Anyone Interested How Planning & Zoning Works? Clue = It Is Complicated

 

This post if mostly cut-and-dry and detailed to illustrate the multiple facets of what goes on at PZ meetings, study sessions and hearings. The tentative and final agendas are listed on a meetings calendar you can find on mesaaz.gov .
Here's a link >> http://mesa.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
Condensed below are five pages taken from published agendas, with hard copies available at the meetings as well as a sign-in sheet.
Individual items on agendas have links to the documents and maps associated with each for you to either download or open prior to scheduled meeting times, viewing the materials and plans can take hours! What "average citizen" can really do that??

Nonetheless, your MesaZona blogger took the time on Tue 16 August 2016 to go to the 7:30a.m. PZ Study Session the day before a public hearing took place [didn't attend, but anyone can watch a video-on-demand for the hearing ].
The Agenda for the Tuesday Study Session caught my eye for a presentation that was on the published agenda the day before for a Downtown Mesa Update Presentation by Jeff McVay that, as it turned out didn't happen - it was postponed, rescheduled to be heard at the Sept 20, 2016 Study Session.
You gotta have extraordinary patience to get this: take the time to scan over the items and then watch the video-on-demand for the public. 
On the day before what did happen was a review of the items on the tentative agenda for the next day's regular PZ Board Hearing whose final agenda [5 pages] is shown below - the same items.
[Readers should note that all the board members are nominated by the mayor and approved by the Mesa City Council.]
Staff planners, and John Wesley Powell, were on one side and board members on the other facing each other in the front of Room 170 at City Hall. There was a lively give-and-take on all the agenda items I had the time to listen to, noting that Tim Boyle and Steve Ikeda were the most engaged with the staff planners

These are the Items on the final consent agenda the next day: [13]

• 3 Zoning cases *3-a through *3e reviewed were for an assisted living facility, a medical facility, a 3.1-acre single-residential subdivision, a 9+-acre light industrial development and associated storage yards, a 365 plus/minus-acres to establish a Development Unit Plan for Unit 5 North @ Eastmark,
• 4 Discussion and recommendations to the City Council were made on the following zoning cases *4a through *4-c for: a 1.67-acre development for development of 16 attached single residences within a multi-residential district, a 15-acre development of a multi-residential project, and a 1.16-acre for an outpatient surgical facility.
• 5 Discussion and action on preliminary plats *5-a through *5-e  for: 17+-acre Sunland Spring [condos], a 1.67-acre for Pasadena Estates, a 2.7-acre for Villa Rialto II, a 3.1-acre for Diamond Court, and a 9-acre Red mountain Business Park

6 Items not on the consent agenda: Take action on
   6-a Rezone and Site Plan Review for a 2.7-acre multi-residential development


City of Mesa Planning and Zoning Board - Public Hearing
Meeting Agenda - Final
Wed 17 August 2016

Chair Michael Clement
Vice Chair Michelle Dahlke
Board members:
Dane Astle
Steve Ikeda
Jessica Sarkissian
Jennifer Duff
Tim Boyle

Consent Agenda - All items listed with an asterisk (*) will be considered as a group by the Board and will be enacted with one motion. 
There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Boardmember or citizen requests, in which the item will be removed from the consent agenda, prior to the vote, and considered as a separate item.     
Items on this agenda that must be adopted by ordinance and/or resolution will be on a future City Council agenda. 

Anyone interested in attending the City Council public hearing should call the Planning Division at (480) 644-2385 or review the City Council agendas on the City's website at www.mesaaz.gov to find the agenda on which the item(s) will be placed.
Call meeting to order.
1 Take action on all consent agenda items.
Items on the Consent Agenda
2 Approval of minutes from previous meetings.
PZ 16203 Minutes from the July 19, 2016 and July 20, 2016 Study Sessions and Regular Hearing

*2-a
Page 1 City of Mesa Printed on 8/16/2016
August 17, 2016Planning and Zoning Board - Public Hearing Meeting Agenda - Final

3 Take action on the following zoning cases: [5]
   3 Approved with conditions, 2 continued to Sept 21 meeting

*3-a
PZ 16193 Z16-037 District 1. 2810 North Val Vista Drive and 3558 East McDowell Road.  Located at the northwest corner of McDowell Road and Val Vista Drive.  (1.69± acres).  Site Plan Review.  This request will allow development of an assisted living facility. (PLN2016-00379). 
Staff Planner:   Jennifer Gniffke Staff Recommendation:   Continuance to the September 21, 2016 Meeting
  
*3-b
PZ 16194 Z16-038 District 1. 1310 through 1322 East McKellips Road. Located east of Stapley Drive on the north side of McKellips Road. (2.16 ± acres).  Site Plan Review.  This request will allow development of a medical facility.  (PLN2016-00321). 
Staff Planner:   Kaelee Wilson Staff Recommendation:   Approval with Conditions 

*3-c
PZ 16195 Z16-040 District 6.  The 600 block of South Signal Butte Road (west side).  Located south of Broadway Road on the west side of Signal Butte Road.  (3.1± acres). Rezoning from RS-43 to RSL-3.0 PAD and Site Plan Review. This request will allow for the development of a single-residential subdivision (PLN2016-00377). 
Staff Planner:   Tom Ellsworth Staff Recommendation:   Continuance to the September 21, 2016 Meeting
  
*3-d
PZ 16196 Z16-041 District 5.  The 3200 through 3400 block of North Higley Road (west side).  Located south of the Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway on the west side of Higley Road. (9 ± acres).   Site Plan Review. This request will allow for a light industrial development and associated storage yards. (PLN2016-00327). 
Staff Planner:   Tom Ellsworth Staff Recommendation:   Approval with Conditions 

*3-e
PZ 16197 Z16-042 District 6.  The 9600 to 10400 blocks of East Elliot Road (south side). Located on the south side of Elliot Road and east of Ellsworth Road. (365± acres).  Development Unit Plan Review. This request will establish a Development Unit Plan for Development Unit 5 North of the Eastmark (Mesa Proving Grounds) Community Plan. (PLN2016-00504). 
Staff Planner:   Kim Steadman Staff Recommendation:   Approval with Conditions
 

Page 2 City of Mesa Printed on 8/16/2016
August 17, 2016Planning and Zoning Board - Public Hearing Meeting Agenda - Final

4 Discuss and make a recommendation to the City Council on the following zoning cases: [9]
7 Approvals with conditions, 2 continued to Sept 21 meeting

*4-a
PZ 16189 Z16-035 District 4. 500 block of South Pasadena (east side), between 521 and 551 South Pasadena excluding 525, 531, 537, but including the property behind (east of) those three addresses.  Located south of Broadway Road and west of Mesa Drive. (1.67 ± acres).   Rezoning from RM-2 and RM-3-PAD to RM-2-BIZ and Site Plan Review. This request will allow development of attached single residences within a multi-residential district (PLN2016-00278).  
Staff Planner:   Andrew Spurgin  Staff Recommendation:   Approval with Conditions

*4-b
PZ 16190 Z16-034 District 6. 3117 South Signal Butte Road with a connection south of East Pampa Avenue to the future extension of South Willow Wood.  Located south of Guadalupe Road and east of Signal Butte Road.  (15 ± acres).  Rezoning from RS-6-PAD to RM-2-PAD-PAD and Site Plan Review.  This request will allow development of a multi-residential project. (PLN2015-00306).    
Staff Planner:   Lesley Davis  Staff Recommendation:   Approval with Conditions

*4-c
PZ 16191 Z16-036 District 1.  2626 East University Drive. Located west of Lindsay Road on the north side of University Drive.   (1.16± acres).  Rezoning from OC-PAD to NC-PAD, PAD Modification and Site Plan Review.  This request will allow repurposing of the existing building to an outpatient surgical facility.  (PLN2016-00486). 
Staff Planner:   Andrew Spurgin Staff Recommendation:   Approval with Conditions

*4-d
PZ 16192 Z16-039 District 6. 7800 block of East Baseline Road (north side). Located east of Sossaman Road on the north side of Baseline Road.  (2.7 ± acres).  Rezone from RS-6 and OC to RM-3-PAD and Site Plan Review.  This request will allow a multi-residential development. (PLN2016-00376). 
Staff Planners:   Andrew Spurgin and Lesley Davis Staff Recommendation:   Approval with Conditions
 
Page 3 City of Mesa Printed on 8/16/2016
August 17, 2016Planning and Zoning Board - Public Hearing Meeting Agenda - Final

5 Discuss and take action on the following preliminary plats:


*5-a
PZ 16198 "Sunland Springs Village”. District 6. 3117 South Signal Butte Road with a connection south of East Pampa Avenue to the future extension of South Willow Wood.  Located south of Guadalupe Road and east of Signal Butte Road.  (17 ± acres).  Preliminary Plat.  Tim R. Nielsen, Farnsworth Construction Co., applicant; RAF Investments, LLC, Guadalupe/Signal Butte 36 Investments LLLP, Sunland Springs Apts LL, Meridian Prop, ETAL, owners. (PLN2015-00306).    Companion case to Z16-034
Staff Planner:  Lesley Davis Staff Recommendation: Approval with Conditions

*5-b
PZ 16199 "Pasadena Estates”.  District 4.  500 block of South Pasadena (east side), between 521 and 551 South Pasadena excluding 525, 531, 537, but including the property behind (east of) those three addresses.  Located south of Broadway Road and west of Mesa Drive. (1.67 ± acres).   Preliminary Plat.  Bruce Tulley, Trapezium Consulting Group, applicant; Kevin Zirk, CFZ Development LLC, owner.  (PLN2016-00278).  Companion case to Z16-035
Staff Planner:  Andrew Spurgin Staff Recommendation:  Approval with Conditions

*5-c
PZ 16200 "Villa Rialto II”.  District 6.  7800 block of East Baseline Road (north side). Located east of Sossaman Road on the north side of Baseline Road.  (2.7 ± acres).  Preliminary Plat.  Reese L. Anderson, Pew and Lake, PLC, applicant; Light in the Desert Baptist Church and Baseline Road Southern Baptist Church, owners.  (PLN2016-00376). Companion case to Z16-039 
Staff Planner:  Andrew Spurgin and Lesley Davis Staff Recommendation: Continuance to the September 21, 2016 Meeting

*5-d
PZ 16202 "Diamond Court”. District 6.  The 600 block of South Signal Butte Road (west side).  Located south of Broadway Road on the west side of Signal Butte Road. (3.1± acres).  Preliminary Plat.  Sean Lake, Pew and Lake, PLC, applicant; Leon Rick’s, Ricks Investments, owner.  (PLN2016-00377).  Companion case to Z16-040
Staff Planner:   Tom Ellsworth Staff Recommendation:   Continuance to the September 21, 2016 Meeting
  
*5-d
Page 4 City of Mesa Printed on 8/16/2016
August 17, 2016Planning and Zoning Board - Public Hearing Meeting Agenda - Final

PZ 16201 "Red Mountain Business Park”. District 5 The 3200 through 3400 block of North Higley Road (west side).  Located south of the Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway on the west side of Higley Road. (9 ± acres).   Preliminary Plat.  Corey Smith, DCSJ, LLC, applicant; Higley Land Investments, owner.  (PLN2016-00327). Companion case to Z16-041
Staff Planner:  Tom Ellsworth Staff Recommendation:  Approval with Conditions

Rogue Columnist > Fearless Commentary About Phoenix, Arizona, and The Nation

Definitely not "sexy journalism" or spoon-fed canned stories and press releases usually reported by some subservient reporters to the corporate newspapers here in central Arizona like The East Valley Tribune or Arizona Republic or Mesa Independent.
Rogue Columnist, whom your MesaZona recently stumbled on by chance - he doesn't have all the answers.
It's a column, not a news story.
Make sure your seat backs and tray tables are in their full upright position, and your seat belt is correctly fastened — this is not the kind of commentary that is welcomed by the Phoenix powers-that-be, or even many average people.


Rogue: The user's guide
"In 2008, Rogue Columnist began as John Tilton's pro-bono work for the readers he left behind at the Arizona Republic. Nobody was offering his brand of analysis and commentary on Phoenix and Arizona's most critical issues or much on their rich history. Since then, it has developed a national and international readership. . .

Arizona's Continuing Crisis [ see the extensive posting here ]
Reality-based news and analysis about Arizona: Here are the most important stories from across the Web. Note that the Arizona Republic and Arizona Daily Star have a paywall in place, with a limited number of articles that can be viewed unless you subscribe (and you should). For original Rogue columns on Phoenix and Arizona, click here.
Want to comment? Pick the most recent Rogue post and comment there; tell readers which story or issue you are referring to . .
Here's just a few articles from a list of hundreds:
Phoenix ranks No. 3 with worst heat increase over the past 50 years | Climate Central
Scandal stalking UA health sciences — or is it just politics? | Arizona Republic
County to Dbacks: If you're going to be that way, we'll sell your damned stadium | Field of Schemes
Explosive meeting at Corporation Commission as it votes to kill outside probe into political influence | Arizona Republic
Despite new boosterism, Arizona is one of the toughest places to find a fulltime job | Arizona Republic
Accreditors block UA effort to put veterinary school in the middle of nowhere — with $8 million in taxpayer money already spent | Arizona Daily Star
Too many restaurants, not enough downtown economy: The Corner closes at CityScape | Phoenix Business Journal
Arizona lags in high-paying advanced industry jobs | Arizona Republic
Ducey aide brushes off latest report showing Arizona schools ranks near the bottom nationally | KJZZ
Honeywell Aerospace to cut jobs | Arizona Republic
U.S. cities are getting dangerously hot — and Phoenix leads the list by a wide margin | Scientific American
Arizona spent 300 percent more on prisons than on education over past three decades | Phoenix Business Journal

Where to find Rogue Columnist He is @jontalton on Twitter; here on Facebook; on Tumblr at jontalton.tumblr.com; on Pinterest (which he doesn't really understand); Google+, and assorted bars in Seattle and Phoenix. He promises a Twitter feed worth your time.
Beyond Rogue, you can find Jon Tilton's Seattle Times columns here.
Novels, you say? Here's the author site.
If you have the journalism jones, here are the articles he writes for the Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism at ASU. He is on KUOW, Seattle's NPR station, every other Monday in the 1 p.m. hour.
You can subscribe to Rogue in a reader or receive updates via email.
Rogue Columnist is writing opinion and analysis, backed by the facts.
He has his say. Then, in the comments section, you get yours.

Endorsements [and an old scandal] for Jerry Lewis Mesa City Council District 3

Source: http://www.icarizona.com/2011_10_01_archive.html
By Rachel Alexander October 25, 2011

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

More Proof Leftists Conspiring to Elect Jerry “The Judas Goat” Lewis

cross-posted from Sonoran Alliance
This following image is of a post card that was recently sent to voters in Legislative District 18 that falsely pretends to be from Helen Purcell as an official communication from the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office.

Presently, the Secretary of State, Ken Bennett,  is investigating it as an illegal mailer. Even though it was sent by Citizens United for Progress (a leftist organization) and they are NOT directly connected with the Lewis campaign, it will probably be found illegal resulting in the group being fined. But it reinforces the claim that the left is backing Lewis at any cost including violating campaign finance laws as Lewis turns a blind eye and refuses to condemn illegal behavior.

The Costs of Suburban Sprawl and Commuting | Jobs-Close-to-Home or Homes Close-to-Jobs?

We all know that driving to and from work every day is costly, but exactly how much of a toll does each mile of commuting take on your finances?
This True Cost of Commuting graphic breaks it down.
Taking stats and calculations previously mentioned by Mr. Money Mustache, the infographic illustrates just how expensive commuting is.

If you don't want to calculate in the time-is-money factor, each mile (one way) of commuting will cost you $170 a year. It's a compelling reason to move as close to work if you can (or bike to work or telecommute).
The numbers are even scarier if you look at dual-commuting households, use the IRS 51 cents per mile estimate, and multiply over 10 years. Take a look (click to expand):

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5855550/the-true-cost-of-commuting-you-could-buy-a-house-priced-15900-more-for-each-mile-you-move-closer-to-work

 

 



Gaggle | Christine Jones for Congress

You go, girl!
Former GoDaddy mover-and-shaker Ms. Jones breaks outta the pack of the "Good Ole' Boys" hoping to succeed Matt Salmon

Published on Aug 15, 2016

Views: 3,970

Christine Jones is a proven business leader, not a career politician. She is running for Arizona's 5th Congressional District.

Article from http://sonoranalliance.com/
Gilbert, AZ – Today, the Jones for Congress campaign released its latest commercial, “Gaggle,” in the Republican Primary race for CD-5.
The ad features a gaggle of career politicians competing for attention contrasted against successful conservative business leader, Christine Jones. In the ad, Jones asks the gaggle if they have created any jobs or balanced any budgets. They haven’t. She also discloses she hasn’t taken any special interest money. The career politicians clamor that they have. The ad is an accurate portrayal of the CD-5 race.
Jordan Ray, manager for the campaign remarked, “This ad hits the nail on the head when comparing Christine Jones to the current gaggle of career politicians in this race.” Ray continued, “Christine is a true-life success story. She’s helped create thousands of jobs, balanced budgets and helped grow a major technology company. She’s exactly who our congressional district needs.”

What Works Arizona: Strategies for Economic Development or RightWing Ideology?

"Whether it’s called the gig economy, sharing economy or platform economy, Governor Ducey has been a staunch ally and proponent of letting the industry grow and thrive."

American Legislative Exchange Council
Source: http://azgovernor.gov/

What is ALEC? ALEC is a corporate bill mill
Why is the official website for AZ Gov Doug Ducey prominently featuring an endorsement from this controversial conservative rightwing lobbying organization?
Though thousands of ALEC-approved model bills have been publicly introduced across the country, ALEC’s role facilitating the language in the bills and the corporate vote for them is not well known.

According to this source  "ALEC is not a lobby; it is not a front group. It is much more powerful than that. Through the secretive meetings of the American Legislative Exchange Council, corporate lobbyists and state legislators vote as equals on ‘model bills’ to change our rights that often benefit the corporations’ bottom line at public expense. ALEC is a pay-to-play operation where corporations buy a seat and a vote on ‘task forces’ to advance their legislative wish lists ...
Who funds ALEC?
More than 98% of ALEC's revenues come from sources other than legislative dues, such as corporations, corporate trade groups, and corporate foundations. Each corporate member pays an annual fee of between $7,000 and $25,000 a year, and if a corporation participates in any of the nine task forces, additional fees apply, from $2,500 to $10,000 each year. ALEC also receives direct grants from corporations, such as $1.4 million from ExxonMobil from 1998-2009. It has also received grants from some of the biggest foundations funded by corporate CEOs in the country, such as: the Koch family Charles G. Koch Foundation ...

Is it nonpartisan as claimed?
ALEC describes itself as a non-partisan, non-profit organization. The facts show that it currently has one Democrat out of 104 legislators in leadership positions. ALEC members, speakers, alumni, and award winners are a “who’s who” of the extreme right.  

Is it legal?
ALEC’s operating model raises many ethical and legal concerns. Each state has a different set of ethics laws or rules.
Arizona Legislators with ALEC Ties
This is a partial list of Arizona politicians that are known to be involved in, or previously involved in, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

House of Representatives

• Rep. Eddie Farnsworth (R-22); Civil Justice Task Force^[1]
• Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-9, Majority Whip)^[4], ALEC State Chairman^[5][6] and International Relations Task Force member^[7][1] ALEC Legislator of the Year, 2016.^[8]
• Rep. Justin D. Olson (R-19); Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force^[1] (moving to R-25 in 2013)
• Rep. Andy M. Tobin (R-1, Speaker of the House); Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force^[1]

Senate

• Majority Leader Andy Biggs (R-22, Majority Leader), membership exp. 12-31-2010; Civil Justice Task Force^[13]
• Sen. Rich Crandall (R-19), ALEC Education Task Force^[1] and Telecommunications and Information Technology Task Force member^[14]
• Sen. Albert Anthony Melvin (R-26), membership exp. 12-31-2010; Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force^[1]
• Sen. Steve Pierce (R-1, Majority Whip), membership exp. 12-31-2010; Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force^[1]
• Sen. Michele Reagan (R-8)^[1]
• Sen. Kelli Ward (R-5)^[9]
• Former Sen. Russell Pearce (R-18, Senate President)

"Sexy Journalism" is "Shit"

Have another look

Published on Jan 17, 2016

Views: 24.037

Pie gets angry at shit journalism whilst doing some very shit journalism