Mesa zoning board recommends approval of rezoning for new single-residence property

The Mesa Planning and Zoning Board voted 4-0 Feb. 26 to recommend the city council approve a zoning case for a new home.

Vice Chair Jeff Pitcher, Boardmember Genessee Montes and Boardmember Chase Farnsworth were absent.

The area in question is located about 1,100 feet south of the southeast corner of East McKellips Road and North Val Vista Drive.

The application was made by Sean Lake and Sarah Prince of Pew & Lake PLC on behalf of site owners Eric and Jentry Dixon.

The request is to rezone the area from Single Residence-35 (RS-35) to Single Residence-35 with a Bonus Intensity Zone Overlay in order to allow for development of a new single-residence property called Dixon Property. According to board documents, the project site consists of two lots, one with a home that already exists and the other being vacant space. The applicants are requesting the new single-residence property be built on the vacant lot.

According to board documents, property owners near the project site were notified. Some property owners had expressed concerns about the property potentially disrupting irrigation control valves that are near the project site.

Melanie Alarcio, a Mesa-area doctor, spoke at the meeting on her issues with the development as someone living nearby.

“Why did the city allow for this property to be split knowing that the backlot has no direct access to the main street and is now disrupting the neighborhood?” Alarcio said. “The city created this issue, why am I the one being adversely affected by this?” Alarcio said.

Lake also spoke at the meeting and responded to Alarcio’s concerns.

“Melanie is a very nice lady, I met with her and her husband and son. They live in the red house at the end of that private drive. I found it interesting that she uses the private drive to get to her lot in the back but she didn’t want the board to approve Mr. Dixon to allow him to use the private drive,” Lake said. “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. I would hope that Mr. Dixon would be afforded the same rights.”

The seven-member Planning and Zoning Board conducts hearings and makes recommendations to the city council on requests for changes in zoning and on required site plans, It also considers and recommends changes in the city’s long-range plans and in the municipal code concerning planning and zoning matters. Members are appointed for staggered terms of three years.