By Richard Dyer
Mail | Twitter: @RHDyer

A 16-townhome development is planned south of Brown Road and east of Country Club Drive in Mesa.

The Mesa Planning and Zoning Board recently voted unanimously in a consent agenda with other items to approve a site plan review for the development on 1.2 acres. Board member Shelly Allen was absent.

A single-family residence is presently on the property, Planner Sean Pesek said at a study session prior to the board’s April 13 meeting.

“We’re looking at four two-story buildings,” he said. “Pedestrian circulation is provided throughout and the units furthest north have direct connection to the existing sidewalk and then connections from the guest parking areas along the east side as well.”

Jessica Carlson of Newmark Homes is the applicant. Equity Connect Holdings LLC is the owner.

The units will be two stories and have three bedrooms with approximately 1,384 livable square feet, according to a written project narrative.

“Each unit will have a two-car, alley-load garage and private open space in the form of a shaded courtyard in the front,” it states. “The proposed development will provide surface parking and have utility connections to the existing public mains in Ninth Place. Stormwater retention will be provided in underground retention along the western edge of the property with dissipation through stone bed infiltration.”

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.