Tempe DRC Meeting: August 25, 2026 - Assisted Living Training School
Tempe Development Review Commission Meeting - August 25, 2026
The Tempe Development Review Commission (DRC) held a regular meeting on August 25, 2026, at 2:00 PM (14:00). The meeting included approval of prior meeting minutes, a consent agenda, and a public hearing on a zoning map amendment and use permit for an assisted living training school. All votes were unanimous. The next scheduled meeting is September 8, 2026.
Consent Calendar
- Meeting Minutes: The DRC unanimously approved the minutes from the August 11, 2026 study session and regular meeting (Items 2A and 2B).
- Consent Agenda: The commission unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included Item 4A: a request for two use permits for the Baker-Vassett Residence at 1190 South Maple Avenue to allow two required parking spaces in the street side yard setback and a detached engineered shade structure over the driveway.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke on any agenda item. A neighborhood meeting for Item 5A was held in January 2026 with no public attendance; a petition of support was submitted.
Discussion Items
- Item 5A – Assisted Living Training School: The applicant, Casey Latinovich representing Precious Living LLC, requested a Zoning Map Amendment from Residential Office (R/O) to Commercial Shopping and Services (CSS) for approximately 0.34 acres at 1843 East Southern Avenue, along with a Use Permit for a vocational school in the CSS district. The school has operated for over 25 years, training caregivers and managers for senior care. Operations are low-intensity: primarily online, with 1–2 in-person classes per week (maximum 20 students). Office hours are Monday–Friday, 9 AM–5 PM. The existing building was constructed in 1988. The proposal includes 15 parking spaces (12 required) and will add bicycle parking. Conditions of approval, as presented by Senior Planner Karen Stovall, require a minor Development Plan Review (DPR) for site modifications, a building permit within one year of City Council approval, a shared refuse agreement with the adjacent property to the south, and landscaping installation by February 1, 2027.
Key Outcomes
- The DRC unanimously voted (6-0) to recommend approval of Item 5A (PL260008) to the City Council, subject to the conditions in the staff report.
- The meeting adjourned at approximately 2:30 PM. The next regular DRC meeting is scheduled for September 8, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
All right, let's get started. Uh welcome to the August 2025, 2026. Development Review Commission hearing. 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 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 indust and industry is a prime requisite for the interdependence of land values, aesthetics, and good site planning by promoting harmonious 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 the city council are not final decisions. Tonight with us on the commission, um to my right, we have Commissioner Robert Miller, Commissioner Stefan Richter, Vice Chair Michelle Swartz, and to my left, Commissioner Young, Commissioner Spears, and Commissioner Lloyd, and I am Andrew Johnson. Tonight with us from our staff, the city staff, we have Ryan LeVake, Michelle Dahlke, uh Whitney Mayfield, Joanna Barry, and Jason Wolfe. And Karen Stovall, sorry. All right. Um public wishing to speak on an item, please fill out a request card, which are up here at the front by Miss Barry. Fill that out, and you'll be given three minutes to speak. And that is it for my preamble. So let's jump into our regular meeting. First item on our agenda is a consideration of meeting minutes from the development review commission study session and regular meeting of August 11th, 2026, items two A and two B. Can I get a mo a motion for that item? Motion to approve items two A and two B. There's a motion for approval from Commissioner Richter. Is there a second? Second. And that's seconded by Commissioner Lloyd. All those in favor, please raise your hand. And that passes unanimously. During our study session, we reviewed our the rest of our items to determine what would be on our consent agenda, if anything. Was there anyone in the audience wishing to speak on this item tonight? Okay. So with that, we will keep our consent agenda intact, and I would entertain a motion for the consent agenda now. Motion to approve consent agenda as stated. Okay, there's a motion for approval of the consent agenda by Commissioner Richter. Is there a second? Second. Second by seconded by Commissioner Miller. All those in favor, please raise your hand. And that also passes unanimously. Okay, the last main item on our agenda is item 5A. The last main item on our agenda is item 5A request a zoning map amendment from RO to CSS for approximately 0.34 acres and a use permit for vocational school in the CSS zoning district for assisted living training school located at 1843 East Southern Avenue. Ms. Stolval. Or I'm sorry, would the applicant please present uh present your item tonight? And please state your name and city of residence. Oh, thank you. Good evening. Um my name is Casey Latinovich, and I'm representing Precious Living LLC. And so our project is the assisted living training school located on 1843 East Southern Avenue off of Southern Emma Clintock. We are requesting our zoning map amendment from RO to CSS for commercial services for a vocational school, and also a use permit to allow that vocational school. There is our property. And we actually had bought the property back in 2018. It's in good condition. And the school was the assisted living training school was deemed as a vocational school.
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