Tempe Development Review Commission Meeting - April 8, 2025
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Tempe Development Review Commission Meeting - April 8, 2025
The Development Review Commission met on April 8, 2025, at 2:00 PM UTC (evening local time) to consider a consent agenda of routine items and a public hearing for a use permit for a columbarium. The meeting was chaired by Andrew Johnson, with Commissioners Stefan Richter, Larry Tom, Vice Chair Michelle Schwartz, Joe Forte, Linda Spears, and Barbara Lloyd present. Staff included Lucas Jensen, Robert Mansolillo, and others. All decisions were unanimous.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The study session and regular meeting minutes from March 11, 2025, were approved unanimously.
- Consent Items (4A, 4C, 4D, 4E, 4F): The following items were approved as a single consent agenda without discussion or public comment:
- 4A: Chang Residence – Use permit for one required parking space in the front yard setback at 1601 South Farmer Avenue.
- 4C: Lofts on Hayden Lane – Use permit for reduced setbacks and increased fence height, plus development plan review for 31 single-family units at 1877 East Hayden Lane.
- 4D: Parque Properties LLC – Use permit for two required parking spaces in the front yard setback at 1337 East Lemon Street.
- 4E: Go Snap Shop Smoke Shop – Use permit to allow a tobacco retailer at 830 West Broadway Road.
- 4F: Daniels Addition – Use permit for a second-story addition at 1230 West Oxford Drive.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Written Comment on Item 4B: One public comment was received in opposition to the Starlight Memorial Columbarium, arguing it did not align with the Smith Innovation Hub guidelines. Staff and the applicant’s presentation countered that the project supports the hub’s sustainability and community engagement goals. No members of the public spoke in person during the hearing.
Discussion Items
- Item 4B – Starlight Memorial Columbarium: The applicant, Carly Shorman (President of Homecoming Memorials), requested a use permit to operate a cemetery (columbarium) in the AG zoning district at 1986 East University Drive. The proposed columbarium would have 50 niches (holding up to 100 cremated remains) and be placed on a 1.96-acre parcel that includes the historic Casa Chavez (built 1886). Shorman stated the project aims to provide affordable, environmentally friendly final placement options and to fund the restoration and preservation of Casa Chavez, with a long-term goal of transferring the property to the city with an endowment. Staff (planner Lucas Jensen) recommended approval, noting the low intensity of the use, four dedicated parking spaces, and compatibility with the adjacent Smith Innovation Hub. Commissioners asked about restrooms (applicant confirmed an accessible restroom exists), potential expansion (currently limited to one columbarium), hours of operation (initially limited, but applicant open to expansion), and public access (limited hours, possible tours). Commissioner Tom expressed concern about lack of typical cemetery amenities, but the applicant clarified that onsite staff would be available. Staff suggested a condition to allow one additional 50-niche columbarium without a new use permit, and to allow expanded hours.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (motion by Commissioner Richter, second by Commissioner Forte).
- Item 4B – Starlight Memorial Columbarium: Approved unanimously (motion by Commissioner Spears, second by Commissioner Forte) with two additional conditions: (1) permission to install one additional 50-niche columbarium on the same parcel, and (2) authority to work with staff to expand the hours of operation beyond the initially submitted limited hours. The standard conditions of approval (including paved ADA-compliant parking) also apply.
- Next Meeting: Scheduled for April 22, 2025.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the Development Review Commission. Today is April 8th, 2025. The 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 recommends 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 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 14 calendar days after the development review commission has rendered its decision. Development review commission recommendations to city council are not final decisions. Tonight with us on the commission, to my right, Commissioner Stefan Richter, Larry Tom, Vice Chair Michelle Schwartz, to my left, Joe Forte, Linda Spears, and Barbara Lloyd, and I am Andrew Johnson. With us tonight from our staff are Jeff Tamolevich, Ryan Levake, Michelle Dalkey, Karen Stovall, Robert Mansileo, Lucas Jensen, Whitney Mayfield, Joanna Barry, and Jason Wolfe. If anyone here has come to speak on any of the items tonight, please fill out one of our speaker cards that's up here at the front with uh Ms. Barry, and we will uh hear your comment during our regular meeting. Um if you are here to speak, we will give members of the public up to three minutes to speak, and staff will be monitoring that time. Anyone who is on the WebEx, the chat box is not monitored or moderated. All right, tonight we will be um I will review a consent agenda, but first we will start with our um commission meeting minutes, then I will read the consent agenda and then we will hear those items that are not on consent agenda. Okay, so first of all, we have the um development review commission study session and regular meeting minutes from March 11th, 2025. Could I get a motion for those? I move for the approval of the uh study session and regular minutes for March 11th. Okay, so we have a motion for approval. Is there a second? Second. Okay, that's been moved by Commissioner Spears and seconded by Commissioner Lloyd. All those in favor, please raise your hand. Okay, and that passes unanimously. Next we will have um, I'll read through our our consent agenda. And um during our study session, the commission had reviewed our regular meeting agenda items and identified those that we would like to um have on our consent agenda. If anyone is here to um wishing to speak on one of these items, please get my attention when I read it, and we can pull that item from our consent agenda. The intent of the consent agenda is to be voted on as an entirety and um voted in the um in it for approval. So item 4A, Chang residents. Item 4C, LOFS on Hayden Lane. Item 4D, park properties, LLC. Item 4E, go snap smoke shop. Go snap shop, smoke shop, sorry. Um and then item 4F, Daniel's edition. Okay, I didn't see anyone who wishes wish to speak on any one of those tonight. So uh that is our consent agenda. Can I get a motion for our consent agenda? Motion to approve uh items 4A, 4C, 4D, 4E, and 4F of the consent agenda. Okay, that has been moved by Commissioner Richter. Is there a second? Second. Okay, that's been seconded by Commissioner Forte. All those in favor, please raise your hand. Okay, and that has moved uh passed unanimously. So the next item on our agenda is item 4B, which is Starlight Memorial Colabrium. So if the applicant would please approach and present your case this evening. Hi there, great. Um thank you so much for your time. As the kids say, this is my first rodeo, so I appreciate you bearing with me. Oh that's gonna be useful. Okay, great.
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