Presentation

City of Mesa — City Council Study Session (2026-02-05)

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Administrative Review Text Amendments
Council Approved Site Plan Modifications
Mary Kopaskie-Brown, Planning Director
Rachel Phillips, Assistant Planning Director
February 5, 2026

Background
• HB 2447
Requires objective standards and administrative 
approval of site plans, development plans, plats, etc.
Streamline processes
Establish predictable processes
• Modifying MZO (Design Review and Site Plan Process) to 
meet new requirements
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• Council approved Rezoning (PAD, BIZ, Overlay, etc.) 
• Requires an ordinance with approved rezoning - site 
plans are often approved in conjunction with 
rezoning
• Ordinance typically includes a condition of approval 
requiring “compliance with the final site plan as 
submitted”
Council Approved Rezonings and Site Plans
Current Process

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• Site Plan Modifications
• If site plan modifications MEET “minor site plan 
amendment criteria” - approved administratively
• If site plan modifications DO NOT MEET criteria 
(major site plan amendment) – City Council approval 
may be needed 
• Typically, zoning is not changing
• Site plan criteria evaluated - recommendation on 
site plan changes to City Council 
• Mesa Zoning Ordinance classifies this as a 
“rezoning”
Council Approved Rezonings and Site Plans
Current Process (Continued)

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Council Approved Site Plan Modifications
Proposed Administrative Review Text Amendments
• Legislative Development Plan Modification - Meets 
EITHER of the following general criteria:
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Rezoning or Overlay Request
•
Development Plan Condition Modification – but only if:
•
Change in Site Plan exceeds objective criteria 
•
Cumulative increase/decrease in total GFA over 15%
•
An increase in the residential density approved
•
The addition of a drive-thru lane
•
An increase in traffic generation (TIS or TIA) over 15%
•
Change in Use
• Administrative Development Plan Modification
• Other Site Plan Modifications

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• Option 1 - Maintain Existing Process
• Council approval of site plans with condition of approval 
requiring “compliance with the final site plan as submitted”
• Option 2 – Staff’s recommended approach related to Council 
approval
• Two prong test – the change in the site plan exceeds the 
objective criteria and there is a change in use
• Option 3 – Provide that all site plan changes are 
administratively approved
• Planning Director approval of all site plan modifications
• Includes site plans approved by Council with a condition of 
approval requiring “compliance with the final site plan as 
submitted”
Council Approved Site Plan Modifications
Options

Questions?

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