Summary Sheet- RFCA SUMMARY

CITY OF TEMPE
Meeting Date: 5/14/2026  
REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
Agenda Item: 8B2
ACTION:  PUBLIC HEARING ITEM Introduce and hold the first public hearing to adopt two related 
ordinances, Ordinance No. O2026.22 and Ordinance No. O2026.23, for the Tempe Zoning and 
Development Code, including amendments to Part 4, Chapter 9 (Signs), and amendments to Part 3, 
Part 4, Part 6, and Part 7, pertaining to updates for land uses, corrections and clarifications, 
reorganization for accessory structures, reorganization of use permit standards criteria, general 
development standards, parking standards, landscape and lighting; and update to applications and 
definitions. The applicant is City of Tempe. The second and final public hearing is scheduled for June 
4, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:  While this ordinance change does not directly impact revenue, the planned 
development will result in collection of the standard development fees, calculated according to the 
approved fee structure at the time of permit issuance.
RECOMMENDATION:  Adopt Ordinance No. O2026.22 and No. O2026.23
Development Review Commission - Recommend Approval (7-0 vote)
 
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:  The Zoning and Development Code was adopted on January 20, 
2005. More than two decades later, with feedback from Boards and Commissions, businesses, residents 
and staff, corrections and clarifications have been necessary to keep the code relevant to contemporary 
needs. New General Plans and changes in Arizona state laws have also necessitated updates. 
Community Development Department Planning Division has phased incremental updates to manage 
the scope of change within the code.  Phase four of the code modifications includes two ordinances. 
The first ordinance modifies Part 4 Development Standards Chapter 9 Signs. These changes were the 
result of a Zoning Administrator’s Opinion, questions from an applicant, and observations from staff 
administering the sign code for customer applications. The second ordinance modifies Parts 3, 4, 6 and 
7 and covers a range of items proposed for clarification, correction, modification, update or addition to 
the various sections of the code. These changes were the result of a Zoning Administrator’s Opinion, 
input from customers and questions and observations from staff when implementing or enforcing the 
code. All proposed modifications were reviewed by staff from Planning, Project Assistance Team, Code 
Enforcement and the City Attorney’s office. At the April 28th Development Review Commission meeting, 
the Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the proposed code text amendments.
ATTACHMENTS:    
1. ORDINANCE 2026. 22_ZDC SIGN CODE TEXT AMENDMENT.DOCX
2. EXHIBIT A OF ORDINANCE  2026. 22_ZDC SIGN CODE TEXT AMENDMENT 051426.DOCX
3. ORDINANCE 2026. 23_ZDC PARTS 3-7 CODE TEXT AMENDMENTS.DOCX
4. EXHIBIT A OF ORDINANCE 2026. 23_ZDC PARTS3-7 CODE TEXT AMENDMENTS 060426.DOCX
5. 
HOUSINGIMPACTSTATEMENT_CODE 
TEXT 
AMENDMENT 
FOR 
CODE 
TEXT 
AMENDMENTS.DOCX
6. CC_STAFF REPORT_ZONING CODE TEXT AMENDMENTS_051426.DOCX
STAFF CONTACT(S):  Ryan Levesque, Deputy Community Development Director, 480-858-2393
Department Director:  Jeff Tamulevich, Community Development Director

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Legal review by:  Eric Anderson, City Attorney
Prepared by:  Diana Kaminski, Principal Planner