Guide to the OC: Office Commercial Zoning District in Mesa, Arizona
The OC: Office Commercial district in Mesa, Arizona, is specifically designed for small-scale professional and medical offices that maintain a high degree of compatibility with adjacent residential neighborhoods. Under the Mesa Zoning Ordinance, the OC: Office Commercial district requires a minimum lot area of 10,000 square feet for standard applications and strictly limits the maximum building height to 30 feet to preserve local character [Section 11-6-1, Table 11-6-3.A].
Purpose and General Character
The primary purpose of the OC: Office Commercial district in the City of Mesa is to provide appropriate locations for professional, administrative, and medical office uses [Section 11-6-1]. Because these areas are often located near or within residential environments, the Mesa Zoning Ordinance emphasizes a "neighborhood-scale" character.
Mesa utilizes two specific community character designators that may be appended to the OC: Office Commercial name to further define its character:
- Urban (-U): Intended for areas where buildings are built close to the street and sidewalk to foster a pedestrian-oriented environment with specific transparency and entrance orientation standards [Section 11-3-1, Section 11-6-4].
- Auto-Oriented (-A): Designed for locations providing easy automobile access, typically featuring buildings located at the back or side of a site with parking in front [Section 11-3-1].
Permitted Land Uses in the OC District
The OC: Office Commercial district is more restrictive than other commercial zones in Mesa, prioritizing office and public service uses over general retail or industrial activities.
Office and Commercial Uses
The core of the OC: Office Commercial district revolves around professional services.
- Business and Professional Offices: Permitted by right [Table 11-6-2].
- Medical and Dental Offices: Permitted by right [Table 11-6-2].
- Clinics: Permitted by right (except for plasma centers or substance abuse treatment, which require a Council Use Permit) [Table 11-6-2].
- Coffee Shops/Cafes: Permitted by right, subject to specific limitations [Table 11-6-2].
- Personal Services: Permitted by right [Table 11-6-2].
Residential and Care Facilities
Unlike some commercial zones, the OC: Office Commercial district in Mesa allows for specific residential uses, particularly those with a care-based component.
- Multiple Residence: Permitted by right [Table 11-6-2].
- Assisted Living Facilities: Permitted by right (up to 10 residents) or by Council Use Permit (greater than 10 residents) [Table 11-6-2].
- Day Care Centers: Permitted by right [Table 11-6-2].
- Nursing and Convalescent Homes: Permitted by right, though specific sub-categories may require a Council Use Permit [Table 11-6-2].
Public and Semi-Public Uses
- Parks and Recreation Facilities (Public): Permitted by right [Table 11-6-2].
- Places of Worship: Permitted by right [Table 11-6-2].
- Public Safety Facilities: Permitted by right [Table 11-6-2].
Technical Development Standards
The City of Mesa enforces specific dimensional requirements for the OC: Office Commercial district to ensure that new developments do not overwhelm the surrounding urban fabric.
Standard Dimensional Requirements
| Standard | OC: Office Commercial (Standard) |
|---|---|
| Minimum Lot Area | 10,000 sq. ft. |
| Minimum Lot Width | 100 ft. |
| Minimum Lot Depth | 100 ft. |
| Maximum Lot Coverage | 80% |
| Maximum Height | 30 ft. |
| Ground-Floor Transparency | Required in all variants |
| Main Entrance Orientation | Required in all variants |
Setbacks in the OC District
Setbacks in Mesa commercial districts vary significantly based on the classification of the adjacent street or the zoning of the neighboring property [Table 11-6-3.A].
| Location/Adjacency | Setback Requirement |
|---|---|
| Front/Street Side | 15 ft. to 30 ft. (depends on street type) |
| Interior Side (Adjacent to RS District) | 25 ft. to 75 ft. (based on building height) |
| Interior Side (Adjacent to RM District) | 15 ft. to 20 ft. |
| Interior Side (Adjacent to Non-Residential) | 15 ft. |
| Rear (Adjacent to RS District) | Same as Interior Side requirements |
Parking Regulations for the OC District
The Mesa Zoning Ordinance establishes specific parking ratios to support the commercial and residential uses within the OC: Office Commercial district [Table 11-32-3.A].
| Use Classification | Required Parking Ratio |
|---|---|
| General, Medical, or Dental Offices | 1 space per 375 square feet of Gross Floor Area |
| Multiple Residence | 2.1 spaces per Dwelling Unit |
| Data Center | 1 space per 5,000 sq. ft. (first 200k); 1 per 10,000 sq. ft. thereafter |
| Hospitals/Nursing Homes | 1 space per 400 square feet |
| Day Care Centers | 1 space per 375 square feet |
Design and Site Planning Standards
The City of Mesa requires all developments in the OC: Office Commercial district to adhere to high-quality design standards. Specifically, buildings must incorporate at least two different and distinct materials to reduce apparent massing [Section 11-6-3(B)].
For OC: Office Commercial properties with the Urban (-U) designator, the building must provide a minimum of 50% transparency on the ground floor between 2.5 and 7 feet above the sidewalk to ensure a safe and vibrant pedestrian environment [Section 11-6-4(B)].
Sections Cited
- Section 11-3-1: Districts Established
- Section 11-6-1: Purpose of Commercial and Mixed-Use Districts
- Section 11-6-2: Land Use Regulations (Commercial Districts)
- Section 11-6-3: Development Standards (Commercial Districts)
- Section 11-6-4: Special Standards for Districts with -U Community Character Designator
- Section 11-31-25: Service Stations (Urban Designator Standards)
- Section 11-32-3: Parking Spaces Required
- Section 11-86-5: Employment and Industrial Use Classifications (Data Center Definition)