By Richard Dyer
Twitter: @RHDyer

An eegee’s restaurant with a drive-thru in a limited commercial district can be constructed with deviations from certain development standards, a city board decided recently.

The request for a substantial conformance improvement permit for 1050 S. Country Club Drive was approved in a 6-0 vote Jan. 5 by the Mesa Board of Adjustment, with Chris Jones absent.

It will be constructed at the site of a previous Sizzler restaurant, Staff Planner Chloe Durfee-Sherman said during a study session Jan. 5.

“The existing condition is that there are nonconforming landscape yards along the east property side that currently don’t conform with our code requirements as well as nonconforming parking lot design including the setback of cross access, which does not conform with current code requirements,” she said. “All new improvements do conform with the Mesa zoning ordinance development standards.”

The applicant is Holly Keilman of eegee’s. The owner is Red Mountain Asset Fund I LLC.

The parcel is currently underused, containing an old restaurant that is beyond repair from a previous fire, said Keilman, eegee’s real estate and construction coordinator, in a written justification statement.

“The new eegee’s restaurant will enhance the site by constructing a ground-up restaurant with a drive-thru. The existing parking lot will be redesign with new landscape areas added, aligning to Mesa code requirements,” Keilman said. “Our site design for every eegee’s restaurant assures that the facility complements the community it serves by creating architectural interest and appeal with appropriate and attractive landscaping. Adherence to community objectives is key to ensuring each eegee’s restaurant is both a neighborhood asset and an economic success. We look forward to continuing working with the city of Mesa on this project.”

Mesa Board of Adjustment meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at the City Council Chambers, 57 E. First St. 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 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.