Design Review Process

Overview

Design Review entails the aesthetic review of building elevations, landscape plans, and photometric plans to ensure quality design, compatibility with nearby development, and compliance with the City’s development standards, design standards, design guidelines, General Plan, and other City policies.

The main steps in the process are:

Step 1: Pre-Submittal Conference 

A Pre-Submittal application is required prior to filing an application for Design Review. Pre-Submittal applications are due each Monday by 12:00 p.m. and must be submitted via the DIMES portal.

Staff will review the Pre-Submittal application for compliance with all appropriate standards, codes, specifications, and requirements and provide written review comments within 10 calendar days. 

Applicants will have the option to attend a Pre-Submittal Conference to discuss the provided comments. Pre-Submittal Conferences are typically a half hour and held each Tuesday morning. Conferences may be requested to be held in person or electronically.  

Please note that a Pre-Submittal does not constitute a complete review or guarantee that all issues are identified.  

Required Documents:

• Application - submitted through the DIMES portal
• Project Narrative - describing the proposed project and design intent
• Fully dimensioned site plan
• Building Elevations
• Landscape Plan
• Photometric Plan
• Site Details

Step 2: Application Submittal

Application for Design Review may be submitted at any point after a Pre-Submittal Conference has been completed.  

Complete applications and fees must be submitted electronically via the City of Mesa’s DIMES portal. Applications are due each Monday by the end of the business day. Please note that a Design Review application may be submitted concurrent with a Site Plan Review application. If submitting concurrently with a Site Plan Review application check the "Concurrent Review" box, for reduced fees. 

The applicant is responsible for the accuracy and completeness of all information submitted. Incomplete applications will NOT be accepted. 

Required Documents: 

• Application - submitted through the DIMES portal
• Property Owner Authorization(PDF, 162KB)
• Project Narrative - describing the proposed project and design intent
• ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey - showing the location of existing utilities including water mains, sanitary sewer mains, storm sewer, cable, electric, gas, and telephone; location of all existing structures on the subject lot; and any recorded easements or deed restrictions
• Citizen Participation Plan - describing the residents, neighborhoods and homeowners’ associations that may be impacted and how the applicant intends to inform and engage the public in their development plans
• Site Plan - fully dimensioned site plan showing the location and area of site development features building including but not limited to, buildings, structures, drive aisles, parking spaces, sidewalks, etc.
• Landscape Plan - showing the location, type, and size of all proposed landscaping. Provide a plant list, which includes the quantities of all proposed landscape material, common botanical names, and their square foot equivalencies (Table 11-33-2-E)
• Building Elevations - fully dimensioned, colored elevations showing sufficient detail to convey the architectural content for all proposed building and structures including building height, pitch of roof, percentage of openings, building materials and colors, and architectural elements
• Photometric Plan - including cut sheet details
• Grading Drainage, and Utilities Plan - showing dimensions and locations of all easements, physical lines, and other equipment and apparatus for providing water, sanitary sewer, fire protection, electricity, natural gas and other utility services. Show grades and cross- sections of all streets, alleys and sidewalks
• Three-dimensional colored renderings
• Materials Board

Step 3: Staff Review 

Staff will review the Design Review application for compliance with all appropriate standards, codes, specifications, and requirements and provide written comments within 8 working days of the next closest formal submittal listed on the Design Review Board Calendar(PDF, 319KB). This comment letter will identify requirements that need to be resolved before attending a public meeting. 

The applicant will revise pertinent documents to address review comments and provide a written comment response letter stating how each review comment was addressed.  

This process repeats until all requirements are met.  

Step 4: Public Notice

When all comments have been addressed staff will schedule the project for a Design Review Board meeting. The applicant is responsible for providing public notice of the Design Review Board meeting.

Reminder to notice - No less than 21 days prior to the scheduled Design Review Board meeting, staff will email the applicant a public notice letter template and upload to the case file a list of names and addresses of property owners, associations, and interested parties that must receive public notice.

Notice content - The public notice must contain the following information:

• A general description of the proposed project.
• The location of the project site. 
• The date, time, location, and purpose of the public meeting.
• The identity of the hearing body or officer (i.e., Design Review Board).
• The names of the applicant or the owner of the property that is the subject of the application.
•  A copy of the site plan and elevations.
• A statement that any interested person or authorized agent may appear and be heard at the public meeting.
• A statement describing how to submit written comments.

Deliver letter - No less than 15 days prior to the scheduled Design Review meeting, the applicant must drop off the public notices to the Planning Division no later than noon. All notices must be sealed, stamped, and labeled with sending and return addresses. Staff will then drop off the notices to the post office that same day.

Step 5: Design Review Board Meeting 

Design Review Board meetings are typically held the second Tuesday of every month at 4:30 pm. 

Staff will prepare and present to the Board a presentation outlining the proposed project at the public meeting. The applicant is highly encouraged to attend the meeting to answer questions and participate in discussion.  

Design Review Board

Step 6: Entitlement

Staff will provide the applicant with any notes provided by the Design Review Board after the public meeting.  

The applicant will then work with staff to address outstanding comments and Code requirements.  

Once staff finds that all comments have been addressed the case will then be forwarded to the Planning Director for final review and approval.