Minutes

City of Mesa — City Council (2026-03-09)

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MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 10, 2025, PLANNING & ZONING BOARD MEETING 
 * * * * * 
Note: Audio recordings of the Planning & Zoning Board Meetings are available in the Planning 
Division Office for review. They are also “live broadcasted” through the City of Mesa’s website at 
www.mesaaz.gov 
6-b  
Proposed amendments to Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 20, 21, 22, 30, 31, 
32, 33, 34, 35, 42, 46, 56, 63, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 80, 81, 86, and 87 of Title 11 
of the Mesa City Code pertaining to administrative review in compliance with A.R.S. § 
9-500.49. The amendments replace, amend, and update procedures for submission, 
review, approval, modification, expiration, and enforcement for land use applications 
associated with administrative approval, along with corresponding revisions needed to 
align related provisions for consistency. The amendments replace, amend, and update 
development standards citywide to incorporate technical updates and objective 
standards in compliance with A.R.S. § 9-500.49. The amendments also include related 
changes in terminology and definitions, modifications to rules of measurement, and 
updates to alternative compliance. 
  
Planner: Rachel Phillips 
Staff Recommendation: Adoption 
 
Summary: 
The following citizen offered a series of comments in opposition to the proposed text 
amendment. 
• 
Adam Baugh, Withey Morris Baugh 
The proposed code amendments prompted a discussion regarding the timing of public 
 
notice and the interpretation of “change of use” within the proposed code amendments. 
 
Adam Baugh shared concerns regarding these points, staff explained that the  
 
development review process has not changed; projects only return to City Council 
 
when a change of use is tied to a site plan that was previously approved and stipulated 
 
by ordinance. The recent code revisions are intended to clarify, not expand, when a 
 
change of use constitutes a major site plan amendment—specifically when the change 
 
requires modification of an approved site plan, not when a simple tenant change occurs 
 
without site impacts. Board members expressed ongoing confusion about how “change 
 
of use” is defined, concerns about redevelopment impacts, litigation risk, and whether 
 
sufficient public review time was provided. Staff noted that similar issues have been 
 
litigated and upheld in the past, confirmed that most tenant changes remain 
 
administrative, and emphasized that public input will continue through upcoming 
 
Council study sessions and hearings. There was consensus that additional clarification 
 
language around “change of use” should be developed and included as part of the 
 
Board’s recommendation to City Council. 
 
Vice Chair Peterson made a motion to approve the proposed amendments to Chapters 
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 20, 21, 22, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 42, 46, 56, 63, 66, 67, 
69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 80, 81, 86, and 87 of Title 11 of the Mesa City Code pertaining to 
administrative review in compliance with A.R.S. § 9-500.49. The motion was seconded 
by Boardmember Pitcher. 
  
The Board recommends to adopt proposed amendments with conditions. 
 
1. Staff must clarify the meaning of "change of use" in Section 11-69-5 (and related 
sections) before the amended text advances to City Council.

MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 10, 2025, PLANNING & ZONING BOARD MEETING 
 * * * * * 
Note: Audio recordings of the Planning & Zoning Board Meetings are available in the Planning 
Division Office for review. They are also “live broadcasted” through the City of Mesa’s website at 
www.mesaaz.gov 
 
Vote (6-0;  Boardmember Montes, absent) 
Upon tabulation of vote, it showed: 
AYES – Ayers, Peterson, Pitcher, Blakeman, Carpenter, Farnsworth 
NAYS – None