Sign plan permit approved for The Nox music, entertainment venue in Mesa

By Richard Dyer
Mail | X: @RHDyer

A permit for a sign plan has been approved for The Nox music and entertainment venue on 3 acres west of the northwest corner of East Ray Road and East Seaver Avenue in Mesa.

The Mesa Board of Adjustment voted unanimously April 1 to approve a consent agenda with other items including the special-use permit for a comprehensive sign plan.

The undeveloped site is zoned light industrial with a planned-area development overlay, Staff Planner Kwasi Abebrese said during a study session prior to the meeting.

The permit would allow for a total of nine signs — two detached signs with a maximum sign area of 97 square feet and seven attached signs with a total sign area of 834.06 square feet, he said.

A monument sign will be adjacent to Seaver Avenue, Abebrese said.

“The design of the sign comprises illuminated pan-channel letters with a sculptural microphone element together with a moon orb, and this is designed specifically to match the brand architecture standards of the proposed musical and entertainment venue,” he said.

Darshan Dawson of Arizona Commercial Signs is the applicant. GIA 394 LLC is the owner.

Large-scale electronic message displays are needed for the venue that can host 996 people to advertise performances and events, it states in a written project narrative.

The plan incorporates three-dimensional sculptural elements to reinforce the entertainment theme, it states.

“This comprehensive sign plan and special-use permit for The Nox and Hotel Umbrella Studios is necessary to provide an effective, integrated and high-quality sign program featuring unique designs, exceptional quality and materials that reflect the singular nature of the project and its particular location,” it states. “Given its visionary concept as a premier entertainment venue that will attract entertainment, artists and visitors to a ‘music and cultural hub,’ the signage needs to go beyond what is typically allowed for light-industrial zoned properties.”

The 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.