An RMDC Dance Studio is to be constructed east of the southeast corner of East Warner and South Mountain roads in Mesa.
The development’s look and landscaping were discussed during the Feb. 10 meeting of the Mesa Design Review Board. Board member Denise Dunlop was absent.
The property is vacant and is next to a larger group commercial center, Staff Planner Chloe Durfee Daniel said during the meeting.
“There are two access points on the north side, one of which is a shared drive and then further connects with the group commercial to the east,” she said. “The proposed site is 15,344 square feet of gross floor area, and required and provided 41 parking spaces. The landscape plan includes several different tree and shrub species and is going through an alternative landscape plan.”
The two-story building includes the dance studio on the ground and second floor and four tenant suites on the ground floor, according to a written project narrative from Red Rock Design Build.
An alternative landscape plan was submitted to address site-specific constraints associated with a municipal well parcel and the resulting irregular site configuration, it states.
Project features, according to the written narrative, include:
Multiple dance studios with flexible instructional and performance spaces
Administrative and support functions
Four leasable suites for neighborhood-serving retail or service uses
Shaded pedestrian walkways and extended canopy elements
Architectural materials including brick, stucco, glazing, concrete and metal accents
Foundation-base landscaping incorporating enhanced planting, plazas and a shaded patio
Parking and circulation optimized and maximized while still providing improved access routes
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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