By Madeline Bates
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Tempe resident Dawn Sinclair and contractor Tim Linklater in September went before Tempe City Council with one question: could the owners of 36 E. Cairo Drive in Tempe build a two-story casita in their backyard? At the March 5 city council meeting, no further discussion was needed, as the design was changed to a one-story unit and the application was rescinded.

The question arose after Tempe’s Development Review Commission heard requests and voted to move the situation forward to the council.

Linklater portrays the Harvey residence as a couple with an adult son. The owners of the property contacted Linklater who drew plans for a two-story unit. He suggested that to accommodate both a living space and a storage area, the unit be two stories, with only the first floor as a living space.

“All in all, the second story doesn’t meet the approval criteria in the ordinances. It is detrimental to the people living in Greater Broadmore, in the vicinity of the (accessory dwelling unit) and to Greater Broadmore as a neighborhood,” Sinclair said on Sept. 18 before the council.

However, Sinclair was not the only one who had problems with this. Three other homeowners from the NuVista neighborhood spoke out.

“The overall Tempe housing supply isn’t about ‘NIMBY’, not in my backyard, versus ‘YIMBY’, yes, in my backyard. It is about responsible urban planning and urban growth, where density is located at key locations where transportation and amenity infrastructure exist,” said Tempe resident Mike Zamora.

At the Sept. 18 regular city council meeting, Sinclair presented a petition of over 300 signatures and argued that even though her property is not near the proposed site, she was concerned about her property values and overall adjustment to the neighborhood.

“Even though the ADU is half a mile away from me, it’s in what I and hundreds of others think of as our neighborhood collectively,” she said in her presentation to the council. “What happens in the greater Broadmore affects me and my investments and my house.”

She claimed that since all of the homes in the area are single-story, a second-story unit would not comply with the Alameda Character Plan and the overall aesthetics of the neighborhood.

The Harveys were not present at the September or March meetings and could not be reached for comment.

Linklater was not present at the March 5 meeting and could not be reached for comment.

The council approved the appeal as moot as the original application was withdrawn. When asked to comment, Sinclair said she had no objection to the change.

To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.

Madeline Bates
Reporter | Tempe/East Phoenix

mbates@iniusa.org

Meet Madeline

Madeline Bates joined Independent Newsmedia in 2025 as a Phoenix/Tempe reporter. Before graduating college, she spent a semester in Washington as a Congressional reporter in the first 100 days of the second Trump administration. But local news is where her heart is. She is excited to be in Phoenix full time and exploring new parts of the city (as long as they have AC).  

Community: After living in East Phoenix for two years, she fell in love with Paradise Valley, Mesa, Tempe, and everywhere in between. She recently discovered the beauty of the South Mountain Reserve and hopes to continue exploring should the weather comply.

Education: Madeline has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and a certificate in Political History and Leadership.

Random Fact: She is a self-taught nail tech. No, she cannot do your nails.

Hobbies: Hiking (when its not 100 degrees), fiction writing, cooking, baking and trying new coffee shops.