By Richard Dyer
Mail | Twitter: @RHDyer

A 160-lot housing subdivision is to be constructed on 41 acres in Mesa now used as a commercial horse-boarding facility.

The Mesa Planning and Zoning Board recently voted unanimously in a consent agenda with other items to recommend that the Mesa City Council approve a site plan review for the development north of the 202 Red Mountain Freeway on the east side of Val Vista Drive. Board member Shelly Allen was absent.

The site is in the Pioneer Crossing planned area development, Planner Cassidy Welch said at a study session prior to the board’s April 13 meeting.

“The lots along the north side will face the [Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community] and then along the south there will be a connection to the canal along the southeast of the site,” she said.

Blandford Homes is the developer. Joseph W. Petrucci III of EPS Group is the design engineer/project manager. Hank Jansen is the survey project manager.

The 160-lot gated residential community would have a gross density of 3.90 dwelling units per acre, according to a written project narrative.

“The site is currently developed as an equestrian boarding, training and lesson facility,” it states. “This site is compatible with surrounding uses, which include other masterplanned communities as part of the Pioneer Crossing [planned area development] including planned agritainment, commercial and residential uses.”

Landscape within the Tyler Ranch residential subdivision has been designed to provide connectivity to open space amenities through the site, it states.

“On-site retention areas will be landscaped to provide areas for active and passive recreation, which are located within close proximity to all lots,” the narrative states.

The seven-member Mesa Planning and Zoning Board conducts hearings and makes recommendations to council on requests for changes in zoning and on required site plans.

It also considers and recommends 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, according to the city’s website.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley
@RHDyer

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.