An industrial development is to be expanded on 10 acres west of Hawes Road on the south side of Pecos Road in Mesa in part to open a Metso Academy Training Center.
The look and landscaping for the Metso Minerals Industry Inc. expansion are to be discussed by the Mesa Design Review Board at a 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13, meeting in the lower council chambers, 57 E. First St.
It was on the agenda for the board’s July meeting but has to be heard again because letters sent to adjacent property owners about the meeting were late.
“Due to a noticing delay, this request does need to be on the Aug. 13 DRB work session agenda to make sure that any members of the public that may have received a notice a few days late are able to come and speak to the case if they wish,” Staff Planner Jennifer Merrill said during the board’s July 9 meeting.
A 25-foot-tall masonry building and a 54-foot-tall metal building are adjacent to the site, she said during the July meeting.
“The maximum height allowed in the light-industrial zoning district is 40 feet but the 54-foot-tall existing metal building was approved through a height exception in 2013,” she said.
“The site plan shows the new 27,654-square-foot building expansion. The overall expansion includes a 7,047-square-foot training center and that’s going to be located just west of the existing front of the building; it’s going to be a new masonry building. The expansion also includes a 17,596-square-foot warehouse and that is in the back of the existing 54-foot-tall building and it is a new pre-engineered building, all attached. There’s also a 3,011-square-foot service and parts expansion area.” Merrill said.
Dennis Newcombe of Gammage & Burnham PLC is the applicant. Metso Minerals Industry Inc. is the owner.
Metso USA Inc. is proposing to expand its existing 10-acre site at 8223 E. Pecos Road. The site is surrounded mostly by industrial and warehouse uses as well as some office and storage facilities, according to a written project narrative.
Because of an increased demand for mineral products and to meet the need from its mining customers, Metso needs to expand the existing Mesa service center, it states.
“This expansion will allow for the installation of two large computer numerical control machining centers as well as additional assembly bays, inspection bays, quality areas and welding systems. Two new indoor overhead cranes will be installed and the existing 65-ton indoor overhead cranes will be upgraded with features that will improve safety and efficiency. Besides safety improvements to the cranes, existing high bay lights will be replaced by LED lights to increase light levels, $400,000 has been set for guarding and general safety improvements, and the additional space will decrease congestion,” the project narrative states.
The expansion includes an advanced and fully equipped training center to bridge the knowledge gap between people, equipment and operational goals, it states.
“The new Metso Academy Training Center will support multiple ways of learning, outfitted with state-of-the-art simulators and digital training assets, in addition to classroom and hands-on learning areas. These trainings are on the newest technologies of which many are part of Metso’s planet-positive offerings. This equipment plays a crucial role in the processing of minerals for the clean energy transition. This will be Metso’s first ground-up dedicated training center in the world. The training center will attract up to 20 individuals per training with a target of 90 trainings per yea,” 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. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@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.
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