Attachment B - VPC Summary-Info - Z-6-20-2.pdf

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-6-20-2 
INFORMATION ONLY 
Date of VPC Meeting 
June 1, 2020 
Request From 
C-2 PCD (Intermediate Commercial, Planned 
Community District) (1.51 acres) 
Request To 
PUD (Planned Unit Development) (1.51 acres) 
Proposed Use 
Multifamily residential and commercial uses 
Location 
Approximately 750 feet north of the northeast corner of 
71st Street and Kierland Boulevard 
VPC DISCUSSION:
Vice Chair Robert Gubser recused himself from the meeting due to a conflict of interest. 
bringing quorum down to 13. 
1 speaker card as submitted in opposition, wishing to speak. 
4 speaker cards were submitted in favor, wishing to speak.  
Mr. Nick Wood with Snell and Wilmer, representing the applicant went over the 
character of the Kierland area, the history of the specific site and went over a 
detailed height graphics depicting all heights of all PUD projects in this corridor. 
He went over the private alley way, curb cuts, deli very areas for furniture stores 
and ingress/egress. He touched on active open space proposed for the project 
and an agreement that they have made with Kierland Community Alliance on 
height and design.  
Mr. Wood showed several color renderings of the exterior of the proposed 
building and highlighted the high end finished such as green roofs, other plant 
materials incorporated on the façade and separation between buildings. He 
highlighted the difference in grade between the building to the north, which 
results in the Optima building appearing shorter due to the change in grade. He 
went over the development standards tables, setbacks and street frontage along 
71st Street. Mr. Wood went over parking ratios for one and two-bedroom units 
He went over the streetscape along the 71st Street frontage and highlighted the 
amenities in this area.  
Mr. Joe Lesher asked what the boundaries were for this project. 
Mr. Wood shared a power point slide depicting the property boundaries and went 
over ingress and egress.   
Attachment B

City of Phoenix • Planning & Development Department 
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor • Phoenix, Arizona  85003-1611 • (602) 262-6882 
 Mr. Robert Goodhue stated that he is supportive of Optima projects overall as 
they are high quality projects. However, he stressed concerns about inadequate 
parking. He stated that street parking along 71st Street is not feasible here and is 
not a solution to an under parked project.  
 
Mr. Wood explained that the 1 bedrooms demand far less parking that larger 
units demand and this project is mostly one-bedroom units.   
 
Ms. Larisa Balderrama echoed the same concerns shared by Mr. Goodhue 
about parking. She shared that everyone she knows, with few exceptions, owns 
their own car. She requested that Mr. Wood provide reports and statistics on car 
ownership that the committee can review.   
 
Mr. Wood stated that he can share the parking after it has been reviewed by the 
city.   
 
Mr. Eric Cashman shared that parking is an issue in this area. He stated that 
one-bedroom units often have two people residing in them, resulting in two cars 
for one unit.  
 
Mr. Mathew Avrhami stated that he loves Optima projects but has parking 
concerns with this proposal.   
 
Public Comment:  
 
Ms. Heidi Brake Smith, shared that she has concerns about her views being 
blocked. She bought into Optima for the views. She shared that if these projects 
are to be approved she will lose what she bought in for. She also stated that she 
has concerns with density in the area.   
 
Chairwoman Jennifer Hall stated that the committee takes public comment very 
seriously.   
 
Mr. Tom Stern, president of the Landmark Association, believes Optima is a 
good project and is in support.  
 
VPC Discussion: 
 
Mr. Joe Lesher shared that he drove around the area prior to the meeting 
tonight to observe traffic patterns, among other things. He asked the applicant 
what is going to happen with all of the additional traffic high density development 
will create.  
 
Mr. Roy Wise Asked how many parking spaces are being provided and of which, 
how many are handicapped spaces. He stated that parking is a big concern.  
 
Mr. Nick Wood went over the parking ratios again and highlighted unsecured 
spaces. He addressed unit counts and went over view corridors. He shared that 
this is the last undeveloped site along 71st Street. He shared that he respects 
public concerns and stated that if this project isn’t developed another one with

City of Phoenix • Planning & Development Department 
200 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor • Phoenix, Arizona  85003-1611 • (602) 262-6882 
similar height and density will be developed here as this is the current market 
demand.