The Mesa Planning and Zoning Board voted to recommend the city council approve the rezoning of the area of 623 S. Mesa Drive to create a series of townhomes at their recent meeting.
The vote passed 5-0 with boardmembers Benjamin Ayers and Genessee Montes absent during the Nov. 12 meeting.
The board discussed whether to rezone an area from multiple residence 2 to multiple residence-4 with a bonus intensity zone overlay to make a site plan review for a 15-unit multiple townhome development. The application was made by Tim Boyle of Atmosphere Architects on behalf of site owner 623 S Mesa LLC.
According to board documents, the building design would be made up off three three-story buildings, with attached two-car garages on the ground floor. Every unit will have two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a 60-square-foot balcony and 60-square-foot entry/patio. The project also would include 30 garage spaces and four guest spaces.
During the Nov. 12 study session, boardmember Chase Farnsworth asked planner Jennifer Merrill about sutainability requirements and how the development would manage heat,
“I’m aware of the efficiency with which these things are oftentimes built, and that doesn’t necessarily lend itself to the requirements of a sustainable enclosure to help reduce the heat load into the building for the occupants,” Farnsworth asked.
Merrill clarified in her response how that would work.
“The main amenity area with those tiered planters is providing an appropriate type of landscape setting,” Merrill said. “Using the content that condensates from the air conditioners, and the occasional rainwater to water those plants, that would be something that would go towards their environmental criteria.”
Staff members notified nearby property owners but no feedback was received outside of one phone call expressing concerns about density and height.
The seven-member Planning and Zoning Board conducts hearings and make recommendations to the City Council on requests for changes in zoning and on required site plans. It also considers and recommends changes in the city’s long-range plans and in the municipal code concerning planning and zoning matters. Members are appointed for staggered terms of three years.
After graduating from Arizona State University's Cronkite School in spring 2022, Connor Van Ligten spent a little over year as a reporter for WWL-TV in New Orleans before finding themselves back in Phoenix in October of 2023. Now back in the Valley and writing for the Mesa Independent and the Daily Independent, Connor is ready to tell meaningful stories and report on important civic issues facing Mesa. Connor is a big fan of the 49ers, Warriors, pro wrestling, anime, dogs and fighting video games.
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