Setback and Development Standards for the Mesa Planned Employment Park (PEP) District
Property owners in the City of Mesa Planned Employment Park (PEP) District must maintain front and street-facing setbacks between 15 and 30 feet, depending on the specific classification of the adjacent roadway. For interior side and rear property lines, the PEP District generally requires a setback of one foot for every foot of building height, with a minimum requirement of 20 feet when the parcel borders residential, agricultural, commercial, or other PEP-zoned lands.
Purpose of the PEP District
The Planned Employment Park (PEP) District in the City of Mesa is intended to provide areas for professional and medical office parks, research and development facilities, and light manufacturing. These uses are typically integrated into a campus-like setting that may include supportive establishments such as ancillary restaurants and retail [Section 11-7-1].
Front and Street-Facing Setback Requirements
In the PEP District, the minimum distance a building or parking area must be set back from a street or property line is determined by the classification of the street as defined in the Mesa Transportation Plan. All street-facing setbacks in the PEP District must be landscaped according to the standards established by the Municipality [Section 11-7-3].
| Street Classification | Minimum Setback (Buildings) | Minimum Setback (Parking) |
|---|---|---|
| Arterial Street | 15 feet | 15 feet |
| Major or Midsection Collector | 20 feet | 20 feet |
| Industrial or Commercial Collector | 20 feet | 20 feet |
| Local Street | 20 feet | 20 feet |
| Freeways | 30 feet | 15 feet |
Interior Side and Rear Setback Requirements
The interior setbacks for the Planned Employment Park (PEP) District are determined by the zoning of the adjacent property. If the building is taller than 20 feet, the setback must increase proportionally with the height of the structure [Section 11-7-3].
| Adjacent Zoning District | Minimum Setback Requirement |
|---|---|
| Agricultural (AG) or Residential (RS, RSL, RM) | 1 foot of setback for each foot of building height (20 ft. minimum) |
| Commercial or PEP Districts | 1 foot of setback for each foot of building height (20 ft. minimum) |
| Industrial Districts (LI, GI, HI) | Plan Specific |
Encroachments and Projections
The Mesa Zoning Ordinance allows for certain architectural features to project into required setbacks within the PEP District, provided they maintain appropriate separation between buildings on adjacent properties [Section 11-7-3].
- Standard Projections: Awnings, eaves, overhangs, light shelves, and basement window wells may encroach up to 3 feet into any required setback. However, these features may not be closer than 2 feet to any property line [Section 11-7-3].
- Residential Adjacency: Building projections in the PEP District are strictly prohibited from being closer than 15 feet to any property line if the adjacent site is located within an RS (Single Residence) or RSL (Small Lot Single Residence) district [Section 11-7-3].
Sections Cited
- Section 11-3-1: Districts Established
- Section 11-7-1: Purpose (Employment Districts)
- Section 11-7-3: Development Standards (Employment Districts)