A Mesa Police Department evidence storage facility is to be constructed south of University Drive and east of Country Club Drive.
The Mesa Design Review Board on July 12 voted unanimously to approve the preliminary design for the facility owned by the city of Mesa.
The structure will allow for the secure storage of evidence for the police department, as well as provide for additional office space, according to a written staff report.
“I can confidently say compared to the other storage facilities that we looked at through this [design review] board I do believe this is definitely going to be the highest-quality storage facility we have within the city,” Staff Planner Josh Grandlienard said at the meeting.
The police evidence storage facility will not be out of character with the surrounding development, according to a written staff report.
“In the evidence facility we took design cues from [police] headquarters and design cues from the lab, which is right behind the police headquarters,” Assistant Police Chief Dan Butler said at the meeting.
Construction of the new building requires the removal of 30 of 49 spaces within the parking lot, with the required parking provided within a parking structure at the site. A fence will be placed along the perimeter to meet the security needs of the police department.
The site plan shows a 33,282-square-foot building that will be 49 feet 4 inches high. Secured access will be from Robson and Second Street.
The all-volunteer Mesa Design Review Board is unique in that its composition is set by the zoning ordinance to include two architects; two from other design professions such as landscape architecture, engineering, urban planning, interior design or other design-related background; one contractor or developer; and two residents, according to the city’s website.
Richard Dyer Managing Editor | East Valley @RHDyer
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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