(Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents the Goettle family.)
By Madeline Bates | Tempe Indpendent
The Tempe City Council gave the green light for a family to move their driveway, despite concerns from neighbors and the potential impact to a school across the street.
The Goettle family owns a home across from C.I. Waggoner Elementary School and were seeking approval from the council to abandon an easement to move the home’s driveway from the property’s south end to its west end.
After hearing public comment and concerns from the neighborhood, the council voted 5-2 with Councilmember Doreen Garlid and Vice Mayor Arlene Chin dissenting.
Councilmembers Brooke St. George and Nikki Amberg, who both opposed the project during the first hearing Aug. 31, said despite concerns, they were happy to approve of the project because of changes made and the approval from the school.
“I’m not a safety expert. I’m not a transportation expert, but I asked you to go to the school and ask them about their concerns. I’m going to be voting yes because it’s very rare that when we get up here people take the time to correct the changes we’re asking for, and you actually did that. Thank you,” she said.
Rose Law Group Land Use Attorney Jon Gillespie tells RLGR,
“Modifying Non-Vehicular Access Easements (VNAE) are an issue which municipalities are sure to increasingly face as many of these restrictions were put in place decades ago and have served their planning purpose.”