Setback Requirements for Mesa Infill Development Districts (ID-1 and ID-2)

In the City of Mesa, the Infill Development District 1 (ID-1) defaults to the setback requirements of the specific base zoning district referenced in its approved Infill Incentive Plan (IIP), unless those standards are modified by the City Council. The Infill Development District 2 (ID-2) does not have fixed setback dimensions; instead, all front, side, and rear setbacks are uniquely established for each project through the individualized review and approval of its specific Infill Incentive Plan [Section 11-12-4].

Regulatory Framework for Infill Development Setbacks

The City of Mesa established the Infill Development (ID) Districts to encourage the redevelopment of underutilized or bypassed properties. Because these sites often have unique physical constraints or existing infrastructure, the City of Mesa Zoning Ordinance provides a flexible framework for determining development standards such as setbacks, rather than a fixed table of numbers [Section 11-12-1].

ID-1: Infill Development District 1

For properties zoned as ID-1, the City of Mesa utilizes a "reference" system. During the rezoning process, an Infill Incentive Plan (IIP) must specify a base zoning district (such as Limited Commercial (LC) or General Commercial (GC)) to serve as the standard for the property [Section 11-12-3].

Default Standards: The front, side, and rear setbacks of the referenced base district apply to the ID-1 project by default [Section 11-12-4(A)].
Modifications: The City Council has the authority to specifically modify these base setbacks if requested as part of the project's Infill Incentive Plan [Section 11-12-4(A)].

ID-2: Infill Development District 2

The ID-2 District is intended for larger or more complex sites (typically 2.5 acres or more) that require a comprehensive departure from standard regulations. For these sites, the City of Mesa does not apply default setbacks from other zones [Section 11-12-1(B)].

Unique Establishment: All development standards, including setbacks, are uniquely created for the specific site and are approved as part of the regulating document for that property [Section 11-12-4(B)].
Review Criteria: These custom setbacks are evaluated based on their compatibility with surrounding neighborhoods and their ability to promote a walkable urban form [Section 11-12-5(C)].

Summary of Setback Requirements by District

The following table outlines how the City of Mesa determines setbacks for the Infill Development Districts:

District Type	Determination Method for Setbacks	Primary Regulating Document
ID-1 (Infill Development District 1)	Defaults to the requirements of the referenced base zoning district unless a specific deviation is approved by the City Council.	Infill Incentive Plan (IIP) and Adopting Ordinance [Section 11-12-3, 11-12-4]
ID-2 (Infill Development District 2)	Uniquely established for each individual project based on site-specific needs and compatibility with the area.	Approved Infill Incentive Plan (IIP) [Section 11-12-4, 11-12-5]

The Infill Incentive Plan (IIP)

Every application for an ID District in the City of Mesa must include an Infill Incentive Plan. This plan serves as the legal regulating document for the site. If a developer wishes to use setbacks that differ from the standard zoning code, they must explicitly list those "requested deviations from General Development Standards" on the IIP Map [Section 11-12-5(A)(1)(d)].

For the ID-2 District, the City of Mesa also requires a "Neighborhood Compatibility" analysis to ensure that the proposed setbacks and building placements facilitate appropriate transitions between the new development and the adjacent existing neighborhoods [Section 11-12-5(H)(3)].

Sections Cited