Sign plan permit approved for Fairfield by Marriott in Mesa

By Richard Dyer
Mail | X: @RHDyer

A special-use permit for a comprehensive sign plan for a Fairfield by Marriott hotel about 1,600 feet west of the northwest corner of South Signal Butte Road and U.S. Highway 60 was recently approved by the Mesa Board of Adjustment.

The board voted 6-0 on Sept. 2 to approve the permit as part of a consent agenda with other items. Board member Gordon Sheffield was absent.

The sign plan is for a hotel development in the limited commercial zoning with a planned-area development overlay district, Planner Kwasi Abebrese said during a study session prior to the meeting.

“The proposed (sign plan) would allow for a total of five signs comprised of four attached signs and one monument sign. Per code the total number of attached signs permitted ... is three and the proposed (sign plan) will allow for an increase in the maximum number of attached signs from three to four signs,” he said.

“(T)he maximum aggregate sign area permitted in the (limited commercial) district ... is 160 square feet and the proposed (sign plan) will allow for an increase in the aggregated maximum sign area from 160 square feet to 345 square feet,” Abebrese said.

Arizona Sign and Lighting LLC is the applicant. World Travel Inns X LLC is the owner.

The signs are needed to provide site identification and visibility for a Fairfield by Marriott hotel from multiple street frontages and approach directions, according to a written project narrative from Universal Sign Installation LLC.

“Due to the scale and architectural configuration of the multistory hotel building, signage on multiple elevations is necessary to provide clear wayfinding and branding visibility for guests approaching the property from different directions within the surrounding commercial and roadway network,” it states.

The seven-member Board of Adjustment 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. 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/.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley

rdyer@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.