The Mesa Design Review Board recently discussed plans for the Northeast Public Safety Facility planned at the NEC of Brown and Power roads.
The Board will vote on the design Sept. 13, and the Planning and Zoning Board is then scheduled to discuss a City-requested rezoning to public/semi-public on Sept. 14.
Highlights from DRB’s Aug. 9 discussion included an update on the landscaping plan, which features increased buffering on the north and east sides of the building to better buffer neighboring homes.
As currently planned, the facility will feature a nearly 15KSF fire and medical services station and a 28.7KSF police substation. The two uses will share a 6.8KSF common area with a meeting room, restroom, interview room, lobby and operations support spaces.
Two residents attending the meeting expressed concerns about the facility’s potential to disrupt quality of life in the neighborhood, saying a police substation and fire/medical station is not suited to neighborhood’s residential character.
Of particular concern is a manually operated emergency exit planned at the back of the facility, which residents opposing the plan fear could dump emergency vehicles onto their streets. They also voiced worries about the amount of lighting the facility would bring into the area. (Source)
