Tempe Development Review Commission Meeting - September 9, 2025
Tempe Development Review Commission Meeting - September 9, 2025
The Development Review Commission held a regular meeting on September 9, 2025, to consider several development applications. The consent agenda was approved unanimously, including five items. The main discussion focused on a zoning map amendment for Danelle Plaza, which was approved unanimously after a public hearing.
Consent Calendar
- Meeting Minutes: Approved unanimously from the August 26, 2025 study session and regular meeting.
- Item 3A: Development Plan Review for a 98,240 sq ft industrial development at 1920 W University Drive. Approved.
- Item 5A: Amended Planned Area Development Overlay and Development Plan Review for Minima Apartments, a mixed-use development with 72 dwelling units and commercial uses on 2.9 acres at 5454 S Beck Avenue. Approved.
- Item 5B: Amended Planned Area Development Overlay and Development Plan Review for Hayden Lane Townhomes, a two-story residential development with three dwelling units and three accessory dwelling units on 0.18 acres at 1825 E Hayden Lane. Approved.
- Item 6A: Code Text Amendment establishing the Middle Housing Overlay District, mandated by A.R.S. 9-462.13. Approved.
- Item 6B: Code Text Amendment for Municipality Administrative Reviews, requiring administrative decisions without public hearings as mandated by A.R.S. 9-500.49. Approved.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Phil Yates (President, Riverside Neighborhood Association): Opposed the rezoning, stating the neighborhood felt unprepared and that more community input was needed. He characterized the applicant's July meeting as lacking answers and called the process disingenuous.
- Robert Moore (Tempe resident): Asked for more detail on the open space component and urged the commission to view Danelle Plaza as an opportunity to set a precedent for integrating density into suburban landscapes. He emphasized the community's role (42% ownership) and the need for thoughtful engagement.
- Sarah Sheila (Tempe resident, former graphic designer): Supported the rezoning, citing her work on the "Meet Danelle" project and her desire to see revitalization while preserving the art scene and Yucca Tap Room.
- Joel Stern (Chair, Dromedary Neighborhood Association; Vice Chair, Neighborhood Advisory Commission): Strongly supported the project, calling it potentially transformative for the city. He highlighted the need for workforce and affordable housing and noted the long history of stagnation at the site.
- Ali Barnett (Tempe resident, real estate broker, Valley Leadership Housing Committee): Supported the project but encouraged the city to create an overarching plan (like a ULI TAP study) to guide future developments. She noted the lack of a site plan and requested more transparency.
- Juliet Smith (Tempe resident): Expressed cautious support, wanting more clarity on the housing plan and community engagement. She worried that high-density housing might detract from the arts and music culture.
Discussion Items
- Item 5C: Danelle Plaza Mixed Use – Zoning Map Amendment from CSS to MU4
- Applicant Presentation: Mondja LaVoz (Gammage & Burnham) presented on behalf of developers Desert Viking Development and Eric Greeno. The rezoning is the first step to allow mixed-use development with affordable housing, consistent with the General Plan. The applicant emphasized that no site plan exists yet; a robust community process will follow over the next few years. The Yucca Tap Room will be preserved via a cultural restrictive covenant.
- Staff Presentation: Karen Stovall (Senior Planner) recommended approval subject to conditions, including that the PAD overlay must be submitted within three years of City Council approval. The applicant held a neighborhood meeting in July with about 60-70 attendees. Two phone calls and one email of support were received.
- Commission Discussion: Commissioner Spears expressed concern about the timeline (up to five years) and encouraged faster progress. Commissioner Lloyd inquired about performance milestones in the development agreement; the applicant confirmed there are milestones under five years. Commissioner Richter noted the density was approved by voters in the General Plan. The chair (Andrew Johnson) expressed support for moving the project forward to gain momentum.
- Vote: Motion to approve PL250205 by Commissioner Richter, seconded by Commissioner Lloyd. Passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously.
- Danelle Plaza Rezoning (PL250205): Approved unanimously, with the condition that the PAD application must be submitted within three years of City Council approval, with possible one-year extensions.
- Commissioner Announcements: Commissioners noted that the approvals for items 6A and 6B were required by state law and did not necessarily reflect personal support for the policies.
- Next Meeting: Scheduled for October 28, 2025.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the Development Review Commission. I am Andrew Johnson. Today is September 9th, 2025. 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, business, and industry is a prime requisite for the independence 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 agreed 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, um, on my far right, we have Commissioner Stefan Richter and Commissioner Charles Redman. On my far left, we have Commissioner Joe Forte, Commissioner Linda Spears, and Commissioner Barbara Lloyd. With us tonight from staff, we have Jeff Tamolevich, Ryan Levake, Michelle Dalki, Jacob Payne, Zachary Lichner, Karen Stovall, Chris Jasper, Lucas Jensen, Joanna Barry, and Jason Wolfe. For any of those in the uh public wishing to speak on an item tonight, please fill out one of these forms and bring it up to Joanna Barry. You'll be given up to three minutes to speak. Staff will be monitoring that time. Also, please note that anyone watching via web chat uh WebEx, the chat box is not monitored or moderated. Okay, so we will we reviewed our uh regular agenda in our study session and developed a consent agenda. First, though, we will go to our item number two uh before I read that consent agenda, which is the consideration of meeting minutes uh from the development review commission study session and regular meeting of August 8th, 2025. Could I get a motion for the approval of those items? Commissioner Spears? Some moved. It's been moved by Commissioner Spears. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by Commissioner Richter. All those in favor, please raise your hand. And that passes unanimously. Okay, so tonight we discussed in study session again the uh what items we wish to have on the consent agenda. These are items that will be uh passed together at under one vote. So if you are here tonight and you wish to speak on one of these items, please get my attention and I can pull that out of the consent agenda. The first item on the consent agenda is item 3A, which is a development plan review for 1920 West University. Was there anyone here tonight wishing to speak on that item? Okay, seeing none that will remain on the consent agenda. The next item we had was item five A, which is request an amended planned area development overlay to modify development standards relating to parking setbacks, lot coverage and landscape, and a development plan review for a new mixed-use development with 72 dwelling units and commercial uses on 2.9 acres for minima apartments. Does anyone wishing to speak on that item? Okay, that one will stay on our consent agenda. The next item was item 5B, which is the request and amended planned area development overlay. Um to modify the development standards related to setbacks and landscape. That is for Hayden Lane Townhomes. Okay, we will keep that one on the consent agenda. Um the next item on the consent agenda is item number six A, which is the code text amendment for the middle housing overlay district. Okay, seeing no one, we will keep that one on consent. And item six B is the code text amendment for uh municipal administrative reviews. So code text amendment within the Tempe zoning and development code, which amends decision making authority for applications for development plan review and subdivision plates. And was there anyone tonight wishing to speak on that item? Okay, so we'll keep that one on the consent agenda as well. So our consent agenda remains as it was discussed in our study session. So could I get a motion for the approval of the consent agenda? Motion to approve the consent uh agenda as stated. Okay, so that was moved by Commissioner Richter. Is there a second?
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