Long Range Planning

We welcome your input on the following proposed zoning text amendments currently under development.

Public Input Comment Form

Form-Based Code Text Amendments

Upcoming Meetings 

City Council Introduction
June 16, 2025
5:45 pm
City Hall Council Chambers
20 E. Main Street

City Council Action
July 1, 2025
5:45 pm
City Hall Council Chambers
20 E. Main Street

Proposed Amendment Details
Mesa is considering amendments to Chapters 56, 58, 59, 60, and 64 of the Mesa Zoning Ordinance, also known as the Form-Based Code (FBC).

The proposed amendments are intended to:

• Enhance clarity and usability of the FBC by reformatting chapters and refining text to better articulate the purpose of requirements and goals.
• Reduce the need for variances by modifying standards to better reflect Mesa's urban form and address inconsistencies with other development standards and requirements.

Draft Ordinance: Form-Based Code Ordinance(PDF, 283KB)

Draft Adoption by Reference Document: Form-Based Code Text Amendments(PDF, 5MB)

Marijuana Facilities Text Amendments

Upcoming Meetings 

City Council Introduction
June 16, 2025
5:45 pm
City Hall Council Chambers
20 E. Main Street

City Council Action
July 1, 2025
5:45 pm
City Hall Council Chambers
20 E. Main Street

Proposed Amendment Details
Mesa is considering amendments to Section 11-31-34 of the Mesa Zoning Ordinance related to Marijuana Facilities.

The proposed text amendment would:

• Increase the permissible size of Medical Marijuana Dispensaries and Dual Licensee Facilities from 2,500 square feet to 5,000 square feet.
• Remove the specific size requirements for storage areas and customer waiting areas in Medical Marijuana Dispensaries and Dual Licensee Facilities.
• Remove the standard which restrict home delivery of marijuana products to just medical marijuana qualifying  patients from Medical Marijuana Dispensaries.

Draft Ordinance: Marijuana Facilities(PDF, 271KB)

Subdivision (Land Division) Text Amendments

Upcoming Meetings 

City Council Introduction
June 16, 2025
5:45 pm
City Hall Council Chambers
20 E. Main Street

City Council Action
July 1, 2025
5:45 pm
City Hall Council Chambers
20 E. Main Street

Proposed Amendment Details
Mesa is considering amendments to Chapter 6 of the Public Ways and Property Ordinance (Title 9) related to subdivisions or the division of land.

The proposed text amendment would:

• Allow for the administrative approval (without a public hearing) for the division of land.
• Create a Minor Plat procedure to allow for the division of 10 or fewer parcels, lots, or tracts of land without requiring a Preliminary Plat.
• Clarify the procedures and eligibility for plat revisions.
• Remove outdated exhibits and/or exhibits contained within the City’s Engineering Design Standards Manual.
• Update definitions.

Draft Ordinance: Land Division Ordinance(PDF, 502KB)
Draft Adoption by Reference Document: 2025 Chapter 6 Land Division Regulations(PDF, 5MB)

Adaptive Reuse Permit Text Amendments

Upcoming Meetings

Planning and Zoning Board Meeting
June 11, 2025
4 p.m.
Old City Council Chambers (upper level)
57 E. First St.

City Council Introduction
June 16, 2025
5:45 pm
City Hall Council Chambers
20 E. Main Street

City Council Action
July 1, 2025
5:45 pm
City Hall Council Chambers
20 E. Main Street

Proposed Amendment Details
Mesa is considering amendments to Chapter 81 and 87 of the Mesa Zoning Ordinance pertaining to Adaptive Reuse Permits.

The proposed text amendment address modifications made by the state legislature to A.R.S. § 9-462.10. The amendments specifically:

• Modify terms within Chapter 81 (Adaptive Reuse Permit) to reflect eligibility of Existing Commercial, Office, and Mixed-use Parcels rather than buildings
• Modify the Adaptive Reuse Permit application cap
• Change the zoning districts in which Adaptive Reuse Permits are allowed
• Clarify the applicable development standards
• Modify the definitions for Adaptive Reuse, Adaptive Reuse Permit, Low-Income Housing, Moderate Income Housing, and Multiple Residence Reuse
• Remove the definition of Existing Commercial, Office, and Mixed-use Building
• Add a definition of Existing Commercial, Office, and Mixed-use Parcel

Draft Ordinance: 2025 Adaptive Reuse Permit Ordinance(PDF, 390KB)

Data Center and PAD Text Amendments

Upcoming Meetings

Planning and Zoning Board Meeting
June 11, 2025
4 p.m.
Old City Council Chamber (upper level)
57 E. First Street

City Council Introduction
July 1, 2025
5:45 pm
City Hall Council Chambers
20 E. Main Street

City Council Action
July 8, 2025
5:45 pm
City Hall Council Chambers
20 E. Main Street

Proposed Amendment Details

Mesa is considering amendments to Chapters 6, 7, 22, 21, 32, and 86 of the Mesa Zoning Ordinance related to Data Centers and Planned Area Development (PAD) Overlay Districts.

The proposed text amendment would:

• Add a definition for Data Center and modify the definition of Indoor Warehousing and Storage.
• Modify land use tables to permit Data Centers as an accessory use in Commercial and Employment Districts, and as a principal use in the General Industrial (GI) and Heavy Industrial (GI) zoning districts, subject to approval of a Planned Area Development (PAD) Overlay District.
• Establish specific use standards (i.e. application requirements, development standards, operational standards, etc.) for Data Centers.
• Modify PAD Overlay Districts regulations to allow land uses not otherwise permitted in a base zoning district to be allowed through PAD approval.

Draft Ordinance: Data-Center-Ordinance.pdf(PDF, 272KB)

Draft Adoption by Reference Document: Section 11-31-36 Data Centers(PDF, 264KB)  and Planned Area Development Overlay District Amendments(PDF, 115KB)

Zoning Code Refinement Text Amendments

Upcoming Meetings

Planning and Zoning Board Meeting
June 11, 2025
4:00 p.m.
Old City Council Chambers (upper level)
57 E. First Street

City Council Introduction
July 1, 2025
5:45 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers
20 E. Main Street

City Council Action
July 8, 2025
5:45 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers
20 E. Main Street

Proposed Amendment Details

Mesa is considering amendments to Chapters 30, 31, and 87 of the MZO relating to Accessory Dwelling Units, Detached Accessory Buildings, and Home Occupations.

The proposed text amendments would:

• Exclude ADUs from the total detached accessory building size limit for lots.
• Permit the gross floor area of all detached accessory buildings to exceed the gross floor area of the home through approval of a Special Use Permit.
• Clarify setback rules for converting existing structures to ADUs.
• Refine the definition for Home Occupation.
• Add a definition for Home Addition.

Draft Ordinance: 2025 Zoning Code Refinement Ordinance(PDF, 270KB)

Staff Presentation: June 11, 2025 Zoning Code Refinement Presentation(PDF, 2MB)

Public Input Comment Form

• Zoning Ordinance
• Subdivision Regulations
• Building Code 
• Fire Regulations

Regulating Plans

• Avalon Crossing Community Plan
• Cadence Community Plan
• Eastmark Community Plan
• Elliot Road Technology Corridor(PDF, 3MB)
• Hawes Crossing Planned Area Development
• Pecos Road Employment Opportunity Zone(PDF, 504KB)

Newly Adopted Text Amendments

General Plan Reference Text Amendments 
Amendments to Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 30, 31, 42, 63, and 75  pertaining to general plan references. The text amendments:  

• Modify development standard tables to remove references to the general plan;
• Remove references to the general plan and replace them with references to the transportation plan;
• Update terminology related to the general plan with new terminology used in the Mesa 2050 General Plan; and
• Modify the time frame for major amendment public hearings.

Adopted: February 3, 2025
Ordinance: 5928

Manufactured Home and Recreational Vehicle (RV) Subdivisions Text Amendments 
Amendments to Chapters 34 and 87 of the Mesa Zoning Ordinance to allow conventional construction in Manufactured Home and RV Subdivisions.

The amendments:

• Allow a property owner within a Manufactured Home or RV Subdivision to:
  • Build a conventionally built dwelling unit on their lot
  • Construct an addition to their unit which may include habitable space
  • Construct an Accessory Dwelling Unit
• Require compliance with development standards for:
  • Manufactured Home and RV Subdivisions
  • Accessory Dwelling Units
  • Require compliance with Building Codes
  • Require Compliance with Subdivision Regulations

The proposed text amendment does not:

• Require property owners to replace their units with conventionally built units
• Apply to Manufactured Home and RV Parks

Adopted: June 2, 2025
Ordinance: 5943
Presentations:

•  Community and Cultural Development Committee(PDF, 1MB) - February 6, 2025
• Community and Cultural Development Committee(PDF, 1MB) - March 24, 2025 

   

• Quality Development Design Guidelines(PDF, 10MB)
• Fiesta District Design Handbook(PDF, 15MB)

Desert Uplands

• Desert Uplands Area Design Guidelines(PDF, 984KB)
• Desert Uplands Development Standards for Building Envelope Lots(PDF, 481KB)

• Mesa General Plan 2050(PDF, 126MB)
  • 2050 General Plan Placetype and Growth Strategy Map
  • Existing Conditions Appendix(PDF, 67MB)
  •  Public Outreach Appendix(PDF, 56MB)
  • Previous Plan -  Mesa General Plan 2040(PDF, 12MB)
• Balanced Housing Master Plan(PDF, 2MB)
  • Balanced Housing Plan Executive Summary(PDF, 434KB)

• Bicycle Master Plan(PDF, 18MB)
• Mesa Climate Action Plan
• MesaCONNECTED Transit Oriented Development Plan
• Parks, Recreation, and Commercial Facilities Comprehensive Plan(PDF, 16MB)
• SE Mesa Master Plan(PDF, 15MB) (water)
• Transit Master Plan(PDF, 7MB)
• Transportation Master Plan(PDF, 27MB)
• Water Master Plan(PDF, 3MB)
• Wastewater Master Plan(PDF, 3MB)

Sub-Area Plans 

• Citrus Sub-Area Plan(PDF, 340KB)  
• Lehi Sub-Area Plan (PDF, 2MB)
• Central Main Plan 
• Falcon Field Sub-Area Plan 
• Mesa Gateway Strategic Plan 
• West Main Street Area Plan 

Redevelopment Plans

• Mesa East Redevelopment Plan(PDF, 4MB)  
• Mesa West Redevelopment Plan(PDF, 5MB)
• Mesa Southwest Redevelopment Plan(PDF, 2MB)  
• Town Center Redevelopment Plan(PDF, 221KB)

• Environmental Requirements for Construction
• Mesa Design Standards
• Public Ways and Property Code
• Right-of-Way Management Code
  • Right-of-Way Management Group