Queen of Heaven Cemetery is expanding east of Stapley Drive and north of Baseline Road in Mesa with the addition of an office, garage and mausoleum.
A substantial conformance incentive permit for deviations from certain development standards was approved Oct. 4 by the Mesa Board of Adjustment in a 5-0 vote of a consent agenda with other items. Chair Alexis Wagner and Boardmember Chris Jones were absent.
The zoning on the site is agriculture and a cemetery use is permitted with the approval of a special-use permit, which the planning and zoning board will consider during an Oct. 25 meeting, Staff Planner Charlotte Bridges said in a study session prior to the Oct. 4 meeting.
The office is to be constructed to the north of an existing funeral home, a garage to the south and a mausoleum to the east of existing mausoleums, she said.
“The overall site plan for the cemetery shows a 59-acre cemetery. The existing cemetery is developed with burial sites already — it’s more the frontage on Baseline Road that has the burial sites at this point... approximately 800 feet in depth,” Bridges said. “In addition, there are several mausoleums already on the property as well as accessory maintenance buildings.”
The Diocese of Phoenix Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Homes is proposing the additions and improvements to the Queen of Heaven Cemetery, according to a written project narrative from Vespro.
“The proposed project additions and improvements consists of the following: One, a 2,545-square-foot funeral home office addition which will primarily be used as office space for cemetery staff — some staff currently housed in the funeral home will utilize this proposed office addition and thus provide more room in the funeral home; two, interior remodel of the existing funeral home which includes removing four interior walls, adding a couple of interior walls, an interior door and a window; three, an enclosed garage for two coaches and two minivans; and four, the mausoleums will provide additional capacity to the cemetery,” it states.
The seven-member board conducts public meetings to hear and decide requests for variances, special-use permits and interpretations of the city of Mesa zoning ordinance and sign code. Members are appointed for staggered terms of three years, 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.
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