JRC STUDY SESSION MINUTES 020426.PDF

City of Tempe — Regular City Council Meeting (2026-03-26)

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Public Meeting Minutes 
 
Joint Review Committee 
Study Session Minutes 
February 4, 2026 
Held in Council Chambers 
31 East Fifth Street, Tempe, Arizona 
and Virtually via Cisco WebEx 
5:30 p.m. 
 
Members Present (in-person and virtually) 
Michael Burke, Chair – Joint Tempe/ASU 
Rudy Bellavia, Vice Chair, ASU Representative  
Scott Sumners, Tempe Representative  
Jason Comer, Tempe Representative 
Scott McLaughlin, Joint Tempe/ASU  
Joe Lisiewski, ASU Representative 
Kelsey Files, Tempe Representative (Alternate) 
Pam Goronkin, Tempe Representative (Alternate) 
Gerry DaRosa, ASU Representative (Alternate) 
Cameron McCutchen, Joint Tempe/ASU (Alternate) 
 
Staff Present 
Ryan Levesque, Deputy Director, Community Development - Planning 
Michelle Dahlke, Principal Planner 
Joanna Barry, Administrative Assistant 
 
Members Absent 
Tom Lyons, ASU Representative 
Dustin Savage, ASU Representative (Alternate) 
 
 
 
Meeting started: 5:31 p.m.   
 
1) NOVUS Corridor Parcel 5F - Discussion of future zoning map and code text amendments to incorporate Parcel 
5F into the Athletics Facilities District Planning Area (AFDPA) Overlay 
Presenter: Manjula Vaz, Gammage & Burnham PLC 
 
Manjula Vaz, Gammage & Burnham PLC, gave an overview of the proposed change and stated that the 
applications will remove the Marina Heights East PAD Overlay from the site and apply use parameters and 
development standards associated with AFDPA Rio Salado and Rural Mixed-Use Subdistrict to the site.  She 
stated that the code text amendment will be coming before the Committee for a vote in March. 
 
Committee Member Files asked for verification that this is not a removal of the Rio Salado Overlay and is just the 
addition of the Athletics Facilities District Planning Area Overlay.  Ms. Vaz advised that was correct. 
 
2) NOVUS Corridor Development Update 
Presenter: Shane Yoder, Catellus 
 
Shane Yoder, Catellus, gave an update on NOVUS projects and businesses that have opened in that area. He 
stated that the west side of NOVUS Place is 100% leased and open for business.  Mr. Yoder pointed out a

JOINT REVIEW COMMITTEE  
STUDY SESSION MINUTES 
February 4, 2026 
 
2 
 
 
 
 
triangular parcel near Over Easy and The Melt and stated that they plan to put a hotel on that site.  He stated 
that the site plan for it will come in later this month.  
 
 
Committee Member McLaughlin asked if those were the same people who met with the JRC a few months back 
and was advised that they were.  Ms. Vaz stated that they will be changing the hotel configuration a little bit and 
they will be bringing the hotel project back before the Committee.   
 
Committee Member McLaughlin asked what is coming up next in retail since it is now basically full.  Mr. Yoder 
stated that their preferred direction for retail would be to go north. 
 
Committee Member Sumners asked what is driving the need for the zoning and code changes and if there were 
different standards between the Marina Heights and Athletic overlays.  Ms. Vaz stated that Marina Heights 
Phase 2 had a site plan and has very specific standards that applied only to Marina Heights, which they do not 
need anymore.  She stated that it also had an underground parking garage that connected all of the parcels so 
they would have to go through a redo of all of the development standards so that those 5F parcels matched 
Marina Heights.  Ms. Vaz stated that they do not really need any of that circulation or the connection of the 
underground garage so it was decided that this would be the easier process.  
 
Ms. Vaz advised the Committee that they are currently working with the City on the new fire station that will be 
located in the NOVUS 4C parcel. She also noted that there will be some activity with the 4F buildings that are 
close to Tempe Marketplace, such as signage, etc.  
 
Committee Member McCutchen referenced the zoning and code text changes and asked if the new standards 
would give them the freedom to have a different pattern on the sidewalk that abuts the building or would they still 
follow the same pattern that Marina Heights has.  Ms. Vaz stated that they would probably follow the same 
landscaping pattern to preserve the lakefront experience.  
 
 
 
 
 
Meeting adjourned: 5:55 p.m. 
 
 
Prepared by: Joanna Barry, Administrative Assistant 
Reviewed by: Michelle Dahlke, Principal Planner