Minutes January 7, 2021

PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 
GLENDALE CIVIC CENTER 
5750 W. GLENN DRIVE 
GLENDALE, ARIZONA 85301 
JANUARY 7, 2021 
6:00 P.M. 
 
 
CALL TO ORDER 
Chairperson Hirsch called the meeting to order at approximately 6:03 p.m. 
 
ROLL CALL 
Commissioners Present: 
Commissioners Crow, Harper, Nowakowski, Nyberg, Wilfong, and 
Vice Chairperson Lenox, and Chairperson Hirsch were present. 
 
City Staff Present: 
George Gehlert, Senior Planning Project Manager, Jim Gruber, Chief 
Deputy City Attorney, Jamsheed Mehta, Development Services Director, and Diana Figueroa, 
Recording Secretary. 
 
CITIZEN COMMENTS 
Chairperson Hirsch called for citizen comments.  There were none. 
 
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES 
Chairperson Hirsch called for a motion regarding the minutes from the public hearing of December 
3, 2020. 
 
Commissioner Harper made a motion to APPROVE the December 3, 2020 Regular Meeting 
MINUTES as written.  Commissioner Nyberg SECONDED the MOTION, which was 
APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. 
 
WITHDRAWALS AND CONTINUANCES 
Chairperson Hirsch called for Withdrawals and Continuances.  There were none. 
 
PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS 
Chairperson Hirsch called for the public hearing items. 
 
PALMAIRE APARTMENTS / PHASE II – GPA20-09 / ZON20-15: A request by Adam 
Baugh, on behalf of Withey Morris PLC, representing Palmaire Investments, LLC, for approval 
of a Minor General Plan Amendment from GC (General Commercial) to HDR-30 (High Density 
Residential (30 units/acre); and a zone change from C-2 (General Commercial) to R-5 (Multiple 
Residence) to enable the construction of a 42-unit apartment complex on 1.77 acres.  The site 
located at the Southeast corner of 45th Avenue and Palmaire Avenue (7087 North 45th Avenue); 
and is in the Cactus District.  Staff Contact:  George Gehlert, Senior Planning Project Manager, 
ggehlert@glendaleaz.com (623) 930-2597. 
 
Mr. George Gehlert, Senior Planning Project Manager, made staff’s presentation.

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Page 2 
 
 
 
Chairperson Hirsch called for the applicant’s presentation. 
 
Mr. Adam Baugh, Withey Morris, applicant, made a brief presentation. 
 
Chairperson Hirsch called for questions from the Commission.  Questions from Commissioners 
Crow, Nyberg, and Nowakowski were answered by the applicant. 
 
Chairperson Hirsch opened the public hearing and called for speakers in the audience. With no 
one wishing to speak, he closed the public hearing. 
 
Chairperson Hirsch called for a motion. 
 
Vice Chairperson Lenox made a motion to RECOMMEND APPROVAL of General Plan 
Amendment GPA20-09.  Commissioner Harper seconded the motion, which was 
APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. 
 
Mr. Jim Gruber, Chief Deputy City Attorney, stated this recommendation will go forward to the 
City Council for final action. 
 
Commissioner Harper made a motion to RECOMMEND APPROVAL of Rezoning 
Application ZON20-15, subject to the one stipulation listed in the staff report.  Commissioner 
Crow seconded the motion, which was APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. 
 
Mr. Jim Gruber, Chief Deputy City Attorney, stated this recommendation will go forward to the 
City Council for final action. 
 
OTHER BUSINESS 
Chairperson Hirsch called for Other Business.  There was none. 
 
PLANNING STAFF REPORT 
Chairperson Hirsch called for the Planning Staff Report.  There was none. 
 
COMMISSION COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS 
Chairperson Hirsch called for Commission Comments and Suggestions.   
 
Vice Chairperson Lenox stated this was his last evening as Vice Chairperson and as a member of 
the Planning Commission.  He said the Commission has gone through a lot of Planning Directors 
and Interim Directors and Lisa Collins was one of the best ones the city has had.  He said he doesn’t 
know what happened or why she left, but she would have been a good one for the spot. 
 
He said it seems like no matter what the Planning Commission, whether it’s a unanimous vote or 
what the constituents say, the City Council does what they want to do.

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Chairperson Hirsch thanked Vice Chairperson Lenox for seven years on the Planning Commission 
as well as the many years he served on other boards and the served the community. 
 
Commissioner Nyberg said he will miss them both and wished them well. 
 
Commissioner Crow echoed the same comments.  He said he appreciates the input and discussions 
they have had. 
 
Chairperson Hirsch said he was not being forced out of the chairmanship or the Commission, but 
he is a big believer in term limits.  He believes this applies in every level of government including 
volunteer service.  He has had a great run with the Planning Commission and is grateful to Mayor 
Weiers for appointing him.  He waited 30 years to serve on the Planning Commission.  He said he 
couldn’t have had asked for a better group of people with whom to serve.  It has been a wonderful 
experience.  There comes a time when you step down and let others step up.  For this reason, he 
said, he is departing.  He said the City has been in a bit of a convulsion as far as the Planning 
Department.  There were extensive plans to rewrite the Zoning Ordinance.  During his term as 
chairman, Mr. Mehta will be the sixth acting director, temporary director, director, or administrator 
that he has served with.  Some directors have been better than others, but all have treated him with 
great dignity and respect.  Something is fundamentally wrong.  This kind of trauma within a 
department makes him wonder what is amiss.  He hopes some stability will come.  No confident, 
capable, professional person is going to stick around and not be treated right.  He is not sure what 
has gone on, but obviously, something is not quite right.  He hopes whatever it is can be settled. 
 
Chairperson Hirsch added that he felt the Commission needs training.  He has tried to implement 
a training program himself.  There was some limited success.  The Commission had preliminary 
plat education as well as traffic study education.  He hopes the new commissioners will be 
mentored as Commissioners are not experts and appreciate the education. 
 
He said he is opposed to electronic billboards.  He hopes the future Commissions and Councils 
will restrict and limit these electronic billboards. 
 
He said he was once told by a commissioner, who ended up on the City Council, that the 
Commission was nothing more than a “rubber stamp “ for City Council.  Chairperson Hirsch said 
he believes that this particular official misunderstood the role of a Commissioner.  By no sense of 
the imagination does he believe the Commission is just a rubber stamp for the City Council.  
Chairperson Hirsch said, coincidentally, this individual was recalled in his first term in the Council. 
 
Chairperson Hirsch said the Commission has had disagreements with Council, with staff, and with 
each other, but it has been done in good faith, with charity, and with a little good humor.   
 
The Commission examines the facts and votes their conscience.  He said he is very proud of their 
work.  He thanked everyone for the opportunity.  He will miss everyone. 
 
The remaining Commissioners wished the departing Commissioners well.

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Commissioner Crow will become the new Chairperson with Commissioner Nyberg as the Vice 
Chairperson. 
 
NEXT MEETING 
The next regular meeting of the Planning Commission is scheduled for Thursday, February 4, 
2021, at 6:00 p.m., at the Glendale Civic Center, 5750 West Glenn Drive, Glendale, Arizona, 
85301.  
 
ADJOURNMENT 
Chairperson Hirsch asked for a motion to adjourn. 
 
Commissioner Harper made a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Commissioner Nyberg seconded 
the motion, which was approved unanimously. 
 
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:39pm. 
 
Submitted by: 
 
 
Diana Figueroa 
Recording Secretary