Burned Mesa house can be rebuilt with decreased setback, board decides
The home is to be constructed at 611 E. Sixth Ave. in Mesa.
City of Mesa
Posted
Current code requires a minimum setback of 5 feet with an aggregate side setback of 15 feet on both sides. The applicant is seeking an aggregate side setback of 11 feet.
A variance has been approved to allow for deviations to certain development standards at the rebuilding of a home south of Broadway Road and west of Country Club Drive that was gutted by a fire.
The Mesa Board of Adjustment on March 6 voted 6-0 in a consent agenda with other items to approve the variance for the house within the single-residence district. Board member Chris Jones was not at the meeting.
Current code requires a minimum setback of 5 feet with an aggregate side setback of 15 feet on both sides. The applicant is seeking an aggregate side setback of 11 feet, Staff Planner Joshua Grandlienard said at a study session prior to the meeting.
“This variance is to allow for a primary residence to be rebuilt at the original setback,” he said. “There was a fire on this residence that occurred within the last year — at least when they made this submittal. Because of that they are allowed to build to their current standards but as part of this — because of the existing setbacks — it is a reduction of that (which) is the intent of this request.”
Omar Holguin is the applicant. Jose Cardona is the owner.
The house was built in 1965 when different code requirements allowed for the setbacks being requested in the variance, which makes the property legal nonconforming, according to a written project narrative.
“(D)ue to the recent fire that completely destroyed the home, if this process had been able to be completed within a year of the fire, it would have been able to be requested through a special-use permit,” it states. “The fire incident was an unforeseen event, and the consequences, including the impact on the property’s design, were beyond our control.”
The seven-member board conducts public meetings to hear and decide requests for variances, special-use permits and interpretations of the city of Mesa zoning ordinance and sign code. Members are appointed for staggered terms of three years, according to the city’s website.
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
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.
By 
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here