Nine commercial buildings are to be demolished and a 550-unit apartment complex is to be constructed south of Southern Avenue on the east side of Alma School Road in Mesa.
The look and landscaping for the 16.5-acre Anton-Mesa Fiesta development were discussed at a recent meeting of the Mesa Design Review Board.
The area is zoned limited commercial with a planned area development overlay associated with a larger previous master plan for a mid- and high-rise commercial development, Staff Planner Sean Pesek said at the board’s April 11 meeting.
“A council use permit is being requested for residential in the (limited commercial) zoning district, so the zoning will actually remain as LC; that’s primarily why the (council use permit) is needed,” he said. “We’re looking at eight multiple-residence buildings. There are 550 units proposed. There are two private amenity spaces — one that is centralized and then one that’s further south along Holmes Avenue.”
An existing 50,000-square-foot park will be preserved and integrated into the development, he said.
Benjamin Graff of Quarles & Brady LLP is the applicant. Michael Yanicelli of Anton Development Co. LLC is the owner.
Nine of the 10 existing commercial buildings on the site will be demolished and replaced with new multifamily buildings. Feed My Starving Children, a nonprofit organization, will stay within the site but relocate to a new building, according to a written project narrative.
The apartment complex will have a maximum height of 62 feet at five stories, it states.
“Anton-Fiesta Mesa’s new residents will create a dependable customer base within walkable distances to the surrounding and future commercial uses and (limited commercial) zoned properties,” according to the project narrative. “The Anton-Fiesta Mesa model is not intended for short-term renters, but rather those who are looking for a long-term and eventually permanent residence within the city of Mesa.”
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 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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