The Scottsdale Development Review Board on July 17, 2025, voted to approve cases 27-DR-2024 (phase 1) and 28-DR-2024 (phase 2) for the Palm Lane Residences, including an amended landscape plan dated June 26 that adds two trees near the project's proposed pool. The board approved the applications after finding they met the applicable development review board criteria.

The decision matters to neighbors who raised concerns about interim maintenance of a vacant church site, potential street damage from construction and the phasing of demolition and construction. Michelle Bonner, who said she lives at 7321 East Palm Lane, told the board she had worked with the developers but remained worried about how long the site might remain unsightly: "I've been working with the developers. They've been great," she said, adding, "I just don't want it to be a mess like that for months and months and months."

Applicant representative Lauren Proper Potter spoke for the developer and answered residents' questions about timing and site security. Potter said, "we have some demolition permits that we're ready to act on in the next couple weeks or so," and that a construction permit application was "being prepared to go in, imminently." She added that the permit review could take "like, 6 to 9 months, and then construction would start pretty immediately after that time."

Board members and staff discussed site maintenance and right-of-way restoration. Potter said the property will be fenced during construction, with limited required access where the phase boundary lies. She described the city's requirements for cuts and repairs in the public right-of-way, saying contractors must restore disturbed pavement to "mag standards" and that bonds will be posted to guarantee restoration: "when you cut into anything in the right of way, whether it's just the sidewalk, the streets, whatever, you have to restore it to mag standards and that's a zoning ordinance requirement." Potter also said final inspections or approvals for related permits would not be granted until required pavement restoration is completed.

Staff noted an updated landscape plan (dated June 26) that supplements the materials in the staff report by showing two additional trees on the south side of the project near the proposed pool; staff said that plan will be executed at the time of final plans. There were no written opposition cards recorded in the meeting packet; one resident provided public comment during the meeting.

Formal action included approval of the two linked development applications with staff-recommended stipulations incorporating the amended landscape plan. The roll-call vote recorded Councilwoman Whitehead: Yes; Commissioner Gonzales: Yes; Board member Peazer: Yes; Board member Mason: Yes; Board member Robinson: Yes. The motion passed.

The board also approved the minutes of the July 10, 2025, Development Review Board meeting by roll call earlier in the session. There were no motions to continue or deny the Palm Lane cases and no recorded dissents.

Looking ahead, the applicant told the board demolition mobilization would likely begin within one to two weeks after the relevant demolition permits are issued, and that the demolition work itself should take approximately two weeks. Longer-term construction start is contingent on the permit review process. Staff and the applicant invited continued contact with neighbors about on-site maintenance during the interim and construction-phase questions.