Tempe City Council approved a zoning map amendment and planned development overlay for a new 20-story mixed-use development at council’s Dec. 19 regular meeting.
Council approved the development documents in a 7-0 vote. Leo Tempe, which was previously known as Nova Tempe, will consist of 950 housing units and 13,260 square feet of commercial space on 3.61 acres, according to the second and final public hearing.
Mayor Corey Woods noted during the Dec. 19 hearing that the applicant’s representative indicated the name of the project had been changed to Leo Tempe.
There was no further discussion of the project during the meeting, and there were no individuals who wished to speak on the item.
With council’s approval, development standards for density, building height, lot coverage, landscape coverage, building setbacks and parking have been established for the project,according to a city staff report.
City staff and members of the Tempe Development Review Commission previously recommended council’s approval of the zoning map amendment and planned development overlay, despite some commissioners against the decision.
Leo Tempe still needs to process its development plan review through the Development Review Commission, which will outline design details for the project. Two commissioners took issue with the fact the development plan review had not been processed with the zoning amendment.
There were several conditions for the project's approval, including one that requires the applicant to process the development plan review within two years of city council’s vote to approve the zoning amendment.
“If this condition is not met, the zoning of the property may revert to that in place at the time of application or the applicant may request a time extension,” the report stated.
The owners also need to combine the eight lots into one property to proceed, which is why the applicant was pushing to get the zoning amendment prior to the creation of the development plan review.
Reporter Caroline Yu can be reached at cyu@iniusa.org. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Caroline Caroline Yu joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2020 as a summer intern covering Scottsdale. As an intern, she continued her coverage of Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Tempe. After graduating in 2022, Caroline became a full-time reporter for Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. She is currently reporting for the Tempe market.
Community: She is a supporter of the environment and tries to get involved with related community events.
Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications, with a minor in French.
Random Fact: She used to be a ballet dancer for 10 years.
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