2026-10-28 - Corona South Tempe Character Area Plan Virtual Public Meeting

And then turn the meeting over to [staff] with planning.

>> Thank you, [name]. Let me go ahead and get my screen shared for you all right now. Also, we're all seeing the full presentation, correct?

>> [name], we can see the next slide. I don't know that it matters if but if you want to just do the full one.

>> Let me Let's see. So, you're seeing this full view with notes still?

>> No, it's just a full view with the next slide. It's not a big deal.

>> Okay, that's fine. All right. Awesome. Well, thank you so much for joining us today at your lunch hour or taking time from your busy days to talk about the Corona South Tempe Character Area update. Um we got all of your feedback, collected that, and we've put together a draft plan that's now available on the website to view. Um what we're going to do today is go through some of the feedback we received, what that draft plan looks like, um cover the next steps and timeline that you're going to expect in the future, and then answer some questions for you if you have any. So, public engagement oppor- opportunities thus far, um we started this at the Neighborhood Advisory Commission. Um my our principal planner presented um kind of what the process was going to look like as far as engagement and when we would expect to have an adopted plan with the Neighborhood Advisory Commission. Um shortly after that, just the next day, we did the virtual and in-person public meetings. Uh we did that at the Day Spring Church. Um and then we hosted the the virtual meeting on Zoom, which was very well attended overall. Um in conjunction with that, we released the first public survey, which if you took that one was our visual preference survey. Excellent responses from that as well. We got 73 responses, which is fantastic for one of our character areas. We also had a private meeting with the Circle G Ranch's HOA at their request. We did have a lightly attended business mixer over in South Tempe at the Discovery Business Campus. We also had staff representation at the game kickoff event and game night. I sadly was not able to make it, but I know there was a few staff members present at the South Tempe events to connect with you all there. We also went to a study session with the Development Review Commission to present the process to them as well. Going to jump right into the feedback we received from that visual preference survey. So what that was, if you didn't take it or didn't see it, you were asked to or residents were asked to rank images and provide feedback on the following categories. So it was residential and commercial building design, landscaping, walls and fences, public and open spaces, neighborhood identity, bike lanes, multi-use paths, and sidewalks and crossings. As with all of our surveys, we included an open-ended portion so that if there's anything we missed or anything else you'd like us to know about this this area that you're welcome to put it in there. And then we also asked a question to update the branding which you're going to get a sneak peek at now if you haven't already seen it on the website on that draft plan. For commercial and residential building design, there was a strong preference to retain and match the existing Southwestern Spanish and ranch style architecture that's predominant throughout Southwest Corona South Tempe. There was a preference for low-profile, lower-density type development. A strong desire to age in place and remain in the area. You also stressed an importance for open space and then shaded and walkable outdoor patios in those commercial developments. The two images on are the images on all these screens are going to be the highest voted image that was selected by by residents through that survey. For the bike lanes, multi-use paths, and sidewalks and crossings, I kind of pushed these into the same category as far as the results. They're very very similar. Um there was a strong preference um in the survey for either separate bike paths, so completely separate from the street, or to have painted bike lanes with a lot of folks wanting minimal impacts on vehicular traffic. So, they kind of balance those um multimodal transportation needs um for all users. Also, a very strong preference to have a very safe environment, so well-lit, shaded, and landscape sidewalks and multi-use paths with that strong emphasis emphasis on safety. And there was also some uh requests for amenities along multi-use paths, so things like bathrooms or seating, um things that people can use um in those areas. For public and open space, landscaping, and the walls and fences section, you see again those uh highest rated um sections there. Very typical of a lot of the responses we received where there was an emphasis on shade and desert landscape, so kind of being water-minded um and water-conscious through through that landscape design. Um again, well-maintained, well-lit, and safe open spaces um was predominant in this category. Um something we heard about the public and open spaces was uh a little bit more feedback on wanting those adult recreational options at parks, like sport courts. Um a lot of the park amenities can be geared towards playgrounds and things like that, but there's a number of users at all these places, and that was something we saw in the in the survey. There was a preference for decorative masonry walls. Um this is something we see a lot in private development through planning, which is why we wanted to ask this question. Um so there was a preference for those decorative masonry type walls um with a lot of folks saying that the stucco just does not age well and is difficult to maintain. Um again, the appreciation for the mature trees in this area. Um and then also a request for more colorful flowering vegetation um that flowers throughout the year. And then some of the general feedback we got from those open-ended questions. Um there was a strong preference for a multigenerational multigenerational or civic facility in the area. That's something that we heard at the um in-person and virtual public meetings, um in the survey, as well as it being included in the previous plan. Um we also saw that there was um requests for additional improvements to pedestrian and and bike infrastructure while also improving the vehicular circulation. Um shade, trees, low-water use landscape, um what we call in the plan responsible water stewardship was something that was emphasized. Um and then one of the more unique things about Corona South Tempe are those equestrian amenities and that was something that um it was requested to to be protected in this area. With that, we'll jump into the draft uh the draft plan. We're really going to go over the our guidelines and principles. Um just very briefly, I'll read kind of some of the um the main categories we have, as well as the um subcategories. And then I'll let you kind of read some of them, but I'm not going to read verbatim. Um all of this information is included in the draft plan. So the first large category we created, um very similar to the last character area was there's four main categories. The first one in this plan was just expanded on a little bit. We called this one development, aesthetics, and housing. So this covers develop the design of development and sites, how things look, as well as what uh the Corona South Tempe should look like as as far as housing opportunities. Under that those subcategories we have quality design. We have housing and aging in place. And landscape treatments under here. And then the bullet points are an example of those specific principles that we would use to evaluate things as they come through and to support um any city projects or requests in the future. For quality design, you'll see that the feedback we received directly influenced what went into this plan. So promoting design that include modern ranch and southwest and Mediterranean style to match the existing architectural character. Supporting a plant palette with flowering trees and the desire to age in place. And there's the long-awaited uh new branding for you. The the Corona South Tempe logo sitting right there on the uh on the front page. The next main category is community and culture. This one includes sections like local and local economy and commercial identity, amenities and community spaces, neighborhood identity, public and private art, and public health and safety. Um Again, an emphasis on those smaller locally owned businesses. We heard a lot of that feedback in this area as well. Um the amenities and community spaces you'll see um we kept that request for a multi-generational or civic facility in this plan as well. Um a strong desire for more neighborhood signage and more community events to foster neighborhood identity and community in this area. Public and private art to beautify it and then again a strong emphasis on public health and safety. Next is our connectivity and transportation here. Again three categories. You have the street streetscape design, so how the street is designed and what it looks like. Multimodal systems. So what's the variety of ways that folks get around in this area? And then those multi-use pads and canal oriented design principles. Again multimodal systems very unique to this area is how do we find convenient and comfortable ways for all these modes of transportation that include walking, biking, driving or even riding your horse. Um and then streetscape streetscape design. So what do we like the landscape to look like along those streets? Again strong preferences for those large mature trees to remain and we heard that feedback and incorporated in this plan. The last section is the sustainability and resilience section. This is where you're going to see a lot of those comments that folks made about responsible water stewardship and water conservation or Sonoran Desert adapted landscape. Promoting energy efficiency through solar or shading. And then heat mitigation and shade. So this will be shaded sidewalks, those large mature tree shade canopy. All of those that you just saw, there's a number of more bullet points and we really did listen to all the feedback. Incorporated that into those bullet points and those design guidelines and principles. So this is just a fraction of what's included in that plan. So when you have time or if you have time, take a look at that draft plan and read through those those principles, read through the history section Um that [staff] wrote from our historic preservation office. Um there's definitely some fantastic stuff in this plan um that may have been been missing or lacking in the last plan. From here, we're in the draft and refined stage. So, we've already completed most of the informing and engagement. Um we still have a little bit of the engagement to go with the form that's going to be available for feedback on this draft plan. Um our anticipated plan at this time is to have um that feedback form open until November 23rd, so about a month. Um we're going to incorporate any feedback we get into those plans as applicable. Um once that's all wrapped up and we're able to revise the draft plan, we'll take that to our Development Review Commission for a recommendation uh likely in December, and then be moving along to City Council in January for a potential adoption. And then again, um the feedback form is a very simple form for this one. It's not as extensive and long as the survey you may have taken the first time. Um this one's just going to ask if you've read the plan, um if there's things that you like or don't like or what needs to be included in this. Um that plan's linked at tempe.gov/characterareas, and you can also find the feedback form there um open until November 23rd. This is some of the staff. Um I know [staff] from Economic Development and other planning staff are all here representing our team. Um and if you have any questions uh or comments for us at this time, we'd welcome them.

>> So, please feel free to raise your hand if you want to ask your question, or you're welcome to put it in the chat.

>> Or you're also welcome to come off mute if you a raise hand is under um the react, but if you want to, you can come off chat or come off mute and talk to us.

>> [Public comment by a member of the public omitted for privacy.]

>> Hey [name], this is uh [staff], principal planner uh community development. Thanks for your comment. Um yeah, certainly uh in the in the previous iteration of the character that was when the concept was kind of new and we did a couple things in those documents uh that you know, kind of step a little bit beyond some of their purview. Um so usually in these newer ones we try not to list, you know, individual private establishments um since we don't really have the authority to, you know, maintain what private establishments doing. That being said, certainly the presence of existing community amenities, uh, promoting things like community gardens, neighborhood gardens, um, is something that we could include if it's if it's not already in there. I don't know off the top of my head if um, a community garden is, uh, mentioned explicitly. Um, uh, but also, you know, to your point about the the future of the um, the garden, um, you know, we have this is kind of our policy, but we do have the the zoning code and regulations that it sounds like there's some details, um, on lot splitting that you're getting into that we'd be happy to have conversations about the regulations and and, you know, what what things we can do from that front. Um, but certainly in a document like a policy plan, you know, promoting certain types of community amenities and, um, is particularly, you know, institution, um, neighborhood driven type activities is something that we can work into the document if it's not already present. So, I appreciate that feedback and, um, we have our contact information up here if you'd like to send us an email um, to talk specifically about, uh, the garden, and we can, um, answer some of those questions about, uh, zoning regulations, lot splits, and things like that.

>> [Member of the public asks whom to contact.]

>> Yes, you can send it to me. Um, that works.

>> Okay. Thank you.

>> Any other questions or comments? All right. If not, I put the website where you can also find the comment form in the chat, so you can go directly there as well. Uh, anything else, [staff]?

>> Um, we'll be giving the the same presentation tomorrow, uh, in person at the Dayspring United Methodist Church at 6:00 p.m. So, if you'd like to catch us in person and maybe chat chat, you know, after the meeting about anything in particular, we'd be happy to do that as well. So, that'll again, that'll be tomorrow 6:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Day Spring Church over off Elliot and McClintock. But, we appreciate everybody attending today. This meeting is recorded, so we'll have that available online as well for your reference if you want to rewatch it if you want to catch any of those details. And we've got our project site linked in the chat. So, appreciate everybody's time.

>> Thank you.