Community member appeals the approval of new housing shelter

By Caroline Yu
Mail | X: @AzNewsmedia

A community member has appealed a Tempe Development Review Commission decision to approve a use permit for the East Valley Health, Housing and Human Services Center to provide temporary housing in a new development.

The proposed East Valley Health, Housing and Human Services Center will redevelop a site at 2425 E. Apache Blvd. to create a new two-story, 22,964-square-foot office, housing shelter and homelessness services building.

Senior city planner Jacob Payne explained in a city staff report that the Development Review Commission approved the use permit for the center at its Nov. 12 meeting, and on Nov. 26, Mesa resident Albert Avelar filed an appeal of this decision.

In his appeal, Avelar stated that the East Valley Health, Housing and Human Services Center would negatively impact the surrounding area and community, with some effects including increased theft, vandalism, drug use, homelessness and more.

“I am adamant that this structure and its proposed use is a negative for me and my tenants, as well as residents in (the) surrounding area,” Avelar stated.

He continued that the structure will negatively affect his property values, and the community already struggles with a nearby skate park that presents problems with people experiencing homelessness gathering in the area.

Payne wrote in the report that prior to the commission’s approval on Nov. 12, staff had received only one email in opposition to the request and two letters in support of the use permit being approved.

He noted that at the hearing, there was one member of the public who spoke in support of the project, and after further discussion with the applicant and staff, the commission unanimously voted to approve it.

However, since the appeal, staff has received more public input regarding the East Valley Health, Housing and Human Services Center use permit, with potentially impacted residents sharing their opinions.

“Staff has received four emails and a letter in support of the appeal… from residents in the nearby Victory Acres neighborhood, and one email in opposition of the appeal,” Payne stated.

Tempe City Council will hold a public hearing on the appeal during its Jan. 9 meeting to decide on Avelar’s appeal. At the meeting, council has five options to vote upon to address this issue.

Council will decide on:

• Approving the appeal of the DRC’s decision, preventing the development from moving forward;
• Denying the appeal of the DRC’s decision and allowing for the project to proceed;
• Denying the appeal of the DRC’s decision with modified or added conditions;
• Continuing the discussion to a future date for additional information before deciding on the appeal; or
• Remanding the issue back to the DRC for more discussion on the permit issues raised.

Payne stated in his report that the use permit and development plan review for the East Valley Health, Housing and Human Services Center was reviewed four times since January 2024, with the applicant making changes to address project concerns with safety, design and more.

Staff concluded that the proposed design met the required criteria and “recommended the permit and design for approval by the Development Review Commission.”

City council meets on this issue at 6 p.m. Jan. 9 at Tempe City Hall, 31 E. Fifth St. Meetings can also be watched on Cox Cable Channel 11 and at www.tempe.gov/tempe11.

Reporter Caroline Yu can be reached at cyu@iniusa.org. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.   

Caroline Yu
Reporter | Tempe

cyu@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. 

Hobbies: Hiking, painting and crocheting.