By Richard Dyer
Twitter: @RHDyer

A Valleywise Community Health Center is being constructed on 2.8 acres owned by Maricopa County west of Stapley Drive on the north side of Main Street in Mesa.

The Mesa Planning and Zoning Board recently voted unanimously in a consent agenda with other items to approve a preliminary plat for the development. Board members Shelly Allen, Jeffrey Crockett and Troy Peterson voted by Zoom.

The property is zoned limited commercial and multiple-residence with an historic district overlay, Planner Jennifer Gniffke said during a study session prior to the board’s Jan. 26 meeting.

“The historic district overlay is just for the northwestern portion of the property and the longstanding use on those two parcels was a parking area, so there were no structures that were impacted by this development,” she said.

The site is owned by the Maricopa County Special Health Care District and has already been approved for construction of a health center, according to a written staff report.

“The health center is a medical use anticipated to serve the residents of the area. The property is owned by Maricopa County and the health center currently under construction does not require site plan or design review; however, the subdivision regulations require city review of the plat,” it states.

Abhay Khaire of Dibble Engineering is the applicant. Maricopa County Special Health Care District is the owner.

A 25,853-square-foot building is being constructed for the outpatient clinic, according to a project narrative from Dibble Engineering.

“Project includes a one-story primary care clinic including a clinical area, imaging — x-ray and ultrasound, retail pharmacy, lab, family learning center and specialty behavioral health clinic. This building is based on a prototype clinic currently under construction in Phoenix and is site-adapted across the county,” it 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.