HISTORIC_PRESERVATION_COMMISSION_MEETING_1871_MINUTES_PACKET_2_11_2026_6_00_00_PM.PDF
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Minutes of the regular hearing of the Historic Preservation commission, of the City of Tempe, which was held in hybrid
format in person at City Council Chambers, 31 East 5th Street, Tempe, AZ, and virtually through WebEx.
Present:
Staff:
Dave Fackler
Jeff Tamulevich, Comm Development Director
Erin Davis
Ryan Levesque, Deputy Director, Comm Development
Kiyomi Kurooka
Zachary Lechner, Historic Preservation Officer
Reylynne Williams
Jacob Payne, Principal Planner, Comm Development
Kathleen Lamp
Jen Sweeney – Arts & Culture Coordinator
Evan Senat
Jennifer Daniels, Administrative Assist, Comm Dev
Shereen Lerner
Kristie Melcher
Absent: Mariah Jones
1) Call to Order
By Vice Chair Fackler at 6 pm.
2) Native Land Acknowledgment Statement
3) Consideration of Meeting Minutes
3A) Historic Preservation Commission – Regular Meeting 01/14/26
Motion by Commissioner Lerner to approve Meeting Minutes for 01/14/26; second by Commissioner Senat.
Motion passed on 8-0 vote.
Ayes: Vice Chair Fackler, Commissioners Davis, Kurooka, Williams, Lamp, Senat, Lerner and Melcher
Nays: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Chair Jones
4) Certificate of Appropriateness – None
5) Classification – None
6) Designation – None
7) Update(s) and Presentation(s)
7A) Presentation on the proposed Affordable Housing Development Bonus Program. The presenters are
Jacob Payne, City of Tempe Principal Planner, and Ryan Levesque, Deputy Community Development
Director.
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Mr. Ryan Levesque, Deputy Director Community Development—Planning, and Mr. Jacob Payne,
Community Development Principal Planner, gave a presentation on the proposed Affordable Housing
Development Bonus Program.
Commissioner Melcher said, the multi-family areas that you are talking about already have developments.
Are you talking about redevelopment for these projects? Mr. Payne stated, yes and no. We are looking for
places where our General Plan is projecting the additional density. Many of those areas will be developed
already because much of the land in Tempe is developed. That’s not to say that we are looking to
encourage redevelopment on developed spaces but acknowledge that redevelopment in Tempe does
happen. We are trying to provide an option that would give potential development a similar level of intensity
through a process that is more desirable to them. Mr. Levesque stated that our goal is to provide a tool and
vision for the future. Commissioner Melcher stated that she has seen developers work with cities to get
incentives and the only entity that ever benefits is the developer. My concern is that if you are giving them
the incentive that they do not have to go through red tape, then the neighborhoods do not have a voice.
Neighborhoods near these potential areas will have more density forced upon them. Mr. Payne stated that
the main point of a Bonus Program is to find a way to make it more desirable to create affordable housing
for residents. Without the incentive to the developer, we would not get the desired affordable housing.
Commissioner Melcher stated that she sees developers makes promises to cities, but then the affordable
housing never happens. You cannot control what happens in the fair market when it comes to residential
resale. Unless there is something put into the deed that forces the sale and determines how the deed is
transferred. Is this program just for rental properties? Mr. Levesque stated that it is primarily focused on
rentals, but we have the ability to build in a for-sale product type that requires the deed of sale to be
available for specific terms. We have not laid out the program specifically yet. The focus has been on the
rental market. Commissioner Melcher stated that with her experience this does not tend to work out well for
the residents. The developers make out very well. I am concerned that you are giving them the green light
for extra zoning and density that is not typically allowed and that homeowners in that area will be negatively
affected by this. Mr. Levesque stated that all comments will be taken into consideration. This is not just a
promise or negotiation. There are specific standards and obligations that the developer must meet. If you
achieve “A” then you will receive “B.” There is no wiggle room to make changes. Commissioner Melcher
asked, what would happen with the parking? Mr. Levesque stated they will need to make some parking
analyses of the differences between this proposed density number and the parking reductions that are
provided in the Transportation Overlay District versus our downtown parking standards. Commissioner
Melcher stated that in the report it states that affordable housing would be provided for 30 years. How will
we keep track of that? Mr. Levesque stated that there is an annual self-reporting requirement of the
dedicated units. There is a contract to identify the types of units and ranges of units. Commissioner Melcher
stated she would like more information on the required reporting and accountability for participating
developers. I would like to see other projects or places where this has worked for 30 years. Mr. Levesque
stated that is one aspect we need to do more homework on so we can create a draft template for the
covenant.
Commissioner Lerner suggested anyone that is interested in this item should attend the public meetings.
When the next public meeting is held, can you notify the HPC, she asked? My concern is the administrative
hearing portion. People are very concerned about public hearings and not having a right to attend. I would
like you to reconsider that. There are enough other incentives that you are giving developers that you do not
need to bypass the public. The exemptions are locally and nationally designated historic properties, but the
City of Tempe is behind in designating historic areas. There are other areas that should be excluded. We
were going to talk about how we could be doing better at doing outreach. I would like you to work with our
HPO identifying those areas that should we be able to move forward on designating; those areas would be
of more concern. Just because we are behind doesn’t mean they should not be factored into this. I ask that
you consider that. Mr. Levesque stated that we may be able to do an analysis of historic eligible site areas
and see how many or what percentage are currently in areas exempted from the program. We can report
back to you. Commissioner Lerner said that once the City meets with the developers, if they could have a
public meeting after that, it would be helpful. I do not think you are giving enough toward affordable housing
in terms of proportionality. You are still giving the developers a lot for a small amount in return.
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Vice Chair Fackler asked, in what form is the contract with the developer? Mr. Levesque stated that it is a
covenant and agreement that runs with the land. It’s binding among the property owners and enforced by
Community Development, and Community Health and Human Services will assist in monitoring unit counts.
Vice Chair Fackler asked if the covenant will have specific penalties. Mr. Levesque stated, yes. We will need
to have guaranteed assurances. We have discussed bonding of a certain amount of dollars. Vice Chair
Fackler asked if the City Attorney’s Office had been involved? Mr. Levesque stated that the City Attorney’s
Office has reviewed the draft concept and provided some comments. Vice Chair Fackler stated that the
covenant should not only read that the developer should do this, but also that if they do not do this, these
will be the penalties. The bonuses associated with the parking—is that on affordable units or on all units?
Mr. Levesque stated that they have looked at it holistically. Vice Chair Fackler asked what type of shared
parking analysis will be required in order to give out the parking bonuses. The city needs to dive into this
more.
Commissioner Melcher asked why the proposed areas are only north of the 60 freeway? Mr. Payne stated
that it is not only north of the 60; they do extend to the south. The map is created by selecting properties
with a current zoning density allowance that is less than what the General Plan is projecting their residential
density to be. Commissioner Melcher asked why the lower density areas are not targeted for more density?
Mr. Levesque stated that the voters decided that the General Plan shouldn’t have a higher projection in
those southern properties. They are more in line with the underlying zoning district density ranges.
Vice Chair Fackler stated that he is encouraged that this kind of tool, if properly developed and enforced,
would take care of the old neighborhood shopping centers that are sitting vacant when a good portion could
be turned into affordable housing. Those are prime areas to be used. I am concerned about the property
owner that has the property 10-30 years from now. Don’t forget the community as you move forward.
7B) Discussion of strategies to encourage property owners to request designating their properties in the
Tempe Historic Property Register. – Agenda item was postponed until the March HPC Meeting.
7C) Discussion of Commissioners' January HPC meeting queries about Double Butte Cemetery, Hayden
Flour Mill, Gonzales-Martinez House, historic building acquisition, and 2024 bond funding for historic
preservation. The presenter is Zachary J. Lechner, City of Tempe Historic Preservation Officer. – Agenda
item was postponed until the March HPC Meeting.
7D) Discussion of possible agenda items for March 30, 2026, City Council-Historic Preservation
Commission Joint Meeting.
Commissioner Lerner asked for an update on the Call to the Public item no longer being on the HPC
agenda. Vice Chair Fackler asked staff why it is no longer on the agenda. Mr. Levesque stated that it was
removed to be more in line with the other Boards and Commissions in Community Development. The City
Council has a dedicated section on their agenda for a call to the public. Commissioner Lerner stated that we
are excluding people by not having that on here. Commissioner Melcher stated she agrees. Commissioner
Senat stated that the Tempe Historic Preservation Foundation would not be able to speak if it was not part
of the agenda.
Commissioner Kurooka stated that Arizona State statute banned the existence of an entity (e.g.,
Development Review Commission) between administrative and Council. What is the statue implication of
this Commission? Mr. Levesque stated that House bill 2447 requires that all site plans, design review, and
other processes, including subdivision plats, be handled by administrative review and administrative
decisions. We can no longer have a design review body at public meetings or public hearings. City Council
also cannot take action on those items. We did receive clarifying information that the legislature exempts
historic preservation commissions, which may make decisions regarding historic-designated properties that
have chosen to participate in the process.
Commissioner Lamp stated that she would be interested in an update on the Old Mill Avenue Bridge and the
effectiveness of the arm rests pilot program at a future meeting.
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Commissioner Lerner stated that the Commission was supposed to receive a copy of the draft for the study
of Double Butte Cemetery. If that is available, can that be sent to us before the next meeting? Mr. Levesque
stated that staff will follow up.
Vice Chair Fackler stated that the HPC wanted to schedule a meeting with the Tempe Historic Preservation
Foundation. Vice Chair Fackler said he asked Mr. Rob Moore if he had spoken with Dr. Zach Lechner about
scheduling the HPC-Historic Preservation Foundation Joint Meeting? Mr. Moore stated that Dr. Lechner
clarified there would be an April meeting. Vice Chair Fackler stated that he was unsure of the topic of the
March joint meeting with HPC and City Council. Mr. Levesque stated that the discussion would be centered
on the Downtown Tempe Historic Core Plan process. Vice Chair Fackler asked if people wanted to attend
the joint meeting, would they be able to speak? Mr. Levesque stated that if there is an agenda item for
public comment, then yes. This is a special joint meeting, not a regular Council meeting.
8) Chair/Staff Updates and Announcements
Chair Announcements: None
Commissioner Lerner stated that tomorrow night, starting at 11 pm, the Tempe Historic Preservation
Foundation-owned World War II barracks will be moved to the Arizona Heritage Center [HPO note: for now,
they will be moved to Brock's Supply, located at 2150 E Rio Salado Parkway]. If you are interested, they will
be along Rio Salado Parkway. Commissioner Lerner said Mr. Rob Moore stated that it has been 20 years in
the making. The Arizona Heritage Center sees the value in the structures and has the commitment to move
forward.
City Staff Announcements: Mr. Levesque stated that after the relocation of the Harry Walker House, it was
found that the walls contain adobe that is not attached to the brick façade.
9) Adjournment: There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:33 pm.
Prepared by: Jennifer Daniels, Administrative Assistant
Reviewed by: Zachary Lechner, Historic Preservation Officer