Design reviewed for skilled nursing facility in Mesa

An 84-bed skilled nursing facility is to be constructed on 2.1 acres approximately 1,770 feet east of the northeast corner of North Higley Road and East Main Street in Mesa.

The Mesa Design Review Board on Dec. 10 discussed the look and landscaping for the facility.

A new single-story, 29,995-square-foot building with a courtyard is planned. A total of 84 beds will be provided. Parking will be on the east half of the site, with 68 parking stalls, according to city documents.

The north end of the parcel has a large warehouse that Velda Rose Methodist Church uses for its annual rummage sale. Velda Rose Methodist Church is working with the applicant and the city of Mesa to split the parcel to separate the warehouse from the skilled nursing facility site, according to a written narrative from Sean B. Lake and Sarah Prince of Pew and Lake PLC.

Typically, patients are to be referred to the facility from hospitals or other medical providers. The facility is not to offer walk-in accommodation. On average, a patient will stay approximately 30 days at the facility, but some may stay longer depending on their medical needs, it states.

“As seen on the conceptual floor plans, the rooms are divided into quads and separate space for men and women is provided. There is a common dining room, medical exam rooms, office space, staff lockers, laundry, a medical lab, a meeting room and wound-care rooms provided,” the narrative states. “As seen on the floor plan, there are four isolation rooms located near the nursing station. The isolation rooms are for patients who need to be kept away from other patients for overall safety and wellbeing. Patients will remain in isolation until a medical professional allows the patient to join a shared dorm room. This skilled nursing facility has been designed to accommodate a wide variety of needs on site.”

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.