The look and landscaping of a planned Mesa police, fire and medical public safety facility north of Brown Road on the east side of Power Road recently was discussed by the Mesa Design Review Board.
The board is to vote on the design at a 4:30 p.m. Sept. 13 meeting, in the lower City Council Chambers 57 E. First St.
A rezoning for the property to public/semi-public is to be discussed at the 4 p.m. Sept. 14 meeting of the Mesa Planning and Zoning Board in the City Council Chambers.
Landscaping has been increased on the north and east sides of the planned public safety building as a buffer to existing single-residence homes, Staff Planner Cassidy Welch said at the Aug. 9 meeting of the Mesa Design Review Board.
“The proposed building features a variety of materials which include [concrete masonry units], concrete, metal and glass,” she said. “We find that the proposed design meets the quality, development design guidelines including the emphasis of the building entrances, consistent with the surrounding area, a diversity in massing and a variety of materials.”
Funding is to come from the 2018 public safety bond program, another city staff member told the design review board.
Two area neighbors voiced their concerns about the proximity of the police and fire/medical facility to homes.
The site is the wrong place for a substation, Patrick Moir of the 7000 block of East Gary Street said.
“We all bought our homes because it’s residential; we didn’t expect the police substation there,” he said. “My main issue is the back gate onto Granada. They’re going to say it’s for emergency use. You’re talking about an emergency facility; they’re going to run people through our neighborhood constantly.”
Donald Ehrie of the 1300 block of North 69th Place also disagrees with the use of a back exit.
“It’s right next to our house... They’re really going right past our area, right where we live. We have other issues as far as lighting. When we moved in there we had no idea we were going to have an issue with lighting and now we’re going to have a station there and also lights,” he said.
A city staff member said the back gate is to be manually opened, is not to be automated and would only be for emergencies.
Aaron Stouffer of Architekton is the applicant. The city of Mesa is the owner.
The Northeast Public Safety Facility at 1333 N. Power Road will combine a new 14,937-square-foot fire/medical services station with a new 28,743-square-foot police substation and also have 6,754 square feet of common spaces that will be shared by the police and fire departments, according to a written project narrative.
Common spaces are to include a community meeting room, public restrooms, main mechanical rooms, main electrical rooms, main IT room, fire riser room, janitor facilities, physical training, interview room and lobby.
“The police substation will house a patrol unit, street crimes unit, criminal investigations unit, holding, evidence drop, administration and support facilities. The police side is programmed for maximum occupancy of 150 personnel,” it states. “The fire/medical station will contain an apparatus bay (for four vehicles), dormitories, living areas and administration. The fire/medical side is programmed for 14 personnel.”
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 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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