Mesa Planning and Zoning Board gives OK to contested townhome plan
A proposed two-story townhome development in East Mesa would bring in cut-through traffic, families with kids and is just not compatible with the neighborhood, according to residents of an adjacent age-restricted mobile home park.
Nonetheless, the city Planning and Zoning Board last week unanimously recommend that Council approve Elliot Barkan Development,'s request. It was unclear when the council will hear the project.
Elliot Barkan is seeking a rezone for 45 three-bedroom units on 3.5 vacant acres at the southwest corner of Sossaman Road and Main Street.
Mesa East submitted a petition signed by 453 residents opposed to the Main 45 Townhomes project. The residents own their home and the land in the community established in 1971.
'Mesa East is a well-established 55-plus retirement community,' said Dean Senne, the community's HOA president. 'This provides a quiet, age-restricted living environment. The introduction of multifamily dwellings with no age restrictions would fundamentally alter the character of our neighborhood.'
According to Senne, vehicles are already cutting through the community to get to Broadway Road and the development would exacerbate that. Also, the multifamily project would negatively affect the property values for existing homeowners, many of whom have invested their total retirement into their homes, Senne said.
'The proposed multifamily development is inconsistent with the surrounding land use, which primarily consists of single-family, age-restricted residents and commercial retail business,' Senne continued. 'The different uses could create conflicts related to safety, noise, parking and overall community harmony.
'We're worried about the influx of younger families that could put additional pressure on ongoing infrastructure, roads, emergency services and recreational facilities, which are not designated according to an increase in the non-senior residents.'
Resident Jeffrey Stromquist said that the community 'got old people, including my wife, who must walk the streets because we do not have sidewalks at Mesa East.'
'My wife walks the street with a cane, moves fairly slow,' he said, adding that she would not have time to get out of the way of a car driven by an inattentive driver.
He also said that because the development's recreation area is adjacent to its entryway, parents worried about the traffic may encourage their children to use Mesa East's amenities.
'We have a number of courts, we have a pool with different things like this,' he said. 'That's a temptation for kids.'
Brad Kahlhamer worried that there would be overflow parking from the proposed development into Mesa East.
'When you have 45 units, you'll have maybe four people (each),' he said. 'They're going to have guests, they're going to have parties. I think we're going to have a tremendous spillover.'
And Robert Comeau said that because it's a rental project with no management on site, there would be six to seven people crammed into a unit.
'Having somebody off-site to complain to is bull,' he said. 'I got a lot of experience in this area. Renters are not fun. We don't need young people who don't know how to act.'
Land-use Attorney Jon Gillespie noted that Mesa's ordinance prohibits over four non-related people to occupy a unit and the lease would enforce that.
'If that does get violated, then the renter would be violating their lease and they'd be subject to expulsion,' he said.
Although management would be off-site there would be a contact number and all complaints quickly responded to, he added.
According to Gillespie, Elliot Barken intended to keep and manage the property long term and that the units would rent for $2,400 a month. Amenities include a barbecue ramada, children playground, open space areas and a dog park.
According to Gillespie, vehicle access in and out of the development would be restricted to Main Street, ample parking was provided with 45 single garages and 60 surface parking spots and to ensure privacy to Mesa East there would be no second-floor balconies and more trees planted to shield the project.
Tenants also would be required to sign a separate agreement prohibiting them from using Mesa East amenities. Violation of that would result in lease cancellation.
Gillespie also said that the developer would improve and take over the maintenance of a 20-foot-wide alley between Mesa East and the project. The alley was unkempt with overgrown vegetation and is supposed to be maintained equally between the two adjoining properties.
Gillespie said that the property owner has been unsuccessful in developing the land zoned limited commercial since 1985 due to challenges such as narrowness of the site and access to Sossaman. He noted that the city's economic development staff and planning staff are in support of the proposed project.
'From a zoning perspective, this is a site that's been sitting empty for quite some time, 40 years,' Chair Benjamin Ayers said. 'I think this is a better use than it's sitting vacant, not doing anything.
'Vacant lots tend to bring issues. I think the density here is actually really appropriate for what it is. I think you're not trying to put 10 pounds in a 5-pound bag.
'I'm in support of the project. I think it's a good project.'
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