Development Review Commission Meeting – January 9, 2024
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Development Review Commission Meeting – January 9, 2024
The Tempe Development Review Commission held a public hearing and study session on January 9, 2024, to consider several development applications. The meeting began with approval of previous minutes and a consent agenda, followed by a detailed discussion on the 1020 Apache mixed-use project, which was approved with conditions. The commission also heard announcements from members and staff.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1: Minutes from December 12, 2023, approved unanimously.
- Items 2–5: Use permits for CAYA COFFEE & TACO CART, TAKE 5 OIL CHANGE TEMPE, KIDS EMPIRE, and TLC MASSAGE were approved as a consent agenda without discussion, all unanimous.
Discussion Items
Item 6: 1020 Apache – Zoning Map Amendment, Planned Area Development, and Development Plan Review
- Applicant LV Collective (represented by Manjula Voss, Chris Johnson, and architect Alison Rainey) requested a zoning change from CSS to MU-4 (TOD) and a PAD to develop a 15-story, 289-unit purpose-built student housing project with ground-floor retail at 1020 East Apache Boulevard.
- The site currently houses a Super 8 motel and is adjacent to existing student housing (Carmen and Apollo).
- The project includes 36 studios, 36 one-bedrooms, 47 two-bedrooms, 17 three-bedrooms, and 153 four-bedrooms, with 2,021 sq ft of flex restaurant/retail space and a 6,800 sq ft lobby.
- Parking: 4.5 levels of parking with a requested reduction; EV charging stations and bicycle parking provided.
- The design includes stepped massing to respect neighboring heights, a fifth-floor pool deck, a 14th-floor amenity deck, and emphasis on pedestrian activation along Apache.
- Staff presented conditions of approval, including a 55-foot right-of-way dedication, landscaping on the north side, and enhanced materiality on upper floors for four-sided architecture.
- Commissioner Miller raised concerns about parking reduction and building height, but the applicant declined to modify the height at this stage.
- Commissioner Lloyd questioned the number of conditions (45) and the project's readiness; staff explained the conditions address minor last-minute changes.
- Commissioner Tom clarified the right-of-way condition does not affect the building footprint.
- Two conditions were modified: Condition 6 (archaeological monitoring) to require consent and sign-off by the Historic Preservation Officer, and Condition 7 (cultural sensitivity training) to remove "upon request" and require submission of evidence to the Community Development Department.
Key Outcomes
- The commission voted 6–1 to approve Item 6 (PL230262) with the modified conditions. Commissioner Miller voted in opposition.
- The motion included the specific language changes for Conditions 6 and 7.
- Commissioner Forte announced an alley cleanup event with Keep Tempe Beautiful on Saturday, January 13, at Salah Park from 8–11 a.m.
- Staff had no announcements.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. Happy new year. Welcome to the January 9th, 2024 Development Review Commission. The purpose of the Development Review Commission was 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 compat compatible development that is therefore considered to be in the best interest of public health, safety, and general welfare. Appeal of the development review commission decision. 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. Tonight with us on the commission, we have Commissioner Larry Tom to my right, uh Don Cassano, Michelle Schwartz, Commissioner Barbara Lloyd to my left, Commissioner Robert Miller, and Commissioner Joe Forte. And I'm Andrew Johnson, um chair, I'm sorry, Michelle Schwartz is the vice chair, and I am the chair of uh Andrew Johnson. Um with us from staff, um, we have Ryan or sorry, Jeff Tamolevich, Ryan Levake, Mylene Penkowitz, Diana Kaminsky, Chris Jasper, Lucas Jensen, Joanna Berry, and Jason Wolfe. During the public hearing, for members of the public, if you wish to speak on any cases that we're hearing tonight, you'll be given up to three minutes to speak. Um staff will assist with any as necessary to help us keep that time. Um I'm gonna read through the agenda for today. And um, the first items that I will be mentioning will be on our consent agenda. If there's anyone here tonight that wishes to hear one of those items, which is to speak on one of those items, please get my attention and we will pull that from the consent agenda and actually hear that case. Um but uh so I'll I'll walk through these real quick. So the first one, um, the first item on our agenda is the development review commission study session and regular meeting minutes from December 12th, 2023. Um, then we will have our consent agenda. Our congent consent agenda consists of item number two, kaya coffee and taco cart. Was anybody here wishing to hear that one tonight? Okay, seeing none, we'll keep that on the consent agenda. Item number three, take five oil change temp E. Please get my attention if you wanted to hear that one. Okay, item number four, kids empire. I'm the applicant if you're okay. You're the applicant. Um, so um, I don't see anyone wishing to speak to that. Um, otherwise, we'll keep it on the consent agenda, which will go with uh will be approved through a uh consent vote. Um item number five is TLC massage, which will also be on our consent agenda. Anyone wishing to hear that? Great. So that is consists of our consent agenda. Um item number six will be heard, 1020 Apache, and then we will have uh Commission member announcements and city staff announcements. Okay, so let's get going on item number one, which is our development review commission uh study session and regular meeting minutes from December 12th, 2023. Can I get a uh motion? Mr. Chairman, I would make a motion for approval of item one. Uh commission study session, commissioner regular meeting of 12123. Okay. Motion moved by Commissioner Cassano. Is there a second? Second. Commissioner Lloyd seconded. All those in favor, raise your hand. Okay, and that passes unanimously. All right, item number two is our second item on the agenda is our consent agenda. Um, can I get a motion on the consent agenda? Move approval of the consent agenda is right. Oops.
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