Staff Report

City of Mesa — Board of Adjustment Public Hearing (2026-11-04)

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Board of Adjustment Report
Date November 4, 2026
Case No. BOA26-00697
Project Name T0639 Target Mesa East Remodel
Request Special Use Permit (SUP) for a modification to a Comprehensive Sign
Plan (CSP)
Project Location 1525 South Power Road
Parcel No(s) 218-56-451
Project Area 10.5± acres
Council District District 6
Limited Commercial with a
Existing Zoning Planned Area Development
Overlay (LC-PAD)
General Plan Regional Center
Designation
Applicant Joanna Graham; Kimley-Horn
Owner Dayton Hudson Corp
Staff Planner Emily Johnson, Planner II
Recommendation
Staff finds that the requested Special Use Permit (SUP) for a modification to a Comprehensive
Sign Plan (CSP) meets the criteria outlined in MZO Section 11-46-3 and the required findings
outlined in MZO Section 11-70-5.
Staff recommends approval with conditions.
Project Overview

Request:
The applicant is requesting a Special Use Permit (SUP) for a modification to a Comprehensive
Sign Plan (CSP) for a retail use located in the Limited Commercial with a Planned Area
Development Overlay (LC-PAD) zoning district. Overall, the proposed modification to the CSP
will allow for deviations to attached signage allowances and will not include any changes to
previously approved detached signage.
Site Context
General Plan:
o The Placetype for the project site is Regional Center and the Growth Strategy is
Evolve.
o Retail is a principal land use.
Zoning:
o The project site is zoned Limited Commercial with a Planned Area Development
Overlay (LC-PAD).
o Retail Sales are permitted within the LC District.
Surrounding Zoning & Use Activity:
Northwest North Northeast
LC LC-PAD LC-PAD-PAD-CUP
Commercial Commercial Multiple Residence
West Project Site East
LC LC-PAD LC-PAD-PAD-CUP
Commercial Commercial Multiple Residence
Southwest South Southeast
(Across Superstition (Across Superstition (Across Superstition
Freeway) Freeway) Freeway)
LC-PAD LC-PAD LC-PAD
Commercial Commercial Commercial
Site History:
o November 3, 1986: City Council annexed 136± acres, including the project site, into
the City of Mesa (Ordinance No. 2137).
o April 6, 1993: The Board of Adjustment approved a Special Use Permit (SUP) for a
Comprehensive Sign Plan (CSP) for the Superstition Springs Development Master
Plan, including the project site, addressing community identification signs, boundary
markers, and real estate/development signs (Case No. BA92-033).
o November 9, 1986: The Board of Adjustment approved a Special Use Permit (SUP)
for a Comprehensive Sign Plan (CSP) for the development of Phase One (Target) of
a group commercial center. The application included three total attached signs for the
Target totaling 376 square feet and two detached signs on the Power Road and
Hampton Avenue frontages, each 13.5 feet in height and 114 square feet. The Target
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logo was limited to 6 feet in height, and the letters were limited to 5 feet on the Target
building and 2 feet on the Garden Center (Case No. BA93-012).
Project/Request Details
Site Plan:
o Access: The project site has multiple access points from both South Power Road
and East Hampton Avenue.
o Existing Signage: The project site currently has two detached signs that are 13.5
feet in height and 114 square feet and three attached signs, two Bullseye logo and
“Target” signs, each 168 square feet, and the “CVS Pharmacy” sign, 40 square feet,
as approved by Case No. BA93-012.
Comprehensive Sign Plan (CSP):
The applicant is requesting an SUP to allow for modifications to an approved CSP at the Target
store located within the Superstition Springs Development Master Plan. The requested
modifications include the removal of the attached signage logo and letter height maximum, a
total of four attached signs, an increase to the maximum aggregate sign area, and an increase
to the maximum sign area of an individual sign.
The CSP proposes to replace the three existing attached signs and add a fourth attached sign,
three on the front elevation (north) and one facing the Superstition Freeway (south), for a total of
four attached signs. The two Bullseye logo and “Target” signs will be 273.3 square feet each with
the “Target” letters being 5 feet 4 inches high and the Bullseye logo being 8 feet high. The “Drive
Up” sign will be 77.33 square feet, and the “CVS Pharmacy” sign will be 93.86 square feet. The
aggregate sign area proposed is 645.79 square feet.
Table 1 compares the Mesa Zoning Ordinance (MZO) standards for attached permanent signage
allowances in the LC district found in Table 11-43-3-D-1 of the MZO based on a front foot of
building occupancy of over 250 feet, the existing CSP attached signage standards, and the
proposed CSP modifications:
Development Standards MZO Allowance Existing CSP CSP Proposed
Maximum Number of
Permitted Signs – 5 signs,
plus one additional sign for
every additional 50-feet of 7 signs 2 signs 4 signs
occupancy up to a
maximum of 7 signs
MZO Table 11-43-3-D-1
Maximum Aggregate Sign
Area Calculation – 80% of
lineal front foot of 340 SF (424 lineal feet 376 SF 645.79 SF
occupancy up to a of front foot
maximum of 500 square occupancy)
feet
MZO Table 11-43-3-D-1
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Maximum Area Per Sign – 160 SF 180 SF and 40 SF 237.3 SF, 77.22 SF,
MZO Table 11-43-3-D-1 and 93.86 SF
Maximum Attached Sign
Letter Height and Logo N/A 5’ high letters Remove Standard
Height – 6’ high logo
Existing CSP Standard
Approval Criteria – Section 11-46-3(D):
Per Section 11-46-3(D) of the MZO, the Board of Adjustment must find at least one of the
following criteria are met in order to approve a CSP:
1. Unique or Unusual Physical Conditions: The project site is part of a larger commercial
center and is setback further from the street within that development. With the main
frontage setback approximately 510 feet from East Hampton Avenue, the additional
square footage of signage identifies not only the Target but the CVS Pharmacy service
within, helping to provide effective identification and wayfinding.
2. Unique Characteristics of Land Use, Architectural Style, Site Location or other
Distinguishing Features: The project site has a large overall physical scale and faces
two street frontages and the Superstition Freeway with the largest side having
approximately 424 lineal feet.
3. Incorporation of Special Design Features: This criterion is not applicable to this
application.
Special Use Permit:
Per Section 11-46-3(A), a CSP must be approved in conjunction with a SUP. Per Section 11-70-
5(E) of the City of Mesa Zoning Ordinance, the Board of Adjustment shall find all the following
criteria are met for approval of a SUP:
1. Advance the Goals and Objectives of and Consistency with the General Plan and
other Plan/Policies: The proposed CSP is consistent with the Regional Center Placetype,
and furthers the implementation of, and is not contrary to, the Vision, Guiding Principles,
Strategies, and applicable elements of the Mesa 2050 General Plan. The proposed CSP
will provide greater visibility and effective identification of uses and services contributing
to creating design and development standards that improve the City’s visual quality
(Strategy LU4).
2. Consistency with the Zoning District Purposes: The proposed CSP is consistent with
the location, design and operating characteristics and conforms to the goals and purposes
of the LC zoning designation on the project site. Retail uses are permitted as a land use
in the district and the site has developed with suitable infrastructure to support the use in
the district.
3. Project Impact Not Injurious or Detrimental: There will be no injurious or detrimental
impact to surrounding properties as the proposed signage integrates with the existing
development without altering the nature of the use or development overall. The improved
visibility the signage will provide will help with visitor navigation, contributing to easier
navigation and lessening safety concerns.
4. Adequate Public Facilities: The City of Mesa utilities and public infrastructure are
available to serve the proposed project.
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Findings:
A. Comprehensive Sign Plan (CSP) Modification
1. The development site contains unique or unusual physical conditions, such as
topography, proportion, size, or relation to a public street that would limit or restrict
normal sign visibility.
2. The proposed or existing development exhibits unique characteristics of land use,
architectural style, site location, physical scale, historical interest, or other
distinguishing features that represent a clear variation from conventional
development
B. Special Use Permit (SUP)
1. Approval of the Proposed Project will advance the goals and objectives of and is
consistent with the policies of the General Plan and any other applicable City plan
and/or policies.
2. The location, size, design, and operating characteristics of the Proposed Project
are consistent with the purposes of the district where it is located and conform with
the General Plan and with any other applicable City plan or policies.
3. The Proposed Project will not be injurious or detrimental to the adjacent or
surrounding properties in the area, nor will the proposed project or improvements
be injurious or detrimental to the neighborhood or to the general welfare of the City.
4. Adequate public services, public facilities and public infrastructure are available to
serve the Proposed Project.
Required Notification
The applicant provided letters to surrounding property owners within 500 feet of the project site,
notifying them of the public hearing.
As of writing this report, staff has not been contacted regarding the Proposed Project.
Conditions of Approval
Staff recommends approval of the Special Use Permit for the Comprehensive Sign Plan, subject
to the following conditions:
1. Compliance with the final sign plan as submitted.
2. Compliance with all requirements of Case No. BA93-012 except as modified through this
request.
3. Compliance with the Mesa Zoning Ordinance, including all applicable City Development
codes and regulations.
4. Compliance with all requirements of the Development Services Department regarding the
issuance of building permits.
5. Any sign components that become deteriorated, damaged, or weakened shall be
promptly repaired or replaced.
6. All signage be reviewed and approved through a separate sign permit application.
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Section 11-70-5 of the MZO allows for a revocation process if any condition, stipulation, or term
of the approval of the SUP has been violated. In addition to the conditions of approval above,
approval of the SUP is conditioned on the information provided by the applicant at the public
hearing and in the application (including any accompanying narrative and other supplemental
materials) not being false or materially misleading at the time of approval.
Exhibits
Exhibit 1 – Vicinity Map
Exhibit 2 – Project Narrative
Exhibit 3 – Sign Plan
Exhibit 4 – Existing Photos
Exhibit 4 – Power Point Presentation
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