Design reviewed for planned townhomes in Mesa

By Richard Dyer
Mail | X: @RHDyer

A 15-unit townhome development is planned south of the southeast corner of Broadway Road and Mesa Drive in Mesa.

The Mesa Design Review Board on June 10 discussed the look and landscaping for the facility on 0.6 acres.

Three three-story buildings are planned with access from Mesa Drive.

“There is an amenity area located on the west side of building three. They are proposing 30 garage spaces with four guest spaces,” Planner Evan Balmer told the design review board. “Covered entries at the ground level, balconies on the second floor.”

Tim Boyle of Atmosphere Architects is the applicant. 623 S Mesa LLC is the owner.

The development — called Highlights — is an infill project with angled edges on the facades that are in bright colors inspired by the nearby Mesa Urban Garden, a written project narrative from Atmosphere Architects states.

Another project feature is an amenity area that provides a landscape oasis, it states.

“It is inspired by the Underwood Family Sonoran Landscape Laboratory found on (University of Arizona) campus. There, HVAC condensate and rainwater are redirected to an above-ground retention area that also provides seating space. The retention has different landscape character areas at different depths. The water sequentially fills each basin until finally it fills the seating area too. We are designing the project’s amenity area to work similarly,” the narrative states.

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 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.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley

rdyer@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.