Blue Sky Pest Control plans to move its headquarters from Gilbert to 2.4 acres at the northwest corner of South Sossaman Road and East Ray Road in Mesa.
The development’s look and landscaping were discussed during the Feb. 10 meeting of the Mesa Design Review Board. Board member Denise Dunlop was absent.
A 26,000-square-foot office and warehouse building is planned and will be accessed from two drive aisles on the east side from 71st Street. A total of 57 parking spaces are required and are provided, Staff Planner Kwasi Abebrese said during the meeting.
“On the east side is the main entrance in the building as well as a 900-square-foot entry plaza. On the west side is a proposed truck-loading area, and this area would be screened from public view with an 8-foot-tall masonry wall,” he said. “The project features landscaped foundation base as well as landscaped parking areas, which include a variety of trees and shrubs. In addition, a landscape yard is proposed along 71st Street with a 3.5-foot-tall masonry wall to screen adjacent parking areas.”
Trees include Chinese elm, red push pistache and Texas mountain laurel, Abebrese said.
Vince Dalke of Dalke Design Group represented the applicant at the meeting.
“We designed this new headquarters for Blue Sky Pest Control,” he said. “This is going to be their home. They reside in Gilbert now. They are moving to Mesa, bringing their staff and expanding it here. This building is a little bit unique in that neighborhood — in that industrial park — and that is mainly an office building in an industrial area.”
The site’s interior has a looped vehicle circulation allowing for access to the warehouse from a gated yard while providing tenant parking, access to the right of way and maintaining the city-requested 50-foot stacking at both entry points, Dalke said in a written project narrative.
The main material of the building is exposed masonry block with two textures as well as metal awnings and stucco, it states.
“The building is designed with a clean, majestic theme with lighter-tone stucco material laid within a fabric of gray-toned masonry with different finish textures to provide an authentic and stately headquarters design,” it states in the narrative. “The massing of the project identifies the main entry height with an element allowing for the tenant signage and identity.”
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. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines, https://www.yourvalley.net/civility-checklist/.
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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