A variance has been approved to allow the aggregate area of detached structures to exceed 50% of the roof area of a primary dwelling west of North Gilbert Road and north of East McKellips Road in Mesa.
The Mesa Board of Adjustment voted 4-0 on May 3 to approve the variance in the single residence-15 zoning district as part of a consent agenda with other items. Vice Chair Nicole Lynam and board members Chris Jones and Ethel Hoffman were absent.
The roof area of the dwelling is 7,388 square feet and the applicant is requesting a total of 7,388 square feet of detached accessory structures on the property, for a total aggregate of detached structures on the property to equal 100% of the roof area of the dwelling, according to a written staff report.
“The site plan depicts the detached garage/shop; it is 4,610 square feet. That’s the only thing on this request,” Staff Planner Sergio Solis said at a study session prior to the meeting. “However, because the request is for the deviation to be from 50% allowance from the primary residence, we have also included all of the proposals — a horse corral, a proposed shed, gazebo — all under separate permits and they do add up to the 100% of the primary residence, 7,388 square feet.”
The applicant is Ralph Pew of Pew & Lake PLC. The owner is Skinner Family Revocable Trust.
The variance supports the construction of a garage/storage building, future shed and horse corral and accessory buildings on an irregularly shaped lot with challenging topographical constraints, Pew said in a written project narrative.
“(T)he proposed garage building is located on the lower slope of the property behind the principal residence where it will be screened and obscured from view from surrounding properties. The finished floor is much lower than the surrounding properties,” it states. “Similarly, the shed and horse corral will be located in the lower slope area and will have minimal impact to surrounding properties,” it states.
The seven-member Mesa Board of Adjustment 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 Twitter @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
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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