Gravity Energy Drinks planned at Power, Baseline in Mesa

The Gravity Energy Drinks is to be attached to an existing retail building on the east side of the 2100 block of South Power Road and the north side of the 6800 block of East Kiowa Avenue in Mesa.

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By Richard Dyer
Mail | Twitter: @RHDyer

Allowing deviations from certain development standards at a planned Gravity Energy Drinks restaurant east of Power Road and south of Baseline Road will be considered in August by the Mesa Board of Adjustment.

The item was to be discussed and voted on at the board’s July 5 meeting. Due to technical difficulties, the meeting was not called to order and all items were continued to the Aug. 2 meeting that begins at 5 p.m. for a study session and 5:30 p.m. for a meeting in the lower council chambers, 57 E. First St.

The case is a request for a substantial conformance improvement permit to allow for deviations from certain development standards to allow for the development in a limited-commercial zone with a planned area development overlay district.

The proposed limited-service restaurant with drive-thru is an 820-square-foot building that will be attached to an existing retail building, according to a written report from Staff Planner Kwasi Abebrese.

“The retail building and the existing site improvements were constructed in the late 1980s. Several aspects of the existing site design do not conform to current development standards,” he said. “The subject site does not conform to the landscape standards outlined in ... the Mesa zoning ordinance and the required setback for cross drive aisles and the standard parking stall dimensions .... Therefore, the subject site is considered legal nonconforming.”

The substantial conformance improvement permit will allow the retail building and the existing conditions to remain to enable the proposed development of the restaurant with a drive-thru, Abebrese said.

Andy Goforth of Verde Building Corp. is the applicant. KFH 2121 Power Road LLC is the owner.

The existing building will be updated to match the Gravity Energy Drinks addition at 2121 S. Power Road, providing a uniform, cohesive look, according to a written project narrative.

“Redwood-colored Nichiha siding along with stacked stone and cream-colored stucco blend nicely with the Dunkin Donuts and the Tire Center built to the north of the site,” the project narrative states.

The seven-member Mesa 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 Twitter @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley
@RHDyer

rdyer@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.