Extracted text (via pymupdf_layout)
7100 characters
PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD STUDY SESSION MINUTES October 14, 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 October 14, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. BOARD PRESENT BOARD ABSENT STAFF PRESENT Troy Peterson, Chairperson Chase Hales, Boardmember Evan Balmer Jeff Pitcher, Vice Chairperson* Misty Klann, Boardmember Kirstin Dvorchak Jayson Carpenter, Boardmember* Danika Heying Genessee Montes, Boardmember Mary Kopaskie-Brown Scott Thomas, Boardmember Cassidy Welch Justin Trexler, 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. 2. Review and discuss items listed on the Public Hearing agenda for October 14, 2026. Staff Planner, Tulili Tuiteleleapaga-Howard reviewed agenda Item 3-a, ZON25-00943. "Waffle Flower Warehouse Rezone," 2.4± acres located at the northwest corner of East Thomas Road and North 54th Street. Rezone from Single Residence-90 (RS-90) to Light Industrial (LI), Site Plan Review, and Special Use Permit. This request will allow for an approximately 18,000± square foot Industrial development. (District 5). on the Planning and Zoning Board Public Hearing agenda and displayed a PowerPoint presentation. (See Attachment 1) Ms. Tuiteleleapaga-Howard reviewed the proposed landscape plan, which includes trees and shrubs within the foundation base around the building. She presented the building elevations, showing the south elevation from the public entry, as well as the east and west elevations. She noted that the accompanying Design Review Board case was reviewed at their work session yesterday and received no comments. Ms. Tuiteleleapaga-Howard displayed renderings looking north from Thomas Road and within the site, illustrating the visual impact from Thomas Road and 54th Street including the eight-foot perimeter wall and corner landscaping. (See Pages 3 through 9 of Attachment 1) Ms. Tuiteleleapaga-Howard reported that property owners, HOAs, and registered neighborhoods within a 1,000-foot radius of the subject site were notified, and staff have received no feedback regarding the proposed project. She concluded by stating that staff finds Planning and Zoning Board Study Session October 14, 2026 Page 2 the request complies with the zoning ordinance approval criteria and the General Plan and recommends approval with conditions. (See Pages 10 through 17 of Attachment 1) Staff Planner, Joshua Grandlienard, reviewed agenda Item 3-b, ZON26-00162. "Hawes Crossing Village 6 Remainder," 44± acres located at the northwest corner of the South Hawes Road alignment and East Warner Road. Rezone from Multiple Residence-5 with a Planned Area Development Overlay (RM-5-PAD), Office Commercial with a Planned Area Development Overlay (OC-PAD), and Limited Commercial with a Planned Area Development Overlay (LC- PAD) to Residential Small Lot-2.5 with a Planned Area Development Overlay (RSL-2.5-PAD). This request will allow for future development of State Land. (District 6). on the Planning and Zoning Board Public Hearing agenda and displayed a PowerPoint presentation. (See Attachment 2) Mr. Grandlienard noted that the General Plan designates the site as an Urban Center place type with an Evolve growth strategy designation, where single-family residential serves as a primary use. He explained that the small-lot residential development is intended to complement the Urban Center uses at the intersection and along Elliot Road, working alongside Village Seven to create a larger mixed-use community. Mr. Grandlienard displayed existing and proposed zoning maps along with the overall Hawes Crossing PAD context map, pointing out the subject State Land parcel located in the southern portion of Village Six, north of which single-family homes have previously been developed. He highlighted that commercial uses will be primarily focused along the northern corridor in Village Two and Village Seven. (See Pages 3 through 7 of Attachment 1) Mr. Grandlienard reported that citizen participation included two residents who attended the virtual meeting from the existing villages to the north and expressed support for the proposed use. He added that staff received one additional written comment earlier in the day. Mr. Grandlienard concluded by stating that staff recommends approval with conditions. (See Pages 7 through 9 of Attachment 1) In response to an inquiry from Boardmember Trexler regarding requirements for open space, urban plazas, and trails under the overall Hawes Crossing PAD, staff confirmed that specific site plans will be required to meet all applicable PAD open space and trail standards. Staff noted that because the parcel is currently state land undergoing the auction process, any future developer will be required to fulfill those design standards during subsequent site plan review. 3. Planning Director’s Update. • Infill & Redevelopment Policy: Planning Director, Mary Kopaskie-Brown, stated staff is currently collaborating with various city departments on an infill and redevelopment policy to address challenges associated with remnant and redevelopment parcels. She noted that staff is currently drafting two parallel ordinances and text amendments to address infill and redevelopment. A virtual open house for public participation is scheduled for next week on the 21st, with meeting details available on the city website. In response to a Board inquiry regarding non-financial incentives, Ms. Kopaskie-Brown confirmed that provisions such as reduced setbacks are being evaluated. When asked about potential maximum parcel size limitations, legal counsel advised against discussing substantive ordinance details to prevent potential Open Meeting Law concerns under the general update item. Planning and Zoning Board Study Session October 14, 2026 Page 3 • November Meeting: Due to Veterans Day falling on the second Wednesday, the Board will hold only one meeting in November, scheduled for the third Wednesday, November 18th. • December Meeting: The Board will hold a single meeting in December on December 9th. Staff noted for new board members that the final meeting in December features the annual holiday "ugly sweater" tradition, with participation from both board members and staff. 4. Adjourned. It was moved by Boardmember Trexler, seconded by Boardmember Montes, that the Study Session be adjourned. Upon tabulation of votes, it showed: AYES –Peterson, Pitcher, Carpenter, Montes, Thomas, Trexler, Wagner NAYS – None ABSENT– Hales, Klann Without objection, the Planning and Zoning Board Study Session adjourned at 3:45 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 14th day of October 2026. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. __________________________________________ TROY PETERSON, CHAIRPERSON DH (Attachments - 2)