Staff Report

City Council Report
Date: October 26, 2026
To: City Council
Through: Marc Heirshberg, Assistant City Manager
From: Nana Appiah, Development Services Director
Mary Kopaskie-Brown, Planning Director
Rachel Phillips, Assistant Planning Director
Matthew Kriegl, Historic Preservation Officer
Meghan Eaton, City Archaeologist
Subject: Mesa Zoning Ordinance text amendments (Updated Historic Preservation
Procedures) - Proposed amendments to Mesa City Code Title 11, Chapters 23, 44,
66, 74, and 87. (Citywide)
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Mesa City Council adopt the proposed amendments to Mesa City
Code Title 11, Chapters 23, 44, 66, 74, and 87 (Updated Historic Preservation Procedures).
At the September 1, 2026 meeting, the Historic Preservation Board unanimously recommended
that City Council adopt the proposed amendments to Mesa City Code Title 11, Chapters 23, 44,
66, 74, and 87 (Updated Historic Preservation Procedures) (6-0).
At the September 9, 2026 meeting, the Planning & Zoning Board unanimously recommended that
City Council adopt the proposed amendments to Mesa City Code Title 11, Chapters 23, 44, 66,
74, and 87 (Updated Historic Preservation Procedures) (7-0).
Purpose
Over time, City staff, the Historic Preservation Board, preservation professionals, and the
development community have identified opportunities to improve the organization, clarity, and
usability of Mesa’s Historic Preservation regulations. These discussions focused on reducing
redundancy, improving consistency, simplifying regulatory language, and creating a more intuitive
framework for applicants, property owners, and decision-makers while maintaining protections for
the City’s historic and archaeological resources.
As a Certified Local Government (CLG), a designation established under the National Historic
Preservation Act for local governments with an established historic preservation program, Mesa
is responsible for maintaining a qualified preservation board, an inventory of historic resources,
opportunities for public participation, and appropriate State or local regulations for the designation
and protection of historic properties.

The proposed text amendments include the applicable CLG regulations and responsibilities. The
updated Historic Preservation Procedures update and reorganize the ordinance to strengthen its
clarity, consistency, and administration while supporting the City’s ongoing local preservation
program.
The Updated Historic Preservation Procedures consolidate related provisions into a single
Historic Preservation Overlay chapter, organize regulations more logically, and remove repetitive
or outdated language. They also group similar resource types under common terminology where
appropriate, refine existing procedures and review standards, and improve administrative
efficiency. Collectively, these changes provide a clearer, more user-friendly regulatory framework
while maintaining protections for Mesa’s historic and archaeological resources.
Staff is recommending amendments to Mesa City Code Title 11 (Zoning Ordinance), Chapters 23,
44, 66, 74, and 87 to reorganize and modernize the City's Historic Preservation Procedures. The
Updated Historic Preservation Procedures are attached to this report as Exhibit 1 - Chapter 74:
Historic Preservation Procedures Text Amendments and Exhibit 2 – Chapter 74, Historic
Preservation Ordinance. Specifically, the proposed text amendments, will in part:
1. Consolidate City Historic Preservation regulations.
2. Enhance the clarity and usability of Historic Preservation procedures.
3. Streamline and improve the review of Historic Preservation projects.
4. Strengthen protections for Historically Designated Signs.
5. Establish a review process for Archaeological Resource compliance.
6. Define previously undefined terms.
7. Reformat and clarify Historic Preservation Board authority and duties.
Discussion
1. Consolidate City Historic Preservation regulations.
The City's Historic Preservation regulations are currently located in multiple chapters
throughout the Mesa Zoning Ordinance (MZO), requiring applicants, property owners, staff,
and the public to navigate several sections of the MZO to understand related Historic
Preservation requirements. Historic District and Historic Landmark procedures are currently
located in Chapter 74, Historic Preservation Overlay regulations are contained in Chapter 23,
Historic Sign regulations are located in Chapter 44, and related provisions are dispersed
throughout other chapters of the MZO.
To improve usability and administration, staff proposes repealing Chapters 23, 44, and the
existing Chapter 74 and replacing them with a new comprehensive Chapter 74, titled “Historic
Preservation Procedures.” The new chapter consolidates the City's Historic Preservation
regulations into a single location, improving organization, eliminating redundancy, and
creating a more cohesive framework for administering the City's Historic Preservation
program.
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The consolidated chapter includes procedures for the Mesa Historic Property Register,
Historic Preservation Overlay, Certificates of Appropriateness, Historically Designated Signs,
Archaeological Resources, and Appeals. This reorganization simplifies navigation of the
Ordinance while maintaining the overall intent of the City's Historic Preservation regulations.
2. Enhance the clarity and usability of Historic Preservation procedures.
The Updated Historic Preservation Procedures clarify existing procedures and review
standards, streamline the organization of the regulations, and improve the overall usability of
the City's Historic Preservation program. The changes are intended to make the regulations
easier to understand and administer for applicants, property owners, staff, and the Historic
Preservation Board.
The Updated Historic Preservation Procedures consolidate the existing Historic District and
Historic Landmark Overlays into a single Historic Preservation Overlay, creating one zoning
designation for all locally designated Historic Resources. This change simplifies
administration, reduces confusion associated with multiple historic overlay classifications, and
provides a more consistent regulatory framework without altering the intent of the existing
regulations.
The Mesa Historic Property Register (MHPR) section has also been revised to clearly identify
all locally designated Historic Resources subject to the Historic Preservation Overlay, while
the Supplemental Inventory List is proposed to include Historic Resources that have been
determined eligible for the MHPR but not yet formally designated.
Further, the designation criteria for Historic Resources have been updated to align with
nationally recognized historic preservation standards. Staff recommends Historic Resources
be evaluated consistent with the Secretary of the Interior's framework. These revisions create
a more transparent and predictable designation process.
3. Streamline and improve the review of Historic Preservation projects.
The Updated Historic Preservation Procedures reorganize and clarify the Certificate of
Appropriateness (COA) process to improve efficiency, consistency, and ease of
administration.
The Updated Historic Preservation Procedures clarify when a COA is required, identify
activities that qualify as ordinary maintenance and are exempt from review, clarify application
requirements, establish review timelines, and coordinate the COA process with building permit
issuance. The amendments further clarify that review decisions are based on the Secretary
of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, the Mesa Historic
Preservation Design Guidelines, and the MZO.
For properties within a Historic Preservation overlay (both approved and proposed), the
demolition process will be enhanced. The existing mandatory demolition delay after Historic
Preservation Board denial will be expanded from half a year to a full year. This was requested
by residents of the districts in coordination with our local historic preservation partners
including the Mesa Preservation Foundation and the Arizona State Historic Preservation
Office.
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The updated Historic Preservation Procedures also establish an expedited review process for
emergency repairs by allowing a COA to be issued concurrently with the associated building
permit when immediate repairs are necessary. Additionally, the amendments strengthen the
"Duty to Maintain" requirement. This provision requires designated properties to be
maintained and discourages demolition through neglect.
4. Strengthen protections for Historically Designated Signs.
The Updated Historic Preservation Procedures repeal the existing Historic Sign regulations
contained in Chapter 44 and incorporate them into the new Chapter 74 as an updated
“Historically Designated Signs” section.
The revised section clarifies the procedures for the designation, restoration, maintenance,
modification, and revocation of Historically Designated Signs. The amendments revise the
Mesa Historic Sign Register with updated eligibility criteria, application and review procedures,
restoration and maintenance requirements, and procedures for future modifications and
revocation of designation.
5. Establish a review process for Archaeological Resource compliance.
The Updated Historic Preservation Procedures establish a new Archaeological Resources
section within Chapter 74 to recognize the importance of the Mesa's archaeological past and
cultural heritage.
The new section requires that development comply with all applicable local, state, and federal
laws governing the protection of cultural resources. For private development, it is the
responsibility of the developer to consult with the City Archaeologist, State Historic
Preservation Office, Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, and other qualified professionals, as
appropriate.
Prior to excavating on land owned or controlled by the City, the developer shall consult with
the City Archaeologist who may conduct an archaeological assessment to determine whether
the property contains protected cultural materials governed by applicable local, state, or
federal laws and regulations.
6. Define previously undefined terms.
The proposed amendments to Chapter 87 add a new category of definitions titled “Historic
Preservation Related Definitions.” These terms are currently used throughout the Zoning
Ordinance but have never been formally defined. All the other definitions in Chapter 87 shall
remain the same. New definitions include:
Certificate Of Appropriateness: An official document issued by the City of Mesa
confirming that proposed work on a Historic Resource is compatible with the historic
character of the Historic Preservation Overlay. The certificate authorizes the specified
work to proceed and permits the issuance of any required construction permit(s) related
to the approved scope of work.
Historic District: A collection of Historic Resources which possess a significant
concentration, linkage, continuity or are united historically or aesthetically by a plan or
physical development and is designated with a Historic Preservation Overlay.
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Historic Landmark: Any Historic Resource that is an exceptional example of the
historical, archaeological, cultural, architectural, community, aesthetic, or artistic heritage
of the City and is designated with a Historic Preservation Overlay.
Historic Preservation Overlay: A zoning designation that is used in conjunction with an
underlying base zoning district and includes regulations for a Historic Landmark or Historic
District to preserve the historical significance of Historic Resources.
Historic Resource: Collectively, the building(s), structure(s), object(s), site(s),
archaeological resource(s), and district(s), that together, retain historical, architectural,
archaeological, or cultural significance within the corporate limits of the city.
Historically Designated Sign: A sign that meets the criteria for establishment outlined in
Section 11-74-5(D) of the Zoning Ordinance and has been approved by the Historic
Preservation Board.
State Of Disrepair: The deterioration of any significant exterior feature on a Historic
Resource in a Historic Preservation Overlay which would have a detrimental effect on the
distinctive character of the Historic Resource itself or that of the district.
7. Reformat and clarify Historic Preservation Board authority and duties.
The proposed amendments to Section 11-66-4 revise and reformat the organization and
operation of the Historic Preservation Board. The revisions confirm that the section specifically
governs the Historic Preservation Board, designates the Historic Preservation Officer (or
designee) as Secretary to the Board, and clarify that a minimum of four members constitutes
a quorum for conducting official business.
These amendments are administrative in nature and improve the clarity of the Board's
procedures without substantially changing the Board's existing authority or responsibilities.
Citizen Participation
Historic Preservation Board (Discussion) - August 1, 2023
Staff presented the initial draft of the Updated Historic Preservation Procedures to the Historic
Preservation Board for discussion and public input.
Community Outreach Meeting - August 24, 2023
The public was invited to attend a community outreach meeting to review and discuss the
proposed Updated Historic Preservation Procedures and proposed revisions to the Historic
Preservation Design Guidelines (Updated Guidelines).
Staff received comments from attendees, many of which related to the Updated Guidelines or
other related issues rather than the proposed text amendments.
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Historic Preservation Board (Discussion) – September 5, 2023
The Historic Preservation Board gave a recommendation of approval to the City Council with the
following changes: 1) Define State of Disrepair; 2) Remove “Historic District” language from 11-
74-4(F) 1; 3) Add to the code related to Stay of Demolition, on the time frame “if parties agree to
extend;” 4) Stay of Demolition for 1 year based on the importance of neighborhoods and history
for existing Historic Districts and 180 days for the supplemental list.
While staff continued to edit the document based on Board feedback, it was ultimately never sent
to the Planning & Zoning Board for their review and recommendation to City Council.
Historic Preservation Board (Discussion) - July 7, 2026
Staff presented a revised draft of the Updated Historic Preservation Procedures to the Historic
Preservation Board for review and public comment.
Discussion focused primarily on the administration of the Supplemental Inventory List,
archaeological resource provisions, and coordination with preservation partners, including the
Arizona State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the Mesa Preservation Foundation.
The Board's comments and recommendations were considered and incorporated, as appropriate,
into the proposed Historic Preservation Procedures text amendments.
Community Outreach Meeting - July 21, 2026
A second community outreach meeting was held to present the revised Updated Historic
Preservation Procedures and Updated Guidelines. The general assessment of the updated
amendments by the attendees was positive. There was appreciation that the updated
amendments were mostly focused on clarification and reorganization rather than adding
additional content. There was a question about where the extended delay for demolitions came
from – which was requested by the Historic Preservation Board and SHPO along with some
neighbors – and how the extended time would allow for more alternative options – which would
be in coordination with the HPB. Overall, the neighbors seemed pleased with the Updated Historic
Preservation Procedures and there was no opposition to the proposed changes.
Planning & Zoning Board (Study Session) - July 22, 2026
Staff presented the Updated Historic Preservation Procedures at the July 22, 2026, Planning &
Zoning Board Study Session. There was a question about the extended demolition procedure and
how that was proposed, to which staff responded it was a request from the Historic Preservation
Board and members of the public.
One member of the public attended and did not provide comments on the proposed text
amendments. Board comments and questions have been addressed by staff.
Historic Preservation Board (Action) - September 1, 2026
Staff presented the final draft of the Updated Historic Preservation Procedures to the Historic
Preservation Board for discussion and recommendation to City Council.
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The Board voted unanimously to recommend that City Council adopt the proposed Mesa Zoning
Ordinance text amendments (Updated Historic Preservation Procedures).
Planning & Zoning Board (Action) - September 9, 2026
Staff presented the final draft of the Updated Historic Preservation Procedures to the Planning &
Zoning Board for discussion and recommendation to City Council.
The Board voted unanimously to recommend that City Council adopt the proposed Mesa Zoning
Ordinance text amendments (Updated Historic Preservation Procedures).
Additional Outreach and Coordination
In addition to the public meetings, staff conducted ongoing coordination with the Arizona SHPO
and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs). The Updated Historic Preservation Procedures
were provided to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) and Gila River
Indian Community (GRIC) THPOs for review, and staff incorporated feedback received through
subsequent coordination. Staff also engaged with the Mesa Preservation Foundation during the
development of the Updated Historic Preservation Procedures.
Information regarding the Updated Historic Preservation Procedures has also been made
available on the City's website to provide additional opportunities for public review and comment.
No comments have been received by staff.
Implementation
Staff recommends the ordinance approving the Updated Historic Preservation Procedures
become effective 30 days from the date of City Council approval.
Exhibits
Exhibit 1 – Chapter 74: Historic Preservation Procedures Text Amendments
Exhibit 2 – Chapter 74: Historic Preservation Procedures Ordinance
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