A development document for a Tempe retirement community’s new building was approved recently by a city commission, establishing plans and standards for the project.
Tempe Development Review Commission voted to approve a new residential building at Friendship Village, a retirement community at 2645 E. Southern Ave, during its March 11 meeting.
The commission approved the development plan review for Friendship Village Courtyard Apartments Phase 3 on consent, passing 6-0. This development document establishes the site plan, building elevations and landscape plan for the project.
Friendship Village has been working on improvements to its Courtyards Apartments as of 2019, according to a city staff report.
Karen Stovall, senior city planner, wrote in the report the planned development is part of the existing 42.91-acre retirement community first approved in 1974. This latest addition will consist of a five-story, multifamily residential building at the community containing 69 units.
“The applicant intends to demolish a portion of the existing Courtyard Apartments, which are located in the northeast corner of the site,” Stovall wrote.
Demolishing the existing building and replacing it with a new one will result in a decrease of 17 dwelling units, according to her report. The new building proposed also includes a single-level garage below it, creating 76 vehicle parking spaces and 35 bicycle parking spaces.
This action taken by the commission doesn’t modify standards of the existing planned-area development overlay, and it will comply with the character area of the surrounding neighborhood, Stovall noted.
“The plan encourages mobility, aging in place, shade, landscaped streetscapes, connectivity and walkability, neighborhood identity and appropriate transitions,” she stated.
In her report, Stovall wrote staff recommended the commission’s approval of the development review plan, given that it meets the required criteria and will conform to the conditions outlined.
One non-standard condition included for this project stated the property owner shall dedicate a multiuse path easement for future pedestrian lighting, landscaping, conduit and irrigation lines that the city plans to construct.
The easement will begin at the southernmost point of the east property line and extend north for approximately 503 feet, and it will be five feet wide. The owner shall dedicate said easement to the city of Tempe prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for the Courtyard Apartments Phase 3, according to the report.
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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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