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PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD STUDY SESSION MINUTES September 9, 2026 The Planning and Zoning Board of the City of Mesa met in the Study Session room at City Hall, 20 East Main Street, on September 9, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. BOARD PRESENT BOARD ABSENT STAFF PRESENT Troy Peterson, Chairperson Jeff Pitcher, Vice Chairperson Evan Balmer Jayson Carpenter, Boardmember Kirstin Dvorchak Chase Hales, Boardmember Danika Heying Misty Klann, Boardmember Mary Kopaskie-Brown Genessee Montes, Boardmember* Cassidy Welch Scott Thomas, Boardmember Alexis Kay Wagner, Boardmember (*Participated in the meeting through the use of video conference equipment) Chairperson Peterson conducted a roll call. 1. Call meeting to order. Chairperson Peterson excused Vice Chair Pitcher from the entire meeting; Boardmember Klann arrived at 3:03 p.m. 2. Review and discuss items listed on the Public Hearing agenda for September 9, 2026. Historic Preservation Officer, Matthew Kriegl, reviewed agenda Item 3-a, Amendments to Chapters 23, 44, 66, 74, and 87 of Title 11, Zoning Ordinance, of the Mesa City Code, pertaining to Historic Preservation Overlays, Historic Signs, the Historic Preservation Board, and Historic District and Historic Landmark procedures. The amendments include, but are not limited to: repealing in its entirety Chapter 23 (Historic and Landmark Overlay Districts), Chapter 74 (Historic District and Historic Landmark Procedures), and Chapter 44 (Historic Signs) and replacing these three chapters with a new Chapter 74 (Historic Preservation Procedures); modifying Section 11-66-4 (Historic Preservation Board); and modifying Chapter 87 (Definitions) by adding a definitions for Certificate of Appropriateness, Historic District, Historic Landmark, Historic Preservation Overlay, Historic Resource, Historically Designated Sign, State of Disrepair. on the Planning and Zoning Board Public Hearing agenda and displayed a PowerPoint presentation. (See Attachment 1) Mr. Kriegl presented proposed historic preservation text amendments to Chapters 23, 44, 66, 74, and 87 of Title 11 of the Zoning Code, noting no revisions had been made since the July 22nd Planning and Zoning Board Study Session. He explained that the amendments aim to improve clarity, streamline procedures, increase consistency, and align with state and federal requirements by repealing Chapters 23, 44, and 77 and consolidating them into a new, comprehensive Chapter 74. This single chapter covers Historic Preservation Overlay, Planning and Zoning Board Study Session September 9, 2026 Page 2 Historically Designated Signs, Archaeological Resources, the Historic Property Register, and the appeals process. Key changes include clarifying application and review procedures for Certificates of Appropriateness, updating references to Secretary of the Interior standards and design guidelines, standardizing terminology, and modernizing public notice procedures. Mr. Kriegl detailed additional amendments, including updates to duty-to-maintain requirements, emergency repair procedures, historically designated sign processes, and Historic Preservation Board procedures, along with seven new definitions. Notably, the amendments extend the demolition stay from six months to a full year and introduce a new archaeological compliance section for public and private properties, incorporating cultural resource assessments in coordination with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs), and qualified professionals. He outlined the public review process, which included three Historic Preservation Board meetings, two community meetings, consultation with SHPO and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa and Gila River Indian Communities, and stakeholder reviews. He reported that on September 1st, the Historic Preservation Board voted unanimously to recommend adoption by City Council. Mr. Kriegl concluded by stating staff recommend the Planning and Zoning Board recommend adoption of the proposed text amendments and design guidelines. Historic Preservation Officer, Matthew Kriegl, reviewed agenda Item 3-b, Amendments to the Mesa Historic Preservation Design Guidelines that include but are not limited to Certificates of Appropriateness, Restoration, Rehabilitation, Additions, and New Construction Projects, Historic Districts and Landmarks, and Historic Building Types and Architectural Styles on the Planning and Zoning Board public hearing agenda and displayed a PowerPoint presentation. (See Attachment 2) Mr. Kriegl presented proposed amendments to the Mesa Historic Preservation Design Guidelines, noting the presentation summarized the July 22nd Planning and Zoning Board study session while providing updates on public outreach and board recommendations. He explained that the existing guidelines, established in 1996 and updated in 2001, required updating due to the growth of the preservation program and the expansion of historic districts from four to eight. The proposed document is organized into seven chapters and five appendices, addressing building materials, architectural details, additions, new construction, setbacks, landscaping, and signage. Mr. Kriegl highlighted that the guidelines are designed to streamline the Certificate of Appropriateness process, protect historic character, and guide property owners, contractors, and city leadership in making consistent decisions. He detailed the public outreach process, which included three Historic Preservation Board meetings, two community meetings, stakeholder reviews, and consultations with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs) of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa and Gila River Indian Communities. He noted that based on THPO feedback, staff requires additional time to finalize the historical context sections in Chapter 7 and Appendix E prior to City Council review. He reported that on September 1st, the Historic Preservation Board voted unanimously to recommend City Council adoption of the updated design guidelines, including the pending historical context revisions, without requiring the document to return to the Board for further review. Mr. Kriegl concluded by stating staff recommends the Planning and Zoning Board recommend adoption of the updated Mesa Historic Preservation Design Guidelines. Planning and Zoning Board Study Session September 9, 2026 Page 3 3. Planning Director’s Update. Legacy Park Planned Community District: Scheduled for final council action on Monday, September 14. 4. Staff Training. Assistant Planning Director, Evan Balmer, presented an overview of the city’s plan review process, detailing the sequential steps required for development proposals. He explained that while the "Planner of the Day" counter assists property owners with general zoning questions and over-the-counter single-residence variances, commercial, industrial, and multi-family developments undergo a formal pre-submittal process. Pre- submittals are accepted on Mondays, initiating an eight-working-day interdepartmental review involving Planning, Civil, Water Resources, Solid Waste, Engineering, and Transportation. Staff provides redline comment reports on Day 8, followed by 30-minute review meetings on Day 10 to discuss project feasibility before formal application. Mr. Balmer outlined the formal application phase, noting submittals are accepted bi- weekly on Mondays and require narratives, property owner authorizations, citizen participation plans, site and landscape plans, building elevations, and ALTA surveys. He highlighted that staff utilize structured calendar deadlines and iterative comment review meetings to streamline reviews. For projects advancing to public hearings, public notification occurs 15 days prior via Saturday newspaper publication, mailings to property owners within 1,000 feet, and physical site signage. Decisions rendered by the Board either move to electronic permit review or transition over approximately four weeks to City Council agendas. In response to Board inquiries, Mr. Balmer clarified that the City Archaeologist and Historic Preservation staff review projects concurrently during early review cycles for culturally sensitive areas. He confirmed that the Planner of the Day counter maintains access to internal interactive utility and quarter-section maps to assist applicants with infrastructure evaluations. He further noted that while speculative rezoning without an accompanying site plan is uncommon in Mesa, such requests follow a streamlined initial review focused on narrative and ALTA survey evaluations before requiring a full development plan review once a specific user is identified. 5. Adjourned. It was moved by Boardmember Klann, seconded by Boardmember Hales, that the Study Session be adjourned. Upon tabulation of votes, it showed: AYES –Peterson, Carpenter, Hales, Klann, Montes, Thomas, Wagner NAYS – None ABSENT– Pitcher Without objection, the Planning and Zoning Board Study Session adjourned at 3:38 p.m. I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Planning and Zoning Board Study Session meeting of the City of Mesa, Arizona, held on the 9th day of September 2026. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. Planning and Zoning Board Study Session September 9, 2026 Page 4 __________________________________________ TROY PETERSON, CHAIRPERSON DH (Attachments - 2)