Staff Report

City of Mesa — City Council (2026-06-01)

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City Council Staff Report 
Date 
May 18, 2026 
Case No.  
ZON25-00578 
Project Name 
New Life Fellowship Hall Building 
Request 
Site Plan Review to allow for an approximately 6,421± square foot Place of 
Worship 
Project 
Location 
Approximately 1,770± feet east of the northeast corner of West Broadway 
Road and South Dobson Road 
Parcel No(s) 
134-32-036A 
 
Project Area 
0.6± acres 
Council District 
District 3 
Existing Zoning 
Light Industrial with a 
Planned 
Area 
Development Overlay 
(LI-PAD) 
General Plan 
Designation 
Local 
Employment 
Center 
Applicant 
Ron Hecht, Valley Architecture, Inc. 
Owner 
James MacMillan, New Life Full Gospel Fellowship, Inc. 
Staff Planner 
Chloe Durfee Daniel, Planner II 
Proposition 207 
Waiver Signed 
Yes

[2] 
Recommendation 
Staff find that the Proposed Project is consistent with the Mesa 2050 General Plan, the Mesa 
Gateway Strategic Development Plan, and the review criteria for Site Plan Review approval 
outlined in Section 11-69-5 of the Mesa Zoning Ordinance (MZO).   
Staff recommends approval with conditions. 
Planning & Zoning Board Recommendation: 
On April 22, 2026, the Planning and Zoning Board voted (6-0) to recommend that City Council 
approve, with conditions, the Proposed Project. 
Project Overview 
Request: 
The applicant is requesting approval for a Site Plan Review for an approximately 6,421± square 
foot Place of Worship (Proposed Project).  
On August 15, 2005, City Council rezoned the project site from Light Industrial to Light Industrial 
with a Planned Area Development overlay (LI-PAD) and approved a Site Plan Modification for the 
larger 19± acre development (Case No. Z05-063; Ordinance No. 4438). Condition of Approval 
No. 2 of Ordinance 4438 requires review and approval by the Planning and Zoning Board, Design 
Review Board and City Council of future development plans.  
The Proposed Project will require approval of City Council. 
Concurrent Applications: 
 
Design Review: Design Review Board meeting was held on April 14, 2026.  Staff will work 
with the applicant to address the comments related to the proposed elevations and 
landscape plan (DRB25-00993). 
Site Context 
General Plan:  
 
The Placetype for the Proposed Project is Local Employment Center and the Growth 
Strategy is Evolve. 
 
Public/Semi-Public uses, such as a Place of Worship, are supporting land uses, that when 
integrated with a variety of other low-intensity business operations and commercial uses, 
and located with convenient access to commercial areas that provide services and 
amenities, create areas that can complement residential areas. 
 
The Proposed Project is consistent with the Local Employment 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.

[3] 
 
Supporting General Plan Strategies: 
o LU1. Promote a balance of land uses to enhance the quality of life for current and future 
generations. 
o LU3. Encourage infill and redevelopment to meet the community’s strategic needs. 
Sub-Area Plan: 
 
The Proposed Project is located within the West Main Street Area Plan and specifically 
located within the Industrial Corridor. 
 
The Proposed Project is consistent with the Industrial Corridor of the West Main Street 
Area Plan by supporting infill and redevelopment of the area. 
Zoning:  
 
The project site is zoned Light Industrial with a Planned Area Development Overly (LI-
PAD). 
 
A Place of Worship is a permitted use within the LI District. 
Surrounding Zoning & Use Activity: 
The Proposed Project is compatible with surrounding land uses, which includes a place of 
worship, commercial, office, retail, auto sales, and industrial users. 
Northwest 
LI-PAD 
Industrial/Office/Warehouse 
North 
LI-PAD 
Industrial/Office/Warehouse  
Northeast 
LI-PAD 
Retail  
West 
LI-BIZ 
Auto Sales 
Project Site 
LI-PAD 
Vacant 
East 
LI-PAD 
Commercial and Place of 
Worship 
Southwest 
(Across Broadway Rd.) 
LI 
Auto Sales 
South 
(Across Broadway Rd.) 
LI 
Auto Sales 
Southeast 
(Across Broadway Rd.) 
LI 
Auto Sales 
Site History: 
 
January 4, 1967: City Council annexed 399± acres, including the project site, into the City 
of Mesa (Ordinance No. 538). 
 
August 26, 1991: City Council approved Council Use Permit and a Major Site Plan 
Modification to allow for a 25,000 square foot retail store to the site.  (Case No. Z91-031; 
Ordinance No. 2632).

[4] 
 
September 3, 1991: The Board of Adjustment approved a variance for landscaping and 
screening requirements in conjunction with the expansion of the larger development (Case 
No. BA91-022). 
 
May 2, 2001: The Design Review Board reviewed 117,928 square feet of building space 
(Case No. DR01-034). 
 
August 15, 2005: City Council approved a rezoning from LI to LI-PAD and a Site Plan 
Modification for 19± acres (Case No. Z05-063; Ordinance No. 4438).  
 
October 5, 2005: The Design Review Board reviewed the building elevations and 
landscape plan for 18,120 square feet of retail building adjacent to the proposed project 
(Case No. DR05-081).  
Project/Request Details 
Site Plan: 
 
Building Design:  
o The 6,421± square foot Place of Worship will be a single-story structure situated on 
the currently vacant pad on the site.  
o The southeast side of the building is the main entrance and a large, covered entry 
plaza with a pedestrian path to the public sidewalk along Broadway Road and the 
other Place of Worship building.  
o The Proposed Projects meets the requirements for Places of Worship as per Section 
11-31-22 of the MZO, which include landscaping and screening to the standards of 
the Limited Commercial (LC) zoning district. 
 
Access: The shared entrance drive will allow access from the southwest of the building to 
the larger group industrial center and then drive aisles circle the building.  
 
Parking:  
o Per Table 11-32-3.A of the Mesa Zoning Ordinance (MZO), 49 parking spaces are 
required.  
o The group industrial center provides for a shared parking agreement as a part of the 
CC&R’s and provides enough parking to meet all user requirements.  
 
Landscaping: The building features new foundation base landscaping as well as 
landscaping along the right-of-way and within the parking lot meeting all landscaping 
requirements.

[5] 
Citizen Participation 
The applicant conducted a Citizen Participation process, notifying surrounding property owners, 
HOAs, and registered neighbors.  
Neighborhood Meeting: 
A neighborhood meeting was held on February 12, 2026. One attendee was at the meeting and 
did not indicate any concerns, but wanted to know more about the proposed project.  
Required Notification: 
 
Property owners within 1,000 feet, HOAs within ½ mile, and registered neighborhoods 
within one mile of the subject site were notified of the public hearing.  
 
Staff received no questions on the Proposed Project. 
Conditions of Approval 
Staff recommends approval of the Site Plan Review, subject to the following conditions: 
1. Compliance with the final site plan as submitted. 
2. Compliance with all requirements of Design Review Case No. DRB25-00993. 
3. Compliance with all applicable City development codes and regulations. 
4. Installation of all off-site improvements and street frontage landscaping during the first 
phase of construction. 
Exhibits 
Exhibit 1 - Presentation  
Exhibit 2 - Ordinance 
Exhibit 3 - Ordinance Map  
Exhibit 4 - Vicinity Map  
Exhibit 5 - Site Plan  
Exhibit 6 - Minutes  
Exhibit 7 - Submittal Documents