A variance was recently approved to allow a security fence to exceed the maximum height in the front yard setback at a commercial office north of Broadway Road and west of Mesa Drive in Mesa.
The Mesa Board of Adjustment voted 5-0 on May 1 to approve the variance in the downtown business district. Absent were Vice Chair Shelly Allen and board member Nicole Lynam.
A 7-foot-tall wrought iron fence with concrete masonry unit pilaster reinforcements is planned.
“The site has double frontage off of Pomeroy and Mesa Drive,” Staff Planner Sergio Solis said during a study session prior to the meeting. “The maximum fence height is 3.5 feet of block wall. The code does allow for a height of 4.5 feet — 3 feet of block and 1.5 feet of opaque fencing. Just north of this site you do have existing block wall.”
Maximiliano Celaya is the applicant. Scout Real Estate LLC is the owner.
Neighbors to the north and south of the property already have 6- or 7-foot-high fences, which are built out of concrete blocks, according to a written project narrative from Scout Real Estate.
“This fence matches the height of the neighboring lots running along South Mesa Drive. This fence will improve the security of our property and the people that reside in it, without compromising visibility and connection to the right-of-way and sidewalk in front of the property,” it states. “The small entry gate will be within our driveway, so there will also be no interference with the pedestrian traffic. The fence is consistent with the surrounding area and will not constitute a special privilege.”
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.
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