A Black Rock Coffee Bar is to be constructed on 0.7 acres approximately 800 feet north of the northwest corner of Country Club Drive and Southern Avenue in Mesa.
The Mesa Board of Adjustment voted unanimously Nov. 6 as part of a consent agenda with other items to approve a substantial conformance incentive permit to allow deviations from certain development standards for a coffee shop with a drive-thru in the limited commercial zoning district.
Approval was granted in 2022 by the Board of Adjustment for a similar permit for a freestanding restaurant with an associated drive-thru. The permit has since expired and a new restaurant tenant is requesting similar development standard deviations for a limited service restaurant and drive-thru. As such, the site does not meet current setbacks, landscape yard requirements or parking area design, according to a written staff report from Planner Tulili Tuiteleleapaga-Howard.
“It is vacant today. In the past there was an existing Sizzler restaurant there that burned down in 2020. From then we reviewed a site plan proposal for an eegee’s restaurant that was approved in 2022,” Tuiteleleapaga-Howard said during a study session prior to the meeting.
The site plan shows a 650-square-foot building, an associated 1,200-square-foot outdoor patio and 28 provided parking spaces, she said.
Catherine Atchley of Atwell LLC is the applicant. Red Mountain Asset Fund I LLC is the owner.
The seven-member 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 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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