash collection safety, and the applicant's refusal to accept archaeological conditions (the site had been previously disturbed). The Commission expressed concerns about the project's scale, density, lack of open space, and potential traffic impacts. A motion to approve with conditions failed (3-4), resulting in a recommendation of denial to City Council.
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Item 8 – The Marshall at Tempe (1057 East Apache Boulevard): The applicant requested a General Plan Density Map Amendment (from High Density to High Density Urban Core), a Zoning Map Amendment (to MU-4), a PAD overlay, and a Development Plan Review for a seven-story, 189-unit student housing project with 479 beds and 1,600 sq. ft. of retail. The project included one level of underground parking (168 spaces total). A key issue was the parking ratio of 0.31 spaces per bed, which was significantly lower than the TOD standard of 0.5 and the average of nearby projects (29% reduction). Staff recommended a condition requiring the applicant to provide additional parking or alternative solutions (e.g., off-site parking, reduced bedroom count). The applicant argued that the ratio was appropriate for student housing and noted the project's proximity to transit and car-sharing services. The Commission debated the long-term viability and potential spillover parking. A motion to approve with all staff conditions (including the parking stipulation) passed 5-2, with Commissioners Redmond and Miller voting against. The recommendation for approval will be forwarded to City Council.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes: Approved (5-0) for the March 28, 2023, Study Session and Regular Meeting.
- Item 3 (Bonnie Lane): Approved 7-0.
- Item 6 (211 E. 7th St.): Continued to a date uncertain.
- Item 7 (Skye Tempe): Motion to approve failed 3-4; recommendation of denial to City Council.
- Item 8 (The Marshall at Tempe): Approved 5-2 with staff conditions, including the parking ratio stipulation.
- Commissioner Miller requested that staff provide data on cumulative approved/planned units in downtown Tempe to better assess cumulative impacts.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the June thirteenth, two thousand twenty-three 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. By promoting harmonious, safe, attractive, and compatible development that is therefore considered to be in the best interests of public health and the general safety and the general welfare. Recommendations to the City Council are not final decisions. Um during the public hearing, if we have an abundance of people who wish to call uh or wish to speak, we may use the little timers up front, uh, but most of the time there's not so many people uh that we need to come uh use the uh limitation, the three-minute limitation. Tonight's agenda. Uh we have just a couple of quick housekeeping items. Uh the first of which is the consideration of meeting minutes. Uh, these are for our study session and regular meetings of March 28th, 2023. Uh, voting on those this evening will be uh five of the seven uh commissioners you see up front. Those are the people that were actually at that meeting. Uh then entertain a motion for approval of those two sets of minutes. Vice chair. Chair, I move for the approval of the study session and regular meeting minutes from March 28th, 2023. Do we have a second? Uh we have a motion by vice chair and second by commissioner spears. Uh, all those in favor and opposed, none. The minutes are approved. Vote of five to zero. Uh with uh alternate commissioners uh uh Redmond and Miller abstaining. That brings us to item number. We're gonna do these a little bit out of order. Um item number six, and this is an a request from an applicant to continue item number six uh to the July 25th DRC meeting. Uh it was discussed in our study session that maybe we might want to leave that date open so that the applicant might be able to work with staff and decide if they uh want to continue to that July 25th date or a different date uh specifically because we have a very um involved and lengthy, likely lengthy uh public hearing for the 2050 plan also scheduled that evening. Uh any motions or discussion, Vice Chair. Chair, I move for the continuance to a date uncertain of item number six. Um 211 East 7th Street. Do we have a second? Uh we have a second from Commissioner Spears. Uh any discussion. All those in favor signify by raising your hand. Motion carries seven to zero. All right. And now we have two items that have been proposed for our consent agenda. Uh our intent uh with the consent agenda is to deal with both of these matters in a single vote, which means we'll not be taking any public testimony uh or any discussion on the matter. Um, are either anyone here in the audience here to uh be heard on items four or five? That's the Tempe Motor Company or the Gilmore residents. Seeing none, uh I will entertain a motion for approval of the consent agenda. Uh move to approval the consent agenda. All right. Do we have a second? Uh okay. That's I like that. Um motion by Commissioner or alternate Commissioner Miller and uh second by Commissioner Lloyd. All those in favor, raise your hand. Motion carries seven to zero. All right, now we're back in order. Uh we'll go back up to item number three. Uh this is a request for a use permit to allow tandem parking in the R4 zoning district in a DPR for eight units located within two multifamily billings on two lots.
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