DRC_STAFF REPORT_ASCENT ACADEMY_041426.DOCX

PL260058 – ASCENT ACADEMY 
Page 1
April 14, 2026
STAFF REPORT
ASCENT ACADEMY (PL260058)
PROJECT DATA: 
Project Address
2075 South Cottonwood Drive
Property Owner(s) Current / 
Future
Assist Enterprises LLC
Applicant
David Jefferson, Assist Enterprises LLC
Zoning District 
(current/proposed)
RO (Residential/Office)
Suite Area
6,177 s.f.
Vehicle Parking
25 spaces (22 min. required)
Bicycle Parking
6 spaces (4 min. required)
Hours of Operation 
Monday through Friday 8:15 AM to 2:15 PM
COMMENTS:
The site is on Lot 4 of 101 & Broadway Corporate Center and is part of an existing professional office 
complex that is located south of Broadway Road with Cottonwood Drive to the west. The Tempe Canal 
and an adjacent multi-use path are to the east. The office complex is bound by a public alley to the 
south, and south of the alley is the Broadway Palms single-family residential subdivision. Within the 
site, there are four lots, each containing a one-story office building. Lot 4 is in the southwestern portion 
of these properties. 
The proposed use requires a Use Permit to allow a private school within the R/O Residential Office 
zoning district. Ascent Academy will serve children with disabilities, grades K-12. The proposed hours 
of operation for the private school are Monday through Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. There will be no 
evening or weekend activities. The applicant advised that the anticipated maximum capacity is 75 
students, with approximately 19 staff members at full occupancy, including both teachers and support 
staff. Due to the intensification of the use from office to school, parking was evaluated to determine if 
the site has sufficient on-site parking. An evaluation of site circulation for drop off was also done by 
staff to assure no conflicts with other tenants on site within the shared parking lot and shared driveway 
access.
The surrounding uses within the commercial office center include a real estate development company, 
a physical therapy clinic, and a security guard service, which are characterized by primarily daytime 
operations. The school will occupy an existing building within the plaza. No exterior modifications or 
construction are proposed. The site is zoned R/O, Residential Office which allows professional and 
administrative services, live-work, and limited retail uses on small parcels located between higher 
intensity commercial and multi-use zones and residential zones. While public and charter schools are 
permitted by right in all commercial zoning districts, private schools require a Use Permit. 
Existing uses on the site include: commercial uses.
The applicant is requesting the Development Review Commission take action on 
ZUP260017
Use Permit to allow a private school in the R/O zoning district 
PUBLIC INPUT

PL260058 – ASCENT ACADEMY 
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April 14, 2026

Neighborhood meeting not required
USE PERMIT 
The proposed use requires a Use Permit, to allow a private school in the R/O Zoning District.
Section 6-308 E Approval criteria for Use Permit (in italics): 
1.
Any significant increase in vehicular or pedestrian traffic. The applicant has worked diligently with 
staff to address any increases in vehicular traffic on the site as a result of the school. For example, 
to prevent vehicle queuing on Cottonwood Drive, the proposed school will utilize a “park and walk-
in” model where vehicles immediately park in the existing parking lot to escort students into the 
building. The property has 25 spaces and 19 of the spaces will be occupied by staff once the 
school reaches maturity: leaving 6 spaces for visitors. The five spaces in front of the building will 
be designated for parents to drop off. To further reduce the vehicular traffic, the applicant advised 
that most students would arrive via special education buses. The drop-off and pick-up times are 
confined to 8:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m., leaving two short windows for traffic, and occasional pick-ups. 
2.
Nuisance arising from the emission of odor, dust, gas, noise, vibration, smoke, heat or glare at a 
level exceeding that of ambient conditions; Ascent Academy is an indoor focused use and does 
not include a playground, outdoor PA systems, or bells that would generate noise. The students 
will not participate in typical outdoor physical education or recreation. Any physical education 
classes will be held in the reception lobby. The facility is separated from the residential 
neighborhood to the south by a double-barrier buffer at the rear wall of the building. No exterior or 
site modifications are proposed with this request. Due to the nature of this unique school model the 
proposed use is expected to emit less noise than a traditional school site and should not emit odor, 
dust, gas, vibration, smoke, heat or glare. 
3.
Contribution to the deterioration of the neighborhood or to the downgrading of property values, the 
proposed use is not in conflict with the goals objectives or policies for rehabilitation, redevelopment 
or conservation as set forth in the city’s adopted plans or General Plan. The proposed use may 
enhance the neighborhood by occupying a vacant office building, while providing a necessary 
service for families. 
4.
Compatibility with existing surrounding structures and uses. An existing Montessori school is 
located east of the Tempe Canal Trail. The proposed operating hours for Ascent Academy (8:15 
a.m. and 2:15 p.m.) are shorter than standard business hours, potentially mitigating evening traffic 
impacts. The center includes low-intensity commercial uses such as a physical therapy office, real 
estate business, and a security service. Real estate and security offices may have flexible traffic 
that is less steady than appointment-based traffic from the physical therapy business. 
5.
Adequate control of disruptive behavior both inside and outside the premises which may create a 
nuisance to the surrounding area or general public. As described by the applicant’s letter of 
explanation, all activities are indoors, and the students are escorted into the building to meet the 
needs of the students. The high ratio of staff to students will provide support for appropriate 
student behavior.
The manner of conduct and the building for the proposed use will not be detrimental to persons 
residing or working in the vicinity, to adjacent property, to the neighborhood, or to the public welfare in 
general, and that the use will be in full conformity to any conditions, requirements or standards 
prescribed therefore by this code. 
Based on the information provided and the above analysis, staff recommends approval of the 
requested Use Permit. This request meets the required criteria and will conform to the conditions.

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April 14, 2026
USE PERMIT CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL: (Non-standard conditions are identified in bold) 
EACH NUMBERED ITEM IS A CONDITION OF APPROVAL.  THE DECISION-MAKING BODY MAY MODIFY, DELETE OR 
ADD TO THESE CONDITIONS.  
1.
The Use Permit is valid only after a Building Permit has been obtained, the required inspections 
have been completed and a Final Inspection has been passed. As part of the Building Permit 
process, on-site storm water retention may be required to be verified or accomplished on this Site. 
2.
The Use Permit is valid for the plans as submitted within this application. Any additions or 
modifications may be submitted for review during the building plan check process.
3.
All required permits and clearances shall be obtained from the Audit and Licensing Division of the 
City of Tempe prior to the Use Permit becoming effective. 
4.
Hours of operation are as follows: Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There will be no 
evening or weekend activities. 
5.
No parking, standing, or queuing of vehicles associated with the private school shall be 
permitted along Cottonwood Drive at any time. All student drop-off and pick-up activities 
shall occur on-site within designated areas.
6.
The five (5) parking spaces located directly in front of the school building shall be reserved 
exclusively for short-term parent drop-off and pick-up during school arrival and dismissal 
periods. These spaces shall not be used for employee or long-term parking.
7.
School staff, parents, and visitors shall park only in spaces designated for the school 
building and shall not utilize or block parking spaces assigned to or intended for other 
buildings or tenants within the commercial office center.
CODE/ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS:
THE BULLETED ITEMS REFER TO EXISTING CODE OR ORDINANCES THAT PLANNING STAFF OBSERVES ARE 
PERTINENT TO THIS CASE.  THE BULLET ITEMS ARE INCLUDED TO ALERT THE DESIGN TEAM AND ASSIST IN 
OBTAINING A BUILDING PERMIT AND ARE NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST.
This approval for the Use Permit review did not include a comprehensive evaluation of the site for 
code compliance; the scope of approval is for the use permit only. The property owner should be 
aware of all city codes and zoning ordinances applicable to the property including maintenance and 
conformance with the codes. Below is a partial list of references provided to advise the owner of 
pertinent code requirements; this is not an exhaustive list. 
TEMPE CITY CODE: Specific requirements of the Tempe City Code are not listed but apply to any 
application. 
ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT CODE: Specific requirements of the Zoning and Development Code 
(ZDC) are not listed as conditions of approval but apply to any application. To avoid unnecessary 
review time and reduce the potential for multiple plan check submittals, become familiar with the ZDC.
BUILDING & FIRE CODES: Any modifications to the buildings involving mechanical, electrical, 
plumbing or structural tenant improvements that would require a building permit must obtain required 
permits.
ENGINEERING CODES: Any site modifications affecting utilities, retention or engineering code 
requirements must obtain required permits.

PL260058 – ASCENT ACADEMY 
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April 14, 2026
USE PERMIT:

The Use Permit is valid for ASCENT ACADEMY and may be transferable to successors in interest 
through an administrative review with the Community Development Director, or designee.

The Use Permit approval shall be void if the use is not commenced or if an application for a 
building permit has not been submitted, whichever is applicable, within twelve (12) months after 
the Use Permit is granted or within the time stipulated by the decision-making body.

Section 6-902.B. The decision-making body, upon finding that the applicant has not taken 
corrective actions to resolve issues related to the permit/approval and that a continuation of the 
permit/approval is not in the interest of the public health, safety and general welfare, can revoke 
the permit/approval after providing written notice of its intentions to the holder of the permit.

If there are any complaints arising from the Use Permit that are verified by a consensus of the 
complaining party and
the City Attorney’s office, the Use Permit will be reviewed by City staff to determine the need for a 
public hearing to reevaluate the appropriateness of the Use Permit, which may result in revokation 
of the Use Permit.

Any intensification or expansion of use shall require a new Use Permit.

All required Federal, State, County, and Municipal permits, licenses, and clearances shall be 
obtained, or the Use Permit is void.
SIGNS: Separate plan review process is required for signs in accordance with requirements of ZDC 
Part 4 Chapter 9 (Signs).   Refer to www.tempe.gov/signs.
HISTORY & FACTS:
April 30, 1969
The site was annexed into the City of Tempe  
June 14, 1973 
Council approved a zone change from AG to R1-6 and a subdivision plat or 
Broadway Palms.
April 22, 1997 
The Planning Commission approved, by a 7-0 vote, the request subject to the 
conditions listed on the staff report. 
May 15, 1997 
City Council approved a zoning map amendment from R1-6 Single-Family 
Residential District to R/O Residential/Office District and a site plan with 
variances for Price/Broadway Professional Office Buildings at 2305, 2325, & 
2333 East Broadway Road.
September 23, 1999 City Council approved the request by Broadway Office Plaza for a site plan for a 
32,676 s.f. office project located at 2305, 2325, & 2333 East Broadway Road (4 
buildings), including 2 variances. 
February 16, 2000
The Board of Adjustments approved an increase in the maximum allowable 
building height 15’ to 20’ for the Broadway Plaza, subject to conditions.
January 11, 2001
City Council approved the request by 101 & Broadway Corporate Center for a 
Final Subdivision Plat
January 24, 2001 
The Board of Adjustment approved the request by Broadway Office Building at 
2305 East Broadway Road in the R/O District.
April 14, 2026
This request is scheduled to be heard by the Development Review Commission.

PL260058 – ASCENT ACADEMY 
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April 14, 2026
ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT CODE REFERENCE: 
Section 3-202, Permitted Uses in Commercial and Mixed-Use Districts
Section 4-203, Development Standards for Commercial and Mixed-Use Districts
Section 6-308, Use Permit
Section 6-311, Shared Parking