Attachment C - PHO Summary - PHO-1-25--Z-SP-29-98-6.pdf

REPORT OF PLANNING HEARING OFFICER ACTION 
Byron Easton, Planner III, Hearing Officer 
Logan Zappolo, Planner I, Assisting  
October 15, 2025 
ITEM NO: 2 
DISTRICT NO. 6 
SUBJECT: 
Application #: 
PHO 1-25--Z-SP-29-98-6 
Location: 
Northeast corner of 48th Street and Holly Street 
Zoning: 
R-3 SP, C-O/G-O HGT/WVR
Acreage: 
2.83 
Request: 
1)
Request to modify Stipulation 1 regarding general
conformance with the site plan date stamped February
1, 1999.
Applicant: 
Madison Leake, Burch & Cracchiolo, P.A. 
Owner: 
Harry Antram, Diocese of Phoenix Catholic Cemeteries & 
Funeral Homes 
Representative: 
Madison Leake, Burch & Cracchiolo, P.A. 
ACTIONS: 
Planning Hearing Officer Recommendation: The Planning Hearing Officer took 
the case under advisement.  On November 13, 2025, the Planning Hearing 
Officer took the case out from under advisement and recommended approval 
with an additional stipulation. 
Village Planning Committee (VPC) Recommendation: The Camelback East 
Village Planning Committee heard this request on October 7, 2025 and 
recommended approval by a vote of 15-0. 
DISCUSSION: 
Madison Leake, representative with Burch & Cracchiolo P.A., introduced their 
client, St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, and provided an overview of the addition 
proposed on the existing building located on the northern portion of the property. 
Ms. Leake went on to provide additional background information related to the 
zoning history that established the existing zoning of R-3 SP, C-O/G-O SP 
HGT/WVR on the site. She indicated the proposal was to update the 1999 
stipulated site plan, to include a mortuary to hold funeral services on site.  Ms. 
Leake gave a description of the proposed elevations, noting the elevations are 
integrated with the existing building, and they feature stained glass and a brick 
facade to create the proposed church/chapel-like appearance.  
ATTACHMENT C

Planning Hearing Officer Summary of October 15, 2025 
Application PHO-1-25--Z-SP-29-98-6 
Page 2 
Ms. Leake stated the applicant met with the Camelback East Village Planning 
Committee, and they unanimously recommended approval of this item. She 
mentioned the applicant worked with the Streets and Traffic Department to gain 
preliminary approval of access to the site and that both parties were comfortable 
with the access shown on the proposed site plan. She went on to state they also 
received comments from the Fire Department, all of which are being addressed 
through the site plan review and construction plan review process.  
Byron Easton, Planning Hearing Officer, asked if they attended a site plan pre-
application meeting for this submittal.  
Ms. Leake confirmed they have gone through the site plan pre-application 
process. 
Mr. Easton stated that according to the pre-application comment sheet, direct 
access from a public street to any mortuary use shall be prohibited.  The 
conceptual site plan shows two points of access at the northwest corner of the 
parcel. He asked Ms. Leake if she could provide information on how they intend 
to address that comment.  
Ms. Leake explained that she has documentation from the Streets Department 
confirming the access has been rectified. She stated the two proposed access 
points off 48th Street are for service vehicles and entrance only. She stated the 
streets department confirmed this would satisfy that requirement.  She added this 
will be further reviewed and confirmed during the site plan review process.  
Mr. Easton stated that in order to recommend approval of a modification to 
general conformance, he needs to confirm the proposed access points have 
received preliminary review/approval from the Streets Transportation 
Department. He asked if Ms. Leake could provide any written correspondence 
from the Streets Transportation Department indicating the access has been 
approved. 
Ms. Leake explained an email from the Streets Transportation Department 
indicating they provided comments to include what is shown on the proposed site 
plan.  
Mr. Easton asked for clarification on the egress for the service vehicles. 
Ms. Leake confirmed the service vehicles are intended to enter from 48th Street, 
navigate through the parking lot and exit off Holly Street. 
Mr. Easton stated the correspondence does not rectify the Zoning Ordinance 
Section related to access from a public street.  
Ms. Leake asked for confirmation of the referenced Zoning Ordinance Section.

Planning Hearing Officer Summary of October 15, 2025 
Application PHO-1-25--Z-SP-29-98-6 
Page 3 
Mr. Easton reiterated Section 647.A.1.b for reference and confirmed this is 
intended for ingress and egress from a public street.  
Ms. Leake stated she had discussions with senior city staff early in the process 
and was told the proposed access would satisfy the referenced Ordinance 
Section. She added that to her knowledge, the proper way to address the 
Ordinance Section would be to apply for variance after the PHO process is 
completed.  
Mr. Easton agreed and asked if Ms. Leake has any written correspondence from 
senior staff confirming this site plan is complying with the referenced Ordinance 
Section.  
Ms. Leake explained the proposed access is intended for service vehicle access 
only, not public access and thus would satisfy the requirement.  
Mr. Easton asked if the gates would have a fab or key for service vehicle entry. 
Ms. Leake confirmed the service vehicle entrances will have a form of entry 
security.  
Mr. Easton reiterated the referenced Ordinance Section and stated the intent of 
the requirement is any access off the public street.  
Ms. Leake included her interpretation of the referenced Ordinance Section, 
stating the intent of the Ordinance Section is for traffic generation, which service 
vehicles only will not generate traffic.  
Mr. Easton stated that depending on the number of trips to the mortuary, traffic 
may be generated, especially for the type of use proposed.  
Ms. Leake stated there may be one to two service vehicles per day. 
Mr. Easton asked for confirmation of the proposed addition for a mortuary only 
and not a crematorium.  
Ms. Leake confirmed the proposed addition is only a mortuary. 
Mr. Easton described correspondence received from the Fire Department stating 
the proposed site plan shows the fire access will not work with the proposed 
turning radius. He asked how they addressed this comment.  
Ms. Leake included she did not read that the proposed design will not work, 
however, she has reviewed the plan with their architect who confirmed each 
comment will be met.

Planning Hearing Officer Summary of October 15, 2025 
Application PHO-1-25--Z-SP-29-98-6 
Page 4 
Mr. Easton compared Site Plan Pre-Application comments versus the comments 
received for the PHO hearing. He asked Logan Zappolo, Planning Hearing 
Officer Assistant, if he knew which turnaround is indicated in the Fire Department 
comments.  
Mr. Zappolo confirmed this was intended for the turnaround located at the center 
of the site.  
Ms. Leake reiterated all comments will be addressed through the site plan review 
process.  
Mr. Easton noted there is conflict between pre-application comments versus the 
PHO Hearing comments. He asked if they have anyone on the call that can 
speak to the Fire Department comments.  
Ms. Leake stated she read through the comments received and stated they have 
not received comments stating they are not meeting the requirement. 
Mr. Easton confirmed the PHO reviewer submitted comments indicating access 
issues, and a comment from the site plan pre-application referenced fire 
sprinklers. He will need to confirm the department’s true intent prior to issuing a 
recommendation. 
Mr. Easton took the case Under Advisement. 
Ms. Leake asked if there was any documentation necessary to provide. 
Mr. Easton requested correspondence from senior staff regarding the required 
ordinance section and any correspondence from the Fire Department confirming 
approval of the proposed access.  
Ms. Leake suggested approval with a stipulation as an alternative and added the 
proposed site plan is subject to amendments.  
Mr. Easton stated the general conformance to a site plan must be within 10 
percent. Mr. Easton and Mr. Zappolo confirmed City Council dates and stated 
they will attempt to keep this on the November 19th City Council Agenda. 
FINDINGS: 
1) The request to modify Stipulation 1 regarding general conformance to a
site plan is recommended for approval with a modification to provide more
standard conformance language.  The original rezoning cases, approved
in 1999 under cases 117-98-6 and SP 29-98-6, rezoned 2.81 acres to
allow the expansion of a cemetery and corporate office for St. Francis.

Planning Hearing Officer Summary of October 15, 2025 
Application PHO-1-25--Z-SP-29-98-6 
Page 5 
The proposed mortuary building will be an expansion of the existing office 
building on the R-3 SP portion of the site and requires an update to the 
site plan originally submitted with the 1999 zoning cases.  
The stipulated site plan for this area depicted an approximately 13,720 
square foot office building located at the northwest corner of the parcel 
and parking along the south and east property lines.  The proposed 
conceptual site plan depicts the existing building with an approximately 10, 
312 square foot addition that will be approximately 28 feet tall.  The new 
building will be approximately 25,029 square feet. 
The site offers no public vehicular access to 48th street and all public 
access to the site shall be from East Holly Street. The two entrance only 
access points to 48th Street are noted on the proposed site plan and have 
been reviewed by the Streets Transportation Department. The proposed 
site plan may need to be redesigned after the original submittal to address 
concerns raised in correspondence received by staff regarding turning 
radius for Fire Department apparatus. 
The proposal is compatible with its location adjacent to a working 
cemetery that is owned and operated by the property owner.  The 
proposed lot coverage and height are below the maximum permitted by 
the current zoning and consistent with the original approval.  The 
recommendation for general conformance will control for deviation from 
the proposed plans. 
2) The applicant did not submit a Proposition 207 waiver of claims prior to
the Planning Hearing Officer hearing. Submittal of this form is an
application requirement.  An additional stipulation is recommended to
require the applicant to record this form and deliver it to the City to be
included in the rezoning application file for record.
STIPULATIONS: 
1. 
That THE development SHALL be in general conformance WITH to the 
site plan dated STAMPED OCTOBER 16, 2025, February 1, 1999, as may 
be modified by the following stipulations, Ordinance requirements and 
Development Services Department site plan review.  AS MODIFIED BY 
THE FOLLOWING STIPULATIONS AND APPROVED BY THE 
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. 
2. 
That The height of the building be limited to 34 feet. 
3. 
That Any walls along the west and south property lines SHALL be 
constructed of stone masonry and steel pickets to match the character of

Planning Hearing Officer Summary of October 15, 2025 
Application PHO-1-25--Z-SP-29-98-6 
Page 6 
existing fencing on the cemetery property. 
4. 
That Any fence constructed along the east property line SHALL be 
constructed of wood, or with chain link in conjunction with a landscaped 
hedge which will serve to screen the cemetery property. 
5. 
That Signage SHALL be limited to that allowed under the R-5 district 
standards. 
6. 
That The building SHALL be designed to complement the residential 
character of the area, with such design to be approved through 
PLANNING AND Development Services Department review. 
7. 
PRIOR TO FINAL SITE PLAN APPROVAL, THE LANDOWNER SHALL 
EXECUTE A PROPOSITION 207 WAIVER OF CLAIMS FORM. THE 
WAIVER SHALL BE RECORDED WITH THE MARICOPA COUNTY 
RECORDER'S OFFICE AND DELIVERED TO THE CITY TO BE 
INCLUDED IN THE REZONING APPLICATION FILE FOR RECORD. 
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