Presentation

City of Mesa — City Council (2026-01-26)

View PDF Meeting page

Extracted text (via pymupdf) 2506 characters
Board Organization and Realigned Duties
Proposed Text Amendments
January 12, 2026
Mary Kopaskie-Brown, Planning Director
Rachel Phillips, Assistant Planning Director

• Attendance at Planning and Zoning Board declining 
• P&Z has an essential role
• Recommendations on significant land use Matters
• Need for a fully seated Board
What we have heard…
City Council
2

Staff Proposal – P&Z Alternates
• Addition of three alternates
Help ensure a full Board is seated to make key 
recommendations
Protect quorum at all meetings to provide 
schedule certainty for applicants and residents
Build a pipeline of trained candidates for future 
full appointments
Allow the Chair to seat an alternate as needed
3
3

Staff Proposal – P&Z Qualifications
• Modify composition of P&Z
• Recommend for P&Z
3 design professionals including 1 
contractor/developer
4 community representatives
3 alternates – at least 1 design professional or 
contractor/developer
• Mirror DRB composition
4
4

Alignment with State Legislation
• HB 2447 signed by the governor on March 31, 2025
• Requires Legislative bodies
Establish administrative review processes for 
approval of design plans to be based on 
objective standards without public hearings
5
5

Proposed Text Amendments
Title 2 – Boards and Commissions
• Add three alternate members to the Planning and 
Zoning Board
• Terms identical to regular Board Members 
(Maximum of two three-year terms)
• Eligible for future appointment on Board
6

Proposed Text Amendments
Title 11 - Mesa Zoning Ordinance
• Modify Planning and Zoning Board Composition
• Two design professionals 
• One contractor or developer
• Four at-large members from the community
• Modify Authority and Duties of Planning and 
Zoning Board and Design Review Board
• Modify Appeal Bodies and Types – based on new 
responsibilities
7

8
Proposed Design Approval Structure
Combine Site Plan and Design Review 
Processes (“Development Plan Review”)
1)
Align responsibilities of reviewing and 
approving bodies
• Meet all development and 
design standards
• Not requesting a rezone, PAD, 
BIZ, CUP, SUP, or other 
deviation
• Alternative Compliance
• Municipal Projects 
(recommendation)
• As Directed by Council
• Planning Director Referral
• Planning Director Appeal
• PC District Matters
• Previous Approval Condition
2)
• Rezone, PAD, BIZ, CUP, or SUP
• PC District Matters
• Project Specific Design 
Guidelines & Standards
Planning Director
Design Review Board
Planning & Zoning Board

Questions?

10