Tempe City Council will host the first public hearing to approve general plan and zoning map amendments along with a development plan review for a new industrial development at 1400 W. Third St.
Council will consider the resolution at its Feb. 6 meeting, with a final hearing scheduled for Feb. 20.
The applicant for the project is seeking a general plan of land use and density map amendment from mixed-use urban to industrial, bringing it down to no density, and the zoning map amendment would change it from mixed-use, high density to general industrial district.
Additionally, the development plan review establishes a site plan, building elevations and landscape plan for the project.
Senior city planner Christopher Jasper explained in a city staff report that the proposed project, Priest & 3rd, will consist of an approximately 117,000-square-foot industrial development on 6 acres. It will create a new building with roughly 32,500 square feet of office space and about 82,500 square feet of warehousing space.
Currently, the site is surrounded by office uses as well as a vacant, industrial-zoned parcel of land to the south across Third Street, and more office uses to the southwest and west across Lindon Lane. There are also hotel and office/industrial uses to the north.
“The site is made up of 10 parcels and was most recently utilized as a service yard and is currently unused, with several existing vacant buildings on the property,” Jasper stated.
He noted that the site is currently entitled for mixed-use developments, but existing conditions, covenants and restrictions have made it infeasible for a residential component within the development.
In his report, Jasper stated that staff recommends approval of the requested general plan amendment, zoning map amendment and development plan review, as they meet the required criteria and will conform to the conditions.
The Tempe Development Review Commissions also unanimously voted in January to recommend the approval of the requests.
Staff included two non-standard conditions of approval for the zoning map amendment, which require the developer to conduct archaeological testing, and all contractors and subcontractors must provide evidence of and complete the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community’s online cultural sensitivity training and test prior to construction.
“This site is located within a known archaeologically sensitive area with the likelihood of encountering cultural resources, human (ancestral) remains or funerary objects,” Jasper stated.
If approved by council, the developer will be required to hire a qualified archaeological firm to test the site before construction and monitor the “ground-disturbing” activities during construction in compliance with the city’s Historic Properties Treatment Plan.
Tempe City Council’s regular meeting starts at 6 p.m. in the city council chambers at Tempe City Hall, 31 E. Fifth St. Meetings can also be watched via Cox Cable Channel 11 and at www.tempe.gov/tempe11.
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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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