Tempe Development Review Commission Meeting - July 22, 2025
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Tempe Development Review Commission Meeting - July 22, 2025
The Tempe Development Review Commission held a public hearing on July 22, 2025, at 2:00 PM (local time). The meeting was chaired by Andrew Johnson. Commissioners present: Stefan Richter, Larry Tom, Michelle Schwartz, Charles Redman, Linda Spears, and Barbara Lloyd. City staff present included Whitney Mayfield, Robert Mansileo, and others. The commission considered a consent agenda and two use permit requests, all of which were approved unanimously.
Consent Calendar
- Items 4C, 4D, and 4E were approved unanimously as a consent agenda. These included:
- 4C (Edwards Dr Project) – Use permit to allow one required parking space in the front yard building setback at 3005 South Edwards Drive.
- 4D (Gandalf Project) – Use permit to allow two parking spaces within the front yard building setback at 1705 North Oleander Street.
- 4E (Bubak Residence) – Two use permits: one to allow two required parking spaces in the front yard building setback, and one to allow a detached engineered shade structure in the front yard setback at 1015 East Concorda Drive.
- No public speakers requested to speak on these items, so they were kept on the consent calendar.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 4A (Modares Residence) – Two public speakers addressed the commission:
- Jim Lackey (neighbor) asked a clarifying question confirming that the request pertained only to the existing two-story building and not an additional structure. He expressed satisfaction with the explanation.
- Mike Zamora (Tempe resident) asked for a definition of "attached" versus "detached" accessory dwelling units, specifically whether a roof covering connecting the garage to the house constitutes attachment. Staff clarified that the connection is a non-structural breezeway cover, and the unit is considered detached.
- Item 4B (Apache Townhomes) – Two public speakers addressed the commission:
- Joe Emory (neighbor on Telmerson Street) expressed general support for the project, noting it would replace a long-vacant motel that attracted crime. He urged the commission to focus on noise mitigation and enforcement of vehicle noise laws as the city densifies.
- Stephen Cook (Tempe resident, neighbor across the street) expressed disappointment with the attitude of the developer at a prior meeting (which the applicant contested) and concern about the removal of commercial space on Apache Boulevard. He stated he is not opposed to the project but wants more commercial space to support walkability. He also noted that the development is tasteful and that he supports light rail but feels Apache Boulevard is underutilized.
Discussion Items
- Item 4A: Modares Residence (PL240292) – Use permit to allow a second-story detached accessory dwelling unit (ADU) at 2102 East Balboa Drive. The existing 504-square-foot garage-top suite was built without a permit; the current owner, Jeff Modares, purchased the property 14 years ago and has kept it vacant except for storage. Staff found the application met all approval criteria. Conditions include a paint refresh of the exterior. The commission unanimously approved the item.
- Item 4B: Apache Townhomes (PL250083) – Use permit to allow a residential development (20 single-family townhomes) in a commercial zoning district (CSS/TOD Overlay) at 1461 East Apache Boulevard. The site currently contains two vacant motels. The project includes six three-story buildings, each with a two-car garage and three bedrooms. The commission had previously heard a design review and a use permit for reduction of ground-level commercial; this hearing was specifically for the use permit to allow residential in a commercial zone. Staff noted that the project would generate less traffic than the prior hotel use and that the commercial space at the corner was removed in favor of landscaping after consultation with the community. The applicant stated the homes will be owner-occupied, not student housing. The commission unanimously approved the item.
Key Outcomes
- Approval of Minutes – The minutes from the June 24, 2025 Study Session and Regular Meeting were approved unanimously.
- Consent Agenda Approval – Items 4C, 4D, and 4E were approved unanimously without discussion.
- Item 4A (Modares Residence) – Approved unanimously (motion by Commissioner Spears, seconded by Commissioner Richter).
- Item 4B (Apache Townhomes) – Approved unanimously (motion by Commissioner Richter, seconded by Commissioner Tom).
- Next Meeting – The next regular meeting is scheduled for August 12, 2025.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, let's get going. Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the July 22nd, 2025 Development Review Commission hearing. I am Andrew Johnson. 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 a 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 proposed and future development. The development review commission recognizes that the creation of a desirable environment throughout the city for residents. Uh-oh. Lost my place. Hold on a second, sorry about this. 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. Development review commission recommendations to the city council are not final decisions. Tonight with us on the commission to my far right, we have Commissioners Stefan Richter, Commissioner Larry Tom, Vice Chair Michelle Schwartz, to my left, Commissioner Charles Redman, Commissioner Linda Spears, and Commissioner Barbara Lloyd. With us tonight from the city, we have Jeff Tomolevich, Ryan Levake, Michelle Dalke, Jacob Payne, Robert Mansileo, Whitney Mayfield, Alexander Bosworth, Alexander R. Cardona, Joanna Berry, and Jason Wolfe. During the public hearing for members of the public, if you are wishing to speak, you will be given up to three minutes. Staff will be monitoring the time. And please note that the web chat the webEx chat box is not monitored or moderated. Items two A2B. Thank you. And is there a second? And that's seconded by Commissioner Tom. All those in favor, please raise your hand. And that passes unanimously. Okay, next I will go through a consent agenda. We discussed these items in our study session. And the commission agreed to hear them and pass them with a uh uh motion of approval. Um so if there is a item that we have on our consent agenda that someone in the public is wishing to speak on, please get my attention um when I read off that specific item. The first one on our consent agenda is item four A, which is a use permit to allow a second-story detached accessory accessory dwelling unit for an existing single-story single family residence for the Madeiras residents. That's PL 240292. You're wishing to speak on that one? Yes. Okay. Are you in support of that item? I have a question about that item. Okay. Then we will hear that item. Um if you can anyone wishing to speak, please fill out one of these cards and bring that up front to Miss Barry here. Um she's got them right up there. Okay, so we'll pull that item from our consent agenda and we will hear that one. All right, the next item on our consent agenda is item 4C, which is a use permit to allow one required parking space in the front yard building setback for the Edwards Drive project, PL 250153. Was there anyone from the public wishing to speak on that item? Okay, seeing none. We'll keep that one on the consent agenda. The next item would be item 4D, which is a use permit to allow two parking spaces within the front yard building setback for Gandalf project, which is PL 250156. Anyone from the public wishing to speak on that item? Okay, and then the last one on our consent agenda is item 4E, which is a use permit to allow two required parking spaces in the front yard building setback, and a use permit to allow a detached engineered shade structure in the front yard setback for the Ortiz residents. That's PL 250169. Was anyone from the public wishing to speak on that item? Okay. So our consent agenda will contain items 4C, 4D, and 4E.
openpublica.com