Presentation

City of Mesa — Planning and Zoning Board - Public Hearing (2026-06-24)

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2026 Zoning Code Refinement 
Text Amendments
City of Mesa
Rachel Phillips, Assistant Planning Director
Sean Pesek, Senior Planner

DEVELOPMENT SERVICES –
PLANNING 
DIVISION
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Code Refinement – What’s Being Changed?
•
Updates to definitions (Chapters 86 and 87)
•
Minor changes to certain land use tables
•
Minor adjustments to development standards

3
Code Refinement – Definition Updates
Chapter 86
• Boarding House - Clarified that an ADU may not be used as a 
Boarding House
• Home Occupations – Updated definition to be consistent with 
Chapter 87’s Home Occupation definition
• Skilled Nursing Facility – Reclassified from Residential Use
to Public and Semi-Public Use
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Code Refinement – Definition Updates
Chapter 86
•
Live/Work Unit - Revised to emphasize residential use 
while allowing permitted non-residential activities.
•
Indoor Warehousing and Storage – Revised to focus on 
storage, distribution, and handling activities, including 
certain hazardous material groups (H-1 or H-2) if the 
number of control areas does not exceed 3.
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Code Refinement – Definition Updates
Chapter 86
• Hazardous Material Warehousing and Storage (NEW) 
Facilities exceeding H-1 or H-2 thresholds or; 
Containing more than three control areas as regulated by 
Fire Code.
Chapter 87
• Updated terminology from “Lot Line” to “Property Line” 
throughout, including Front, Rear, and Side references.
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Table 11-7-2 – Land Use Table for Employment Districts
• Corrected footnote references for loading and unloading 
requirements associated with Large Commercial Development 
and General Retail Sales.
• Added Hazardous Material Warehousing and Storage to the use 
table as an allowed use with a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) 
in the LI, GI, and HI Districts. Prohibited in all other 
Employment Districts.
Code Refinement – Land Use Table Updates
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Code Refinement – Changes to Development Standards
Section 11-5-4(A)(2) – Entryway Monumentation Feature
• Clarified that subdivisions providing only one access point 
are only required to provide one monumentation feature. 
Section 11-5-4(G)(2) – Minimum Use of Primary Materials
• Clarified that minimum material variation requirements apply to 
façades facing both public and private streets, alleys, open 
space, and parks. 
• Clarified that the 85% maximum material limitation applies to 
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Code Refinement – Changes to Development Standards
Section 11-30-6 – Lots and Subdivisions
• Clarified that lots within a shared commercial or office 
development can use internal access and are not required to 
front a public or private street if cross-access easements 
are in place.
Section 11-30-8 – Pedestrian Connections
• For required separation between pedestrian walkway and auto 
lane, removed option for bollards (safety concern).
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Code Refinement – Changes to Development Standards
Section 11-30-9 – Screening of Mechanical Equipment
• Added allowance for the use of vinyl artistic wrapping to 
screen electrical transformers in lieu of physical 
screening
• Requires approval from the Planning Director or designee
Section 11-30-17 – Detached Accessory Buildings
• Reduced the minimum required separation from 6 feet to 5 
feet.
• Clarified that the separation standard applies to the primary 
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Code Refinement – Changes to Development Standards
Section 11-31-3 – Accessory Dwelling Units
• Clarified that properties with an existing single residence 
may have one attached ADU and one detached ADU regardless 
of zoning district, provided the residence remains the 
primary use of the property.
• Clarified that an ADU cannot be used as a boarding house.
• Introduced a min. 5’ separation standard from the primary 
residence, other ADUs, and detached accessory buildings.
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Code Refinement – Changes to Development Standards
Sections 11-31-36 & 11-31-37 – Substation Screening
•
For Data Centers: Revised substation screening standards 
to require upper screening elements to be between 50% and 
75% opaque.
•
For BESS Facilities: Revised substation screening 
standards adjacent to public rights-of-way to require 
upper screening elements to be between 50% and 75% opaque.
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Code Refinement – Changes to Development Standards
Section 11-34-2 – Manufactured Home Accessory 
Structures
•
RV Parks/Subdivisions + MH Parks/Subdivisions: Excluded 
covered parking areas from the  accessory structure size 
maximum
•
MH Parks: Removed requirement for internal opening to the 
MH
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Code Refinement – Changes to Development Standards
Section 11-67-4 – Written Protests Requiring 
Supermajority Vote
•
Reorganized and clarified written protest procedures and 
mandatory supermajority voting requirements for City 
Council actions.
•
Clarified that government-owned property is excluded when 
calculating the 20% written protest threshold.
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Public Outreach & Notification
May 6
May 7
May 27
June 15
June 
18
June 6
TA 
Draft 
emailed 
to 
Stake-
holders 
P&Z 
Board
June 24
Public 
Hearing 
Email 
Reminder
Virtual 
Open 
House
News-
paper Ad
Website 
Updated
Draft TA 
Posted to 
Website
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15
Questions?
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