The Planning and Zoning Board in the City of Mesa modified and approved the plans for development of a new single-family subdivision in East Mesa on Wednesday.
The single-family subdivision will be located within 19.6 acres on the north side of Guadalupe Road just west of the 202 San Tan Freeway.
Many residents from the existing neighborhood in the area showed up to the board meeting to voice their concerns.
Homeowner Flora D’Angelo said that development plans show that two new homes will backup to her yard and has concerns about the privacy that comes with sharing a common wall.
“When we bought the home we were under the impression that [the land] was slated for commercial development and with commercial property there would be some type of a natural buffer that they would put in.” Said D’Angelo. “However if [a buffer] is not possible I would appreciate only one-story homes.”
Kelly Hyde another neighboring homeowner had similar privacy concerns and additional concerns about rezoning from commercial development to residential and fears that the development project will drop property values and raise property taxes.
“I purchased this home just about three years ago with this whole idea of a larger backyard, a pool for my young children and the privacy that comes with it.” Hyde said.
According to development plans three homes with potential two-story plans will border Hyde’s home.
“My overall concern is not having an adjacent neighbor but rather having an adjacent neighbor in a two-story format that would be looking straight down into our yard.” Hyde said.
Brennan Ray, the representative for the development company addressed the concerns and confirmed that his client would be okay with making all three of the bordering lots next to Hyde’s property single-story units. Ray also said that D’Angelo’s request for an additional buffer between the properties might not be “feasible” but agreed to limit the two homes bordering her property to one-story homes as well.
The proposal for single story homes next to Hyde’s property raised concerns for Board Member Tim Boyle making it appear that one-story floor plans would actually push the property lines closer together where a two-story home would allow more distance between the homes.
“I can’t [confirm] that definitively as the floor plans are in development and we don’t have those yet; I can’t tell you specifically what that setback is going to be.” Said Ray.
With privacy as the biggest concern, Hyde said that a single story home would still offer more privacy than a two-story home even with a minimized setback.
Although Ray and his team only limited a few lots to single story homes, home-buyers will have the option to utilize either the one or two-story floor plans for the other lots that were not discussed at the meeting.
The motion to approve the rezoning and adjustments made at the meeting passed unanimously allowing the development of the single resident subdivision to proceed with planning.