Billboard Overlay District Requirements for the City of Mesa
The Billboard Overlay District in the City of Mesa allows for the placement of large-scale signage on underutilized or large sites near freeways, provided the site consists of at least 50 acres and possesses a minimum of 1,500 feet of freeway frontage. Each overlay district is limited to a maximum of two billboards, with each sign face capped at 672 square feet and a total height limit of 60 feet [Section 11-25-3, Section 11-25-4].
Land Use and Applicability
The Billboard Overlay District is an overlay designation used in the City of Mesa only in conjunction with specific base zoning districts. These include the Infill Development District-2 (ID-2), the Public and Semi-Public District (PS), and the Mixed Use District (MX) [Section 11-25-2].
While the overlay allows for billboard placement, all other land uses on the property must comply with the specific development standards of the underlying base zoning district. These underlying standards cannot be modified through the application of the Billboard Overlay District [Section 11-25-4].
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the Billboard Overlay District designation, a project site within the City of Mesa must meet strict size and location criteria.
| Requirement | Standard |
|---|---|
| Minimum Site Area | 50 acres (may be one parcel or a combination of adjoining parcels under same ownership) |
| Minimum Freeway Frontage | 1,500 linear feet along a Freeway |
[Section 11-25-3]
Development and Dimensional Standards
The City of Mesa regulates the physical dimensions, quantity, and placement of billboards to prevent overconcentration and aesthetic blight.
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Maximum Number of Billboards | 2 per overlay district |
| Maximum Sign Area | 672 square feet per sign face |
| Maximum Vertical Dimension (Face) | 14 feet |
| Maximum Horizontal Dimension (Face) | 48 feet |
| Maximum Overall Height | 60 feet |
| Minimum Setback from Freeway | 0 feet from right-of-way |
| Maximum Setback from Freeway | 250 feet from right-of-way |
[Section 11-25-4]
Spacing and Proximity Limits
Billboards within the Billboard Overlay District must maintain specific distances from other structures and sensitive land uses:
- Other Billboards or Monuments: A billboard must be at least 1,000 feet from any other billboard or Freeway Landmark Monument [Section 11-25-4].
- Residential Districts: A billboard must be located at least 500 feet from a Residential Zoning District (RS, RSL, or RM) or residential use.
- Proximity Exceptions: The 500-foot residential buffer may be waived if the sign is part of a mixed-use development, if a line-of-sight study proves the sign is not visible from the residential area, or if the sign is placed at least 400 feet away from a residential use [Section 11-25-4].
Electronic and Illumination Requirements
If a billboard utilizes an electronic message panel, the City of Mesa mandates the following operational standards:
- Copy Change Intervals: The sign message must remain static for at least eight seconds.
- Animation: Video, flashing, or moving lights are strictly prohibited.
- Brightness: Evening illumination must not exceed 300 nits in full white mode. Signs must be equipped with automatic dimming technology to adjust to ambient light [Section 11-25-4].
- Emergency Overrides: Nighttime illumination must be extinguished during amber alerts or emergency messaging, except for the emergency messages themselves [Section 11-25-4].
Administrative Requirements
Establishing a Billboard Overlay District in the City of Mesa requires a Development Agreement or an Intergovernmental Agreement approved by the City Council. This agreement may include stipulations for the display of public service announcements or the removal of existing Freeway Landmark Monuments on the site [Section 11-25-6].
All billboards must be maintained in good structural repair. If a sign is damaged or becomes a visual blight, the City of Mesa considers it a public nuisance and may require its repair or removal [Section 11-49-2, Section 11-49-4].
Sections Cited
- Section 11-25-1: Purpose and Intent
- Section 11-25-2: Land Use Regulations
- Section 11-25-3: Eligibility Requirements
- Section 11-25-4: Development Standards for Billboards
- Section 11-25-6: Development Agreement or Intergovernmental Agreement
- Section 11-49-2: Deteriorated Signs
- Section 11-49-4: Removal of Signs