Arizona Propane is building a 16,000-square-foot industrial office and shop in Mesa as its new headquarters.
The look and landscaping of the development on the northeast corner of East Pecos Road and South Mountain Road were discussed during the Nov. 10 meeting of the Mesa Design Review Board. Boardmember Denise Dunlop was absent.
The 6.2-acre site is vacant. There will be two access points from Pecos Road with public parking in the front of the building and employee parking in the rear, Staff Planner Chloe Durfee Daniel said at the meeting.
“Landscaping does include a variety of trees and shrubs both along the perimeter and around the foundation base and parking,” she said. “You will see that there is the public-access propane pump in the front that would be filled up with assistance from employees and then the larger tanks in the rear that would be accessed by the company’s trucks that would come in and out.”
The site will be Arizona Propane’s new headquarters, Matt Lubisich, a land-use attorney with Quarles & Brady LLP, told the design review board.
“It is going to take a vacant lot and establish Arizona Propane’s headquarters, consolidating three sites — Fountain Hills, Phoenix and the city of Mesa — into one,” he said.
The propane company has commercial and residential customers, according to a written project narrative.
“The office is open to the public but rarely used; most customers order their propane via phone. They average less than five customers per week,” it states. “The shop building is for maintenance on their vehicles; they perform general maintenance such as oil changes, brakes and miscellaneous repairs as required. The propane island in front is for public use. The island is manned by an employee.”
A gated back area is not open to the public and only authorized employees are allowed to enter this area, the narrative states.
“After the 9/11 attacks, (Department of) Homeland Security is very strict regarding any unauthorized people entering hazmat areas. The only areas the public is allowed is at the fueling station and the administrative office,” 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. 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.
By 
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here