HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Board of Adjustment - 11/17/2025MINUTES
ORO VALLEY BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
SPECIAL SESSION
November 17, 2025
ORO VALLEY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
11000 N. LA CAÑADA DRIVE
SPECIAL SESSION AT OR AFTER 2:00 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Barcelo called the meeting to order at 2:01 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Joseph Affinati, Member
Joseph Brandhuber, Member
Thomas Gribb, Member
Daniel Sturmon, Vice Chair
Octavio Barcelo, Chair
Staff Present: Kyle Packer, Senior Planner
Attendees: Thomas Benavidez, Attorney
EXECUTIVE SESSION - Pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes §38-431.03 (A)(3) to obtain legal advice
regarding a proposed variance to permit the location of the existing wall at 11730 N. Diamond Cholla Place.
Motion by Member Joseph Brandhuber, seconded by Vice Chair Daniel Sturmon to go into Executive
Session at 2:02 p.m.
Vote: 5 - 0 Carried
*RECONVENE SPECIAL SESSION AT OR AFTER 2:30 PM
Motion by Member Joseph Brandhuber, seconded by Member Joseph Affinati to close the Executive
Session at 2:48 p.m.
Vote: 5 - 0 Carried
*CALL TO ORDER
Chair Barcelo called the meeting back to order at 2:48 p.m.
*ROLL CALL
Present: Joseph Affinati, Member
November 17, 2025 Minutes, Board of Adjustment 1
Present: Joseph Affinati, Member
Joseph Brandhuber, Member
Thomas Gribb, Member
Daniel Sturmon, Vice Chair
Octavio Barcelo, Chair
Staff Present: Kyle Packer, Senior Planner
Attendees: Thomas Benavidez, Attorney
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chair Barcelo led the Board and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
CALL TO AUDIENCE
There were no speaker requests.
COUNCIL LIAISON COMMENTS
Senior Planner Kyle spoke on behalf of Council Liaison Josh Nicholson, who had to leave the meeting,
regarding the OV Trails Connect Master Plan at the upcoming Town Council meeting on November 19, and
encouraged the board and community to get involved.
SPECIAL SESSION AGENDA
1.REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER 23, 2025 REGULAR SESSION MEETING MINUTES
Motion by Member Thomas Gribb, seconded by Member Joseph Brandhuber to approve the meeting
minutes as written.
Vote: 5 - 0 Carried
2.PUBLIC HEARING: DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A PROPOSED VARIANCE
TO PERMIT THE LOCATION OF THE EXISTING WALL ON PRIVATE PROPERTY WITHIN OPEN
SPACE AT 11730 N DIAMOND CHOLLA PLACE
Planning Manager Bayer Vella stressed to the Board to focus only on the location of the wall and that
is the reason for today's item. The applicant will be reducing the height of the wall. Variance is only
regarding the placement of the wall.
Mr. Vella then provided a presentation that included the following:
- Purpose
- Location
- Applicant Request
- Timeline
- Five findings
- Findings
- Summary and recommendation
Attorney Rory Juneman, with Lazarus and Silvyn representing the applicants, reiterated what Mr. Vella
presented. Mr. Juneman corrected one data point: the applicants looked at the home in July 2022 and
confirmed with the Town about building the wall and its location prior to purchasing the property. The
November 17, 2025 Minutes, Board of Adjustment 2
applicants also received ARC approval from their HOA prior to building the wall. Unfortunately, now in
this position and working with Town staff to find a solution. Neighbors are in agreement; no written
protests were received. The purpose of the variance is to not place the property owners in an unfair
situation.
Discussion ensued among the board and Mr. Juneman.
Chair Barcelo opened the public hearing.
Zoom online speaker Mark Schumacher spoke against the variance of Agenda Item #2.
Chair Barcelo closed the public hearing.
Motion by Member Joseph Affinati, seconded by Member Thomas Gribb to approve the proposed
variance to permit the location of the existing wall on private property within open space at 11730 N
Diamond Cholla Place, based on the finding that the five criteria have been met.
Vote: 4 - 0 Carried
Other:Member Joseph Brandhuber (ABSTAINING)
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Member Thomas Gribb, seconded by Member Joseph Affinati
Chair Barcelo adjourned the meeting at 3:29 p.m.
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the special session of the
Town of Oro Valley Board of Adjustment of Oro Valley, Arizona held on the 17th day of November 2025. I further
certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present.
___________________________
Jeanna Ancona
Senior Office Specialist
November 17, 2025 Minutes, Board of Adjustment 3