Attachment D - VPC Summary-Rec - Z-51-19-4.pdf

City of Phoenix — Formal (2020-05-06)

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City of Phoenix • Planning & Development Department 
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor • Phoenix, Arizona  85003-1611 • (602) 262-6882 
Village Planning Committee Meeting Summary 
Z-51-19-4
Date of VPC Meeting 
February 3, 2020 
Request From 
R-5 M-R (2.94 acres)
Request To 
PUD (2.94 acres)
Proposed Use 
Mixed-use
Location 
Northeast corner of 7th Street and Thomas Road
VPC Recommendation 
Denial
VPC Vote 
6-5
VPC DISCUSSION RECOMMENDED STIPULATIONS:
One speaker card was submitted in favor, not wishing to speak. 
Four speaker cards were submitted in favor, wishing to speak.  
Four speaker cards were submitted in opposition, not wishing to speak. 
Twenty-six speaker cards were submitted in opposition, wishing to speak. 
•
Ten speakers donated their time to Robert Warnicke
•
Eight speakers donated their time to Tom Chauncey
•
Two speakers donated their time to Jeanne Yawger
•
Two speakers donated their time to Martha Carey Lee
•
Two speakers donated their time to Paul Barnes
Joshua Bednarek, staff, provided a brief overview of the request and displayed an 
aerial map. Mr. Bednarek reviewed the community input received for the request and 
staff’s findings, recommendation and stipulations.  
Brent Kleinman asked staff to confirm that if the PUD does not get approved, the mid-
rise zoning (R-5 M-R) will remain. Joshua Bednarek confirmed that the R-5 mid-rise 
zoning district will remain if the PUD does not get approved.  
G.G. George asked why there was a delay in sending out the PUD material. Joshua 
Bednarek answered that staff turned around the staff report as quickly as they could. 
G.G. George added that it is hard to make an informed decision without a study from 
the Street Transportation Department regarding reversible lanes on 7th Avenue and 7th 
Street.  
Attachment D

City of Phoenix • Planning & Development Department 
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor • Phoenix, Arizona  85003-1611 • (602) 262-6882 
Drew Bryck asked how the Committee should judge the success of the Architectural 
Review Committee. Joshua Bednarek responded that judging the success of the 
Architectural Review Committee will be up to the Committee to decide. 
 
Jason Morris, the applicant, with Withey Morris PLC, reviewed the history of the 
project, the design components of the PUD, and showed a site plan and elevations. He 
compared the project to Walkable Urban Code standards and reviewed the 
sustainability components of the project, noting that it will be built to LEED Silver 
standards.  
 
Rick Mahrle asked for clarification on the parking podium, and whether a coffee shop 
could be added to the building. Jason Morris responded that the parking podium is the 
base of the building and that the podium could be converted to include a coffee shop.  
 
Vice Chair Ann Cothron stated that she was happy to see that the project would be 
built to LEED Silver standards and asked if the project will incorporate solar panels and 
a recycling program. Jason Morris responded that the rooftop has an opportunity to 
house solar panels, there will be separate recycling chutes and that the owner will 
manage a separate recycling program for the building. 
 
G.G. George asked about the bus bay along 7th Street and the encroachment it will 
have into the street. Jason Morris clarified that the bus bay will encroach on the 
landscaped setback area and that the bus bay will be built to current City standards.  
 
Paul Benjamin asked if the project accounted for the proposed Bus Rapid Transit line. 
Jason Morris responded that the PUD narrative addresses that.  
 
Drew Bryck commented that the landscaping is for the benefit of the public, and the 
dog park is exclusively for residents. Michael Krentz, with DAVIS Architecture, 
responded that the dog park activates the frontage of the podium. Mr. Bryck asked for 
clarification on the type of fence used along the dog park. Mr. Krentz responded that 
the fence will be wrought iron. 
 
Nicole Rodriguez asked if the landscaping will be maintained by a private association, 
if there will be a double row of trees along the sidewalk, if there are utility line conflicts 
for trees and if the existing oak trees will remain. Jason Morris responded that the 
Country Club and residents will form an association and handle the street tree 
maintenance, there will be a double row of trees, the expanded sidewalk will place trees 
away from any utility poles and the oaks will be used in the right-of-way.  
 
G.G. George asked for clarification regarding the material selection, specifically “flat 
plate metal panels that limit oil canning”. Michael Krentz clarified that oil canning is 
when metal dimples.  
 
Rick Mahrle asked staff to clarify what the Committee’s options were and that the base 
zoning will still permit a 110-foot tower. Joshua Bednarek answered that the R-5 M-R 
zoning is in place and that the Committee couls recommend approval, denial or 
approval with modified stipulations.

City of Phoenix • Planning & Development Department 
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor • Phoenix, Arizona  85003-1611 • (602) 262-6882 
Vice Chair Cothron added that when the project came before the Committee a year 
ago, City Council approved the request. She continued that the Council will have to deal 
with what was already approved.  
 
Nicole Rodriguez asked if the palm trees depicted lining the driveway are part of the 
shade calculation. Jason Morris responded that the palm trees are to continue the 
decorative element seen in the Country Club.  
 
Drew Bryck asked if anyone from the Architectural Review Committee was in the 
audience. Bill Sheely responded that he was on the Committee.  
 
Public Comment 
 
Robert Warnicke displayed a Stop the Tower sign. He shared the following comments: 
 
• The motion says that the R-5 M-R zoning would come off if the PUD does not get 
approved  
• The PUD could be approved with a different height limit such as 60 feet or 75 
feet 
• The PUD does not state that it will conform to the Architectural Review 
Committee’s suggestions 
• The stipulation for the rezoning case states that there should be active uses 
along 7th Street and Thomas Road 
• The parking podium is the problem 
• Open space is being reduced and elevated on the podium 
• Removing the podium parking would make the building shorter 
 
He urged the Committee to require underground parking if the building is above 60 feet 
in height and to mandate that open space be on the ground level.  
 
Tom Chauncey shared the following comments: 
 
• The request is an example of bad urban planning 
• The community does not oppose any building on the site, just this project 
• The Phoenix Country Club is untrustworthy as they once bought a house and 
turned it into a parking lot and killed trees 
• If the Committee wants to see something happen, put the requirement in a 
stipulation 
• The PUD is supposed to blend in with the existing neighborhood 
• Laura Pastor said the building could be shorter 
• The building should be stepped back in height 
• It is bad urban planning, bad design, and it doesn’t belong in the area 
 
He asked the Committee to vote no like they did a year ago.  
 
Jeanne Yawger displayed a Lego model of the proposed project to show the project’s 
height in relation to the surrounding neighborhood. She asked for clarification on how 
much parking the Country Club is required to have and how much parking will be 
impacted by the building footprint. She asked if there will be a gate to the Country Club 
residences and stated that the residents are being appeased.

City of Phoenix • Planning & Development Department 
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor • Phoenix, Arizona  85003-1611 • (602) 262-6882 
 
Gary Johnson stated that he will do his best to unseat Councilwoman Pastor who 
thought she was representing his neighborhood. He added that the irrigation line needs 
to be moved and asked how much of the street will be impacted during construction.  
 
Paul Barnes stated that he supports the comments made by Robert Warnicke and 
believes the maximum height should be less, the open space on the podium is not for 
the public to use and that he is opposed to the PUD as written.  
 
Martha Carey Lee stated that the Country Club residents are not being appeased and 
that the project is a great way to improve and revitalize her area.  
 
Patience Huntwork stated that this project will help turn 7th Street into a Village.  
 
Jim Huntwork stated that this project will help transform 7th Street into what Melrose 
and Roosevelt is. He continued that we must live in the real world and that this project 
could be transformative. 
 
Bill Sheely stated that the Architectural Review Committee meetings were full of good 
information and very transparent. He was surprised that a member of that group was 
unhappy.  
 
Margaret Dietrich asked the applicant to clarify if the open space will be open to the 
public.  
 
Jason Morris responded that Mr. Warnicke and Mr. Chauncey see the PUD request as 
a second bite from the same apple, but staff has been clear that the underlying zoning 
will remain. He added that City Councilmembers wanted cooperation and outreach with 
the community and they went above and beyond that requirement. He continued that 
the applicant took their homework seriously and submitted a thorough PUD. He added 
that taking away the podium is not what this case is about.  
 
Brent Kleinman asked what was discussed in the Architectural Review Committee 
meetings. Jim Mahoney responded that there were five meetings. They covered 
specific topics such as streetscape, building materials and color. He added that the 
scalloped roofline matches an architectural detail seen in the Country Club. He 
continued that at the end of every meeting they would ask the group if there were any 
items that should be brought up to their architect. He concluded that Artie Vigil was one 
of the biggest contributors to the group and was very collaborative with the architects.  
 
Robert Warnicke commented that Artie Vigil felt that the project as proposed was not 
something he agreed to and urged the Committee to consider the email Mr. Vigil sent to 
staff.  
 
Motion 
Brent Kleinman motioned to recommend approval and Layla Ressler seconded.  
 
Vote 
5-6, the motion fails with members Adams, Benjamin, Cothron, Kleinman, and Ressler 
in favor and members Bryck, George, Mahrle, Procaccini, Rodriguez, and Searles in 
opposition.

City of Phoenix • Planning & Development Department 
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor • Phoenix, Arizona  85003-1611 • (602) 262-6882 
 
Discussion: 
G.G. George stated that this request is not consistent with the General Plan and does 
not provide a superior built environment. 
 
Rick Mahrle commented that the project lacks street level activation and the open 
space is being reduced.  
 
Vice Chair Ann Cothron stated that the decision was difficult, the neighborhood 
concerns are being heard, traffic is an issue and that she liked the number of trees 
being added with the request.  
 
Brent Kleinman commented that the Committee has approved gated apartment 
communities which closes off open space to the public. He added that the project is an 
opportunity and a benefit to the Village.  
 
Layla Ressler stated that she originally voted no on the project last year, but she 
believes the project looks better now and it will be transformative.  
 
Steve Procaccini commented that there is a lot he likes about the project but cannot, in 
good conscience, support the propose height. He added that heights should be focused 
between the 3’s (3rd Avenue and 3rd Street).  
 
Drew Bryck stated that while he was disappointed to see the Councilwoman support 
the project, the zoning has changed. He continued that something tall might be built 
there. He added that three days to review the PUD was not enough time and that he is 
open to the applicant coming back with a new PUD or site design.  
 
Nicole Rodriguez added that the trees on the street frontage are great, but the area 
needs eyes on the street to watch the neighborhood. She added that the project could 
be successful if it had more activation along the street frontage.  
 
Chair Jake Adams commented that he is concerned about the height and how the 
project will fit in within the entire City. He said that he spoke with many people in the 
Coronado neighborhood who supported the project. He continued that he is supportive 
of the project as it will be built to LEED Silver standards.  
 
Motion 
G.G. George motioned to recommend denial and Nicole Rodriguez seconded.  
 
Vote 
6-5, the motion passes with members Bryck, George, Mahrle, Procaccini, Rodriguez 
and Searles in favor with members Adams, Benjamin, Cothron, Kleinman, and Ressler 
in opposition.  
 
 
STIPULATIONS: 
 
1. An updated Development Narrative for the Phoenix Country Club Residences 
PUD reflecting the changes approved through this request shall be submitted to 
the Planning and Development Department within 30 days of City Council

City of Phoenix • Planning & Development Department 
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor • Phoenix, Arizona  85003-1611 • (602) 262-6882 
approval of this request.  The updated Development Narrative shall be consistent 
with the Development Narrative date stamped January 28, 2020, as modified by 
the following stipulations: 
 
 
 
a. 
Front Cover: Revise the submittal date information on the bottom to add the 
following: City Council adopted: [Add adoption date]. 
 
 
 
b. 
Page 8, Development Standards Table, Minimum Building Setbacks: Modify 
verbiage for setback encroachments to read “Where ground level retail uses 
are present, setbacks may be decreased up to 12 feet for outdoor seating, 
patio dining and outdoor commercial sales when utilizing patio, storefront, 
gallery, arcade or forecourt frontage types by securing a use permit.” 
 
 
 
 
c. 
Page 8, Development Standards Table, Minimum Landscape Setbacks: Add 
“Where ground level commercial uses are present, setbacks may be 
decreased up to 12 feet for outdoor seating, patio dining and outdoor retail 
sales when utilizing patio, storefront, gallery, arcade or forecourt frontage 
types by securing a use permit.” 
 
 
 
 
d. 
Page 9, Development Standards Table, Shade: Update provision to include 
minimum of 75 percent shade on both public sidewalks and pedestrian 
walkways. 
 
 
e. 
Page 9, Development Standards Table, Building Entrances: Add “A 
minimum of two building entrances shall be provided, one on 7th Street and 
one on Thomas Road” at the beginning of this subsection. 
 
 
 
 
f. 
Page 9, Development Standards Table, Building Entrances: Update code 
section reference for pedestrian residences to Section 1305.B.3.a. of the 
Phoenix Zoning Ordinance. 
 
 
 
 
g. 
Page 9, Development Standards Table, Building Entrances: Update 
commercial frontage guidelines to read “In the event ground floor retail or 
commercial uses are proposed on either Thomas Road or 7th Street 
frontages, the length of the commercial frontage shall comply with the Patio, 
Storefront, Gallery, Arcade of Forecourt frontage type standards in Table 
1305.1 of the Phoenix Zoning Ordinance except for encroachment 
dimensions and wall standards which shall be governed by the setback and 
wall/fence provisions contained within the PUD.” 
 
 
 
 
h. 
Page 9, Development Standards Table: Add a subsection for Streetscape 
Amenities as follows: 
Streetscape Amenities 
The streetscape landscape setback 
areas adjacent to 7th Street and 
Thomas Road shall provide at least 
one public art element and one 
seating area per street.

City of Phoenix • Planning & Development Department 
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor • Phoenix, Arizona  85003-1611 • (602) 262-6882 
 
i. 
Page 9, Development Standards Table: Add a subsection for Surface 
Parking Lot Standards as follows: 
Surface Parking Lot 
Any surface parking lot area shall 
be located beyond the landscape 
setback area.  Surface parking 
areas, not behind a building, shall 
not exceed 25 percent of any street 
frontage. 
 
 
 
 
j. 
Page 9, Landscape: Remove reference to conformance with Section 
701.D.4. 
 
 
 
 
k. 
Page 10, Landscape Standards Table, Surface Parking Lot: Update second 
paragraph to read “Shade coverage shall be a minimum of 25 percent 
coverage overall.”  
 
 
 
 
l. 
Page 10, Landscape Standards Table, Adjacent to Buildings: Update 
subsection to read “Landscape areas within 5 feet of the building along 7th 
Street and Thomas Road frontages shall be provided with foundation 
plantings containing 75 percent living vegetation ground cover.” 
 
 
 
 
m. 
Page 10, Fences/Walls, Parking Screening Wall: Update subsection to read 
“Vehicles shall be screened by a minimum 3-foot-tall visual screen for all 
parking areas visible from a public street.  Any fencing in excess of 3 feet 
shall be open fencing up to a maximum of 6 feet in height.” 
 
 
 
 
n. 
Page 10, Fences/Walls, Perimeter Wall: Update subsection to read “Except 
for parking screen walls and/or commercial frontage standard requirements, 
no fences or walls shall be placed between the streets (7th Street, Thomas 
Road) and any building.” 
 
 
 
 
o. 
Page 11, Design Guidelines, 2nd paragraph: Update last sentence to read 
“The following list details the Project’s design features which will ensure the 
Project adds value to the surrounding residences, businesses, and 
individuals passing through the well-traveled intersection.” 
 
 
 
 
p. 
Pages 11 and 12, Design Guidelines: Reorder the general design guidelines 
section into the following categories and associated provisions: 
 
Streetscape and Site Access 
• Rebuild and widen existing 7th Street and Thomas Road sidewalks to 
6-foot width, detached from the curb, where not in conflict with 
underground or above ground utilities, along the limits of proposed 
development. 
• Maintain all existing interior drives off Thomas Road and 7th Street 
that connect to PCC and private neighborhood streets.

City of Phoenix • Planning & Development Department 
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor • Phoenix, Arizona  85003-1611 • (602) 262-6882 
Landscape 
• Create generous landscaping along Thomas Road and 7th Street with 
continuous double row of Live Oak, or similar species theme tree to 
shade both sides of the sidewalk. 
• Alternate massings of low-water use, flowering shrubs and succulents 
along streets that create strong identify and visual interest. 
• Integrate planters into the building’s parking structure for cascading 
plants down the face of the garage.  
• Enhance hardscape, outdoor seating and any water feature and 
specimen planting along drop off and front door to the building. 
• Maintain and enhance the existing palm-tree-lined drive between the 
PCC and the new residences. 
• Maintain all landscaping by private association. 
 
Surface Parking Lot Design 
• Implement new design for the PCC surface parking lot that includes 
better circulation, egress, and abundant evergreen shade trees. 
• Install bio swales which help drain surface water into parking lot 
planter islands, as approved by the Planning and Development 
Department.   
• Screen guest parking spaces for residences with dense vegetation 
and wall screening consistent with Fence/Wall Development 
Standards. 
 
Building Amenities 
• Provide rooftop amenity deck on parking garage for building 
residents, with pool area, gardens and activity areas that look out 
over city and mountain views. 
• Provide private dog park for resident use, taking responsibility off 
surrounding streets and existing residential.  Any fencing or screen 
walls for the dog park shall follow the Fence/Wall development 
standards and accent adjacent building materials to appear as an 
integrated part of the larger building design. 
 
 
 
 
q. 
Page 12, Design Guidelines, Building Façade: Add the following guidelines 
to this section: 
• Provide street-level parking garage building façade, landscape, and 
hardscape to create a safer, more pleasant and livelier streetscape 
for passing pedestrian traffic. 
• The corner of the building at 7th Street and Thomas Road shall be 
designed with distinctive massing, angled or rounded building corners 
or additional building articulation that emphasizes the corner and 
promotes activity.  This area can include project identity signage 
and/or public art.

City of Phoenix • Planning & Development Department 
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor • Phoenix, Arizona  85003-1611 • (602) 262-6882 
2. The existing driveway to Thomas Road shall be reconstructed to a P-1243 
standards driveway to restrict access to right-in/right-out movements only, as 
approved by the Planning and Development Department. 
 
 
3. The developer shall remove the gate at the existing driveway to Thomas Road or 
provide a turnaround consistent with the City of Phoenix’s Gate Access Control 
Policy, as approved by the Planning and Development Department. 
 
 
4. The developer shall remove any unused driveways, as approved by the Planning 
and Development Department. 
 
 
5. The developer shall construct all streets within and adjacent to the development 
with paving, curb, gutter, sidewalk, curb ramps, streetlights, median islands, 
landscaping and other incidentals, as per plans approved by the Planning and 
Development Department. All improvements shall comply with all ADA 
accessibility standards. 
 
 
6. The developer shall dedicate right-of-way and construct a bus bay (City of 
Phoenix Standard Detail P1256) and bus pad with a minimum depth of 14 feet 
(City of Phoenix Standard Detail P1261) along northbound 7th Street, north of 
Thomas Road. The bus stop pad and bay shall be placed from the intersection of 
7th Street and Thomas Road according to City of Phoenix Standard Detail P1258, 
as approved by the Public Transit Department. 
 
 
7. The property owner shall record a Notice to Prospective Purchasers of 
Proximity to Airport in order to disclose the existence, and operational 
characteristics of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) to future 
owners or tenants of the property. The form and content of such documents 
shall be according to the templates and instructions provided which have 
been viewed and approved by the City Attorney. 
 
 
8. The developer shall provide documentation to the City prior to construction permit 
approval that Form 7460-1 has been filed for the development and that the 
development received a “No Hazard Determination” from the FAA. If temporary 
equipment used during construction exceeds the height of the permanent 
structure a separate Form 7460-1 shall be submitted to the FAA and a “No 
Hazard Determination” obtained prior to the construction start date. 
 
 
9. In the event archaeological materials are encountered during construction, the 
developer shall immediately cease all ground-disturbing activities within a 33-foot 
radius of the discovery, notify the City Archaeologist, and allow time for the 
Archaeology Office to properly assess the materials. 
 
 
 
STAFF COMMENTS REGARDING VPC RECOMMENDATION & STIPULATIONS: 
None.