An outdoor storage facility for Magna Steyr is to be shaded with eight canopies totaling nearly 218,000 square feet on Pecos Road east of Power Road in Mesa.
The development’s look and landscaping at 7237 E. Pecos Road were discussed during the Aug. 11 Mesa Design Review Board meeting. Board member Nicole Lynam was absent.
An alternative-compliance request is being sought to allow for the canopies at a storage area, Staff Planner Joshua Grandlienard said at the meeting.
“The operator is doing manufacturing for auto services and as part of that they are storing the product on this particular site... (E)ssentially they are tuned up in the building ... and then driven over to this lot,” he said. “It is eight different canopies... (T)he concerns from planning staff are those ones directly off of Pecos. Generally we want to ensure that the public view is up to quality.”
The canopies covering 217,932 square feet are to protect the vehicles from weather from hail to UV rays or anything in-between, Grandlienard said.
The proposed silver-colored shade membrane is not a temporary fabric product, Vehicle Protection Services said in a written alternative compliance request document.
“It is an engineered material manufactured for permanent architectural shade applications, with documented resistance to UV degradation, tearing, fraying, fading and wind exposure. In combination with the structural steel support system, it constitutes a durable and climate-appropriate assembly for Arizona conditions,” it states. “Its visible surfaces are limited to the membrane and support framing necessary to create shade over the open lot.”
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. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines, https://www.yourvalley.net/civility-checklist/.
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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