009-narrative-9-3-2025

Town of Fountain Hills — Town Council (2025-12-16)

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leonardARCHITECTS 
2716 north 16th street   phoenix   arizona   85006   602.571.5711   jack@leonardarchitects.com 
 
September 3, 2025 
 
Town of Fountain Hills 
Development Services  
16705 East Avenue of the Fountains 
Fountain Hills, Az. 85268 
 
 
RE:  
Special Use Permit  
 
Dairy Queen 
 
13212 North Saguaro Blvd. 
Fountain Hills, Arizona  
 
NARRATIVE  
Location 
The property address is 13212 North Saguaro Blvd. and the site area is approximately 41,004 SF 
(0.9413 acres). This property is Parcel # 176-06-061and it is located on southwest corner of 
North Saguaro Blvd. & East Palisades Blvd.  
This property is zoned C-2 and is currently occupied by a single, one-story retail building with 
three (3) tenants. Our client is Dairy Queen and they will be occupying approximately 3,774 SF 
at the east end of the building. The total area of the building is approximately 11,260 SF. 
Parking Required for this building is 11,260 SF / 275 = 41 Spaces. 
Parking Provided on-site for this building is 41 Spaces. 
This parcel is located on the northeast corner of a development of parcels that surround a 
large lot used for common parking. This common parking lot has 287 shared parking spaces. 
Proposal Development 
Back in the early 2000’s there was a Dairy Queen in this building at this location. There is an 
existing drive-through lane at the east end of this building. Over the past 18-20 years this space 
has been used as a fitness center, a bank and an office space. Our client is looking to put a 
new Dairy Queen Restaurant in this location. They plan to use the existing drive thru window on 
the east side of the building. Due to current Dairy queen corporate requirements, they need to 
provide a 5-car stacking Distance (approximately 80’) from the order speaker to the pick-up 
window. They also need to provide a 2-car stack behind the order speaker. 
We are proposing to eliminate 8 parking spaces along the south side of our building to create 
a drive thru lane that provides the drive-thru lane for required stacking, that is clear of the 
required 2-way drive lane. We will provide a new concrete curb to create and define this 
drive-thru lane. We will also add a clear height monument to call out drive thru clearance, a 
speaker monument with a canopy and a menu board. See attached plans and cut sheets of 
Dairy Queen standard elements.

leonardARCHITECTS 
2716 north 16th street   phoenix   arizona   85006   602.571.5711   jack@leonardarchitects.com 
 
We are proposing to replace these 8 spaces we are losing with 8 spaces from the Common 
Parking Area. The property owner has agreed to this new drive thru lane and the use of the 
common parking. 
We are not aware of any conditions or restrictions that would prevent this proposed 
development. 
 
Existing Property Access 
 
There is existing road access to the property from the north off of East Palisades Blvd. 
This road does not have a median and there is access from both directions. 
 
There is a drive along the west end of the property that connects the front parking with 
the parking in the rear. 
 
Along the east side of the property there is an existing drive-thru lane with a canopy 
and a by-pass lane. 
 
To the south of the property, there is a driveway that provides access to the parking on 
the south side of the building as well as access to the large common parking lot. 
Saguaro Boulevard at this point has a median, so you only have access to enter the 
property when traveling south on Saguaro Blvd. When leaving the property, you may 
only exit to the south as well. 
 
Access to the large common parking lot has access off on N. Verde River Drive to the 
west, East Palisades Blvd. to the north, and East Parkview Ave. to the south. 
 
SUMMARY 
We believe our proposal to relocate 8 parking spaces and create a drive thru lane will not 
have a negative impact on the property and it will allow a restaurant with a drive thru to be 
located on this site. The town and the property owner both agree that a restaurant will be a 
good addition to this area and serve a need. The property owner is in support of this proposal. 
The size of the standard Dairy Queen Menu Board will be sized to comply with the Town of 
Fountain Hills Sign Plan.

leonardARCHITECTS 
2716 north 16th street   phoenix   arizona   85006   602.571.5711   jack@leonardarchitects.com 
 
PHOTOS 
 
Photo of rear of building looking west. 
 
Photo of rear of building looking east. This is the island that will be removed for the drive thru 
lane.

leonardARCHITECTS 
2716 north 16th street   phoenix   arizona   85006   602.571.5711   jack@leonardarchitects.com 
 
 
Rear of building looking to the north and the existing drive thru on the east side of the building. 
Sincerely, 
 
Jack Leonard AIA, NCARB, LEED AP 
Exhibits: 
Sheet A1 Context Plan and Demo 
 
 
Sheet A2 Proposed site plan and Enlarged Plan of Proposed Drive Thru Lane 
 
 
Dairy Queen Clearance Bar 
 
 
Dairy Queen Speaker Plyon & Canopy 
 
 
Dairy Queen Menu Board.