Attachment C - VPC INFO Summary - Z-41-20-3

City of Phoenix • Planning & Development Department 
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor • Phoenix, Arizona  85003-1611 • (602) 262-6882 
Village Planning Committee Meeting Summary 
Z-41-20-3 
INFORMATION ONLY 
Date of VPC Meeting 
November 2, 2020 
Request From 
C-O (Commercial Office) (0.12 acres) and PAD-2
(Planned Area Development 2) (3.07 acres)
Request To 
PUD (Planned Unit Development) (3.19 acres)
Proposed Use 
Hospital and other commercial uses 
Location 
Approximately 400 feet west of the northwest corner of 
54th Street and Shea Boulevard 
VPC DISCUSSION:
24 speaker cards were submitted in opposition, wishing to speak 
4 speaker cards were submitted in favor, wishing to speak 
Ms. Wendy Riddell, representing the applicant, went over the PUD request in 
great detail. She outlined why the PUD designation was being proposed as 
opposed to a traditional zoning designation. She highlighted the increased 
setbacks, which are more than double that what is required in the underlying 
zoning designation. She highlighted that the proposal is dark sky compliant. She 
went over the hours of operation and highlighted peak times. She went over 
emergency vehicle lights and siren policy on the site and shared that an 
acoustical study had been conducted. She went over the traffic study and shared 
that there will be a slight increase in traffic. She went over the public outreach 
efforts to date.  
Mr. Rick Murdock, the applicant representing Honor Health, He went over the 
business model for the proposed development and the potential relationships 
and benefits the community could take advantage of.  
Mr. Joe Lesher thanked Ms. Riddell for addressing the high points of the project. 
Mr. Alex Popovic applauded the applicant for providing a website as a 
community resource during COVID-19 for the project.  
Mr. Robert Goodhue asked staff if the tennis club that was previously located on 
this site count as open spare for the PAD-2 zoning designation. 
Mr. David Simmons, staff, shared that the tennis club did count as open space 
for the PAD-2 designation.  
Attachment C

City of Phoenix • Planning & Development Department 
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor • Phoenix, Arizona  85003-1611 • (602) 262-6882 
 
Mr. Eric Cashman asked what the difference between the like facility was 
located on Thunderbird and this location.  
 
Ms. Riddell shared that this product type is a first of its find and is not 
comparable to the Thunderbird location.  
 
Mr. Murdock stated that the Thunderbird location is a Scottsdale Healthcare 
facility, not an Honor Health facility.  
 
Vice Chair Gubser asked what is allowed in the PAD-2 designation.   
 
Ms. Louisa Ward asked if the PAD-2 was an older designation that originally 
allowed residential and minor commercial uses found in C-1.    
 
Vice Chair Gubser asked if C-1 would allow this use.   
 
Ms. Riddell shared the C-1 designation would allow this use with a Use Permit.  
 
Ms. Toby Gerst applauded the applicant for proposing double the setback 
requirement and asked about toxic waste generated on site. She asked what the 
disposal method is for the toxic medical waste and how are the neighbors 
protected from such waste.  
 
Ms. Riddell shared that all medical waste is stored internally and disposed of by 
a third-party contractor.  
 
Ms. Gerst applauded the signage proposed.   
 
Mr. Popovic asked if ambulances would be dropping people off.   
 
Mr. Murdock explained that this facility will not pull patience from other areas 
and will only serve the local community. Therefore, ambulances will not drop 
people off too often from outside the area.  
 
Ms. Ward asked if there will be a helicopter pad and service.  
 
Ms. Riddell shared that there will not be helicopter service at this location, and it 
is specifically forbidden in the PUD ordinance for this site. Therefore, there will 
never be an opportunity to add helicopter service at this location.  
 
Public Comment: 
 
Dr. Neal Rockowitz, speaking for himself and several other neighbors, opened 
by sharing when he moved to the area. He lightly touched on the PAD-2 zoning 
designation requirements found in the City of Phoenix Zoning Ordinance. He 
shared that he and his neighbors have concerns about lighting, blocked view 
corridors, signage concerns, emergency vehicle traffic, noise and the specific use 
at this location. He also shared concerns with the proximity of this use in relation 
to single-family homes, the 24-hour operation of the use, and the massing of the 
building.

City of Phoenix • Planning & Development Department 
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor • Phoenix, Arizona  85003-1611 • (602) 262-6882 
 
Mr. Steward Taylor stated that he lives on the south side of Shea Blvd. He has 
concerns about the representation from the applicant. He is concerned that 
promises made will not be kept over time and they can’t be enforced by the City 
of Phoenix. He feels the proposed use is an inappropriate use of the land. Major 
concerns with use are sirens, lights, traffic, and the character of the area 
changing.  
 
Mr. Terry Hamlin shared that he resides at 5432 E Alan Ln. Shared concerns 
about the proposed zoning designation, air traffic, noise resulting from air traffic, 
and feels a better use of the land would be a public park.   
 
Ms. Lauren Leonard residing at 5401 E Alan St shared concerns about light 
pollution, noise, traffic and the business model of the proposed use. She stated 
that this use would not be a benefit to the community, but a burden.  
 
Mr. Luis Lopez residing at 5358 E Mercer Ln shared concerns about the public 
neighborhood meeting times. He believes the applicant is lying to the public. He 
has traffic and safety concerns as well.  
 
Ms. Nancy Ribble residing at 5227 E Saguaro Dr ditto’ d Neal’s comments. He 
also has concerns about the 24-hour business in proximity to residential, property 
values, traffic and noise.  
 
Mr. Tim La Sota residing at 2198 E Camelback Rd has concerns with the use 
proposed at this location.  
 
Mr. Maulik Parikh resides on the south side of Shea Blvd. He shared concerns 
with the character of the area changing, property values decreasing and the long-
range urban vision for the area. He shared that there are many vacant 
commercial uses in the area that this applicant could utilize where the use is 
more appropriate. He is opposed.  
 
Mr. Rafael Dutoit shared that he is 10 years old. He shared that he was a 
member of the tennis club, which was replaced with Mountain Side Fitness. He 
would like to see a public park on this site to give local children a place to play.  
 
Ms. Jennifer Wann resides in Paradise Valley North. He is in support of the 
proposal. She has a terminal ill child who would benefit from this proposed use. 
She shared that this specific use if needed for the area. She asked the 
committee to recommend approval.   
 
Mr. Gino Davi residing at 4650 E Alan Ln. shared that he is in favor of the 
proposal.   
 
Applicants Response: 
 
Ms. Wendy Riddell iterated that this proposal has nothing to do with the 
Mountain Side Fitness site. It is a different developer, owner, and applicant. She 
stated that the tennis club is not coming back. She stated that change is hard for 
most people in most scenarios. She also stated that this is not prime residential

City of Phoenix • Planning & Development Department 
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor • Phoenix, Arizona  85003-1611 • (602) 262-6882 
real estate as it fronts onto Shea Blvd, which is an extremely busy major arterial. 
She also shared that the applicant has shopped other sites and the subject site is 
the best choice.  
 
VPC Discussion:  
 
Ms. Toby Gerst asked if the committee has been equitable with time for both the 
opponents and proponents of the cases. She stressed that this is of utmost 
importance.  
 
Chairwoman Jennifer Hall stated that we try our best to accommodate, but it is 
dependent upon many factors including number of registered speakers, length of 
presentations as some projects are more complex than others and length of 
agenda.