A 3,356-square-foot automobile service facility is to be constructed north of the northeast corner of South Val Vista Drive and East Southern Avenue in Mesa.
The Mesa Design Review Board discussed the look and landscaping for the Val Vista Oil development during an Oct. 13 meeting. Vice Chair Ryan Circello was absent.
It will be constructed within an existing commercial development, Staff Planner Tulili Tuiteleleapaga-Howard said at the meeting.
“Currently existing there right now is just some parking spaces to accommodate the existing shops,” she said. “(T)he proposed site plan ... includes the 2,200-square-foot main floor and internal 1,156-square-foot pit area. We have six parking spaces provided on-site and as part of the overall use it’s a two-bay oil-change facility.”
The landscape plan has existing and new trees and shrubs, Tuiteleleapaga-Howard said.
Existing trees include Mexican fan palm, fruitless olive and acacia. New trees include Texan mountain laurel. New shrubs include fairy duster, bougainvilla, hesperaloe and yucca, according to city documents.
The automotive oil-change facility will be an infill development within an existing 30-year-old commercial retail center, Tim Nielsen, architect with Farnsworth Construction Co., said in a written project narrative.
“The project introduces a fresh architectural identity to the center while maintaining compatibility with the surrounding commercial context along Val Vista Drive,” he said. “The applicant proposes a stained split-face (concrete masonry unit) base matching the existing Safeway Shopping Center, an articulated masonry wainscot and two types of superior ornamental steel siding systems.”
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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