HomeMy WebLinkAboutagendapacket__11-18-24_1049_659
NOTICE OF MEETING
REGULAR MEETING
FOUNTAIN HILLS PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
Chairperson Peter Gray
Vice Chairperson Rick Watts, Jr
Commissioner Clayton Corey
Commissioner Patrick Dapaah
Commissioner Dan Kovacevic
Commissioner Scott Schlossberg
Commissioner Phil Sveum
TIME:6:00 P.M. – REGULAR MEETING
WHEN:MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2024
WHERE:FOUNTAIN HILLS COUNCIL CHAMBERS
16705 E. AVENUE OF THE FOUNTAINS, FOUNTAIN HILLS, AZ
Commissioners of the Town of Fountain Hills will attend either in person or by telephone conference call; a quorum of the
Town’s Council, various Commission, Committee or Board members may be in attendance at the Commission meeting.
Notice is hereby given that pursuant to A.R.S. §1-602.A.9, subject to certain specified statutory exceptions, parents have a
right to consent before the State or any of its political subdivisions make a video or audio recording of a minor child.
Meetings of the Commission are audio and/or video recorded and, as a result, proceedings in which children are present
may be subject to such recording. Parents, in order to exercise their rights may either file written consent with the Town
Clerk to such recording, or take personal action to ensure that their child or children are not present when a recording may
be made. If a child is present at the time a recording is made, the Town will assume that the rights afforded parents
pursuant to A.R.S. §1-602.A.9 have been waived.
REQUEST TO COMMENT
The public is welcome to participate in Commission meetings.
TO SPEAK TO AN AGENDA ITEM, please complete a Request to Comment card, located in the back
of the Council Chambers, and hand it to the Executive Assistant prior to discussion of that item, if
possible. Include the agenda item on which you wish to comment. Speakers will be allowed three
contiguous minutes to address the Commission. Verbal comments should be directed through the
Presiding Officer and not to individual Commissioners.
TO COMMENT ON AN AGENDA ITEM IN WRITING ONLY, please complete a Request to Comment
card, indicating it is a written comment, and check the box on whether you are FOR or AGAINST and
agenda item, and hand it to the Executive Assistant prior to discussion, if possible.
REGULAR MEETING
1.CALL TO ORDER, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND MOMENT OF SILENCE – Chairperson Gray
2.ROLL CALL – Chairperson Gray
3.CALL TO THE PUBLIC
Pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.01(H), public comment is permitted (not required) on matters NOT listed on the
agenda. Any such comment (i) must be within the jurisdiction of the Commission, and (ii) is subject to
reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions. The Commission will not discuss or take legal action on
matters raised during Call to the Public unless the matters are properly noticed for discussion and legal action.
At the conclusion of the Call to the Public, individual commissioners may (i) respond to criticism, (ii) ask staff
to review a matter, or (iii) ask that the matter be placed on a future Commission agenda.
4.CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: approving the regular meeting minutes of the
Planning and Zoning Commission September 9, 2024 and Ocotber 14, 2024.
5.HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING, CONSIDERATION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION: A request for a
Special Use Permit to allow residential use (up to twelve dwelling units) on property located
at 16740 E. Avenue of the Fountains.
6.HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING, CONSIDERATION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION: A request for a
special use permit to allow four (4) multi-family buildings containing 3 dwellings each on
four (4) adjacent 1,250 square-foot parcels generally located 200 feet east of the of the
northeast corner of Fountain Hills Blvd. and El Pueblo Blvd. (15037-15039-15041-15043 E.
Fountain Hills Blvd.) in the C-C (Community Commercial) zoning district.
7.COMMISSION DISCUSSION/REQUEST FOR RESEARCH to staff.
8.SUMMARY OF COMMISSION REQUESTS from Development Services Director.
9.REPORT from Development Services Director.
10.ADJOURNMENT
Dated this ______day of ________2024
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting of November 18, 2024 2 of 3
Dated this ______day of ________2024
_____________________________________________
Paula Woodward, Executive Assistant
The Town of Fountain Hills endeavors to make all public meetings accessible to persons with disabilities. Please call 480-816-5199 (voice)
or 1-800-367-8939 (TDD) 48 hours prior to the meeting to request a reasonable accommodation to participate in the meeting or to obtain
agenda information in large print format. Supporting documentation and staff reports furnished the Commission with this agenda are
available for review in the Development Services' Office.
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting of November 18, 2024 3 of 3
ITEM 4.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 11/18/2024 Meeting Type: Planning and Zoning Commission
Agenda Type: Submitting Department: Development Services
Prepared by: Paula Woodward, Executive Assistant
Staff Contact Information: Paula Woodward, Executive Assistant
Request to Planning and Zoning Commission (Agenda Language): CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE
ACTION: approving the regular meeting minutes of the Planning and Zoning Commission September
9, 2024 and Ocotber 14, 2024.
Staff Summary (Background)
The intent of approving meeting minutes is to ensure an accurate account of the discussion and
action that took place at the meeting for archival purposes. Approved minutes are placed on the
Town's website and maintained as permanent records in compliance with state law.
Related Ordinance, Policy or Guiding Principle
N/A
Risk Analysis
N/A
Recommendation(s) by Board(s) or Commission(s)
N/A
Staff Recommendation(s)
Staff recommends approving the meeting minutes of the regular meeting minutes of the Planning and
Zoning Commission September 9, 2024 and October 14, 2024.
SUGGESTED MOTION
MOVE to approve the regular meeting minutes of the Planning and Zoning Commission September 9,
2024 and October 14, 2024.
Attachments
9/9/24 Meeting Minute Summary & Verbatim Transcript
10/14/24 Meeting Minute Summary & Verbatim Transcript
Planning and Zoning Commission September 9, 2024 1 of 2
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS SUMMARY MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 9, 2024
1.CALL TO ORDER, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND MOMENT OF SILENCE
Vice Chairperson Watts called the Regular Meeting of the Fountain Hills
Planning and Zoning Commission held on September 9, 2024, to order at 6:00p.m. and led the Commission and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance andMoment of Silence.
2.ROLLCALL
Commissioners Present: Vice Chairperson Rick Watts; Commissioner Clayton
Corey; Commissioner Patrick Dapaah; Commissioner Dan Kovacevic,Commissioner Scott Schlossberg and Commissioner Phil Sveum
Commissioners Absent: Chairperson Peter Gray
Staff Present: Development Services Director John Wesley and Executive Assistant
Paula Woodward.
3.CALL TO THE PUBLIC
None
4.CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: approving the regular meetingminutes of the Planning and Zoning August 12, 2024.
MOVED BY Commissioner Kovacevic to approve the regular meeting minutesof the Planning and Zoning August 12, 2024, SECONDED BY CommissionerCorey. Vote:6-0 Unanimously
5.HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING, CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION:Amending Zoning Ordinance Section 2.03 Temporary Use Permits.
MOVED BY Commissioner Kovacevic to recommend the Town Council approveAmending Zoning Ordinance Section 2.03 Temporary Use Permits, SECONDED BYCommissioner Corey. Vote:6-0 Unanimously
Commissioner Corey Aye Commissioner Dapaah Aye Commissioner Kovacevic Aye Commissioner Schlossberg Aye Commissioner Sveum Aye
Vice Chair Watts Aye Chair Gray Absent
6.COMMISSION DISCUSSION/REQUEST FOR RESEARCH to staff.
7.SUMMARY OF COMMISSION REQUESTS from Development Services Director.
Planning and Zoning Commission September 9, 2024 2 of 2
8.REPORT from Development Services Director.
9.ADJOURNMENT
Vice Chairperson Watts adjourned the Regular meeting of the Fountain HillsPlanning and Zoning Commission held on September 9, 2024 at 6:20 p.m.
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
Chairperson Peter Gray
ATTESTED AND PREPARED BY:
Paula Woodward, Executive Assistant
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Regular Meeting held by the Planning and Zoning Commission, Fountain Hills in the Town Hall Council Chambers on September 9, 2024. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and that a quorum was present.
DATED this day of September 9, 2024 Paula Woodward, Executive Assistant
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 1 of 12
Post-Production File
Town of Fountain Hills
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes
September 9, 2024
Transcription Provided By:
eScribers, LLC
** * * *
Transcription is provided in order to facilitate communication accessibility and may not
be a totally verbatim record of the proceedings.
** * * *
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 2 of 12
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Would you join me in the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of
silence, please?
ALL: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic
for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Paula, roll call, please?
WOODWARD: Commissioner Corey?
COREY: Here.
WOODWARD: Commissioner Dapaah?
DAPAAH: Here.
WOODWARD: Commissioner Kovacevic?
KOVACEVIC: Here.
WOODWARD: Commissioner Schlossberg?
SCHLOSSBERG: Here.
WOODWARD: Commissioner Sveum?
SVEUM: Here.
WOODWARD: Vice Chairperson Watts?
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Here.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: And number 3: do we have any call to the public in the cards?
WOODWARD: No, Chair.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Well, this will be quick then. Right to number 4: consideration and
approving the regular minutes. Do I have a motion to approve the minutes?
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: So moved.
COREY: Second.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: All in favor?
ALL: Aye.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Sounds unanimous to me.
WOODWARD: Six, zero.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay. And right to number 5: consideration and possible action
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 3 of 12
amending zoning ordinance section 2.03, temporary use permits. John, take it away.
WESLEY: Thank you, Vice Chair, and -- there we go. Okay. Good to see you all this
evening as we hopefully start to move out of summer, maybe, into fall.
As most of the commission knows and Commissioner Sveum, we've been slowly working
through an update of Chapter 2 of the zoning ordinance. Chapter 2 sets out all the
procedures for different things. We do site plan reviews and special use permits, and
re-zones and so forth.
We've already finished the sections 201, 202, and 204, dealing with zone special use
permits and site plans. So the one I have for you this evening to consider is section 2.03,
temporary use permits.
So this particular section has been a little bit of a challenge for the time I've been here in
Fountain Hills. When I look back on the files, I see we have issued temporary use
permits and administrative use permits. I see nothing in the code currently about
administrative use permits and so I've had to use this as an opportunity to try to sort
that out a little bit and provide some clarifications on those. But temporary use permits
as the title would imply is for items of a temporary nature that people want to do from
time to time. Some of those can be a little bit longer uses that we'll talk about in a
minute, and others are just kind of weekend-type activities.
So as we're going through here, a lot of it has stayed the same but have worked to
structure it like the other sections of this chapter, as I've talked about before in terms of
application requirements and just those procedures and how they're laid out.
But the first major change that I've added here is under the purpose, this item number 2
for requirement, just make it a little bit more clear about when a temporary use permit
is required and create the distinction between the temporary use permit and the special
event permits that go through the Community Services Department. And so any time
somebody wants to do something of a temporary nature that's not envisioned with their
original site plan, then that's the type of thing that we're looking at.
A few examples are listed here, of outdoor displays, farmer's markets such as the peach
market that happens that comes through us for the temporary use permit. That type of
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 4 of 12
activity. And we'll hit a few more here in just a second on this next page.
So the zoning ordinance does list several specific things as temporary use permits. You
see a list of some of these things here. Probably one of the main ones is the model
homes. So up in Adero Canyon where they have the model homes, they have
temporary use permits to use those homes for a temporary basis as cells offices. Those
temporary uses last several years, but they come in -- that's issued on a yearly basis --
they come in and renew that each year as they go through that process and eventually,
they'll build out and then they'll turn into a residence.
The application section, again, we've amended it to be somewhat of what we've done in
the other sections of this chapter, in terms of its format and flow of what's required.
And so this lists those items. They fill out a line, get a project area of a site plan and any
additional information that might be needed. And here's one of the places then where
we distinguish a temporary use permit from an admin use permit.
So those things that are listed in the code specifically as temporary use permits, those
then have that fee and that requirement. Otherwise, some of the other things of a
temporary nature, again, such as the peach market -- not that that's specifically listed in
the code but if somebody were doing that type of activity, we treat that as an
administrative use permit. It's a slightly less fee because there's less involved.
Review procedure: we review the application submitted and make sure it's complete.
And get any additional information we may need that wasn't included and then staff
review. And so the action as listed in the code is done administratively and it has the
statement in the code. The action of staff shall be one of approval as they meet the
requirements of the code. And then in this section, we added a provision that a copy of
the permit to be maintained on the site, so if there's ever any question about whether
or not they have an active approved use permit, they should have it there to show that
that's the case. And then there is the provision on transferability. So again, such things
as maybe the model home. If a builder takes over a facility, they can transfer it to the
new builder. That type of thing.
Appeal: just made a couple minor changes here. Right now it says that the matter shall
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 5 of 12
be appealed, but what if you don't want to appeal it? So change that to may and then
to make it clear it's the applicant that can appeal a decision if we have required things
that they don't like.
Time limits: made a minor change here. It did say that the time that the use permit
become effective on the day of issue. Well, sometimes, you know, we'll issue it several
weeks or days in advance. And so it really ought to start on the day that the event
begins.
And no changes of the revocation. And that's this section of the code.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioners, questions?
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: So there's some overlap, or as the examples that you used
were some of the more home-based businesses that could require temporary use
permits like swim school, you said, are they still subject to -- they are still subject to the
same home business rules that we've talked about prior?
WESLEY: Yes, Commissioner, if that's where a swim school is taking place and that's a
(indiscernible) take place, they would have to get a business license and get the --
comply with home-based business or there are specific rules for the swim schools that
are listed in the code.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Well, they're still subject to the six trips in and out of the swim
school?
WESLEY: I believe that that specific one has a slightly different standard that's specific
to that use, but there are -- those requirements in the ordinance have to be met.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Yeah. Okay. But there's no exemption. But getting the
temporary use permit, you don't become exempt from --
WESLEY: You're not exempt from the rules of the code.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: From the rule, okay.
WESLEY: Right.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Thank you.
WESLEY: Whatever they may be.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioner Corey?
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 6 of 12
COREY: Yes. John, you were speaking kind of fast for me a minute ago when you were
talking about the peach market. Can you confirm that is a temporary use, not the
administrative use, correct?
WESLEY: So they're all temporary uses. They all fall under this chapter, but whether
we -- the main difference is what fee do we charge. The temporary use permit fee is
$250, I think, Paul, is that right? Do you remember?
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: I think.
WESLEY: $230?
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Yeah.
WESLEY: As opposed to the administrative fee which is $50. And so when it's
something that's not specifically listed in the code that's pretty simple, they will charge
them the administrative use permit fee. They still get a temporary use permit. That's
the distinction.
COREY: But still considered temporary use, but --
WESLEY: Right.
COREY: -- then it's just two different fee structures.
WESLEY: Right.
COREY: Got it. And then, so when we get these applications, how do we determine
whether or not it's approved, like is that -- I thought I read in there that that may come
to the planning and zoning to approve if these are, you know, out of the normal.
WESLEY: Vice Chair Commissioner, it's all done on a staff level. Any appeal of our
decision goes to council.
COREY: The appeal would go to council?
WESLEY: Yes.
COREY: Okay. Okay. And this is all done in tops that --
WESLEY: Yes.
COREY: Okay. Just one thing I noticed, I did look through the list today and temporary
use permit wasn't under permits section. It's actually under development projects.
WESLEY: Yes.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 7 of 12
COREY: And so that's the way it should be?
WESLEY: Right. Just like special use permits, they're a creature out of the zoning
ordinance, not the building code.
COREY: Okay. Seems like -- I hope that, you know, people know where to find it. It was
kind of challenging for me to find it initially.
WESLEY: Yes. It can be for people who aren't kind of familiar with how things are
structured and organized, but we'll always help them out. There is information
available --
COREY: Okay.
WESLEY: -- on the website that helps point people in those directions.
COREY: Okay. Or maybe on that page that they're directed to on tops before they
actually fill out their application? It could say in the development section that this is
where you'll find these kinds of things, just to make it a little bit easier.
WESLEY: Sure. We can look at that.
COREY: Okay. Thank you.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioner Dapaah?
DAPAAH: Yeah, John, so once -- just to make sure I understand this here -- once you've
received the application, you go through an initial review just to get back to the
applicant on what's missing, they get back to you and then you start the initial review
process, and after that they make the payment, or they make the payment before? I
didn't understand.
WESLEY: Vice Chair Commissioner Dapaah, the payments are due at the time of
application. So after that initial review, and we accept as being ready for a formal
review, I'll tell them they need to make the payment. And so we'll make that
determination of that initial review if it's the higher fee or the lower fee.
DAPAAH: Okay. And so you mentioned here, utilizing standard review timeliness -- or
no, timelines and procedures. Can you just shed some light on the standard review
process and timelines? I'm just trying to discern here how much time it takes to
actually -- or for the applicant to actually get his application, and if there should be
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 8 of 12
something in here stating, you know, the time that is allotted for them to get back with
you or --
WESLEY: Vice Chair Commissioner Dapaah, it's been a while since I've looked back at
the formal stated review times for this type of use. I think its someplace in the nature of
90 to 120 days. Typically, we have it done in less than a week.
DAPAAH: Okay.
WESLEY: Often the same day because it's usually very simple.
DAPAAH: Okay. All right. Thank you.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: John, I've got a couple. The first one was, when an applicant can
submit an application for a temporary use permit, but also, it says a designated person.
How do we know that they're an authorized person to submit? Do we have -- is it a
notarized statement from the owner? Is it something that we can -- or do we just take
their word for it?
WESLEY: For this particular activity, it will depend a little bit, again, on the peach
market -- I keep pointing to that -- but we ask for something to be submitted along with
it from the property owner saying that they've authorized them to use that property. If
it's clearly that it's the owner, the business at that location or property owner of the
business then you know, --
VICE CHAIR WATTS: So got something from Tractor Supply that --
WESLEY: Yes.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: -- on their letter head, so to speak?
WESLEY: Yes.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: And then in item 3 we talk about drawings to scale. What scale is
that?
WESLEY: In this case a lot of them are print out an aerial, and --
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay.
WESLEY: -- show them that what you're going to do, because it's pretty simple, but if it's
something more complicated than that, such as the model homes in Adero Canyon.
That's a formal site plan that is drawn to, you know, the appropriate scale for the size
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 9 of 12
and so forth.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: But we don't say something that has to say -- that currently says
that it can be something -- an alternate to a scaled drawing, so --
WESLEY: Right.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: -- should we have something in there that says, or comparable site
plan, comparable overhead, something that would give somebody some latitude?
When I first read that I thought, how many people that do these pop-up tent deals,
whatever they are, can do a drawing to scale? And then the question becomes what
scale? Not that there's innumerable numbers of scales, but --
WESLEY: So the last sentence in that, the zoning administrator may allow modifications
to these requirements, which we frequently do because a lot of them are pretty easy
things to understand, again, they can use an aerial, print off that image, draw on that
where you're going to set up your tables and how you're going to route your traffic and
we understand it and, you know, that's good.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: So that's the intent of the last statement?
WESLEY: Right.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: To give you some latitude --
WESLEY: Right.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: -- and give permitting department the latitude to be able to do
that?
WESLEY: Correct.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: And speaking of Adero Canyon, I didn't notice that there were any
extensions available. Do you have to resubmit in its entirety, because there's a two-year
limitation on the permit itself? Do they -- is there an extension process or is there a
resubmit process?
WESLEY: It's a resubmit process.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay. When the applications are submitted much -- and I'm going
to use the peach market again -- do we look to food handler permits when we talk
about temporary permits, or is that something outside our purview?
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 10 of 12
WESLEY: That's outside our purview a little bit. We look to the applicant, that they
need to make sure anybody that they bring into the activity has their proper permits
and approvals.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay. And I think that covers it for me. Commissioner
Schlossberg?
SCHLOSSBERG: Yeah, question, John, just so I'm clear -- and I don't think I am -- I'm
going back to the swim school example you used, so are we saying if I, at my residence,
choose to operate as the owner or are we talking about somebody else that's choosing
to operate out of my residence as a non-owner, or either?
WESLEY: Chair Commissioner Schlossberg, I'd have to pull up the swim school rules to
make sure I remember them correctly. We've had the first one of those that I've had to
deal with come up this last year, and it ended up not being approved because she was
trying to operate out of somebody else's home, not her own.
SCHLOSSBERG: Okay. So let's go back to the prior example where it's my home and I'm
going to operate my school, and I want to get my business license to operate. How am I
told that I need a special -- am I told when I get my business license that I need a special
use permit as well?
WESLEY: So when you apply for -- it would be the temporary use permit -- when you
apply for that business license, it's come to planning for review. And yes, we would look
at that and let you know that that's what you need.
SCHLOSSBERG: Okay. That's what -- thank you.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioner Corey?
COREY: Thank you. I just thought of one more thing as it relates to trash cleanup. Like,
how do we approach that? Would it be the responsibility of the plat owner?
WESLEY: Sure, yes, again, Vice Chair Commissioner Corey. Yes, that's one of the things
in the project narrative. If they don't include it initially, we will ask them. Again, it
depends on all the use, but how are you handling, you know, trash, signage, you know,
those types of issues, lighting, any of those types of things that might be appropriate to
the given activity? If they're having, you know, seating, where is that and how does it
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 11 of 12
relate to traffic patterns and the rerouting traffic? How are they doing it in a safe way
and that type of thing.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioners, any other questions? Then we'll go ahead and
close the public portion and, Paula, do we have any speaker cards?
WOODWARD: No Vice Chair.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: With that, can I get a motion to approve or deny?
KOVACEVIC: I so move.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Do I have a second?
COREY: Second.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: So moved and seconded. Commissioner Kovacevic and
Commissioner Corey. All right. All in favor?
ALL: Aye.
WOODWARD: Six, zero.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Thank you, John. And item 6, Commissioners, any request of John
and staff? Go ahead, Commissioner Corey.
COREY: I do, just one. Just a reminder, I know I brought this up a few meetings ago, was
the PowerPoint presentation. So I know we had talked about if we could get that if it
was ready maybe before our meeting, because when I see the presentation, it puts
everything together for me from what I was reading. Maybe not tonight because it was
a very short meeting, but when we have longer meetings. If I had that a little bit in
advance, it would really help me out.
WESLEY: Okay. We'll try to remember that Commissioner. This time, I did have it done
earlier, we could have sent it to you. It's usually the longer meetings that you want to
see if and they were working up to the last minute to get it done.
COREY: Yeah.
WESLEY: But we'll try to remember to do that if we can.
COREY: Okay. Thank you.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Anything else, Commissioners? Moving on to our requests from
John.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 12 of 12
WESLEY: So Commissioners, I guess, inform you that Vice Chair Watts, a couple
meetings, brought up some issues, concerns with some traffic, scooters, bikes, and so
forth. And we've been able to identify maybe a better approach to handle that and
gotten in touch with public works and the committee; they are to talk about that issue.
So just in case you were wondering what was happening. That we are -- it's being
looked at and thank you for bringing that up.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: I wasn't going to bring that up just because I didn't respond to you
and Director Welly.
WESLEY: Yeah. We're working on it.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay.
WESLEY: So I mentioned a little bit as we were getting started just in terms of October
meeting. As this point, we could have up to six items on that agenda. Five special use
permits and one rezoning. I'm pretty sure of at least three of those. And how sure are
we on the other three? Do we know? Again, should be another good meeting.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: That sounds like it could break all records. Are you going to
produce dinner?
WESLEY: Maybe so. Maybe so.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay.
WESLEY: So, just be ready for that.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay.
WESLEY: Okay. That's all I have.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioners, anything else? We'll set a record and adjourn
early.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Thank you, John.
Planning and Zoning Commission October 14, 2024 1 of 3
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS SUMMARY MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION OCTOBER 14, 2024 1. CALL TO ORDER, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND MOMENT OF SILENCE Vice person Watts called the Regular Meeting of the Fountain Hills Planning
and Zoning Commission held on October 14, 2024, to order at 6:00 p.m. and led the Commission and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence. 2. ROLL CALL Commissioners Present: Vice Chairperson Rick Watts; Commissioner Clayton
Corey; Commissioner Dan Kovacevic, Commissioner Scott Schlossberg and Commissioner Phil Sveum
Commissioners Absent: Chairperson Peter Gray; Commissioner Patrick Dapaah Staff Present: Development Services Director John Wesley, Senior Planner Farhad
Tavassoli, and Executive Assistant Paula Woodward.
3. CALL TO THE PUBLIC None 4. HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING, CONSIDERATION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION: A request for a Special Use Permit to allow residential use (up to five dwelling units) on property located 16622 E. Avenue of the Fountains. The following residents addressed the Commission: Joel Schafer Jerrod Stearnes Larry Meyers Daniel Koby
The following residents provided written statements in favor of the project:
Dizintars Gruads Ausencio Sanchez Barrie Blum
MOVED BY Commissioner Corey to recommend the Town Council approve the request for a Special Use Permit to allow residential use (up to five dwelling units) on
property located 16622 E. Avenue of the Fountains. SECONDED BY Commissioner Sveum. Vote: 5/0 Unanimously Commissioner Corey Aye Commissioner Kovacevic Aye Commissioner Schlossberg Aye
Planning and Zoning Commission October 14, 2024 2 of 3
Commissioner Sveum Aye Vice Chair Watts Aye
5. HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING, CONSIDERATION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION: A request to rezone approximately 0.69 acres located at 15225 N. Fountain Hills
Boulevard, northeast corner of Fountain Hills Boulevard and Glenbrook Boulevard, from C-1, Neighborhood Commercial and Professional Zoning District, to C-2, Intermediate Commercial Zoning District. The following residents addressed the Commission: Larry Meyers MOVED BY Commissioner Kovacevic to recommend the Town Council deny the request to rezone approximately 0.69 acres located at 15225 N. Fountain Hills Boulevard, northeast corner of Fountain Hills Boulevard and Glenbrook Boulevard, from C-1, Neighborhood Commercial and Professional Zoning District, to C-2, Intermediate Commercial Zoning District. SECONDED BY Commissioner Corey. Vote: 5/0 Unanimously
Commissioner Corey Aye Commissioner Kovacevic Aye
Commissioner Schlossberg Aye Commissioner Sveum Aye Vice Chair Watts Aye 6. HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING, CONSIDERATION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION: A request for a Special Use Permit to allow vehicle sales with outdoor display at 15225 N. Fountain Hills Blvd. The following residents addressed the Commission: Larry Meyers MOVED BY Commissioner Kovacevic to continue the request for a Special Use Permit to allow vehicle sales with outdoor display at 15225 N. Fountain Hills Blvd.
SECONDED BY Commissioner Corey. Vote: 5/0 Unanimously Commissioner Corey Aye Commissioner Kovacevic Aye Commissioner Schlossberg Aye Commissioner Sveum Aye Vice Chair Watts Aye 7. HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING, CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Amending Zoning Ordinance Section 2.07 Appeals and Variances.
MOVED BY Commissioner Corey to recommend the Town Council approve Amending Zoning Ordinance Section 2.07 Appeals and Variances. SECONDED BY
Commissioner Kovacevic. Vote: 5/0 Unanimously Commissioner Corey Aye
Commissioner Kovacevic Aye
Planning and Zoning Commission October 14, 2024 3 of 3
Commissioner Schlossberg Aye Commissioner Sveum Aye
Vice Chair Watts Aye 8. REPORT from Development Services Director. 9. COMMISSION DISCUSSION/REQUEST FOR RESEARCH to staff. 10. SUMMARY OF COMMISSION REQUESTS from Development Services Director. 11. ADJOURNMENT Vice Chairperson Watts adjourned the Regular meeting of the Fountain Hills Planning and Zoning Commission held on October 14, 2024, at 7:45 p.m.
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
Chairperson Peter Gray
ATTESTED AND PREPARED
Paula Woodward, Executive Assistant
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Regular Meeting held by the Planning and Zoning Commission, Fountain Hills in the Town
Hall Council Chambers on October 14, 2024. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and that a quorum was present.
DATED this day of October 14, 2024 Paula Woodward, Executive Assistant
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 1 of 51
Post-Production File
Town of Fountain Hills
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes
October 14, 2024
Transcription Provided By:
eScribers, LLC
* * * * *
Transcription is provided in order to facilitate communication accessibility and may not
be a totally verbatim record of the proceedings.
* * * * *
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 2 of 51
VICE CHAIR WATTS: If you'd all stand then and endorse the Pledge of Allegiance with a
moment of silence, please.
ALL: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic
for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Paula, can you do roll call please?
WOODWARD: Commissioner Corey?
COREY: Here.
WOODWARD: Commissioner Kovacevic?
KOVACEVIC: Here.
WOODWARD: Commissioner Schlossberg?
SCHLOSSBERG: Here.
WOODWARD: Commissioner Sveum?
SVEUM: Here.
WOODWARD: Vice Chairman Watts?
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Here.
WOODWARD: And Commissioner Dapaah and Chairman Gray are absent.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: And Paula, do we have any speaker cards to call the public? Oh,
hang on. We've got to approve the minutes.
WOODWARD: They're not listed on the agenda.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: I don't see them, but I thought we had minutes from the previous
one or did we not?
WOODWARD: They weren't --
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Or did somebody already approve those?
WOODWARD: They weren't ready. They weren't ready from the --
VICE CHAIR WATTS: That's why they're not here.
WOODWARD: -- verbatim transcriber. Yes. Next meeting.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Then we'll go back to the call of the public.
WOODWARD: No chair.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: And no speaker cards. So we get two sets of minutes the next time
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 3 of 51
we meet?
WOODWARD: Yes, chair.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: (Indiscernible) on a property located at 16622 East Avenue of the
Fountain. John, all yours.
WESLEY: Good evening commissioners. Welcome this evening. I've got several fun
items for you to consider this evening. The first is a special use permit to allow
residentiary use in a commercial zoning district. This is just across the street here from
town hall in part of plat 208. The area is zoned C-2 with the entertainment -- E. When
the planned shopping plaza, the PSP, overlay districts it will each allow kind of some
different activities to happen within the C-2 district. This area was platted in 1971. This
lot was developed sometime in late 1982. It was developed as an office building with
eight office suites. Currently, four of the units on the back of the property have been
converted into hotel rooms.
The southern district allows for a residential use on the second floor by right and up to
eight dwelling units per acre. The request for the SUP -- because they want to turn the
two hotel units on the ground floor to apartments, so that requires a special use permit.
But also, with the increase in the number of units it exceeds the eight-dwelling units per
acre. So for both of those reasons, they have requested the special use permit.
So again, this is the area. Mostly C-2 zoning in the area. A little C-3. I think we have a
keystone PAD and the town center district a little to the east. And the basic
(indiscernible) pattern in the area and have the town hall campus here or the post
office across the way. There's some residential mixed use with a park place. Otherwise,
primarily office and commercial activities.
The general plan has a number of statements that we feel are applicable to the request.
We are looking for a variety of housing options in the town and encouraging a wide
range of housing types that address different needs that the community may have. And
then in the town center area, looking for an integrated mix of uses that provide for a
vibrant town center area.
The zoning ordinance with regard to special use permits -- you're seeing this a lot
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 4 of 51
lately -- section 202, (f)(1)(d) sets forth a criteria that the commission is supposed to
take into consideration in granting approval of a special use permit. Highlighted the key
phrase there, that the proposed SUP would likely be detrimental to public health, safety,
peace, comfort, welfare, to a person residing or working in the neighborhood. And such
use will not be detrimental, injurious to property or improvements of the neighborhood
or the general welfare of the town.
So looking at each of those phrases individually -- will a proposed residential use be
detrimental to public health, safety, peace, or comfort in the neighborhood? The use of
this building for residential purposes is unlikely to have a detrimental impact, we feel,
on the neighborhood. Three more -- or five residential units in the area, we don't think
would have that type of impact.
Will allowing residential use of this property be detrimental to current commercial
property or commercial property improvements? The existing urban environment lends
itself really to providing this type of a mix of uses in allowing the residential mix. Having
additional residents in the area can help provide customers for the retail entertainment,
as well as potential workers in those businesses.
We're aware of and working with plat 208 and some potential conflicts that could
happen there. The plat 208 area wasn't really set up to allow a lot of residential use in
the way the parking is laid out and without specific designated parking. And also, the
way the solid waste is handled works fine for commercial, may create some challenges
for a residential, but those are things that we are aware of and think we can work
through.
And then will allowing residential use create a desirable living environment that
supports the general welfare of the town? Again, we're looking at an urban living
environment that does typically mix those uses. We have other examples within the
plateau paid area itself, as well as across the street with a park place development with
the ground floor commercial and upper floor residential. We feel like, again, this is
workable in this area. It helps bring that balance of housing and commercial needs. We
have the walkable streets and amenities in this area that make this an appropriate use.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 5 of 51
The applicant is required to provide a good neighbor statement with the special use
permit, and so that was included in your packet. They will work to be responsible,
considerate neighbors and provide for active communication if there are any concerns.
They did hold a citizen participation process and seek input from the surrounding
property owners. They had no one attend their specific meeting. We did receive an
email supporting it but bringing up some questions about the integration of uses and
that was included in an email to you after you received your packet. So you've had that.
So in summary, we feel like the proposed request meets the requirements stated in the
zoning ordinance. It will provide additional support for downtown businesses, provide a
variety of housing options, therefore, staff does recommend approval.
Any questions of me?
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioners, any questions? Commissioner Corey?
COREY: (Indiscernible).
WESLEY: The applicant is available for presentation, yes.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: (Indiscernible)
COREY: I do.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay. Commissioner Kovacevic?
KOVACEVIC: John, with Shea and the development across the street, he wanted the last
time through, to have all residential -- if I remember right -- and I believe we held that
he had to have retail on the first floor; is that correct?
WESLEY: Vice Chair Commissioner Kovacevic, he did submit a request for an
amendment to the DA to eliminate the requirement. That ultimately was dropped. We
didn't ultimately get maybe a firm answer to that question because he withdrew the
request. I don't remember at this point what the PNZ commission had said about that
proposal at the time.
KOVACEVIC: So does he or does he not have any first floor residential?
WESLEY: In this building there will still be first floor residential facing the street with this
request.
KOVACEVIC: Yeah, but Shea does not?
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 6 of 51
WESLEY: So his proposed building does have ground floor retail.
KOVACEVIC: Yeah. Facing the street?
WESLEY: Yes.
KOVACEVIC: Shea does?
WESLEY: Yes. Yes, the building that's proposed but not built yet. Is that the one you're
talking about?
KOVACEVIC: Yeah.
WESLEY: Yeah. Building E does. Building F does not but it wasn't required to.
KOVACEVIC: Okay. So -- and this proposal also has first floor residential facing the
avenue?
WESLEY: Yes. It keeps the two suites on the first floor along the avenue as commercial.
KOVACEVIC: I'm confused.
SCHLOSSBERG: I think if you go back to the slide -- I think the slide is misleading at the
very beginning because I think it's written wrong, because the two suites are going to
remain commercial, and I believe what it says is -- unless I read it wrong -- is just two
dwelling units on the first floor. That's not correct.
WESLEY: Well, there will be two on the first floor. I guess I did leave out a piece,
because there are four suites on the first floor. Two in the back will be residential and
two in the front will be commercial.
KOVACEVIC: That was my question.
WESLEY: Yeah.
KOVACEVIC: Oh, the ones on the parking lot will be residential --
WESLEY: Correct.
KOVACEVIC: -- but the ones on the avenue will be commercial.
WESLEY: Correct. Yeah, sorry for that confusion. I left that out.
KOVACEVIC: Yeah, that's my question. Is there -- okay. That's good. That's it.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioner Schlossberg, did you --
SCHLOSSBERG: That's what I was going to ask .
VICE CHAIR WATTS: That was it?
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 7 of 51
SCHLOSSBERG: Yeah.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: John, I see that the recommendation is somewhat based upon plat
208 and cooperating where the trash encloser and the parking spaces. What do you
think the success of that will be considering how difficult 208 is going to be, or has
been?
WESLEY: Vice Chair, in our discussions to date we really don't see any significant issues.
My discussions with the members of the board for plat 208, they're not seeing this as a
challenge. They really think everything has pretty well been worked out, particularly
with the parking. The trash is the last thing, that's why I did include that in my staff
report, to make sure that we do have that ironed out before we get to issuing a building
permit.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay. And then, as I read this it's for a total of -- is it a total of five
residential units on the --
WESLEY: Correct.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: -- in both buildings?
WESLEY: Two down and three up.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: But it's not eight. Because somewhere here is referenced --
WESLEY: Right. Right, there are eight dwelling units that are allowed. There are four --
there are eight office suites currently, four down and four up I believe is correct.
Currently, there are four office suites down and four office suites up.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Right.
WESLEY: On the ground floor they're taking -- already converted two of the office suites
to the hotel and those will become residential. The other two office suites on the
ground floor will stay commercial. On the upper floor they've got the two hotel units
that will become residential and the other two office suites they're combining into one.
So it will be three suites upstairs -- three residential upstairs, two down.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay. Total of five residential.
WESLEY: Yes.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Still two commercial --
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 8 of 51
WESLEY: Correct.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: -- facing the avenue?
WESLEY: That's correct.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay. That answers my questions. Commissioners, any other
questions?
KOVACEVIC: Yeah, I'm seeing one more. So this is the equivalent of thirty-six dwelling
units an acre --
WESLEY: Right. It's a small lot.
KOVACEVIC: -- and the most intense multi-family residential zoning that we have in our
ordinances is twenty-five?
WESLEY: I believe that's correct.
KOVACEVIC: And we've made exceptions for -- on the other side of the street --
WESLEY: Correct.
KOVACEVIC: -- we've made an exception --
WESLEY: Right.
KOVACEVIC: -- at the Target Center, but --
WESLEY: Those were up at forty-five. Yes.
KOVACEVIC: -- the ordinance -- and so is he doing a -- what are we -- I'm used to PUD.
What's our term for it?
WESLEY: PAD?
KOVACEVIC: PAD. Yeah.
WESLEY: Right.
KOVACEVIC: Is there -- well, he's not doing a development --
WESLEY: No.
KOVACEVIC: -- so there wouldn't be a PAD.
WESLEY: Right.
KOVACEVIC: Okay. But he's ten units an acre above our maximum and zoning
intensity --
WESLEY: Correct.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 9 of 51
KOVACEVIC: -- for multi-family?
WESLEY: Correct.
KOVACEVIC: Okay.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: But John, along those lines, the assumption is that there's to be
available space in the parking area that is governed by 208?
WESLEY: That's correct. Actually, the parking demand is less for residential than we
would calculate for the commercial.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Right.
WESLEY: And so all those things are already handled. Office suite tenants have used the
parking lots. They've used the solid waste containers and so forth. So it's just a
different type of user using the same things that are there. Again, with the solid waste,
residential use of those is maybe a little bit different. A little bit more intense
potentially.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Right.
WESLEY: And so that's why we had a little bit more concern there.
SVEUM: John, so how is the parking arrangement going to be worked out? I mean, you
said there's some discussion going on. What's your idea of how this is going to be
resolved?
WESLEY: Vice Chair Commissioner, applicant can maybe explain some of that a little bit
better on the details, but part of the issue is, traditionally they have not allowed
overnight parking.
SVEUM: Yeah.
WESLEY: You have residents, you're going to have overnight parking. Residents
sometimes want to have guaranteed parking spaces close by the door and they are not
going to be able to do that. So those are just things that the tenants are going to have
to understand as they move in.
SVEUM: So there's no exceptions that are going to be provided with that?
WESLEY: Not that I'm aware of.
SVEUM: Okay.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 10 of 51
VICE CHAIR WATTS: John, how about the exception for covered parking? I thought
residential required covered parking.
WESLEY: Vice Chair, I'm glad you were thinking about that. That is something that we
have discussed as staff and whether or not we should somehow address that in these
types of requests.
Given that everything is already built and that the person asking for this request doesn't
own the property with the parking requirement or where the parking is, we chose not to
pursue that, but that is something that if the commission felt strongly about, because
today, as you know, with the change of the parking ordinance we do require covered
parking for residential. We also require covered parking for office. And so if an office
were to change out are we going to now require them to (Indiscernible) covered parking
for the office? Again, given the ownership of the parking is different than the ownership
of the buildings, that would be a pretty tough request, so we felt like we didn't need to
pursue that.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay.
SVEUM: Rick, one other thing. So there's been -- this has been used as a boutique
hotel?
WESLEY: Correct.
SVEUM: And hotels don't require public parking.
WESLEY: No.
SVEUM: So we're still in a residential, only a longer term residential situation and the
covered parking requirement kicks in?
WESLEY: Right. That's a new requirement that's just been in place for less than a year.
SVEUM: Pardon?
WESLEY: That's a new requirement that's just been in place for less than a year.
SVEUM: Okay. So if it was rented every night of the year, it would be very similar to
having an annual tenant in there anywhere.
WESLEY: Right.
SVEUM: Thanks.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 11 of 51
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioners, any other questions or can we hear from the
applicant? Let's hear from the applicant please. All yours.
BURE: Vladamir (ph.), commissioners, Vladamir and I -- this time I am operating a
hotel/boutique, and I'm looking to convert to two bedrooms, two bath condominiums.
WOODWARD: Excuse me, can you speak into the mic because the audience is having a
hard time hearing. Thank you.
BURE: My name is Vladamir Bure. I'm the resident of Fountain Hills for the past thirty
years and I'm operating hotel/boutique, the 16622 East Avenue of the Fountains, and
I'm asking the commission to support my project in conversion to condominiums. I'd be
more than happy to answer any questions that you may have.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioners, go ahead.
SVEUM: Is this a condominium that you're developing or are these going to be --
BURE: At this time --
SVEUM: -- rental units or are they going to be sold?
BURE: Some which we are going to own and continue to operate, and some would be
sold, because there's an interest.
SVEUM: So would they be sold to owner occupied --
BURE: Owner occupied.
SVEUM: -- or are they being sold for vacation rentals, or --
BURE: Owner occupied or vacation rental.
SVEUM: Is there any preclusion of that in the zoning?
WESLEY: Vice Chair Commissioner, there's not a preclusion to that. They would have
had to go through a platting process to create the separate ownership possibility.
SVEUM: I'm sorry, I missed the last part.
WESLEY: They would have to go through a -- they'd have to plat it as a condominium --
SVEUM: (Indiscernible).
WESLEY: -- and do that step, but that would be possible.
SVEUM: But there would be no -- there would be no restrictions from a VRBO versus
full-time resident?
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 12 of 51
WESLEY: No.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: And John, would that be -- before you run away -- would that be a
special use permit as an overlay and would stay with that owner, or how would the
transition be when they have to go through zoning change?
WESLEY: So Vice Chair, I would probably have to think through that a little bit. Maybe
examine the zoning ordinance a little bit. It's the first I've heard about that idea of them
being sold separately and then possibly used for a short-term rental. But any residential
unit through state statute can be used as a short-term rental, and so we have limited
control there. And particularly in a C-2 district where hotels are used by right. Again, I
don't think there would be anything that we would have to control that.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay. Commissioner Corey?
SVEUM: I guess my question is, what -- oh, I'm sorry.
COREY: Go, it's okay.
SVEUM: If you're not going to be selling or leasing to longer term tenants why are you
changing the process? Why are you changing the use of it, or the current zoning? I
guess I don't understand why you're changing from a hotel, because that's affectively
what a BRBO could be looked at.
BURE: Both the investment -- from the investment we like to sell a couple and continue
ownership of a couple.
SVEUM: Okay.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioner Corey?
COREY: Yes. Thank you. Yes. I think what you're saying is you're trying to transition
that to ownership of the new occupant versus you owning it and managing all of that, so
I understand that. Vladamir, how long have you owned the property for?
BURE: I purchased in June of 2022.
COREY: Okay. Okay. So it's fairly recent. I heard something come up about parking. So
with the way that you've been running it lately, has parking been an issue? Has any of
the renters complained that there wasn't any parking or any lack of parking?
BURE: No. We have 2000 parking spaces for plat 208. We're supposed to share.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 13 of 51
COREY: Okay. So, no?
BURE: There is no designated parking space per site.
COREY: Right. But they seem to have been able to find something that was available
there?
BURE: Always available. Especially in the evenings.
COREY: Okay. And I had a chance to go and look at the property this afternoon too, and
there is a lot of parking there so that wouldn't be a concern. Okay. Thank you. I think
that, you know, I am definitely for this one and I think that the important thing to note
here is this really does balance out what we have across the street over at Park Place.
You know, we're looking at the same exact thing. So I think when we can look at doing
this across the street it makes sense.
I don't think density is an issue. The infrastructure can support it. I don't think there's
going to be any traffic issue since we already use this this way. And there's no
environmental impact. So I'm definitely for making this change and approving this for
Vladamir, so, that's my take on it.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Any other comments Commissioners?
SCHLOSSBERG: I will follow up on Commissioner Corey. I visited the property as well --
inside and out -- and the -- not that this has to do with PNC -- but these units are
spectacular, the ones that are there already. I mean, I was very impressed. So assuming
the new unit on the second floor is going to be as nice as the ones, well, on the other
side -- it's very well done and I think it's a nice compliment. I didn't even know what the
Belvedere was, to be honest with you, until I went and visited this property. So I think
it's a good value add for the avenue for sure.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: So I think I have a tendency to agree. My only thought was about
the parking, is normally the parking wouldn't be an issue unless we have an event. And I
think about the fairs and so on. So how are you going to manage parking spaces that
are not dedicated because you just said they're open to anybody, anytime, anywhere.
How do you protect those parking spaces for the resident?
BURE: Usually when we have events -- and we have several of them -- and usually the
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 14 of 51
property owners designate some parking space in front of their buildings for customers
only. For example, the restaurants are doing it and I didn't do anything this year yet, but
we have an event coming up so therefore I'm going to -- and I spoke to Betsy (ph.) about
that -- chamber, and she supports that too, because that's the previous experience and
a working relationship between the chamber, the art project, and the property owners
and business owners.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay. Any other comments, commissioners? Okay, Paula, do we
have any speaker cards?
WOODWARD: We do. We have two written cards for -- that support the project. And
then we have four speaker cards, and I'll name them in order: Joel Schaeffer (ph.) up to
the podium, please. And then behind Joel will be Jared Sterns (ph.).
SCHAEFFER: Thank you. My name's Joel Schaeffer and I'm a twenty-two-year resident
of Fountain Hills. My business background is mostly in golf operations. I was the
general manager at Sunridge Canyon Golf Club from 2003 to 2010 and managed some
other golf courses in Scottsdale and Mesa. The last five years I've been in real estate
and property management, and I am here to support the project at the Belvedere. I
think it's the perfect blend of residential and commercial and serves a purpose on the
avenue.
The four existing suites are, as Scott mentioned, they're beautiful. Clayton, you've seen
them. Beautiful. Very well done and I think it's, again, a perfect complement to what
the -- the essence of the avenue.
By converting -- rezoning -- it gives Vladimir the option to sell off some of those suites as
condominiums, which, as a developer you always want to have that option. And my
involvement is I am helping with the real estate aspect, along with the rentals. And they
are serving as furnished vacation rentals now and people are enjoying them thoroughly.
Behind the property, again, there's so much parking.
I've been a resident a long time, been to the parade -- been to the Thanksgiving parade
and art festivals and I personally have never seen an issue with parking. I always am
able to get a parking spot back there.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 15 of 51
So again, I'm here in support of rezoning from where they're at now to residential and
giving Vladamir his options as a developer. Thank you.
STERNS: Hello commission, my name is Jared Sterns, and I just wanted to voice my
support to transition the boutique/hotels to residential. I might voice a unique opinion
on that. I am the one who currently leases the commercial space down below and just
wanted to voice, like, the parking situations and everything. With it being a boutique
hotel for several months now, we haven't had an issue with parking. You know, there's
been parking on the avenue. There's been parking on the back, but overall, there's not
been an issue that we have to go talk to people or anything like that. And I do believe
Vladamir, as the owner and the developer of that, has done a good job of telling the
people and directing them what to do.
But again, I just wanted to voice my support for it and show that, you know, the person
actually renting the commercial space -- and I'm glad you made that clear. I was like,
are they transitioning that front to residential? Do I need to worry? So thank you for
that. But there's been no issue there and I think it's been done great. So, thank you.
WOODWARD: Next speaker is Sintar (ph.). Did you want to speak? Oh, okay. Larry
Meyers (ph.)?
MEYERS: Chair, commissioners, Larry Meyers, forty-three years. Pre-date most of the
stuff that's built on the avenue. So my question got answered by Vladamir. I'm a
proponent of condos. I'm not a proponent of rentals, so to speak, overwhelming the
town with them. Condos are ownership. Rentals, the town receives nothing from them
because we're no longer going to get a sales tax revenue. The short term rental thing,
you know what, if you own it, you get to do with it what you want and it's -- you can do
it in a house, you can do it wherever you want to do it, so that's fine as long as you keep
the commercial on the first floor on the avenue like we made Mr. Shea do when he
didn't want to do it. He's acquiesced and he has commercial on the first floor. It
provides everything that everybody always says they want -- walkability. If you want to
put in apartments somewhere, put it in downtown Fountain Hills instead of in a
shopping center on Shea Boulevard.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 16 of 51
I do look further than the end of my nose though when I examine things and what if
more people wanted to do the exact same thing down the avenue, then what happens
to the parking, because Fountain Hills has a history of looking right here. Just like they
did in 1999 when they built the Funks Shopping Center instead of a corporate
headquarters and now you have what you have, a big fight among residents.
And so I look at this avenue and I say, okay, upstairs, hmm (ph.). If I own the next
building down, would I want to do it? And then what happens to the parking? And then
what happens to the trash? And then what happens?
So I would prefer to look a little further down and maybe think about those things in the
grand scheme of the entire district, as opposed to, it's fine for Vladamir's one building.
What about the guy next door and then the guy next door to that and the guy next door
to that, because I can guarantee you it will be coming, because if you don't fill the
commercial suites, then you got to make money as an investor. It's your property, so I
would prefer a little further discussion down the road, but I'm in favor of this. It works
just as good as Bart Shea across the street. Thanks.
WOODWARD: Next speaker, Daniel Coby (ph.).
COBY: Good evening. My name is Daniel Coby and I'm familiar with the building and I
think it's a quality project and I would support it because it adds value to the town of
Fountain Hills and there's a shortage of a need for residential. And it's a quality project
and I see it as being a -- adding value to Fountain Hills. I don't think there's any issue
that it's not a quality project. Those that have visited have acknowledged that and I
think it's important for the town of Fountain Hills to support the residents that are living
here, enjoying the benefits of Fountain Hills. And you have to go so far out, other than
Fire rock, which is very high end, which is a great asset to have for Fountain Hills, but for
a practicality. And especially because when you think about what's taking place at
Fountain Hills is that a very smart thing with the new observatory that's coming in here.
And that's going to be bringing people from all over the world here. You're going to
have people interested in the space. You're going to have NASA officials, people that
are very interested in astronomy and things and it's an educational opportunity. So
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 17 of 51
many people are going to take advantage of it, and they need a place to stay, high
quality. And when you're short of high quality, you want to support it as being directors
of this community. And I'm proud of what you're doing, and I think it's a good idea.
So if you have any other questions -- I love Fountain Hills. It's a great city up here and I'd
like to see more cooperation with the residents here, to be perfectly candid with you,
and the businesses, because this here is going to be a landmark location throughout the
United States, and you've worked hard to develop what you have here already.
The Fountain is great -- good operation and people come from afar to come here to visit
it.
So I think when you support the community making things available to the people that
want to enjoy what you have here and what you brought here, and it was your efforts
that allowed this, so I would continue this support. That's all I have to say. If you have
any questions, I'm happy to answer them.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Any other speaker cards, Paula?
WOODWARD: No, Chair.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioners, comments, questions?
KOVACEVIC: Yeah, I have another one for John. What assurances -- or are we approving
the site plan? Is the petitioner locked into the site plan?
WESLEY: Vice Chair Commissioner, the building is not changing exterior, so while there
is technically a site plan, the site plan is the existing building. All the changes are on the
interior and they're requesting up to five residential units. They've got four currently
and so their one change is going to be to take two suites upstairs and convert them into
one. If they decide to just do something different than that so they still end up with five
dwelling units, they can do that with the approval, but they can't get six.
KOVACEVIC: So if somebody came along and said, I want these two units in the back,
petitioner by right could put two residential units in the front on the avenue?
WESLEY: No, because it is specific also to that regard. That it's just two downstairs and
the three upstairs are maintaining the --
KOVACEVIC: Have to be --
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 18 of 51
WESLEY: Have to be in the back.
KOVACEVIC: -- in the back.
WESLEY: Yes, they do.
KOVACEVIC: There's no wiggle room there to --
WESLEY: No.
KOVACEVIC: -- to change?
WESLEY: No.
KOVACEVIC: All right. I want to -- I'm concerned about the density, but we've already
made that exception in town across the street. So, I mean, it's hard to say that I want to
stick to our ordinances when right across the street they've already made -- they're
already at forty-five units an acre, right?
WESLEY: Yes.
KOVACEVIC: And I don't like making the exception for not having covered parking back
there, but I'm willing to go along with the commission. I'm not going to stand alone on
that hill. But that's where I'm at. As long as he can't change the location of the
residential units to on the avenue.
WESLEY: That's correct.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioner?
SVEUM: John, just so I understand, the parking situation, is there overnight parking
allowed in that plat 208, or not?
WESLEY: Vice Chair Commissioner, again, that gets a little bit outside my specific
knowledge to comment on very far, but it's my understanding in my discussions with the
plat 208 representatives that their -- I'll say bylaws --
SVEUM: Yup.
WESLEY: -- whatever documents they have do not allow for overnight parking. They are
already allowing overnight parking as a reality with other uses and they are working
with that and understanding how they need to adjust their regulations to provide for it.
SVEUM: So there are some discussions still going on?
WESLEY: Yes.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 19 of 51
SVEUM: As far as the density is concerned, I have no problem at all whether it turned
out to be fifty units, sixty units, because of the building -- the design itself. I'll choose
design over density. I think it's a great project. I really do. I just didn't want to get into
kind of a slippery slope with this parking and all of the sudden this becomes a huge issue
for his buyers or his renters or whoever, because the bylaws now are going to be
enforced. So I guess there's risk there but that's going to be his risk.
WESLEY: Correct.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay. And John, just to be clear, the notion that this will be a
domino effect going down the avenue from one retail operation to the next, to the next,
to the next, isn't really valid. It's only -- the retail has to stay on the bottom. Residential
can be on the top, and in this particular case, because of the uniqueness of the property
with the residential being in the back as well as on the top is why we're considering, but
it won't have a domino effect in the future. Any one of those would have to come back
to planning and zoning for approval, and the likelihood of us approving that,
Commissioner Kovacevic's point, would be remote, if anything, so, am I clear on that?
WESLEY: Vice Chair, maybe, I'll say it a little bit differently -- so maybe the mouse is
going to work here -- so you are going to potentially be seeing sometime in the next few
months -- the mouse went away again. There, it's back -- a request for this property for
some ground floor commercial and two floors of residential above.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: But that's by right.
WESLEY: No. It's going to exceed the density allowance again. The density is currently
set at 8 units per acre. That's really only one unit in any of these 6000 square foot lots.
And so we've approved other SUP's along here for that, because you exceed that eight
units very quickly, and so you probably will see more of these. And so plat 208 is
supportive of bringing in the residential because they see the need for overall balance
and residential -- the parking of them for residential is actually less than the commercial.
So it balances in that regard. It's kind of the question though of where is that in
relationship to the units. That's what kind of becomes the question over time compared
to what you would normally see in a development that started with the idea it's going to
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 20 of 51
have that mix and how it would work out.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: But we're still not setting a precedent to put residential --
WESLEY: No.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: -- on the avenue and --
WESLEY: No. Right. As far as ground floor, facing the avenue, no. We're absolutely not
doing that and have no intent to do that ground floor on the avenue.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay. Commissioners, any other questions? I'll entertain a motion.
COREY: All right. I will make a motion to approve special use permit to allow residential
use on property located at 16622 East Avenue of the Fountains.
SVEUM: Second.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Do we have a second?
SVEUM: Second.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay. Paula, would you do roll call, please?
WOODWARD: Commissioner Corey?
COREY: Aye
WOODWARD: Commissioner Kovacevic?
KOVACEVIC: Aye.
WOODWARD: Commissioner Schlossberg?
SCHLOSSBERG: Aye.
WOODWARD: Commissioner Sveum?
SVEUM: Aye.
WOODWARD: Vice Chairman Watts?
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Aye.
WOODWARD: Five, zero.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay. I think you're up again John. So item number 5:
consideration and possible action to rezone approximately 0.69 acres located at 15225
North Fountain Hills Boulevard, Northeast Corner of Fountain Hills Boulevard and
Glenbrook Boulevard, from C-1 neighborhood, commercial, and professional zoning
district to C-2, intermediate commercial zoning district. All yours, that's a mouthful.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 21 of 51
WESLEY: Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So as stated, we're looking at property that's at
the northeast corner of Glenbrook and Fountain Hills Boulevard. This property was plat
430, platted in 1972. The first buildings in this area were built in the early 1980s, and
there's been really no additional development within this area since 2006.
It's a corner lot of the overall development that's proposing the rezoning, from the C-1
to the C-2. The rest of the plat 430 would stay in the C-1 zoning district. And here is the
zoning map that shows the area. And so again the subject property, the C-1 surrounding
it and you can see the variety of other zoning districts in the area, CC to the south,
residential to the West and the East.
And the land uses in the area, there's the existing building on the property that has had
a variety of uses in it over the years. It's been vacant a number of times. The current
use of this building is the golf cart business, some restaurants, daycare, churches
surrounding the property and then again, residential a little further out.
Rezoning is the request at this point. I'm going to jump ahead just a little bit with the
next item on your agenda, but these do need to be considered separately. There is the
golf cart business that's in operation in the building. It's been there for a year, more or
less. One of the challenges that he's had is that in order to attract attention to his
business, he likes to put the golf carts out in the parking lot. The C-1 zoning district does
not allow outdoor display of this nature. In order to have the carts outside he needs the
C-2 zoning and then get approval with a special use permit.
So that's the reason for the request for the rezoning. And so as we look at the current
zoning district, the C-1, you can see what it's intent is and highlighted kind of the key
intent of the C-1 zoning district here and then the C-2 zoning district that's being
requested is a step up in terms of intensity, the nature of uses and what its intent is
within the community.
I included in your report a full list of the types of uses that get added when we move
from C-1 to C-2. And the thing that the commission needs to remember, we have the
existing use that's there today, and the request to continue that use, but once the
property is rezoned -- and it's more than just a suite that he is operating in that get
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 22 of 51
rezoned -- that the golf cart business could go away and any of these other uses come
in. And so that's what you need to consider, just not the use that's there today, but the
things that can happen in the proposed zoning district.
So again, this is a partial list. A complete list was in your staff report of the types of
things that now get introduced and would be allowed in the area. That's not only some
of the uses themselves, but you'll recall in the C-1 zoning district to operate after 11
p.m. or before 7:00 a.m. requires a special use permit. And in the C-1 district, you can't
have the outdoor patios and some of those uses, drive-through windows without a
special use permit. Those things would all become uses of activities by right in the C-2.
Whoops, I hit the wrong direction. And so as we look at the general plan for this area,
it's in a mixed neighborhood designation, so primarily residential but it anticipates that
there can be some commercial-type uses, as well as other, you know, churches, parks,
and those types of things.
When we look at this specific location, the general plan has the statements here about
these small commercial areas that we have that are within neighborhoods. They need
to remain low density and that they would be things that would support the residential
area that surrounds it.
So the review and analysis here, the general plan, again, recommends that this area stay
a low intensity commercial area. Redevelopment and infill would need to protect the
existing neighborhood.
On the one hand, the C-2 will increase the allowed uses in the area, some of which you
may find are not necessarily compatible with the area, but, on the other hand, it has
been a struggling center to maintain tenants. By rezoning to C-2 and opening up the
number of tenants that can go in the building, it may be a more successful center
because it could attract tenants it's not able to attract today.
They did hold their citizen participation meeting. They did not have anyone attend.
Staff has not had any contacts either for or against this from any of the surrounding
property owners.
Staff does, however, recommend denial of this request. We feel that the change in
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 23 of 51
intensity in this location would not be appropriate for the surrounding neighborhood
and would not be consistent with the direction of the general plan.
Any questions you have about the rezoning portion of this?
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioners? Commissioner Corey?
COREY: All right. Thank you, John. So this basically came to light because the owners of
the golf cart store are looking to put their golf carts out front on display for sale? That's
why we kind of have both of these items here, right?
WESLEY: Correct.
COREY: Because, do we either approve a special use permit -- discuss that -- or do the
rezone? That's why this is here, right?
WESLEY: Vice Chair Commissioner, they need the rezone before you can consider the
use permit.
COREY: Right.
WESLEY: It's not either or. They have to rezone because a C-1 zoning district does not
allow the outdoor display even with the use permit.
COREY: C-1 does not allow the outdoor display? Okay.
WESLEY: Right. Right.
COREY: Okay. Even though -- all right I'm just -- I did drive by here earlier today as well
and I see a couple of golf carts out there and to me, it's a parking lot, and if there
weren't golf carts in the parking lot there would be cars in the parking lot. So I think
that I would like to talk about the special use permit and how we could help them with
allowing them to have some sort of thing on display to help them with the sales. Just
driving by and seeing those three golf carts that are out there didn't seem to me like it
was detrimental to the neighborhood, but I think rezoning it to C-2 like you guys
recommended would be a major change that would be too impactful to the residential
areas around it. So that's kind of what I'm thinking.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioner Kovacevic?
KOVACEVIC: I agree with Commissioner Corey. I think, we want to help the business
owner in any way we can. Can you bring back up the slide on the uses?
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 24 of 51
WESLEY: Let's see, which way is that -- this one?
KOVACEVIC: Well, yeah, and the substance abuse or addiction treatment, doesn't that
have a distance it has to be away from a school or a church?
WESLEY: No, not this one. I'll look at it real quick and see, but I don't believe this one
does. There are other aspects of that that does have the separation requirements.
Well, I can look that up here in a minute, if you want to ask other questions.
KOVACEVIC: And I know you had like rifle range -- members only rifle ranges and stuff.
Doesn't that have to be so many feet away from a school or a church?
WESLEY: No.
KOVACEVIC: Especially a school.
WESLEY: I don't believe we had that on the rifle range -- the indoor gun ranges. The
only separation requirement for a substance abuse treatment center is 2000 feet from
any other detox or substance abuse center. It does not have a separation from churches
or schools or anything like that.
KOVACEVIC: So can we -- what other means can we use to help the business owner?
WESLEY: The only other option really, in this case, would be an amendment to the
zoning ordinance, so that we allow the outdoor display in the C-1.
KOVACEVIC: And what's that take?
WESLEY: Well, that takes a similar process to any zoning to come up with an
amendment, advertise it, process it through PNZ and council -- get their approval.
KOVACEVIC: I'm going to pass for now.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Go ahead, Commissioner Corey.
COREY: On that note, could it be a special permit for this one business, where if the
business changed hands to a different type of business it wouldn't roll over. It seems to
be very specific to what they're looking to do.
WESLEY: So Vice Chair Commissioner Corey, are you talking about in terms of if we
were to amend the ordinance and what it would allow for?
COREY: Yes.
WESLEY: We could make that as specific or broad as we would decide to make it at the
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 25 of 51
time. It would be, for example, if we were to say golf carts can be displayed, then
anybody selling golf carts could display them in the C-1 zoning district anywhere.
COREY: Okay. The easier we can make this the better.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioner Schlossberg?
SCHLOSSBERG: Yeah, and I think you're on the right track there. So how many golf carts
would be out there at one time? I mean is there any --
WESLEY: So if we want, maybe, to jump ahead again briefly to the second request, as
a -- and staff agrees. The golf cart business there -- except for the issue we've had about
him displaying, we have no issues with it and don't see it having a negative impact. And
so we were supportive of the use permit if we get to that point. But when I look at the
technical requirements of the ordinance in terms of the number of parking spaces
required for the building size and the use of the building and put that against the
number of available parking spaces, I see one space being available for display, based on
the required parking. So that would potentially be part of a text amendment that would
also then, if it's golf carts, adjust the parking requirements a little bit so that that was a
bit more reasonable in this case.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioner Kovacevic?
KOVACEVIC: Can we bring up the site plan?
WESLEY: It's not a very detailed site plan, because again, they are --
KOVACEVIC: Yeah. No, I get that but I don't have a very detailed question.
WESLEY: Yeah.
KOVACEVIC: Is the part that -- there's a parking lot behind the building that is --
WESLEY: You're talking about this parking lot?
KOVACEVIC: Yeah.
WESLEY: To the east. So, if I --
KOVACEVIC: Do they have any rights to that?
WESLEY: No.
KOVACEVIC: Okay. That's my question.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioner Sveum?
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 26 of 51
SVEUM: Are the owners here?
WESLEY: Yes. I believe so, yes.
SVEUM: I'm just curious about the business, the way it's conducted. Are most of your
customers a wholesale or --
WESLEY: Would you like me to --
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioner, we're going to -- we'll call the applicant up when
we're done with John.
SVEUM: Oh. Never mind.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: John, I'm going to go down a different rabbit hole. That property
has had jazzercise, martial arts, numerous restaurants. All that, I believe, in total
exceeded the parking requirement and I'm not sure how they did that. So that's one, so
I'm more of an advocate for supporting the conversion from C-1 to C-2, and my
question, really, then goes to the second part, the SUP. That SUP stays with the owner
of the building or with the applicant, if we were to approve it?
WESLEY: Vice Chair, once it's approved and established in this case -- it's already
established because the business is there -- then it runs with the land.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: With the land? So the owner of the building would have to change
ownership to lose the SUP.
WESLEY: So the owner of the -- the business would have to shut down for a period of
time. I think it's six months, and then the SUP would be lost, and the new owner would
have to reestablish it. But this owner of the golf carts could sell to a different golf cart
business, and they could just continue right on with operation.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: But my understanding also is that the E-bike shop and the golf cart
shop have co-owners, so to speak. There is an owner's interest in both. Are we taking
into account only the footprint for the golf cart? Or are we taking into account the
joined ownership between the e-bikes. So I would assume that if the golf carts were
allowed out, the e-bikes would want to be out more in the public's eye as well.
WESLEY: So Vice Chair, some of that's a better question for the applicant. I believe it is
the case that the suites involved here, 3, 4, and 5 are combined for both the e-bikes and
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 27 of 51
the golf cart. Because the e-bikes are a smaller type of vehicle, they are not specifically
covered at this time in the zoning ordinance, in terms of display or not display. And so if
they want to put their e-bikes out to a limited degree, that's fine. It depends on how
they are impacting parking or circulation in some way, but --
VICE CHAIR WATTS: They're on the patio -- the covered area.
WESLEY: Yeah, so that's --
VICE CHAIR WATTS: But I still have a hard time understanding -- we've put restaurants
in there and restaurants have packed that entire parking lot and they've only been a
small portion of the entire strip, and we didn't seem to have the same angst about
parking spaces. And now we're saying they can only put one golf cart out because of
the parking spaces. How can we accommodate the C-2 so that they can have more than
one cart out. And again, in the spirit of helping the business owner, as well as meeting
the parking? How can we do that?
WESLEY: Vice Chair, again, I think that would be as we -- if we go the route of text
amendment to allow for display in the C-1, we would also need to look at the parking
requirements and divide out, maybe golf carts from other types of vehicle -- parking
requirements, because that's what we're applying right now. That's all we have and
that requires a higher level of parking than just the typical retail, commercial. It's less
than restaurants, so, again, I don't know what they did back in the '80s or whenever this
was developed, in terms of their parking requirements then, (indiscernible), but for just
a standard 1 per 250 square foot strip commercial center, this is adequately parked.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Well, what's the easier way to go, to amend C-1 or to move to C-
2 -- make a motion to move to C-2 and then have an amendment to that motion that
says we can exceed the parking requirements as they're stipulated for C-2 today?
WESLEY: I don't believe this commission has the authority to do that. That would,
again, it's either text amendment or variants by the board of adjustment to a standard
of the coordinates.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay. Commissioner Kovacevic?
KOVACEVIC: How long would a text amendment take? What's the shortest timeline?
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 28 of 51
WESLEY: A shortest timeline would be to have it back to you at your November meeting
and to council in December. That would be the shortest. Is that possible? Maybe, I'd
have to look at a calendar. We do have other things on our plate to be working on, but
still, it could be done in a matter of, you know, four to six months, I would think, at the
outside.
KOVACEVIC: Yeah, but six months -- then we've kind of blown the whole season, so
that's not good. I mean, again, in the interest of the state, I don't like going to C-2 and
allowing those uses across the street from churches and schools. I just don't like that. I
want to help the business owner. I want to go the route of C-1 with a text amendment
allowing outdoor parking for the vehicles, but boy, I'd hate to blow six months. So
anything we can do to accelerate that time-line, I really would urge.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioner, why don't we talk to the applicant and see if they
can accommodate that.
RICHARDS: Hi.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Evening.
RICHARDS: Evening. Paula Richards (ph.) on behalf of Fountain Hills Golf Carts. So I had
a statement to read, but you guys have essentially expressed everything that I had in my
statement of how, essentially, the ordinances wouldn't allow us under a C-1 to apply for
a special use permit, and that C-2 was a pretty intense use for what we're looking to do.
We're just basically displaying golf carts during business hours. It's not to basically
create an automobile lot -- to have them twenty-four hours a day there. It's really just
to be out there during business hours.
UNKNOWN SPEAKER: And we're only looking for four to five vehicles outside, in
addition to -- just to make it look like we're busy. My normal customer day is three to
four customers on a given day, so I've got thirty-nine spaces open. Thirty-six are empty.
RICHARDS: Yeah. There hasn't been any other tenants in this particular location. He
occupies three of the suites and has just started with the e-bikes as part of Fountain
Hills Golf Carts.
As you guys probably know, there was a bike shop that's been there for many, many,
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 29 of 51
many years, and, you know, they were allowed to display their e-bikes out in front.
They were allowed to wash vehicles; they were allowed to do maintenance on their
bicycles. They even had people actually staying in the parking lot while they would go,
you know, ride down to McDowell Mountain Park .
So we're really, essentially, asking for some of the same kind of --
UNKNOWN SPEAKER: Treatment.
RICHARDS: -- luxury of being able to display golf carts during business hours. And, you
know, we haven't had anybody in the community that has objected to it. I actually went
within that 300-foot radius and actually spoke to people at the churches and the other
businesses around and nobody seemed to have a problem with allowing us to display
those golf carts.
UNKNOWN SPEAKER: I've donated golf carts to the churches, to the schools, so --
RICHARDS: To many events within the town --
UNKNOWN SPEAKER: We get along with everybody pretty well.
RICHARDS: -- and the high school for homecoming every year, so -- so we love this
community, and we want to be a part -- continue to be a part of this community, and
raise revenue for this community. We are also residents of this community, and we live
about a mile away, but --
UNKNOWN SPEAKER: Most of my customers come from (indiscernible), Trilogy, so they
drive right by us.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay.
RICHARDS: Right. So it's perfect.
UNKNOWN SPEAKER: So I just want them to see that I'm open. That's it.
RICHARDS: Yeah.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioner Corey, do you have a question?
COREY: It was for John.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Oh.
KOVACEVIC: Yeah, I have a question for you.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioner Kovacevic?
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 30 of 51
KOVACEVIC: What percentage of your sales come January, February, March, April?
UNKNOWN SPEAKER: What's that?
RICHARDS: The percentage of sales? Basically, starting right about now --
UNKNOWN SPEAKER: Yeah.
RICHARDS: -- through about May, 100 percent of the sales happen now.
KOVACEVIC: Okay.
RICHARDS: In the season, obviously, when the weather's great, when people are here,
especially from that area, and Trilogy that is growing so much, they come here, right?
They come here to shop. They come here, you know, to buy golf carts for that
community that they live in.
UNKNOWN SPEAKER: A few of you guys were (indiscernible). There's thirty golf carts in
inside there.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay.
UNKNOWN SPEAKER: Nobody knows that.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Right.
UNKNOWN SPEAKER: Nobody can tell. They can't see it.
RICHARDS: Yeah.
UNKNOWN SPEAKER: They have no idea. They come by and they get -- if they do get to
the door, they get in and they go, we had no idea. We had no idea. So we just wanted
to give them a little sample to get them into the door. You know, we realize, you know,
the selling needs to be in the store and it will be, so, I was just trying to attract a little of
the attention that goes by my shop every day.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: So John, a question for you, is there another mechanism that we
could use to address something like a variance for the C-1 that we could expedite in
some manner, or get in front of town council so that they can approve it? Or an
alternate mechanism that you know of?
WESLEY: Vice Chair, no, not really. I think if there was one we would have tried to use
that, because, as I said earlier, we see no specific problems with the business so we're
supportive of it being there too, but we had no way of getting there in the current code
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 31 of 51
except for this way that's being proposed.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: So we're left with, we have to move to C-2 in order to get the --
WESLEY: The special use permit --
VICE CHAIR WATTS: -- the special use permit --
WESLEY: -- to be outside.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: -- to allow for it?
WESLEY: Yes, sir.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay. Commissioner Corey?
COREY: Yes, now that John's up here. Thank you so much. John, what prompted us to
pull this out and have to look at this, because, you know, I drove by today and I think
there's a couple -- maybe three golf carts that are out there on display right now. One
in the front and then two kind of closer to, like, the entrance of the doors, and you don't
notice them that much.
WESLEY: So Vice Chair Commissioner, don't need to belabor this point, but we have
issued several notice of violations and citations to the property owner to address the
issue of the vehicles being parked outside, and that's part of what prompted him to
make the application.
COREY: I see.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Code enforcement, yeah.
UNKNOWN SPEAKER: Yeah, that was my question.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay.
COREY: Okay. Thank you.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioners, any other questions? Commissioner Sveum?
SVEUM: And this is a problem because it's their product and not their vehicles that they
drive back and forth to work?
WESLEY: Yes. It's display of vehicles for sale in the parking lot that's not allowed.
SVEUM: Is there a time limit that they could be parked outside?
WESLEY: Not under the current code.
SVEUM: Pardon?
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 32 of 51
WESLEY: Not under the current code.
SVEUM: Okay. Zero time?
WESLEY: Correct.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioner Corey?
COREY: So I'm just thinking back to how you have them arranged right now. There's
one on the parking lot and then there's two, I think, that are maybe like on the sidewalk
by the door. So given that the bike shop was there for so many years with the bikes on
the sidewalk, is that something that's kind of grandfathered in to that area, where they
could display the golf cart? It's not a car. It's smaller so it can kind of fit up there the
way the other two are. Is that okay in the current code?
WESLEY: No.
COREY: No? So why is that?
WESLEY: Again, the code is specific about vehicle sales in C-1. That no display or sales
can take place outside. It has to be inside the enclosed building. They don't have a
similar provision for bikes. It was very specific about the vehicles.
COREY: Vehicles?
WESLEY: Yes.
COREY: Okay. Where the golf cart is kind of like a gray area now, because you've got
bikes, and now they're e-bikes. And you've got golf carts and now they could be electric
golf carts, and they're kind of blending together a little bit, so I can see how that could
get a little interesting.
I also just want to try to make this an easy way to help them. I feel like we're making it
kind of cumbersome with rezoning and changing the entire structure of that whole plat
just to try to help them with this. I wish that, you know, just like Kovacevic was saying, if
we can maybe give them a temporary approval for now that's not in violation, while we
work through some sort of a text amendment to help them out, I think that that's
something we should look at.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: I don't think it's in our purview. John, maybe you could help me
understand one more thing. If, in fact, when the bicycle shop was there and they did --
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 33 of 51
you know, I've seen it, trailers, cars, bikes, all over the place out there. They utilized the
parking lot extensively. Is it that code enforcement wasn't as rigorous as they are today
or did the zoning ordinances change?
WESLEY: Vice Chair Watts, I'm not sure I can answer that very specifically. We have
gotten more proactive with our code enforcement than we were a few years ago when
we just had one officer, and now we have the two and a half. And so they are a little bit
more active. Without seeing this -- you know -- hearing a little bit about these other
uses and activities, were they violations of the code? I don't have enough information
to say if they were or not.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Well, I can tell you, being a resident for thirty-seven years I have
seen the changes come and go at that place. And sometimes the restaurant areas or
the exercise facilities were packed -- the parking lots were packed. And it clearly would
have exceeded any parking requirement. And the example of the bicycle shop where
they hosted people for -- and their vehicles for days when they had their races and so
one. I'm just trying to figure out, if this is the only way we can go, is go from C-1 to C-2
and then a special use permit, is that it, or do we have to give it back to council and say
we need to write a text amendment to the ordinance somehow. We have one or two
choices, it sounds like.
WESLEY: Right. And so what I'm imagining the commission may do -- I don't want to,
again, jump too far ahead -- but hearing concern about the (indiscernible) on the C-2,
and so I could imagine your motion may be to deny, but at the same time, recommend
to council that they direct staff to prepare a text amendment to allow the use in C-1.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioner Kovacevic?
KOVACEVIC: Yeah, so let's go down that route for a minute, if we make that
recommendation to deny C-2 and recommend to council that they allow a text
amendment to allow the use in C-1, then council would hear that when?
WESLEY: It's on their schedule currently for the November 19th meeting.
KOVACEVIC: And if they approve it, do they still have to come back with a text
amendment, or are we done?
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 34 of 51
WESLEY: So, again, what I can anticipate is hearing the concerns of the commission and
anticipating what council might do is that anticipating that they would give staff that
direction. I could in the meantime be preparing an amendment so that if they do give
me that direction in November I could be here in December with that amendment, and
then we're to council in January.
KOVACEVIC: January is better than March. And if we decide to approve C-2, it would go
to council in November?
WESLEY: Correct.
KOVACEVIC: And can I ask the petitioner, how bad does it hurt you to wait sixty days?
UNKNOWN SPEAKER: I mean it (indiscernible).
RICHARDS: It's doable.
KOVACEVIC: Okay. That's what I'm in favor of, is let's stay with C-1 and recommend the
text amendment, and let's go down that route. I just --
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay. Hang on --
KOVACEVIC: -- don't want those uses --
VICE CHAIR WATTS: -- Commissioner Schlossberg has --
KOVACEVIC: Okay.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: -- something to say before we make a motion.
SCHLOSSBERG: Just one of the questions, so --
KOVACEVIC: I didn't make a motion.
SCHLOSSBERG: -- but back to the C-2, assuming we went the C-2 route, are you telling
me that once we do the C-2 that if someone wants to come in and open a drug
treatment facility right next door to the golf cart store, that they are free to do that
without any approval? It's not going to come to us? It's not going to go --
WESLEY: That's correct.
SCHLOSSBERG: -- to council?
WESLEY: Uh-huh.
SCHLOSSBERG: Okay.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioners, any other questions? That last one was a little bit
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 35 of 51
of a bomb. No more comments? Commissioners, do I have a motion?
KOVACEVIC: Yeah, I'll make the motion that --
WOODWARD: Chair? Excuse me, Chair? We have comments from the public.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Oh, sorry. We missed speaker cards.
WOODWARD: Yeah. So Paula Richards filled out one. Are you --
RICHARDS: (indiscernible).
WOODWARD: You're good? Okay.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: All right.
WOODWARD: Okay. The next speaker -- last one -- would be Larry Meyers (ph.).
MEYERS: I spent years trying to keep these places from getting rezoned so it could be
detox centers. You recommend this place to get rezoned to C-2, I'll bring whole hell
down on you, including the next council. I swear to God I will do it.
First of all, Wilson Egum (ph.) already bought up five parcels with that intent just a little
bit down this way on that map, so don't tell me what can and can't be done in a C-2.
That thing needs to be -- needs to say C-1, because, having been here for forty-three
years, that shopping center out there was intended to service all those people in the El
Pablo (ph.) district and the state trust land if it ever got developed into affordable more
tract home. So now you're going to intensify what was designed to be non-intensive
and allow a use in that was never even presupposed in the '80s. I mean, a detox center
in Fountain Hills? Holy smokes. Who would have thunk (ph.) it?
So I got a suggestion for you. How about this variant? Put your golf carts out there. I'm
all for -- I think the guy should be able to sell his golf carts. For crying out loud, that
parking lot's empty. How about if code enforcement goes like this, and remembering
we had a political ribbon in this town in 2018, and what did we do? We went like this,
and nobody fought over it and nobody was damaged by it and people lived in harmony
because we weren't so stuck to the code that is not practical for solutions. Not here,
here. You rezone that C-2, looking here, for a golf cart, I guarantee you'll end up with a
detox hospital or something else that's undesirable for that particular location as a C-2
instead of C-1. But you know how much time we spent trying to confine that particular
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 36 of 51
application. You want to throw all that away? Because I got news for you, Grady Miller
(ph.) wanted to put it out on that end of town. I know it for a fact and we was talking to
the Doctor Wilson Egum about doing it. And that's why I've been suspicious of
everything that gets built out there when there's a change in the zoning, because you
can't do it the way the zoning is now, but if you change the zoning, you'll be changing
the opportunity for it to happen, and he'll be selling golf carts next to drug addicts.
Go over to West Cactus and see what those businesses endure when that happens next
door to their business. They move and then the plaza's empty again.
So I'm dead set against changing the zoning to C-2. Figure out another way, and here's
the quickest, easiest way. You don't even have to ask permission. All you have to do is
ask John to go like this, and then people drive by and buy golf carts and the town
collects the sales tax revenue. That's my quick, simple solution, but changing it to C-2,
my antennas are up and they're not going down until this issue is completely settled and
it stays C-1. And the lights -- are we lighting the parking lot to display the golf carts?
Because drive by on Colony and Sawara at night -- the middle of the night -- we're a dark
sky community. It's brighter than day. So those issues sort of caused my antennas to go
up. Thanks.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Thank you, Mr. Meyers. So Commissioner, aside from the
impassioned speech, I think I am in support of denying, at a very personal level, and
doing a text amendment. Thank you. Thank you, Paula. And pushing it back to council
to do a text amendment to get them the variance that -- and I'm calling it a variance, I
don't know if that's a mechanical name for it or not. So if I can get a motion.
KOVACEVIC: Yeah. I'll make a motion that we deny the petition for C-2 zoning and
recommend -- John, are we recommending council to send it back to us to -- or council
to direct staff --
WESLEY: Prepare, right.
KOVACEVIC: -- to prepare a text amendment to allow golf cart display in C-1?
WESLEY: Yes.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Do I have a second?
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 37 of 51
COREY: Second. And --
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Paula?
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Oh.
COREY: Second and just one comment. Just, you know, what Larry was saying, kind of
turning a blind eye to this, I just wanted to remind us -- so given that they return the
carts at night -- I mean you bring them inside the building, right? So we're saying that
we don't allow the car sales -- cars would be out all night long -- but given that these are
the golf carts and they go in at night -- does that give us a little bit of leniency in allowing
them to continue this while we're preparing the text amendment?
WESLEY: Vice Chair Commissioner Watts, the code says -- Commissioner Corey -- the
code says no outdoor display. That's all I can say.
COREY: Right. Just thought I'd throw it out there.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: All right. Commissioner Sveum?
SVEUM: Are there other types of products we should be including with this text
amendment, like electric bikes? Besides just -- or is it going to just be specific to golf
carts?
WESLEY: Again, Vice Chair Watts, Commissioner, I've had the few minutes we're here
talking about it to think about what all it might encompass to keep it simple and get it
through quickly --
WOODWARD: Sorry.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: It's okay.
WESLEY: -- to keep it simple and get it down quickly, the easy thing will be to limit it to
golf carts, but as we do that, if there's some easy way to, you know, widen that out a
little bit without making it complicated we can consider that, but --
SVEUM: Yeah, I didn't really know whether or not they had other products besides the
golf carts. I thought there was something -- somebody said e-bikes.
UNKNOWN SPEAKER: John has already said that it's okay to display the e-bikes. The
golf carts -- or the other bike store had been doing it for years.
KOVACEVIC: Okay. So I did hear it right. Okay. So if that should be added -- perhaps it
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 38 of 51
should be added. I don't know. So --
SCHLOSSBERG: John, what's the fine?
WESLEY: It starts at 750.
SCHLOSSBERG: Per?
WESLEY: Violation.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioner Kovacevic, did you have another question?
Apparently not.
KOVACEVIC: No.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Paula, can I have a roll call, please?
WOODWARD: Commissioner Corey?
COREY: Aye.
WOODWARD: Commissioner Kovacevic?
KOVACEVIC: Aye.
WOODWARD: Commissioner Schlossberg?
SCHLOSSBERG: Aye.
WOODWARD: Commissioner Sveum?
SVEUM: Aye.
WOODWARD: Vice Chair Watts?
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Aye.
WOODWARD: Five, zero.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: So John, before you run off, does that actually negate the next
topic?
WESLEY: For you, Commissioners, no it does not, because, when it gets to council, they
may decide to approve the C-2 and so they would need your recommendation on the
special use permit, whether you were for it or against it. I think we could pretty much
almost cut right to a motion on it if you would like.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: I think so.
KOVACEVIC: I'll make a motion that we deny the -- what was it special use permit?
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Yeah.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 39 of 51
WESLEY: Commissioner, I would think you would want to go ahead and recommend
approval of it --
KOVACEVIC: Oh, recommend approval is --
WESLEY: -- because you're supportive of it, right?
KOVACEVIC: Okay. Yeah, we want the special --
WESLEY: And so we recommend approval so in case the council should choose to
approve the rezoning, then that's your recommendation to approve --
KOVACEVIC: Yeah, then okay --
WESLEY: -- the special use permit.
KOVACEVIC: -- I recommend that we -- or I'll make a motion that we approve the special
use permit.
COREY: Second.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: I'm confused again. Nothing new. So if council approves it --
approves it going from C-1 to C-2 --
WESLEY: Yes.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: -- we've opened Pandora's box.
WESLEY: That's true.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay? And if we -- don't we just throw another obstacle up there if
we deny the SUP at this point? So they would have to approve both --
WESLEY: Right.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: -- and the onus would be on council, not on us, because I don't
want to be any part of converting from C-1 to C-2.
WESLEY: Right. Right.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: So I would be cautious of approving, just to be safe.
KOVACEVIC: But we make a recommendation to approve or deny. Council's going to do
whatever it wants to do.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: That's why I would say deny it.
KOVACEVIC: That's why I originally thought deny.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Well, I think from our perspective, if we don't want any
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 40 of 51
involvement to go from C-1 to C-2, then I want to make it as challenging as possible for
it to have that occur.
COREY: I can see both -- I can see John's side too.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: I understand what he's saying, but I'm saying, I don't want to make
it easy. So -- oh, we have a speaker card for the -- I should have known.
WOODWARD: Sorry about that. We have one speaker card. It's for Larry Meyers.
MEYERS: I would recommend not approving the SUP because if you open the window a
crack, the council will climb through it. They have in the past. They will. Maybe in the
future, maybe not. Who knows. But why recommend approval of an SUP on zoning of
the C-2 if you're not recommending rezoning to C-2. Just pass on the SUP part of it, go
for the text amendment, look the other way so the man can sell some golf carts in the
meantime, collect some sales tax revenue and call it a day. Merry Christmas.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Thank you. All right. Commissioners, do I have a motion? I think
there was already a motion made.
KOVACEVIC: A motion and a second.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: And I think we have to amend that. We have --
KOVACEVIC: We have a motion and a second.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: We got a motion and a second for the first -- for the SUP?
WOODWARD: Yes.
COREY: What was that?
VICE CHAIR WATTS: So then we have to -- okay.
KOVACEVIC: I'm sure we can discuss it, but --
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay. We can discuss --
KOVACEVIC: -- yeah, and I still -- the agenda item reads, hold a public hearing,
consideration, and possible action, a request for a special use permit to allow vehicle
sales with outdoor display at 15225 North Fountain Hills Boulevard. That's what the
agenda item says, and so we just recommended for council to direct staff to allow -- to
do a text amendment to allow a special use permit in C-1 zoning. This has nothing to do
with rezoning from C-1 to C-2, and we're going to be faced with this special use permit
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 41 of 51
once we get the text amendment. The motion isn't going to change. So, I mean, you
know, it's just -- council is going to do what it's going to do. We're going to approve a
special use permit whether we do it now or whether we do it -- or we're going to make a
recommendation -- a recommendation to council to approve a special use permit.
Whether we do it now or we do it in December, that's going to be our recommendation.
So I don't see any reason to change the motion, or to deny the motion in the second.
COREY: I do have a comment.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Go ahead, Commissioner Corey.
COREY: Thank you, Chair. Okay. However, the SUP is saying vehicle sales, and we're
not asking for vehicle sales in our text amendment. The text amendment is specifically
for golf cart sales. So it sounds to me like we want to reject the SUP the way that it's
written in this case, because we're doing our text amendment differently, specifically for
golf cart use.
KOVACEVIC: What did we move to do, Paula, can you --
WOODWARD: Dan Kovacevic made a motion to recommend approval to the council of
the SUP. Clayton Corey seconded the motion.
COREY: But then there was discussion that we were confused as to exactly what we
were approving there, right? So we --
WOODWARD: That's where we're at.
COREY: Yeah. We got to fix that.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: So the motion --
COREY: Sorry, John.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: -- can be withdrawn.
WESLEY: Yes, the motion could be withdrawn --
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay.
WESLEY: -- if both parties agree. And so another thought comes to mind and maybe
that is that you recommend to council that they continue the discussion of the
application for the special use permit pending the text amendment, because as
Commissioner Kovacevic mentioned a moment ago, it would likely then come back here
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 42 of 51
for your consideration with the allowance now for the --
COREY: Approval with stipulation that --
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Yeah.
WESLEY: -- outdoor display in the C-1. So maybe that's --
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Let that be denied if --
WESLEY: -- let that be the recommendation.
COREY: Uh-huh.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Uh-huh. Makes sense.
COREY: Okay.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: So --
COREY: Say that.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioner Kovacevic, are you going to stand by your motion or
are you going to withdraw?
KOVACEVIC: I don't know what --
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Or are you going to amend your motion?
KOVACEVIC: I'll amend the motion.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: I think you have to actually -- you have to withdraw it and then --
KOVACEVIC: All right.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: -- represent it denied.
KOVACEVIC: Okay. I'll withdraw the motion.
WESLEY: And the second agrees.
COREY: Second.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay. Now make your motion.
KOVACEVIC: Okay. I'm moving that we approve a special use permit to allow display of
golf carts, right?
VICE CHAIR WATTS: No.
KOVACEVIC: No?
VICE CHAIR WATTS: You're going to tie the special use permit back to the text
amendment and make that part and parcel.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 43 of 51
KOVACEVIC: Somebody else make the motion.
COREY: Okay. I'll give it a shot. I will make a motion that we approve the SUP with a
stipulation that we first look at -- that staff will direct and prepare a text amendment to
allow golf cart sales in the C-1; is that right?
VICE CHAIR WATTS: It's deny the SUP, but recommend that council consider it at the
same time that they look at the text amendment. They do the heavy lifting on the SUP,
and then it comes back to us for finalization. But right now, deny it, don't open up that
Pandora's box.
COREY: Well, that's what I was saying earlier, but we're changing it. I thought you said
approving it, John.
WESLEY: My latest thought is to recommend a continuance, because the challenge we
have is a denial at this point, then that means they have to reapply versus just keeping it
live by continuing it pending he council amending the ordinance. And then they can
come back to you with the amended ordinance.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: All right.
COREY: Okay.
KOVACEVIC: I can make that motion.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: So you change from deny then to continue.
WESLEY: To continue. Continue, right.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay.
KOVACEVIC: All right. I'll move that we continue agenda item 6, holding a public
hearing consideration and possible action for the special use permit to allow vehicle
sales with outdoor display.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Do we have a second?
COREY: Second.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Paula?
WOODWARD: Commissioner Corey?
COREY: Aye.
WOODWARD: Commissioner Kovacevic?
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 44 of 51
KOVACEVIC: Aye.
WOODWARD: Commissioner Schlossberg?
SCHLOSSBERG: Aye.
WOODWARD: Commissioner Sveum?
SVEUM: Aye.
WOODWARD: Vice Chair Watts?
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Aye.
WOODWARD: Five, zero.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: You're still up, John.
WESLEY: Making sure you were ready. Okay.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Yup. It's item number 8.
WESLEY: I think I forgot to --
WOODWARD: Seven.
WESLEY: -- change --
VICE CHAIR WATTS: No, 7, appeals and variances. We got to do the zoning change first.
Sorry about that. Item 7: amending zoning ordinance 2.07 appeals and variances.
WESLEY: Yes. So Chairman, Commissioners, as you know, we've been slowly working
our way through chapter 2 of the zoning ordinance, which is the procedures chapter,
updating each of the sections to make them a little bit clearer, more consistent across
the different sections and address any issues we've had within those, and you're on your
last one. And so you won't see any more of these after tonight if you make a
recommendation on to council. The section you have this evening is section 207,
appeals and variances. So this deals with items that are appealed to and from the Board
of Adjustment, as well as requests for variances. And there are requirements in the
state statute that this has to follow.
So in the ordinance as it is currently written, there's not a clear statement of overall
purpose for variances and appeals. So that's the first change, to add a new section (a) of
purpose. Again, this makes it consistent with how each of the other sections are laid
out, to have such a statement. And so then we kind of renumber it a little bit from
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 45 of 51
there. So section (b) then becomes the appeals to the Board of Adjustment. Just as a
note, in the five plus years I've been here we've had no appeals to the Board of
Adjustment. And I haven't looked back, but I'm not aware of any that have ever taken
place. Basically, appeals to the board are if I, in my role as a zoning administrator, make
some interpretation of the code or apply it in some way that somebody doesn't agree
with, they can appeal that decision to the Board of Adjustments. That's what those are
about. So a few changes in here. Mostly its reorganization, and then, again, just some
things to bring it up consistent with the other sections of the code.
So we move what was number 1 up to the letter (b) in the code. And then we amended
and added the whole application process, as we've done in the other sections that if we
filed electronically, we need a narrative statement and pay a fee. What was the existing
3 then becomes 2, stay of proceedings. So then we created a new number 3, which is
review, which is, again, similar to what we've done in the other sections. We get the
application in, we check it for completeness and once it's complete then we can
schedule it for the hearings.
What was existing 4 has some minor modifications and the first sentence of that was
moved up to number 3.
Then there's a new number 5 on the hearings, which was, again, mostly just a slight
reorganization of some of the existing language. And what was number 6 moves to 5(b)
in that list.
So again, mostly just some reorganization of existing language.
Then section (c) of this section is about variances. We've had six variance applications in
the last five years. We haven't had a Board of Adjustment meeting in a year. You don't
get a lot more work if you want it to be a little easier. Anyway.
So again, mostly some reorganization for clarity and adding in the standard application
review steps. So number 1 provides a little bit more purpose for this section. Number 2
is the application requirements. Again, similar to the other ones, electronically and so
forth, all those things. Number 3 as a review section -- again, we're trying to get all
these sections consistent in what they say, and in the same order -- so review, again
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 46 of 51
some of what we've done in the other chapters, we're going to review it for
completeness, work back and forth if you miss anything. Once it's complete then we
start scheduling for the hearings.
Section 4 is notice. It was part of number 2 in the current ordinance. And then number
5 is on hearing. It's just a reorganization of the language from the current code.
Here's the main piece that we were wanting to address in this whole section. It's what's
required for consideration and approval of a variance. In the current code, these
requirements are scattered through different parts and portions of the ordinance and
it's caused confusion when we had been at the Board of Adjustment about what are the
requirements and how many of those do you have to meet and so forth. So we've been
able to organize them into one specific location in the code and make it clear that you
have to meet all of these standards, starting with the first one and going to the last in
order to be considered for approval of a variance. And then, finally, also a requirement
that you can't look at what's gone on around you in terms of granting a variance.
Then the existing number 4 was changed to 7, action. And lists action that can be taken
by the board. Similar as what we've talked about with other cases. The variance
granted is non-transferable. It goes with the person who applied for it until it gets
established. But once it's established, then it does run with the land. And then the last
one, the existing 5 and 7 that were in the code were relocated into other parts of that
section.
And the final section of 207 is number (d), that's appeals from the Board of Adjustment.
So if somebody's not happy with what the Board of Adjustment does, it goes to Superior
Court. It doesn't come to council. And so that's different than anything else.
And so there are no changes here. I think there's one word that we clarified, but other
than that there were no changes in this particular section. Any questions about the
modifications proposed in section 207 of the zoning ordinance?
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioners, questions?
COREY: Just one thing, John, there was a change in the timeline that somebody would
have to submit their --
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 47 of 51
UNKNOWN SPEAKER: The appeal.
COREY: -- it's late -- the appeal. Thank you. Was it thirty days and we cut it back to
fifteen days? Is that correct and is there any concern that that would be too restrictive?
WESLEY: Let me get that up here.
COREY: I thought I saw that we just cut that back in half.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: I saw it too.
COREY: Okay. I just want to make sure that doesn't present any issues. Like, has thirty
days been working fine, and now we're cutting it for fifteen for what reason?
WESLEY: That's all in the appeal to the Board of Adjustment.
COREY: Yes.
WESLEY: And so I don't -- so in (b)(1)(a) is where I'm seeing the fifteen days?
WOODWARD: No. I think it's on page 5. (d) 7 (d). Maybe I'm not looking at the right --
WESLEY: So appeals from the board are thirty days. Appeals to the board are fifteen
days.
COREY: Okay. We didn't change it, we were just --
WESLEY: No.
COREY: -- specifying the differences? Okay. Maybe I read that wrong then. Okay.
Then I don't have any concern with that. I thought we were cutting that.
WESLEY: I don't think so. I'm going to look through here. It's been a little while since
I've worked some of that language so I'm just checking to make sure I'm not forgetting,
but I'm not seeing that.
COREY: Okay. Okay. I did a Control F on 15 also to see if there was relationship
between fifteen and thirty and I'm not seeing it so maybe I did miss that. Okay. Thank
you.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: All right. John, just a couple of minor -- is there a reason we don't
have a definitive amount of time following notice requirements the appeal will be
scheduled for a hearing by the Board of Adjustments at the next available meeting?
Thirty days, forty-five days, sixty days, there's nothing definitive? That's a bit
ambiguous.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 48 of 51
WESLEY: I think again, that's similar to what we've done in the other ones. I can double
check and adjust that if necessary but the board meets the -- we haven't met in so
long -- the third Thursday of the month.
UNKNOWN SPEAKER: Yes.
WESLEY: Third Thursday of each month, so --
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Oh it does?
WESLEY: Yes. If they have something to meet about. And so it's a published meeting
date that's out there. So based on notice requirements, it gets put on the next available
one.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: And is there a reason that we're going to waive the fees for the
town, school district, special purpose, et cetera and we say they may be waived or they
are going to be waived. How do we determine that?
WESLEY: We like to, I guess, leave that little bit of wiggle room in there. I don't know
why they wouldn't ever be waived, but if you say they are, and then if there's some
reason they shouldn't be in a given case, then you have no choice.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Have we ever waived them?
WESLEY: For other governmental jurisdictions they usually do get waived.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: But, I mean, there's a lot of entities in that sentence. So do we
waive them all the time?
WESLEY: We haven't had any such applications for me to say what we've always done.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay. And then, the electronic filing again, very much like a
parenting process, I'm not sure that people that are going to appeal the processes are
necessarily going to be computer literate, internet literate. We don't have an alternate
means in there for those people that are not versed, as far as electronic filings. Should
we?
WESLEY: Chairman, I don't believe so for a couple of reasons. In worst case, we'll
submit it for them electronically, because it's got to get in there. That's the only way we
can track it. But usually if somebody is going to this level of appeal, they've got an
attorney involved and that attorney is going to figure out how to get it to happen.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 49 of 51
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Should we at least say in that sentence somewhere that, if unable,
staff will complete the form for you?
WESLEY: We haven't done that in any of the other sections and this is the last one.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay.
WOODWARD: May I speak as a staff member? We are always there to assist people.
They call constantly and ask. If they can't apply online, they'll come in or we'll work with
them over the phone. We're available to assist them if they can't do it themselves.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Yeah, I've seen other organizations where there's a terminal out in
the lobby area --
WOODWARD: Uh-huh.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: -- where somebody can help them. We don't have that today. So
we don't have somebody that can look over their shoulder and help them work through
that, unless they do it -- unless you allow them into the office area.
WOODWARD: No, we just do it over the counter
VICE CHAIR WATTS: You just do it for them?
WOODWARD: Uh-huh.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay.
WOODWARD: Just do it right over the counter. If they're at that point where they can't
use the computer, they're not going to be able -- it'll take them forever for them to do
it --
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Right.
WOODWARD: -- with us looking over their shoulder. So we do it for them.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay. Thank you. Thanks, John. Any other questions,
Commissioners? Do I have a motion to approve? All right. Commissioner Corey?
COREY: All right. I will make a motion to approve the amending -- approve amending
zoning ordinance section 2.07 appeals and variances.
KOVACEVIC: I'll second.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Paula, roll call, please.
WOODWARD: Commissioner Corey?
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 50 of 51
COREY: Aye.
WOODWARD: Commissioner Kovacevic?
KOVACEVIC: Aye.
WOODWARD: Commissioner Schlossberg?
SCHLOSSBERG: Aye.
WOODWARD: Commissioner Sveum?
SVEUM: Aye.
WOODWARD: Vice Chair Watts?
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Aye.
WOODWARD: Five, zero. Okay.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: All right, John, I think I got this one right. Number 8 and you're still
up.
WESLEY: I got to figure out --
VICE CHAIR WATTS: These paper clips get in my way, so --
WESLEY: I got to figure this out with (indiscernible). I'm up here and he's sitting over
there. So Chairman, not much. I appreciate the good discussion we had this evening.
As far as November, because of Veteran's Day, which would be the 2nd Monday of the
month, if we have a meeting it will be moved back a week to the 18th of November, and
right now we have a possibility of additional special use permits for that particular
meeting. They're not for sure yet so we'll let you know once we determine if we'll
actually have that. If not, we won't see you until December.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Okay. And number 9, Commissioners, any request for staff?
Commissioner Corey?
COREY: Thank you.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: You got to look this way once in a while.
COREY: I did have two things. First of all, I just wanted to say, thank you, Paula for
providing the PowerPoint presentation. It was very helpful. Thank you, John. Just being
able to see that breakdown and the summary was -- it really helped tie the agenda
together so I really do appreciate that.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
OCTOBER 14, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 51 of 51
The second one is, I didn't see this on our weekly log, what's happening with the
property next to Rainbow Doughnuts? Do we have any status on what's going on over
there?
WESLEY: It's being redeveloped.
COREY: It seems to have been sitting with nothing going on for quite a while.
WESLEY: Right, it did, but we have seen some activity again recently.
COREY: Okay.
WESLEY: We can't force them to work any faster than they can work, so they are --
COREY: I don't even know, what is it?
WESLEY: -- they are making progress. It's going to be a coffee -- what's the word for it?
WOODWARD: A coffee roaster, but also he has a sign business.
WESLEY: Right.
COREY: Okay. Thank you.
WESLEY: A small pastry shop.
COREY: All right.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Commissioner Kovacevic?
KOVACEVIC: Yeah, I think we uncovered something tonight. We really should have a
restriction on the addiction treatment centers and rifle ranges and I can't even think of
others but there should be a distance from schools. And I think we need to amend the
zoning ordinance to reflect that.
WESLEY: We can put that on our list.
KOVACEVIC: Thank you.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: I have nothing for a change. Okay. Commissioners, I know you all
want to hear this. Do we have a motion to adjourn?
KOVACEVIC: So moved.
COREY: Seconded.
VICE CHAIR WATTS: Done. You don't even have to do roll call.
ITEM 5.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 11/18/2024 Meeting Type: Planning and Zoning Commission
Agenda Type: Submitting Department: Development Services
Prepared by: John Wesley, Development Services Director
Staff Contact Information: John Wesley, Development Services Director
Request to Planning and Zoning Commission (Agenda Language): HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING,
CONSIDERATION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION: A request for a Special Use Permit to allow residential use (up
to twelve dwelling units) on property located at 16740 E. Avenue of the Fountains.
Staff Summary (Background)
This request is for development on a 12,000 sq. ft. lot on the Avenue of the Fountains, west of Verde River
Drive. The area was originally plated in 1971 as Plat 208. In 2001 the owner of this property replated two
existing 6,000 sq. ft. lots into one larger lot.
The owner of the property is proposing to construct a 3-story building. The ground floor will contain 4
commercial suites of approximately 1,200 sq. ft. each and 10, two-car tandem garages. The second and
third floors contain 6 apartment units each for a total of 12 apartments; two of the apartments will not
have garages. Twelve units on a 12,000 sq. ft. lot equals a residential density of 43.5 dwelling units per
acre. The individual units range in size from just under 1,400 to just over 1,600 sq. ft. The plans are
labeled as condos, but a condominium plat has not been submitted at this time.
The plans for the building also include a rooftop deck along the Avenue. This small gather place will
provide residents with beautiful views and a place to gather.
This property is currently vacant. The lot has a platted 5' front yard setback and a 10' rear yard setback.
There are 6 existing parking spaces in Plat 208 that will need to be removed to provide access to the
proposed garages. An existing landscape area will also need to be removed as well as some existing utility
boxes relocated to provide access to the garages. Representatives of Plat 208 have stated they are
working with the property on on these modifications.
There is an existing solid waste enclosure to the northwest of this property within the required distance
from the residential use. It may, however, need to be enlarged, or another enclosure provided for the
increased use. Because this requirement is not on the property owned by the applicant, the Town will
need an agreement from Plat 208 regarding the handling of solid waste prior to issuing a building permit.
General Plan
Our Commitment, page 13: Maintain the delicate balance of land uses that make the Town a
desirable place to live, work, enjoy and visit.
Our Commitment, page 13: Support existing businesses and continue to attract businesses that
stimulate the Town’s economy.
Our Vision, page 14: Residents enjoy a walkable community that is conducive to civic
involvement and activities.
Our Vision, page 14: A variety of housing options are available in safe, quiet, pleasant, and
enjoyable neighborhoods.
Thriving Neighborhoods Goals and Policies, page 23
Goal 2: Support a housing strategy that encourages a broad range of quality housing
types to address current and future housing needs and to support long-term economic
vitality.
Policy 1. Encourage a broad range of housing types affordable to all income ranges
and age groups in a manner compatible with adjacent development.
Policy 2. Encourage a range of housing types and residential densities and maintain
consistency with the existing character of infill areas in conformance with criteria
provided in Table 1: Character Areas Plan.
Policy 4. Encourage quality urban, compact, walkable mixed-use development that
complements surrounding uses in the Town Center and in other areas that may
become available for urban development.
Policy 6. Support quality residential development that meets Town housing needs,
promotes the vitality of established neighborhoods, and enhances the quality of
life of Fountain Hills.
Goal 4: Attract quality residential development that supports the healthy and active
lifestyle valued by the community.
Policy 1: Ensure that new neighborhoods:
a. Sensitively and aesthetically integrate residential development to the
social, built and natural environments by supporting neighborhood
connectivity to Fountain Hills’ Great Places.
Character Area Goals and Polices, page 38
Goal 1: Encourage future development, redevelopment and infill in a manner that will
maintain and protect existing neighborhoods, the Town’s economic health, community
well-being, and natural environment.
Policy 4. Direct commerce and employment to the character areas that sustain
them in conformance with the Character Areas Plan map and Table 1.
Goal 2: Development, redevelopment and infill support Fountain Hill’s small-town
identity and the distinct character of each area while fostering long-term viability.
Policy 3. Support a mix of residential, employment, and commercial uses at
densities and intensities and in the development form that reflect the small-Town
character of Fountain Hills.
Policy 5. Strongly encourage a wide range of housing types, densities and prices to
support the current and projected populations (particularly families and working
professionals) and to ensure the future stock of affordable housing for all income
ranges.
This is in the Town Center character area. The General Plan statement for this area is:
"Continue to develop a highly integrated mix of uses to provide a vibrant town center.
Encourage development with an urban form with buildings brought to the street forming a
continuous street wall. Encourage active ground floor uses with a high degree of transparency
and office and residential above."
The 2009 Specific Area Plan for the Avenue District includes the statement: "The Avenue District is
designed to accommodate a degree of other uses including second story office space, condominiums
and small-scale businesses along with limited neighborhood services."
Zoning Ordinance Requirements
The property at 16740 E. Avenue of the Fountains is zoned C-2 and has the Entertainment and
Planned Shopping Plaza Overlay Districts. This zoning designation allows residential uses on the
second floor by right, up to 8 units per acre.
The zoning ordinance requires 1 parking space per 275 sq. ft. of floor area for group commercial
buildings. Multi-family dwellings require 2.25 spaces per unit. If built as a 3-story office/commercial
building, approximately 109 parking spaces would be required. This mixed-use building as proposed
would require 48 parking spaces. The existing Plat 208 parking lot provides all the required parking for
development of these lots.
The owner is proposing to remove 6 existing parking spaces and add 10 garages. The garages are labeled
as 2-car garages. The plan is for them to be 30' deep, tandem garages providing room for two cars, one
parked behind the other. However, to provide room for the door at the end of the garage to open into
the building, there may not be enough for two vehicles. The driveway approach to the garages will be
over 28' in length, so there will be room for a car to park outside of the garage. The requirement in the
ordinance for one covered space per unit is being met for 10 of the apartments. Given that Plat 208
provides all the required parking, development of the property is allowed without the covered parking.
Residents of the dwelling units may choose to park one or more cars in the Plat 208 parking lot for
convenience rather than have to move one car to get to the other.
Solid waste enclosures are required to be within 250 walking feet of the main entrance. Given the rear
access doors, the standard ordinance requirement is met with the enclosure area provided. The
enclosure, however, is the property of Plat 208 and may not be large enough to handle the
additional waste. Prior to issuance of a building permit, staff will need confirmation from Plat 208
that solid waste receptacles are being provided for tenants of this building or an alternative solution will
need to be provided.
Prior to applying for a building permit, the applicant will need to submit a site plan for review and
approval by staff. Conceptual plans have been submitted as required as part of this application. As
submitted, the elevations include some areas in the center of the building that exceed the maximum
building height of 40'. One is for the stairs to provide access to the roof. This area is 44' in height and
provides a large mass that does not fit well with the look of the building. The height of this area needs to
be reduced to meet the ordinance requirement.
Other over height areas are the elevator shaft and the cover over a rooftop outdoor space at 47'. Section
5.07 of the Zoning Ordinance provides an exception that would allow for the elevator shaft to exceed the
maximum height. The shade element over the outdoor space is minor, provides architectural interest,
and adds an attractive amenity for the downtown and this building. If there are no objections raised to
allowing this additional exception, staff will consider allowing it through the site plan review.
The elevations also show an extension of the roofline on the east side of the building. As currently drawn,
this appears to extend over the neighboring property by a few feet. In the final design, the roof will need
to stay on this property.
Special Use Permit Requirements
Section 2.02 of the zoning ordinance establishes the process and criteria for consideration of a SUP. The
applicant has chosen to provide a conceptual site plan with the SUP. If the SUP is approved, the applicant
will need to submit and receive staff approval of a complete site plan prior to submitting for a building
permit.
Requests for consideration of a SUP are to include a project narrative describing the proposed use and
reasons for it, a site plan, a Good Neighbor Statement, and a citizen participation plan and report.
These items as prepared by the applicant are attached.
Section 2.02 F. 1. d. of the zoning ordinance states:
d. In order to recommend approval of any use permit, the findings of the Commission must be that
the establishment, maintenance, or operation of the use or building applied for will not be
detrimental to the public health, safety, peace, comfort, and general welfare of persons residing or
working in the neighborhood of such proposed use, nor shall it be detrimental or injurious to
property and improvements in the neighborhood or to the general welfare of the Town.
Analysis
This area was zoned and platted for commercial uses prior to incorporation of the Town. It is still
the desire of the Town to have this be a successful commercial center. In consideration of this request
for the SUP, the questions become:
1. Will the proposed
residential use be detrimental to the public health, safety, peace, or comfort of the neighborhood?
2. Will allowing residential use of this property be detrimental or injurious to the current commercial
property improvements?
3. Is the residential use being designed and established in a manner that creates a desirable living
environment in a manner compatible with the adjacent development and supportive of the
general welfare of the Town?
Impact on public health, safety, peace, or comfort of the neighborhood. Filling in this vacant lot with a
mixed-use building is unlikely to have a detrimental impact on the public health,
safety, peace or comfort of the surrounding neighborhood.
Impact on the adjacent commercial property improvements. Residential uses are a part of a mixed-use,
urban environment. Additional residents living in the areas will provide additional customers for the
businesses and may provide nearby housing for people wanting to work in the areas. Moreover, filling in
the vacant lot with a commercial building will add to the quality of the streetscape.
Creating a desirable living environment that supports the general welfare of the town. For those
looking for an urban setting, these units will provide a desirable living environment. There is parking
available for the residents and shops, community facilities, parks, and activities in close proximity.
Citizen Participation
Following notice, a Zoom meeting was held in July regarding this project. Two citizens attended the
meeting. Issues discussed at the meeting included access to the garages, solid waste bins, possible
encroachments, and areas of common interest. No significant issues were identified and there was
support for the project to move forward.
Staff has had discussions with representatives of Plat 208 and found them to be supportive of the project.
Related Ordinance, Policy or Guiding Principle
Zoning Ordinance Chapter 2, Procedures
Zoning Ordinance Chapter 12, Commercial Zoning Districts
Zoning Ordinance Chapter 25, Entertainment Overlay District
Zoning Ordinance Chapter 26, Planned Shopping Plaza Overlay District
Risk Analysis
N/A
Recommendation(s) by Board(s) or Commission(s)
N/A
Staff Recommendation(s)
Staff supports a recommendation of approval subject to:
Approval of a site plan consistent with the conceptual site and that complies with code
requirements.
Allowing the covered roof deck as shown.
Revising the plans to provide a screen for the stairwell that conforms to the 40' height limit.
A letter from Plat 208 addressing the provision of a solid waste enclosure prior to issuance of a
building permit.
SUGGESTED MOTION
MOVE to recommend approval of the Special Use Permit for up to 12 dwelling units, all residential units
to be on the second and third floors, with the stipulations listed in the staff recommendation.
Attachments
Vicinity Map
Project Narrative
Site Plan
Elevations
Citizen Participation Plan
Citizen Participation Report
Vicinity
CASE: SUP24-000001
SITE / ADDRESS:
16740 E AVENUE OF THE FOUNTAINS
APN 176-27-008
REQUEST:
A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW UP TO
12 DWELLING UNITS IN MIXED USE
BUILDING, IN THE C-2, INTERMEDIATE
COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICT, WITHIN
THE ENTERTAINMENT AND THE PLANNED
SHOPPING PLAZA OVERLAY DISTRICTS.
All that is Ariz on a
FO U N TAIN HIL
L
S
TOWN OF INC. 1989
MCDOWELL MOUNTAIN REGIONAL PARK
SALT RIVER PIMA - MARICOPA INDIAN COMMUNITY
FO
R
T
M
C
D
O
W
E
L
L
Y
A
V
A
P
A
I
N
A
T
I
O
N
SC
O
T
T
S
D
A
L
E
Site Location
Vicinity MapMap ::CaseCase DetailsDetailsSUP24-000001SUP24-000001
AVEN
U
E
O
F
T
H
E
F
O
U
N
T
A
I
N
S
PARK
V
I
E
W
A
V
E
VE
R
D
E
R
I
V
E
R
D
R
LA
M
O
N
T
A
N
A
D
R
Project Narrative
MATEJ-HORCHEM CONDOS 16740 E. AVE OF THE FOUNTAIN
The subject property is attractive because of its excellent location, directly across the street from
the city hall on Ave of the Fountain. We propose to build a three-level mixed use building with a
view loft on top. The building will have 2-car garages for each tenant on the ground floor
adjoining four retail stores facing the Ave of the Fountain. These retail stores will house small
businesses such as coffee, pastry, beauty salon, or barber shops. The project will be
approximately 30,000 sf.
The buildings are carefully designed to blend in with the surrounding community. The following
design choices are incorporated to make the building visually appealing:
• A combination of flat roofs and tiled roofs that match the surrounding structures.
• No air conditioners on the ground
• Earth tone color choices that match the neighboring buildings
• A combination of stucco and metal siding exteriors, colors, and architectural design
features that are aesthetically pleasing.
Most of the design features are borrowed from the neighboring buildings.
The required parking spaces are already part of plat 208 development. However, an additional 2-
car garage per condo is provided on the ground floor for the owner’s convenience. A private
garage for every condo owner will be a strong market appeal.
In Addition, we would like to create a view loft and common areas to encourage interactions
among neighbors. Some of these common areas are located on the rear and top of the building.
This would give owners a place to have conversations with each other.
1
1
1
1
B
A7
A
A7
1
Citizen Participation Plan
MATEJ-HORCHEM CONDOS 16740 E. AVE OF THE FOUNTAIN
We are proposing a three-story mixed-use building with a view loft on a 12,000-sf lot located at
16740 E. Ave of the Fountain, Fountain Hills AZ. The property is in C-2 zoning district for
general commercial that allows for 8 units per acre residential development and 40 feet
maximum building height. The zoning allows only 2 condo units based on the size of the
property; hence we are requesting a special use permit to increase the density to allow for 8 units.
The proposed project will have a ground level retail store with a total of 8-unit condos on the 2nd
and 3rd floors with a view loft. A 2-car garage for each tenant will be on the ground floor
adjoining four retail stores facing the Ave of the Fountain, suitable for coffee, pastry, beauty
salons, or barber shops. The required parking spaces for these businesses are already provided as
a part of plat 208 development.
The project is approximately 30,000 sf and is carefully designed to blend in with the surrounding
community. The project will include the following design features: a combination of flat roofs
and tiled roofs that match the surrounding structures, (b) no air conditioners on the ground, (c)
earth tone color choices that match the neighboring buildings, and (d), a combination of stucco,
metal siding exteriors, and design features that are aesthetically pleasing. Most of the design
features are borrowed from the neighboring buildings, and to have a private garage for every
condo owner is a strong market appeal. Also, a view loft and common areas are provided on the
rear and top of the building to give owners a place to have conversations with each other.
The following steps will be taken to get public input on the proposed project to
support our application for a special use permit for the 3-story condo project.
• A letter of invitation to participate in a public information meeting about the
proposed development on the property will be sent 10 days prior to the
public information meeting.
• The meeting will be held at 6:00 pm AZ time, 30 days before the city
council meeting on 8/12/24, with a public sign on site 15 days before
• The letter of invitation will include a ZOOM link for the virtual meeting,
several colorful renderings of the proposed project, and a description of
the project, potential challenges, and how these issues will be addressed.
• The invitation letter will be sent to homeowners with 300 feet of the
property based on Maricopa County accessor map within 30 days of the
meeting.
• A screen shot map of residents within the 300 feet radius is also included.
Citizen Participation Plan and Final Report
MATEJ-HORCHEM CONDOS 16740 E. AVE OF THE FOUNTAIN
Project Overview: Matej-Horchem Condominium project is a three-level mixed used building
with a view loft. The building will have 11 tandem 2-car garages for each resident
on the ground floor, adjoining four retail stores that face the Ave of the Fountain.
A 12-unit, 3- bedroom condominium will be on the 2nd and 3rd floors with the
view loft on top. The 3-bedroom units will be about 1500 sqft to 1600 sqft with
living room, kitchen, den/office, dining, pantry, 2.5 bathrooms, and a laundry
room. The retail stores will house small businesses such as coffee, pastry, beauty
salon, or barber shops. The total space under the roof will be approximately
30,013 sf. The subject property is attractive because of its excellent location on
Ave of the Fountain.
Site Context: The project site is a 12,000-sf lot located at 16740 E. Ave of the Fountain,
Fountain Hills AZ. The property is an infill lot within the plat 208 development,
in the C-2 zoning district designated for general commercial. The C-2 district
allows for 8 units per acre of residential development with 40 feet maximum
building height. The required parking spaces are already a part of the plat 208
development. However, an additional 2-car garage per condo is provided on the
ground floor for residents.
Purpose: To inform citizens, property owners, and associations of our application for a
special use permit for a new three-story mixed-use building and get their input on
the proposed development
Action Plan: We hosted a zoom meeting to provide adequate citizen input on the project and
address their concerns about the impact of the project on the community.
• We collected a contact list of property owners within 300 feet of the
property based on Maricopa County accessor map.
• We sent a letter of invitation to property participants on July 8th,
2024, and held the meeting on Monday July 22nd, 2024, at 6:00
pm AZ time, 21 days before the city council meeting on 8/12/24.
• The invitation letter included a zoom link, copies of color
elevation, perspectives, and site plan of the proposed design.
• Presentations were made to groups of citizens and
property owners within the 300 feet radius for their input
Final Report:
The meeting started on Monday July 22 at 6:00 pm and concluded at 6:50 pm. Out of the 21-
property owners, HOA, and POA who were invited, only one mail was returned undelivered, and
five people attended the meeting. Zach Brook attended on behalf of Plat 208 property owner
association. Other participants were Wilson Ejim, principal of Design Group, the architectural
firm of the project; Elizabeth Matej-Horchem, the developer of the project, Bruce Lambrecht
owner of the property west of the subject property, Mike Naber a long time resident and property
owner. The scope of the proposed project was presented with color perspectives of the site and
color renderings of the building elevations to further the understanding of the project’s impact on
surrounding communities. All the attendees were very excited about the project and expressed
their full support for the development. The following concerns were addressed at the meeting:
1. Access to the garages: it was agreed that there will be an access agreement between the
developer Elizabeth Matej-Horchem and the Plat 208 POA on the approximately 20ft by
120ft space in front of the garages (an updated site plan is attached). This space consists
of 6 parking spaces and a landscape area belonging to the Plat 208 POA with 2 utility
boxes that will be relocated. The Plat 208 POA is consulting with their counsel to draft
an agreement that will grant access to the garages
2. Trash and Recycle Bin: Individual roll-way trach bins will be used by residents for trash
disposal. Trash bins will be stored in the garages after collection by the waste company.
3. The issue of encroachment: All our utilities, including underground water retention
were located on site.
4. Areas of Common Interests: There was a unanimous consensus that the proposed
development offers a substantial, sizeable, and attractive condominium that will increase
foot traffic along Ave of the fountain to support the local business
At the end of the meeting an updated site plan was delivered to Scott Brendemuhl the head of the
architectural committee of Plat 208 POA for the board to review on 7-24-2024. All the attendees
were excited about the proposed project and desired to see it built on the property. The update
site plan is attached that shows the area of access agreement between Plat 208 and the developer.
ITEM 6.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 11/18/2024 Meeting Type: Planning and Zoning Commission
Agenda Type: Submitting Department: Development Services
Prepared by: Farhad Tavassoli, Senior Planner
Staff Contact Information: Farhad Tavassoli, Senior Planner
Request to Planning and Zoning Commission (Agenda Language): HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING,
CONSIDERATION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION: A request for a special use permit to allow four (4)
multi-family buildings containing 3 dwellings each on four (4) adjacent 1,250 square-foot parcels
generally located 200 feet east of the of the northeast corner of Fountain Hills Blvd. and El Pueblo
Blvd. (15037-15039-15041-15043 E. Fountain Hills Blvd.) in the C-C (Community Commercial) zoning
district.
Staff Summary (Background)
The applicant is proposing a small multifamily development on four abutting 1,250 square-foot parcels
in the Community Commercial (C-C) district known as Plat 106, a commercial subdivision located at
the northeast corner of Fountain Hills Boulevard and El Pueblo Boulevard. The preliminary plans show
one two-story building on each parcel. Each building will contain three residential units. The first
floors each feature a one-bedroom and a two-bedroom floor plan. The second floor will contain a
larger two-bedroom floor plan. The applicant has provided a rendering showing facade treatment,
wall articulation, and other modern architectural elements. The buildings will be a maximum of 25
feet tall, as is the limitation for the Community Commercial zoning district. Each building footprint will
cover approximately 966 square feet. Eight feet will separate the middle two buildings, while the
outer buildings have four-foot separation.
The property owner has identified senior citizens as the target market for all 12 rental units. Although
the owner might administer concierge and cleaning services from outside vendors, none of the
buildings will operate as assisted living homes, nor does this special use permit entitle the applicant
to operate such a facility.
The ingress/egress will be provided at El Pueblo Boulevard via one driveway and one alleyway, each
30 feet wide. A walkway will be provided within the 30-foot wide common area to the north.
Common parking for Plat 106 is provided at the immediate northeast corner of Fountain Hills Blvd. and
El Pueblo Blvd. The common parking area was included in the final plat and fulfills the required
parking for fully built-out conditions in Plat 106.
General Plan
The General Plan includes the following Goals and Policies:
Neighborhoods Element
Neighborhoods Element
GOAL 2: Support a housing strategy that encourages a broad range of quality housing types to address
current and future housing needs and to support long-term economic vitality.
POLICIES
1. Encourage a broad range of housing types affordable to all income ranges and age groups in a
manner compatible with adjacent development.
2. Encourage a range of housing types and residential densities and maintain consistency with the
existing character of infill areas in conformance with criteria provided in Table 1: Character Areas Plan.
5. Direct higher-density residential and mixed-used development to the Town Center and
redevelopment areas such as Shea Corridor as opportunities arise.
Character Areas Element
GOAL 1: Encourage future development, redevelopment and infill in a manner that will maintain and
protect existing neighborhoods, the Town’s economic health, community well-being, and natural
environment.
POLICIES
1. Achieve and maintain a diverse and sustainable land use mix consistent with our small-town
character that supports thriving neighborhoods, environment and economy by attracting and
retaining revenue-generating uses that:
a. Enhance the Town’s economic vitality; and
b. Increase the Town’s revenue base to maintain quality infrastructure, services and amenities.
GOAL: 2: Development, redevelopment and infill support Fountain Hills' small-town identity and the
distinct character of each area while fostering long-term viability.
POLICIES
3. Support a mix of residential, employment, and commercial uses at densities and intensities and in
the development form that reflect the small-Town character of Fountain Hills.
5. Strongly encourage a wide range of housing types, densities and prices to support the current and
projected populations (particularly families and working professionals) and to ensure the future stock
of affordable housing for all income ranges.
6. Require that development, redevelopment, and infill conform with Exhibit 2, Character Areas Plan
map, and Table 1.
Section III of the General Plan includes information on the Character Areas in the Town. This small
commercial area at El Pueblo and Fountain Hills Boulevards was included as part of the surrounding
Neighborhood character type. More specifically, this area is considered a Mixed Neighborhood with
smaller lots and a mix of non-residential uses. This existing commercial area is intended to remain a
low intensity area with any further development or redevelopment consistent with the surrounding
neighborhood. Allowing the proposed residential use within this commercial area would be
consistent with the intent of the Plan for this area.
Ordinance Requirements
The zoning ordinance Section 12.03 allows consideration of residential uses in all commercial zoning
districts with the approval of a SUP. Section 2.02 of the zoning ordinance establishes the process and
criteria for consideration of a SUP. Section 2.02 F. 1. d. of the zoning ordinance states:
d. In order to recommend approval of any use permit, the findings of the Commission must be that
the establishment, maintenance, or operation of the use or building applied for will not be detrimental
to the public health, safety, peace, comfort, and general welfare of persons residing or working in the
neighborhood of such proposed use, nor shall it be detrimental or injurious to property and
improvements in the neighborhood or to the general welfare of the Town.
This area was zoned and platted prior to incorporation of the Town for commercial uses. It is still the
desire of the Town to have this be a successful commercial center. The questions become:
Would allowing residential use of this prominent corner be detrimental to the desired
commercial activity?
1.
Would the residential use be detrimental to the public health, safety, peace, or comfort of the
neighborhood?
2.
Is the residential use being designed and established in a manner that creates a desirable living
environment in a manner compatible with the adjacent development and meets the goal of
providing a recognizable entry to the Town
3.
A review of this property shows that over its almost 50-year history it has not fully developed and has
largely been underutilized. Facilitating the development by allowing a mix of uses will help to improve
the overall quality of the development by introducing new buildings and additional activity on the
property. More people living nearby can provide customers to the businesses. Two SUP's have
already been approved in this development to allow residential use in mixed-use buildings. In June
2023, a special use permit was approved for ten residential units on the 0.69 acre parcel at the
southeast corner of Fountain Hills Blvd. and Glenbrook Drive.
The C-C zoning district allows buildings up to 25' tall. Plat 106 is zoned C-C and built with commercial
buildings and a parking lot. Further east along El Pueblo Blvd. are residential uses. There is one
existing two-story building to the east and one is under construction at the corner of El Pueblo and
Ivory. Two-story dwellings have been approved for the vacant property in the northeast corner of Plat
106 along Ivory. The property across El Pueblo Blvd. to the south is zoned C-1 and was recently
acquired by Scottsdale Bible Church for their expansion plans. The main church campus is across
Fountain Hills Blvd. to the west.
Following approval of the SUP, the applicant will prepare a final site plan as required by Sec. 2.04 of
the Zoning Ordinance for review and approval by staff.
Good Neighbor Statement
Given the nature of the use, the applicant has provided a good neighbor statement.
Citizen Participation
The applicant provided a Citizen Participation Plan as part of his application. That plan included
sending letters to all property owners within 300' and holding two meetings on October 11 and
October 15, 2024. The letter described the project, provided contact information for any residents
who had questions and offered to meet with residents if desired.
A Citizen Participation Report was received on October 17, 2024. Three property owners from Plat
106 attended the meeting. Those individuals asked questions for clarification and information was
provided. There was some concern that residents of this development would overall accessibility to
Plat 106 and use the parking on the adjacent properties. The report states that after the discussion,
all were in favor of the project.
Related Ordinance, Policy or Guiding Principle
Fountain Hills General Plan 2020
Fountain Hills General Plan 2020
Zoning Ordinance Section 2.02 - Special Use Permits
Zoning Ordinance Section 12.03 - Uses Subject to Special Use Permits in Commercial Zoning Districts
Risk Analysis
N/A
Recommendation(s) by Board(s) or Commission(s)
N/A
Staff Recommendation(s)
Staff supports a recommendation for approval of this Special Use Permit.
SUGGESTED MOTION
MOVE to approve the Special Use Permit to allow a special use permit to allow four (4) multi-family
buildings containing 3 dwellings each on four (4) adjacent 1,250 square-foot parcels generally located
200 feet east of the northeast corner of Fountain Hills Blvd. and El Pueblo Blvd.
(15037-15039-15041-15043 E. Fountain Hills Blvd.) in the C-C (Community Commercial) zoning district.
Attachments
Case Map
Aerial Photo
Narrative
Site Plan
Citizen Participation Plan
Citizen Participation Report
Good Neighbor Statement
Vicinity
CASE: SUP24-000003
SITE / ADDRESS:
15037-15039-15041-15043 N FOUNTAIN
HILLS BLVD
(15037) APN 176-04-699A,
(15039) APN 176-04-698A,
(15041) APN 176-04-697A,
(15043) APN 176-04-696A
REQUEST:
A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW UP TO
(4) MULTI-FAMILY BUILDINGS
CONTAINING 3 DWELLINGS EACH ON
FOUR (4) ADJACENT 1,250 SF PARCELS IN
THE C-C (COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL)
ZONING DISTRICT.
All that is Ariz on a
FO U N TAIN HIL
L
S
TOWN OF INC. 1989
MCDOWELL MOUNTAIN REGIONAL PARK
SALT RIVER PIMA - MARICOPA INDIAN COMMUNITY
FO
R
T
M
C
D
O
W
E
L
L
Y
A
V
A
P
A
I
N
A
T
I
O
N
SC
O
T
T
S
D
A
L
E
Site Location
Vicinity MapMap ::CaseCase DetailsDetailsSUP24-000003SUP24-000003
N
F
O
U
N
T
A
I
N
H
I
L
L
S
B
L
V
D
E GLENBROOK B
L
V
D
E EL PUEBLO BL
V
D
ALLEY
E
A
L
A
M
O
S
A
A
V
E
N
I
V
O
R
Y
D
R
BA
L
B
O
A
W
A
S
H
E OXFORD
D
R
AL
L
E
Y
N
K
I
N
G
S
W
A
Y
Subject Property
LOCATION MAP
15037-15039-15041-15043 N. Fountain Hills Blvd.
PROJECT NARRATIVE
El Pueblo @ Foutain Hills
15043 N. Fountain Hill Blvd
El Pueblo @ Fountain Hills is an envisioned opportunity to provide accessible, affordable
housing, and live/workspace in an area where it is certainly needed. The proposed project is an
imaginative, intelligent use of infill space that would benefit the community by delivering a
much needed economic and aesthetic boost to the community. The project is situated is an
underutilized and undeveloped vacant plot that sits between actively used properties. The
development of this space could serve the community in many ways that include live/workspace
for young and active adults, such as teachers, artists, small business owners, as well as
independent living seniors because of its proximity to Mayo Clinic.
The property is about 4,000 sqft in C-C zoning district designated for neighborhood commercial
with 25 feet maximum building height and 100% lot coverage. The entire project will be on 4
separate lots and will be homes for the aged with 6 beds and a required parking of 1.5 parking
spaces. The required parking for these homes is a part of plat 106 development.
The project is carefully designed to blend in with the surrounding community with a combination
of flat roofs and tiled roofs that match the surrounding structures, earth tone color choices, and a
combination of stucco, metal siding exteriors, and design features that are aesthetically pleasing.
1
Citizen Participation Plan
El Pueblo @ Foutain Hills
15043 N. Fountain Hill Blvd
The following steps will be taken to get the public’s input on the proposed project
and support for the special used permit application.
• A letter of invitation to participate in a public information meeting about the
proposed development will be sent 10 days prior to the meeting.
• The meeting will be held at 6:00 pm AZ time, 30 days before the city
council meeting with a public sign on site 15 days before.
• The letter will include a ZOOM link for the virtual meeting, several
colorful renderings of the proposed project, and a description of the
project, potential challenges, and how these issues will be addressed.
• The invitation letter will be sent to homeowners within 300 feet of the
property 30 days before the meeting.
• A screen shot map of residents within the 300 feet radius is also included.
Citizen Participation Plan and Final Report
El Pueblo @ Foutain Hills
15043 N. Fountain Hill Blvd
October 17, 2024,
Overview:
El Pueblo @ Fountain Hills is an envisioned opportunity to provide accessible, affordable
housing, and live/workspace in an area where it is certainly needed. The proposed project is an
imaginative, intelligent use of infill space that would benefit the community by delivering 4 two-
story multi-family residences for seniors - restricted aged housings, and 8 unrestricted two-story
single-family dwellings. The homes for the aged are about 1932 sqft each with 3 apartments each
providing 1, and 2 two-bedroom units with kitchen, a bathroom, living, and dining spaces. The 8
two-story single-family homes (unrestricted age housing) are about 1325 sqft with a 407 sqft
tandem 2-car garage, a 4 bedroom with 2.5 bathroom, living room, kitchen and dining space with
a back patio. The project is situated in an underutilized and undeveloped vacant plot that sit
between actively used properties. The development of this space could serve the community in
many ways including live/workspace for young and active adults, such as teachers, artists, small
business owners, and independent living seniors because of its proximity to Mayo Clinic.
Site Context:
The property is about 1,125 sqft in C-C zoning district designated for neighborhood commercial
with 25 feet maximum building height, allowing for 100% lot coverage. The entire project will
be on 9 separate lots, each with a 2-story cottage. Lots 10, 11, 12, & 13 will be homes for the
aged with 6 beds and a required 1.5 parking space for each cottage. A total of 6 parking spaces
are required, which are provided by existing Tract 106’s community parking spaces. Lots 18. 19,
22, 23, & 25 will provide single family dwellings, an alternative living spaces to the approved
neighboring condos. These cottages will have a tandem 2- car garage. Thus, we are requesting a
special use permit based on the zoning district to house the proposed uses.
Imagery & Design:
The project is carefully designed to blend in with the surrounding community with a combination
of flat roofs and tiled roofs that match the surrounding structures, earth tone color choices, and a
combination of stucco, metal and smart siding exteriors, and design features that are aesthetically
pleasing. Most of the design features are borrowed from neighboring buildings.
Action Plan:
To provide adequate citizen participation, we hosted a zoom meeting to explain and address any
impact of the project on the community.
• A contact list of property owners within 300 feet of the property based on
Maricopa County accessor map was developed.
• A letter of invitation to participate in a public information meeting about the
proposed development was sent on Sept 27th, 2024, prior to the public
information meeting scheduled for Oct 15th, 2024, by 6:00 pm AZ on ZOOM
• A Zoom meeting was scheduled 34 days before the city council meeting on
11/18/24.
• The invitation included copies of color rendering of the proposed design,
elevations, floor plans, and site plan for the project.
• A presentation was made to groups of citizens, property owners, and
comments, and resolutions are stated in the final citizen participation report
and submitted to the case planner at the end of the meeting to inform staff of
the progress of the implementation plan.
Final Report:
Findings: An in-person and a zoom meeting were conducted to inform the community about the proposed project, providing opportunities for input from the citizens and business owners. The in-person meeting was held with the POA of track 106 on 10/11/2024 by 2:00 pm at the Desert
Creek Fellowship Church located at 15024 N. Ivory Dr. Fountain Hills, AZ 85268. The meeting was attended by Rod Warembourg, Barry McBride, Diane Schneider, and Wilson Ejim. The project presentation includes color rendering of the building elevations, site plans, and floor plans. The benefits of the project and the project’s impact on surrounding communities were presented. The attendees embraced the project and expressed their full support for the
development if the following concerns are met. 1. The plan should provide access to lot 20a that benefits all parties. 2. The driveway to lot 22 and 23 as shown on the site plan will displace 3 existing parking spaces. The 3 parking spaces should be replaced at the developer’s expense. 3. The developer should have a solid waste management agreement with the existing
owners to share the costs and maintenance of the existing trash collection center. 4. If possible, the developer should find ways to address the occasional traffic congestion at the corner of El Pueblo and the Alley- public right of way. The traffic congestion is resulting from the drive through window of the existing liquor store 5. The undeveloped Alley to the north of lot 25 should be addressed.
The 2nd meeting was held on October 15, 2024, on zoom. A total of 9 invitation letters were mailed to residents and businesses within a 300 feet radius of the properties. Out of the 9 letters, 2 were returned undelivered. The meeting started at 6:00 pm and concluded at 7:00 pm. Besides Wilson Ejim, principal of Design Group, the architectural firm of the project, no one else
was present at the meeting. Though some of those who were present at the in-person meeting expressed that they may not be attending zoom meetings since their concerns have been discussed at the in-person meeting. The zoom meeting ended by 7:00 pm Resolutions: As regards the findings and issues raised in the meetings, the following were
proposed as possible solutions: 1. Access to the lot 20a: It was agreed that the driveway will be paved from the parking lot south of the lot 23 to the Alley, north of lot 20a to provide access
to lot 20a 2. Parking Spaces: Drive access to lot 22 and 23 will result in the loss of 3 parking spaces, hence it was agreed that addition 3 parking spaces will be provided by the existing landscape area close to the trash collection area at developer’s cost 3. Solid Waste collection: The proposed agreement is to share the cost and maintenance of the
existing trash collection and solid waste management with the current owners. 4. Common area east of lot 25 and the undeveloped Alley not of lot 25: It was unanimous to seek the vacation of the Alley from the city and the common area from tract 106 POA in effort to maintain the space.
After the in-person meeting, a zoom meeting was scheduled with the City Staff: John Wesley
and Farhad Tavassoli on 10/14/2024 by 11:00 am to discuss the findings, examine the citizens’ concerns, and our recommendations for the final report to the staff and P/Z board for further review.
Citizen Participation plan
The proposed project will seek to maintain good relationships with neighbors
by encouraging residents to avoid any gathering or partying after 10 pm at
night. Moreover, littering around the property, leaving trash, or hanging
clothing on the balconies will be prohibited. Residents will be required to
maintain some level of decorum, abiding by the CC&R of plat 106
development. These conditions and restrictions will be included as part of an
agreement to purchase or reside in the property.