ASU and the City of Tempe are forming a coalition to make future building and growth around campus a mutual decision.
Beginning in October, Tempe City Council will sign an agreement with the University, modifying its zoning ordinances to create mixed-use education areas.
In the agreement, Tempe and ASU will form a commission of seven people -- three from ASU, three from Tempe and one neutral party -- to review future building projects.
"There was concern that it would be ASU Inc. and Tempe Inc. and this would be about making money," said Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman at a Tuesday "Let's Talk Tempe" forum at the Pyle Adult Recreation Center, 655 E. Southern Ave. More than 75 people attended the meeting.
But Ray Jensen, ASU associate vice president of Administration and Business Services said he didn't think that would happen.
By combining the processes, ASU construction will be subject to public hearings, allowing the community to participate.
Property bordering ASU Main, such as parts of Lot 59, is an area for rezoning because it touches both ASU and Tempe. Other areas include land along Apache Boulevard, University Drive, Rural Road and Mill Avenue.
The area may be used for residential, commercial or parking use, Jensen said.
"We need services to support students," Jensen said, referring to what the property could be used for. "Some may be commercial."
There are two zoning processes for building in Tempe -- planning and zoning, where plans are submitted and reviewed, and design review, where materials are deemed appropriate. State-owned properties such as ASU have their own building review process. The commission's goal for Tempe and ASU is to join these processes together.
"The University did not want to stand autonomously," Hallman said. "We want it to be an integrated part of the community."
"ASU will be growing tremendously," Jensen said. "The University is not in the commercial real estate business and doesn't want to be. This is an effort to use property to support education and to support the community. [The new plan] really can provide a gateway."
The process of creating the commission will move forward once the city enters the agreement, which has already come before City Council.
Jensen said the issue will be brought up for discussion at Thursday's City Council meeting, and it will be implemented on Oct. 7.
Charles Huellmantel, chairman of the Tempe Planning and Zoning Commission, said he hopes ASU fairly selects commission members.
"It was a concern of mine, and I can't say that it has been entirely erased," he said. "This is a public process with public hearings, and ASU has met many of our concerns. It's always give and take."
Reach the reporter at katherine.ruark@asu.edu.
