Tempe Development Review Commission Meeting - March 24, 2026
Tempe Development Review Commission Meeting - March 24, 2026
The Development Review Commission met on March 24, 2026, at 2:15 PM (UTC) to consider a consent agenda, a use permit for a massage establishment, and a zoning map amendment for an event center. All four items on the consent agenda were approved unanimously. The commission also approved the massage establishment use permit and the zoning map amendment after hearing staff reports and public testimony, with votes of 5-0.
Consent Calendar
- Item 4A: Request for a use permit to allow two required parking spaces within the front yard setback for Atkin residents. Approved unanimously.
- Item 4B: Request for a use permit to allow one required parking space within the front yard setback for Ratskin residents. Approved unanimously.
- Item 4C: Request for a standard use permit to reduce the rear yard setback from 15 to 12 feet for Wilson Row. Approved unanimously.
- Minutes: Study session and regular meeting minutes from February 24, 2026 (items 2A and 2B), were approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Land Use Item 4D (Molly Spa): Four members of the public spoke. Lane Kerraway (Cavalry Hills resident, 32+ years) expressed opposition, citing the shopping center's history of "tweakers, drugs, prostitution" and noting a previous illegal business at the location. Kathy Brand (Cavalier Hills resident) raised concerns about missing business and massage therapy licenses, referencing Arizona's 2025 data identifying 480 illicit massage businesses and potential human trafficking. She highlighted a Motel 6 located 223 feet from the proposed spa. Nancy Baker (Cavalier Hills resident) amplified concerns about transparency and neighborhood safety. Reed Calstrudy (Chandler resident) supported the application, stating he has owned legitimate massage parlors for 13 years; he described the applicant, Lynn Kampang, as a legitimate massage therapist and manager who has worked for him.
Discussion Items
-
Item 4D: Use Permit for Molly Spa (Massage Establishment): The applicant, Daniel Sefluontis (local architect, Sephunta Studio), presented for owner Lynn Kampang (licensed massage therapist and Tempe resident). The proposal is for a 1,000-square-foot massage spa in a vacant space at 1646 North Scottsdale Road in a shopping center built in the 1970s. Hours of operation would be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week, with appointment-based service. Staff (Robert Mansileo) recommended approval, noting no significant traffic increase, compatibility with the general plan, and a background check by Tempe Police. Staff reported receiving a call from a concerned resident and 14 letters of opposition. Commissioner Forte noted that over seven years, the city had approved 35 similar use permits without complaints. Commissioner Spears asked about licensing and background checks. The commission approved the permit with conditions: hours no later than 7 p.m. daily and valid only upon receiving a city massage license.
-
Item 5A: Zoning Map Amendment from RO to CSS for Event Center: The applicant, Adam Baugh (on behalf of Lux Holdings MDPP), requested rezoning of a portion of 3910 South Rural Road from Residential Office (RO) to Commercial Services and Shopping (CSS) to allow an event center in an existing office building. The initial proposal to rezone the entire 1.51-acre parcel was scaled back to only the northernmost building and courtyard (about 2,600 square feet interior, 4,000 square feet courtyard) to mitigate concerns about future high-intensity uses. The event center would operate when the office is closed, with hours of 9 p.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. on weekends. A neighborhood meeting on July 28, 2025, had six attendees; one letter of opposition was received regarding noise. Staff (Chris Jasper) supported the amendment, noting it conforms with the general plan's commercial land use designation and maintains an RO buffer around the building. Conditions include a shared parking analysis and resolution of unpermitted courtyard modifications. Commissioner Miller raised concerns about precedent, but the motion passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda (Items 4A, 4B, 4C): Approved unanimously.
- Item 4D (Molly Spa Use Permit): Approved unanimously (motion by Commissioner Richter, second by Commissioner Forte) with conditions limiting hours and requiring a massage license.
- Item 5A (Zoning Map Amendment, Lux Holdings MDPP): Approved unanimously (motion by Commissioner Spears, second by Commissioner Richter).
- Next scheduled meeting: April 14, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, good evening everyone. Welcome to the development review commission. Today is March 24th, 2026. I am Andy Johnson. 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. 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 interdependence of land values, aesthetics, and good site planning by promoting harmonious, safe, and 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 the city council are not final decisions. Tonight with us on the commission to my far left, Commissioner Joe Forte and Commissioner Linda Spears to my far right, Commissioner Stefan Richter, Commissioner Robert Miller, and Vice Chair Michelle Schwartz. Tonight with us from City staff is Jeff Temolovich, Ryan Levake, Michelle Dalke, Chris Jasper, Robert Mansileo, Whitney Mayfield, Warren Rivera, Joanna Berry, and Eddie Garcia. Anyone here tonight who wishes to speak on one of the items? Um, would you please fill out one of these forms and bring it up to the front here to Joanna Berry? And um you will give be given three minutes to speak, and staff will be monitoring that time. Um I already have some. Um if there's anybody else wishing to speak on an item, please fill out one of the forms that are up here at the front. Um tonight um we have we will review items that we had discussed in our study session, which we will put on a consent agenda. Um those items will be voted on um without hearing the cases and approved without hearing those cases. If when I uh discuss the consent agenda, anyone here is wishing to speak on one of those items, please get my attention. All right, so to start us off tonight, we will move on to the consideration of meeting minutes, items 2A and 2b, development review commission study session and regular meeting minutes from February 24th, 2026. Is there a motion? Commissioner Spears? I move for the approval of the development review commission meetings regular and study session for February 24. Okay, there commissioner Spears has a motion for approval. Is there a second? Second, seconded by Commissioner Richter. All those in favor, please raise your hand. And that passes unanimously. All right, next I'll review our consent agenda. Um our consent agenda. Let me wait. Okay. Okay, on our consent agenda, as discussed in our study session, we will have item four A, which is request use permit to allow two required parking spaces within the within the front yard setback for Atkin residents. Was there anyone wishing to speak on that item tonight? Were you wishing to speak as a public comment? Are you the applicant? Okay, then we don't, yeah. We we plan to have it on our consent agenda, so um, just give us a minute. Um the next item would be item 4B, which is request use permit to allow one required parking space within the front yard setback for Ratskin residents. Was anyone wishing to speak on that item? Okay, seeing none. Um items 4A, 4B will be on our consent agenda. And then item 4C is the last one we wanted to have on our consent agenda. And that is request use permit standard to reduce the rear yard setback from 15 to 12 feet for Wilson Row. Anyone wishing to speak on that Adam? All right. So we will have those three items on our consent agenda. Can I have a motion for our consent agenda, Commissioner Richter? Motion to approve items 4A, 4B, and 4C on the consent agenda. Okay, is there a second? Second.
openpublica.com