GC: General Commercial Zoning District in Mesa
The GC: General Commercial zoning district in Mesa is designed to support a broad array of indoor and outdoor retail, service, and automobile-oriented businesses serving a regional trade area of approximately four to five miles. Development in Mesa’s GC district generally permits a maximum building height of 30 feet and requires a minimum lot area of 5,000 square feet with a maximum lot coverage of 80% [Section 11-6-1, Table 11-6-3.A].
Purpose and General Character
The primary purpose of the GC: General Commercial district in Mesa is to provide locations for diverse retail and service-oriented businesses that require larger sites or have more intensive operational characteristics than neighborhood-scale commercial zones. The character of Mesa’s GC district includes a mixture of high-traffic uses such as:
- Indoor retail and large-scale commercial centers.
- Automobile-oriented services, including sales, leasing, and major/minor repairs.
- Light assembly, welding, and fabrication activities related to an on-site commercial use.
- Commercial lodging, movie theaters, and large-scale recreational facilities [Section 11-6-1(B)(3)].
Mesa also utilizes community character designators, such as "-A" (Auto-Oriented) or "-U" (Urban), which can be appended to the GC designation to further refine development standards based on the surrounding context [Section 11-3-1(C)].
Permitted Land Uses
Mesa’s GC district allows a wide variety of uses, ranging from standard retail to specialized industrial-adjacent activities. Below is a summary of the land use regulations for the GC: General Commercial district.
Commercial and Employment Uses
| Use Classification | Permission Level | Additional Regulations |
|---|---|---|
| General Retail (Standard) | Permitted (P) | |
| Large Commercial Development | Permitted (P) | [Section 11-31-16] |
| Automobile Rentals | Permitted (P) | [Section 11-31-5] |
| Automobile/Vehicle Sales and Leasing | Permitted (P) | [Section 11-31-5] |
| Automobile/Vehicle Repair (Major & Minor) | Permitted (P) | [Section 11-31-6] |
| Service Station | Special Use Permit (SUP) | [Section 11-31-25] |
| Restaurants (Full & Limited Service) | Permitted (P) | |
| Commercial Entertainment | Permitted (P) | |
| Medical and Dental Offices | Permitted (P) | |
| Animal Day Care | Permitted (P) | |
| Kennels and Pet Stores | Permitted (P) | |
| Light Assembly / Cabinetry | Permitted (P) | |
| Research and Development | Permitted (P) | |
| Mini-Storage | Council Use Permit (CUP) |
Residential and Public Uses
| Use Classification | Permission Level | Additional Regulations |
|---|---|---|
| Single Residence - Attached | Council Use Permit (CUP/P) | [Section 11-31-31] |
| Multiple Residence | Council Use Permit (CUP/P) | [Section 11-31-31] |
| Assisted Living Home (5-10 residents) | Council Use Permit (CUP/P) | [Section 11-31-14] |
| Live-Work Unit | Special Use Permit (SUP) | [Section 11-31-17] |
| Places of Worship | Permitted (P) | [Section 11-31-22] |
| Hospitals and Clinics | Permitted (P) | [Section 11-31-15] |
| Community Gardens | Permitted (P) | [Section 11-31-10] |
Permission Key: P = Permitted; SUP = Special Use Permit; CUP = Council Use Permit; — = Prohibited. [Table 11-6-2].
Development Standards
Development within the GC: General Commercial district in Mesa must adhere to specific intensity and dimensional standards to ensure compatibility with the surrounding urban fabric.
Intensity and Building Form
| Standard | Requirement in GC District |
|---|---|
| Minimum Lot Area | 5,000 square feet |
| Minimum Lot Width | 50 feet |
| Minimum Lot Depth | 100 feet |
| Maximum Lot Coverage | 80% |
| Maximum Building Height | 30 feet |
| Ground-Floor Transparency Requirement | Yes (for specific building types/locations) |
Minimum Setbacks
| Location | Minimum Setback Requirement |
|---|---|
| Front and Street-Facing Side | Varies by street classification (e.g., 15 ft for 6-lane arterial) |
| Interior Side/Rear (Adjacent to RS) | 25 ft for 1-story; 50 ft for 2-story; 75 ft for 3-story |
| Interior Side/Rear (Adjacent to RM) | 20 ft for 1st story; 15 ft for each additional story |
| Interior Side/Rear (Non-Residential) | 15 ft for each story |
Note: All setbacks must be landscaped according to Mesa City Code Chapter 33. [Table 11-6-3.A].
Parking and Circulation
Mesa requires on-site parking for all uses in the GC: General Commercial district. The following ratios apply to common uses:
| Use | Minimum Parking Standard |
|---|---|
| General Offices, Retail, and Services | 1 space per 375 square feet |
| Medical/Dental Offices | 1 space per 200 square feet |
| Restaurants (No Drive-thru) | 1 space per 75 sq. ft. (indoor) + 1 per 200 sq. ft. (outdoor) |
| Automobile Repair / Service | 1 space per 375 square feet (including service bays) |
| Hospitals | 1 space per 400 square feet |
[Table 11-32-3.A].
Sections Cited
- Section 11-3-1: Districts Established
- Section 11-6-1: Purpose (Commercial and Mixed-Use Districts)
- Table 11-6-2: Commercial Districts Land Use Regulations
- Table 11-6-3.A: Development Standards - Commercial Districts
- Section 11-31-5: Automobile Rentals; Automobile/Vehicle Sales and Leasing
- Section 11-31-6: Automobile/Vehicle Repair, Major and Minor
- Section 11-31-15: Hospitals and Clinics
- Section 11-31-16: Large Commercial Development
- Section 11-31-31: Residential Uses in Commercial Districts
- Section 11-32-3: Parking Spaces Required