An Oregano’s restaurant is to be constructed north of Elliot Road on the west side of Signal Butte Road in Mesa.
The planned look and landscaping for the development on 2 acres were discussed during a recent meeting of the Mesa Design Review Board.
The property is part of a master-planned development with large-scale industrial buildings and some commercial buildings, Staff Planner Cassidy Welch said during the Sept. 12 meeting.
“This site is for an approximately 3,900-square-foot restaurant building with an approximately 800-square-foot outdoor dining area. The site will be accessed through shared drive aisles from both Signal Butte and Elliot roads,” she said.
According to the landscape plan, trees include desert museum, evergreen elm, hybrid mesquite, Texas mountain laurel and Mexican bird of paradise; accents and vines include agave, bougainvillea, yucca and deer grass; and shrubs include orange jubilee, littleleaf olive, blue bell emu and bells of fire.
Robert Barberio of Sixty First Place Architects is the applicant. TTRG Mesa Elliot Signal AZ LLC is the owner.
The project will be built on a pad that is part of a larger development called Gateway tech center, Barberio said in a written project narrative.
“The proposed building will be 4,100 square feet with a foyer, indoor dining, a bar, orders-to-go room, kitchen and restrooms. There is a 330-square-foot covered entry and an 875-square-foot covered dining patio,” he said. “Ceilings are intentionally kept low with exposed pipes and ductwork to give patrons a ‘grandma’s basement’ ambiance. Their decorative style is eclectic with lots of posters, furnishings and unusual objects, which evoke a fun and interest as part of the dining experience.”
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.
By 
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here