The Mesa City Council was on adjournment last week, and the council had a bit of a bang with action on some new development projects.

On July 26, the City Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of several projects, including a planned multifamily housing project in Mesa East and the historic overlay designation of one of Mesa’s downtown iconic buildings.

During a pre-conference study session, staff presented a rezoning request and site plan for a 144-unit gated apartment complex called Apache Gardens from BFH Group.

A 4.6-acre vacant lot near the southwest corner of Main Street and Chrismon Road is now outside the city limits, but BFH Group has a consolidated action pending and will be heard in the City of Mesa at the same time as the rezoning claim. It will be.

Staff reports that the project site is currently zoned into high-density residential and general commercial areas in Maricopa County. There are commercial and multifamily properties to the north, east and south of the project.

The Apache Gardens building has three floors and consists of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments.

“The land has been left undeveloped for over 30 years and is a collection of garbage, rubble, fugitives and even nuisance vegetation,” the project description reads.

“The development of this land will not only greatly enhance the character of the area, but also make it safer and more attractive for current and future residents.”

Board members had no concerns about the project.

A city planner said he received only one comment from a neighbor who wondered why the project was routed through Mesa instead of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.

Apache Gardens and all other cases considered were unanimously passed on the consent agenda at a brief post-study meeting.

The Board also approved a site replan for Gallery Park, a planned luxury mixed-use development on the northeast corner of Lay and Power Roads, which was first approved in 2019 and is undergoing construction at a glacial pace. also considered.

The most interesting part of Gallery Park’s original proposal still remains dormant, but the site’s owner, Power 202 Mixed-Use LLC, has begun developing retail pads along Power Road over the past year.

A few weeks ago, local branch chain Eggstasy opened a store in the development, and In ‘n’ Out is currently under construction.

A Power 202 spokesperson said Gallery Park has four retail outlets left to develop along Power Road.

In a lawsuit filed with the Planning Commission last week, Power 202 sought to convert its retail location from a planned 5,400-square-foot sit-down restaurant to a small bank building with a drive-thru. Mountain America Credit Union will be the tenant.

In addition to adding a drive-thru, the owner also requested a new power road entrance to the pad rather than from the shared access road. When curb cuts are added to the development, the project tends to become less pedestrian friendly.

The planning staff determined that this change was consistent with the general planning guidelines for the area, and the board approved the site plan change as per the staff’s recommendation.

Another zoning lawsuit approved was notable as it is a small Mesa business expanding from the city center to a more spacious and more modern building southeast of Mesa.

Currently located near Southern Avenue and Mesa Drive, TMW Offroad is planning a 30,000-square-foot multi-purpose terrain vehicle manufacturing and customization facility near the northwest corner of German Road and Ellsworth Road.

At a Design Review Board hearing on the building plan, the applicant said it was TMW Offroad’s “dream” to move into a sleek new industrial building.

A resident of the area submitted comments to the board expressing concern that off-road vehicles could bring excessive noise to the area and exacerbate off-road driving on open lots adjacent to buildings. .

Board members sought clarification that the staff had no issues with the manufacturing component of the project and that the consent agenda was passed.

The Planning Zoning Commission also approved a recommendation to add a historic landmark overlay to the downtown lot, which included the Nile Theater building built in 1924.

City planners say the River Nile was Arizona’s first movie palace and the first building with a cooling system. It is now a venue for live music and events with a coffee shop on Main Street.

The Nile’s current owner, Kathy Adams, and operator Michelle Donovan have granted the Historic Landmark designation to protect the historic nature of the building in the midst of a whirlwind of downtown Mesa development. I am looking for

If the designation is approved by the City Council, any alterations to the building will require a certificate of adequacy reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission.

The building is already on the National Register of Historic Places, but without local landmark designation, it has no power to protect its honor.

Board members praised the move and said they expected more downtown buildings to seek landmark status.

“Obviously, the Nile is a perfect example of what should lead this effort,” said Ben Ayers, chairman of the board. “Probably should have happened a long time ago.”