The airport is operated by the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority. PMGAA consists of representation from Apache Junction, Mesa, Queen Creek, Gilbert, Gila River Indian Community and Phoenix.
An aviation air flow test facility with a blast wall is to be constructed on 16 acres in the SkyBridge Arizona development at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.
The look and landscaping for the industrial development east of Sossaman Road and north of Pecos Road were discussed at a recent meeting of the Mesa Design Review Board.
The property is zoned light industrial with a planned area development overlay, Staff Planner Sean Pesek said at the board’s June 13 meeting.
“This request is for an air-flow test facility associated with an aerospace manufacturer,” he said. “The site plan is showing two structures totaling over 5,500 square feet. There’s a control building, a control room, there’s a blast fence for the equipment and then there’s also a structure that contains the air-testing equipment.”
Trees include mulga, sonoran emerald palo verde, mesquite, ocotillo, bank catclaw and emu bush; and shrubs and vines include red bird of paradise, hopseed bush, emu bush, yellow yucca and Texas sage, according to the landscaping plan.
Glenn Klipfel of ADM Group Inc. is the applicant. SkyBridge LLC is the owner.
“It’s part of a bigger project that you will see eventually. It’s in the works,” Jeffrey E. Flemming of ADM Group Inc. said at the design review board meeting. “The blast fence ... directs the air up.”
ADM Group has been contracted to develop a new aviation manufacturing site and one of the essential components of the site is the air-flow test facility, Flemming said in a written project narrative.
“The site will comprise of two structures: one for safeguarding the air-flow equipment and the other for accommodating the control center and a small office. The equipment building will be constructed using tilt concrete and steel framing around the equipment to ensure the utmost safety and stability. The building will have insulated metal doors and frames, along with coiling doors that can be used for both security and operation,” it states.
“The project has a very tight schedule, with the goal of testing the facility during the fourth quarter of 2023,” the project narrative states. “Once completed, the site will be further developed to include the manufacturing facility, providing a state-of-the-art facility for aviation manufacturing that meets the highest industry standards.”
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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