A legal nonconforming home with reduced setbacks can be enlarged near East Nielson Avenue and South Stapley Drive, the Mesa Board of Adjustment decided recently.
The seven-member board 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.
A special use permit to allow for the enlargement of the residential structure within the single residence-6 zoning district was approved in a unanimous vote Aug. 3 of a consent agenda with other items.
Minimum requirements in the zoning district include a 5-foot setback on either side as well as a 15-foot aggregate — or sum — of both sides. The home has setbacks of 4 feet on the east and 8 feet on the west for an aggregate of 12 feet, Staff Planner Chloe Durfee-Daniel said at a study session prior to the meeting.
“The existing use — a single-family residence — is allowed, but the property is legal nonconforming due to the existing site conditions,” she said.
The applicant is Alex Bautista. The owner is Alex Bautista Hernandez.
The planned 882-square-foot addition will relocate an existing kitchen, and add a master suite and a laundry room, according to a written justification and compatibility statement.
“The current residence is 949-square-feet livable, with a porch and carport totaling 397 square feet. The current status is ruled nonconforming due to side-yard encroachment. Current side-yard requirements are 15 feet aggregate; the existing side yards are 8 feet and 4 feet. The owner seeks approval of this special use permit to further expand the residence to the north of the existing structure,” it states.
Richard Dyer Managing Editor | East Valley @RHDyer
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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