The owner of four industrial buildings totaling 614,544 square feet east of the northeast corner of South Sossaman Road and East Pecos Road in Mesa is seeking to add outdoor storage yards to attract tenants.
The Mesa Planning and Zoning Board voted 6-0 Jan. 8 as part of a consent agenda with other items to recommend that the city council approve rezoning the 36-acre Palm Gateway property from employment opportunity to general industrial. Boardmember Genessee Montes was absent.
The site was rezoned in 2022 from agricultural to employment opportunity and opted into the Pecos Road Employment Opportunity Zone, a site plan was approved and four industrial buildings were constructed, Planner Kwasi Abebrese said during a study session prior to the meeting.
“The applicant is now seeking to modify that approved site plan to include areas for outdoor storage. However, outdoor storage is not a permitted use in the Pecos Road Employment Opportunity (Zone) plan so the applicant is therefore requesting a rezone to GI to allow for the addition of outdoor storage yards,” he said.
The site is within the Mesa Gateway strategic development plan and is in the logistics and commerce district, Abebrese said.
“Outdoor storage is permitted as an accessory use in the GI district only if confined to the rear one-half portion of the lot,” he said. “The approved site plan shows four industrial buildings ranging from approximately 92,000 square feet to 289,000 square feet.”
Brad Cushard of Logistics Properties Co. is the applicant. LPC Mesa Gateway LP is the owner.
The project at 8130, 8134, 8138 and 8142 E. Pecos Road is constructed with certificates of completion issued by Mesa already in place, according to a written project narrative from Logistics Properties Co.
“Currently all four buildings are vacant and leasing activity is slow. The current (Pecos Road Employment Opportunity Zone) zoning has precluded prospective tenants, who require outdoor storage, from locating at this development in Mesa. Rezoning to GI will widen the prospective tenants who can locate at these buildings,” it states.
The seven-member board conducts hearings and makes recommendations to the City Council on requests for changes in zoning and on required site plans. The board also considers and recommend changes in the city’s long-range plans and in the municipal code concerning planning and zoning matters. Members are appointed for staggered terms of three years.
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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