Attachment B - PHO-2-21--Z-62-05-7 Summary

City of Phoenix — Formal (2021-05-19)

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REPORT OF PLANNING HEARING OFFICER ACTION 
Adam Stranieri, Planner III, Hearing Officer  
Danielle Jordan, Planner I, Assisting  
April 21, 2021 
ITEM NO: 4 
DISTRICT 7 
SUBJECT: 
Application #: 
PHO-2-21--Z-62-05-7 
Location: 
Northeast corner of 59th Avenue and Watkins Street 
Existing Zoning: 
A-1
Acreage:  
13.4 
Request: 
1) Submittal of site plan and elevations for review by the
Planning Hearing Officer per Stipulation 4.
2) Technical corrections to Stipulations 1, 2, 3, 5 and 9.
Applicant: 
Cindy Olsen, VTRE Development LLC
Owner: 
Buckeye 59 LLC
Representative: 
Toby Rogers, Butler Design Group 
ACTIONS 
Planning Hearing Officer Recommendation: The Planning Hearing Officer 
recommended approval with additional stipulations. 
Village Planning Committee (VPC) Recommendation: The Estrella Village 
Planning Committee opted not to hear this case. 
DISCUSSION 
Toby Rogers, the representative gave an overview of the request. He stated that 
during the Site Plan Pre-Application meeting it was made known that there was a 
requirement to meet Stipulation 4 regarding submittal of site plan and elevations 
for review by the Planning Hearing Officer for the north portion of the subject 
property. He stated that the site is going to be developed by VanTrust Real 
Estate and proposed two light industrial buildings with approximately 180,000 
total square feet. He stated that when the original rezoning request took place in 
2005 the Loop 202 Freeway was not built and 59th Avenue was the primary 
frontage. However, due to the Loop 202 Freeway some of the original access is 
now restricted. He stated that they are not requesting any additional 
modifications and the site plan and elevations are in conformance to the A-1 
zoning district standards. 
Adam Stranieri asked if Mr. Rogers had received any responses to the public 
notification. Mr. Rogers stated that they had not.  
ATTACHMENT B

Planning Hearing Officer Summary of March 17, 2021 
Application PHO-2-21--Z-62-05-7 
Page 2 
 
Mr. Stranieri stated that when the original rezoning request was approved the 
stipulated plans referred to the auto auction use to the south and this site was 
noted as a future employment use or future expansion of the auto auction use. 
He asked Mr. Rogers if he knew what was on the site today. Mr. Rogers stated 
that yes it was being used informally for parking.  
Adam Stranieri stated that the proposed lot coverage of 35 percent is low for an 
industrial use and that the building height, scale and design is appropriate and 
compatible with existing developments in the surrounding area. He asked Mr. 
Rogers what the interface with the canal along the north property line will look 
like. Mr. Rogers stated that there is a solid screen wall and the landscape 
setback is in compliance with the original zoning case and there is picket fencing 
proposed along the south edge of the canal.  
Mr. Stranieri stated that the elevations have good detailing with the glass and 
architectural features with the pop-outs, material textures and shade canopies.  
Mr. Stranieri stated that there is one staff comment that a stipulation be added 
that a shared-use path be constructed along 59th Avenue. He stated that the 
construction of the Loop 202 Freeway may have shifted the proposed location of 
the path and that the Parks and Recreation Department has confirmed that a 
shared-use path is required along the east side of 59th Avenue.  
Mr. Stranieri stated that the site was archaeologically sensitive, and staff 
recommended three additional stipulations regarding the requirements for 
surveys, data testing and coordination with the Archaeology Office. 
Cindy Olsen, the property owner, asked for clarification about the requirement for 
a shared-use path. Mr. Stranieri stated that it is a 10-foot width path on concrete, 
built within an easement, is subject to the standard details within the MAG 
supplements, is in addition to sidewalk, and may be located within required 
perimeter setbacks along 59th Avenue. Ms. Olsen asked if it would be east or 
west of the sidewalk. Mr. Stranieri stated that it would be located east of the 
sidewalk. Ms. Olsen asked noted that the property is adjacent to a canal to the 
north and there is no shared use path on the property to the south.  She asked 
for clarification regarding what the shared-use path would connect to. Mr. 
Stranieri stated that it would connect to future portions of the proposed shared 
use path in the surrounding area as future dedications and paths are stipulated 
and built when properties come in for new rezoning requests or stipulation 
modifications. Ms. Olsen asked if the easement can be within the landscape 
setback. Mr. Stranieri stated that the shared-use path can be located within the 
required perimeter landscape setback. Mr. Stranieri stated that the purpose of 
the stipulation is for the shared-use path to connect with the larger network of 
paths in the city as they come in and are constructed.  He asked whether the 
applicant would like to continue the request in order to continue discussions with

Planning Hearing Officer Summary of March 17, 2021 
Application PHO-2-21--Z-62-05-7 
Page 3 
 
Parks and Recreation Department staff regarding the alignment and 
requirements regarding the shared-use path.  He noted that the stipulation 
included language indicating that the final conditions of the path would be as 
approved or modified by staff.   Ms. Olsen stated that she preferred to progress 
with the recommendation as suggested by the Planning Hearing Officer.  
 
FINDINGS 
 
1) The subject property consists of approximately 13.4 gross acres at the 
north side of the 39.84 gross acres in the original rezoning case.  In the 
original case, Stipulation 1 was established to require general 
conformance to a site plan that depicted an auto auction site on the 
southern portion of the subject property.  The northern portion, including 
the 13.4 gross acres in this request, was depicted without specific 
development plans and labeled for future employment uses, industrial 
uses, or an expansion of the auto auction use to the south.  Stipulation 4 
was established to require Planning Hearing Officer review through the 
public hearing process of site plans and elevations once these became 
available. 
 
2) The proposed conceptual site plan depicts two industrial warehouse 
buildings arranged in an east-west alignment which front Watkins Street.  
The buildings are approximately 76,400 and 104,700 square feet 
respectively.  Loading areas are on the north side of the building facing 
the Roosevelt Irrigation Canal and are screened by perimeter walls and 
gates as required in existing Stipulation 6.  Landscaping and retention 
areas are provided along 59th Avenue and Watkins Street and there is an 
enhanced 75-foot by 75-foot landscaped triangle at this intersection as 
required by existing Stipulation 5. The buildings are consistent in scale 
and intensity in the surrounding area, east of 59th Avenue, and are 
appropriate for the property’s location along a freeway corridor.  Proposed 
building elevations include architectural features and detailing such as 
multiple building colors, glazing, shade canopies, popouts, and varied 
material textures.   A new stipulation is recommended to require general 
conformance to the conceptual site plan and elevations.  The stipulation 
includes language specifying that it applies to the northern portion of the 
site as depicted on these plans to avoid confusion regarding the existing 
general conformance requirement in Stipulation 1 which applies to the 
southern portion of the site. 
 
3) The Parks and Recreation Department recommends a stipulation requiring 
the developer to construct and dedicate a shared use path and related 
easement along the east side of 59th Avenue.   This proposed shared use 
path is depicted on the City of Phoenix Facilities Map.  The current 
proposed alignment shows a meandering pathway that crosses through

Planning Hearing Officer Summary of March 17, 2021 
Application PHO-2-21--Z-62-05-7 
Page 4 
 
multiple privately owned parcels along 59th Avenue and near the 
alignment of the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway.  The recent 
construction of the Loop 202 may impact the final alignment of the shared 
use path in the surrounding area. Therefore, the stipulation is 
recommended for inclusion with the caveat that the trail is to be approved 
or modified by the Parks and Recreation Department to allow staff to 
further clarify the final location, dimension, and/or alignment of the shared 
use path. 
 
4) The site is identified as archaeologically sensitive and three additional 
stipulations are recommended to be included to address requirements for 
archaeological survey and testing. 
 
DECISION: The Planning Hearing Officer recommended approval with additional 
stipulations. 
 
STIPULATIONS 
 
CONFORMANCE TO SITE PLAN 
 
 
1. 
That The development shall be in general conformance to the conceptual 
development plan for the Metro Auto Auction Center only, date stamped 
May 26, 2005, and the Shade Canopy Plan date stamped May 26, 2005, 
as approved or modified by the PLANNING AND Development Services 
Department to be centrally located in the auto inventory area. 
 
 
2. 
That The perimeter landscape setback along 59th Avenue shall be in 
accordance with Commerce Park/General Commerce Park standards, as 
approved or modified by the PLANNING AND Development Services 
Department. 
 
 
3. 
That The request shall be in general conformance to the Conceptual 
Landscape Plan date stamped May 26, 2005 as modified by the following 
and approved by the PLANNING AND Development Services Department:  
 
 
 
a. 
That Landscaping shall be consistent with the Estrella Village Arterial 
Street Landscape LANDSCAPING Program as approved or modified 
by PLANNING AND Development Services Department. Appropriate 
trees, shrubs and groundcover shall be placed along a minimum 6-
foot-high decorative wall which shall wrap around the north side of the 
site for a distance of 250 feet. 
 
 
4. 
That the north portion of the site shall be subject to the Planning Hearing 
Officer process for site plan and elevation review.

Planning Hearing Officer Summary of March 17, 2021 
Application PHO-2-21--Z-62-05-7 
Page 5 
 
THE NORTH PORTION OF THE DEVELOPMENT SHALL BE IN 
GENERAL CONFORMANCE WITH THE SITE PLAN AND ELEVATIONS 
DATE STAMPED MARCH 5, 2021, AS MODIFIED BY THE FOLLOWING 
STIPULATIONS AND APPROVED BY THE PLANNING AND 
DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. 
 
 
5. 
That A 75’ by 75’ enhanced landscape triangle shall be provided at the 
entrances on the west side of the development along 59th Avenue. 
Monument signage, no greater than 8 feet in height, shall be provided, if 
necessary, as approved by THE PLANNING AND Development Services 
Department. 
 
 
6. 
That No outdoor storage shall be visible from 59th Avenue. 
 
 
7. 
THE DEVELOPER SHALL CONSTRUCT AND DEDICATE A SHARED-
USE PATH AND RELATED EASEMENT ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF 
59TH AVENUE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CITY OF PHOENIX 
STANDARD TRAIL DETAILS AND AS APPROVED OR MODIFIED BY 
THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT. 
 
 
OTHER ISSUES ARCHAEOLOGY 
 
 
8. 
7. 
That The subject site has the potential to contain archaeological 
resources. That The applicant shall submit an archaeological survey for 
review and approval by the City Archaeologist (602) 495-0901 prior to 
grading permit issuance. 
 
 
9. 
IF DETERMINED NECESSARY BY THE PHOENIX ARCHAEOLOGY 
OFFICE, THE APPLICANT SHALL CONDUCT PHASE I DATA TESTING 
AND SUBMIT AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REPORT OF THE 
DEVELOPMENT AREA FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL BY THE CITY 
ARCHAEOLOGIST PRIOR TO CLEARING AND GRUBBING, 
LANDSCAPE SALVAGE, AND/OR GRADING APPROVAL. 
 
 
10. 
IF PHASE I DATA TESTING IS REQUIRED, AND IF, UPON REVIEW OF 
THE RESULTS FROM THE PHASE I DATA TESTING, THE CITY 
ARCHAEOLOGIST, IN CONSULTATION WITH A QUALIFIED 
ARCHAEOLOGIST, DETERMINES SUCH DATA RECOVERY 
EXCAVATIONS ARE NECESSARY, THE APPLICANT SHALL CONDUCT 
PHASE II ARCHAEOLOGICAL DATA RECOVERY EXCAVATIONS. 
 
 
11. 
IN THE EVENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL MATERIALS ARE ENCOUNTERED 
DURING CONSTRUCTION, THE DEVELOPER SHALL IMMEDIATELY 
CEASE ALL GROUND-DISTURBING ACTIVITIES WITHIN A 33- FOOT 
RADIUS OF THE DISCOVERY, NOTIFY THE CITY ARCHAEOLOGIST,

Planning Hearing Officer Summary of March 17, 2021 
Application PHO-2-21--Z-62-05-7 
Page 6 
 
AND ALLOW TIME FOR THE ARCHAEOLOGY OFFICE TO PROPERLY 
ASSESS THE MATERIALS. 
 
 
RIGHT OF WAY STREET TRANSPORTATION 
 
 
12. 
8. 
That Right-of-way totaling 55 feet shall be dedicated for the east half of 
59th Avenue. 
 
 
13. 
9. 
The developer shall construct all streets within and adjacent to the 
development with paving, curb, gutter, sidewalk, curb ramps, streetlights, 
median islands, landscaping, and other incidentals as per plans approved 
by the PLANNING AND Development Services Department. All 
improvements shall comply with all ADA accessibility standards. 
 
 
14. 
10. 
The applicant shall complete and submit the Developer Project Information 
Form for the MAG Transportation Improvement Program to the Street 
Transportation Department. This form is a requirement of the EPA to meet 
clean air quality requirements. 
 
 
 
Upon request, this publication will be made available within a reasonable length 
of time through appropriate auxiliary aids or services to accommodate an 
individual with a disability. This publication may be made available through the 
following auxiliary aids or services: large print, Braille, audiotape or computer 
diskette.  Please contact the Planning and Development Department, Tamra 
Ingersoll at voice number 602-534-6648 or TTY use 7-1-1.