Three use permit standards and a use permit for a new three-story residential development in Tempe recently went before city council, after a resident appealed the Tempe Development Review Commission’s decision to approve them.
There is currently a single-story family residential building on the site, and the planned three-story single family project, Brickyard on Rita, has caused concern about the number of proposed bedrooms, street parking impacts, and impacts to the availability of public services to the site and to the Tempe Micro Estate subdivision to the south of the subject site.
Tempe City Council held the public hearing and vote to approve the use permit standards and use permit at its Nov. 21 meeting. After a lengthy discussion, Councilmember Nikki Amberg motioned to send the Brickyard on Rita project back to the DRC for further consideration of the use permit issues.
Council voted on this motion, which passed 5-0, with Councilmember Arlene Chin against and Councilmember Randy Keating absent.
According to a city document, the commission will “evaluate whether the project satisfies Zoning and Development Code Section 6-308(E) regarding “any significant increase in vehicular or pedestrian traffic.”
City council also directed the commission to consider any additional information to clarify the potential traffic impacts from the project, using resources such as data from the city’s transportation staff.
Christian Curry, the appellant and a resident of the Micro Estate subdivisionspoke during the meeting before the vote to further emphasize how this project could negatively impact the parking capabilities of surrounding neighborhoods.
He explained that the proposed design would eliminate a lot of the parking that current residents of the area use, and the developer’s solution of alternative means of transportation is not realistic.
Using bicycles or scooters to get around would be ideal, but Curry said it’s unrealistic and limits residents’ access to retail. Additionally, construction for this project has caused difficulties for city services, like waste collection or emergency service, to reach homes on Rita Lane.
“We’re not saying we need more parking space because it’s a good idea just have extra additional parking spaces, what we’re saying is that this is an issue of convenience, this is an issue of safety and well being,” Curry said.
Closing, he said that if the permit standards and permit are approved, residents ask that conditions be made for the developer to “be realistic” with its parking.
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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