Developers of a 664,000-square-foot industrial site had to put the brakes on construction plans and seek a new approval from the city of Mesa because their design approvals had expired.
The Mesa Design Review Board on Aug. 12 discussed the look and landscaping for the facility on 38.8 acres approximately 1,300 feet east of the intersection of East Germann and South Ellsworth Road in Mesa. Chair Dane Astle was absent.
Both a design review approval and an administrative design change approved in June 2023 expired in September 2024, according to city documents.
“This one is a little bit unique in that this previously had been approved through the design review process. However that approval had expired just as the applicant was looking to pull their building permits. So that’s why you’ll see this one today,” Staff Planner Joshua Grandlienard said during the meeting.
Andrews Design Group is the applicant. AEI Arizona OZ Fund LLC is the owner.
The design concept is to provide a relief from the long traditional look of industrial buildings, according to a written project narrative.
“The parapets of all those masses and elements vary from the 40-foot baseline and cuts into the tilt-up wall to create negative opening and help provide vertical relief every 50 feet. The color scheme uses a mixture of greys and blues to help break up masses and articulate the design elements even more,” it states.
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. 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.
By 
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here