ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE
Mesa City Code § 11-6-5
in effect11-6-5: - ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE
A. Purpose and Applicability.
1. Purpose. Alternative Compliance may be used to satisfy the Site Planning and Design Standards in Section 11-6-4 when conditions may exist where strict compliance is impractical or impossible or when alternative approaches achieve equivalent or superior design outcomes through innovative site planning, architectural solutions, or other means.
2. Applicability. Alternative Compliance may be requested for any application subject to the Site Planning and Design Standards of Section 11-6-4. It may not be used to alter development standards or requirements of other sections of this Zoning Ordinance, and it shall not result in an increase in intensity or lot coverage.
B. Application. Requests for Alternative Compliance may be accepted for any application to which Site Planning and Design Standards apply. A written request must be provided in conjunction with the applicable land use application describing the following:
1. The code section(s) and development standard(s) for which Alternative Compliance is being requested;
2. The proposed alternative or offset(s), including any numeric modification(s) from the development standard;
3. An explanation on how the proposal meets the intent of the applicable development standard(s), the applicable General Plan Placetype, and any other applicable Sub-area Plan;
4. An explanation on how the alternative is equivalent or superior to the required development standard, or how the proposed offset(s) produce superior design; and
5. A statement of how the proposal meets the approval criteria in Subsection C below.
C. Approval Criteria. The review authority may approve Alternative Compliance only upon finding that the request meets all of the following:
1. The alternative does not create adverse impacts on safety, access, visibility, glare, privacy, noise, drainage, heat island effect, and does not reduce pedestrian comfort or accessibility.
2. The proposed alternative or tradeoff is the minimum necessary to achieve the intent while maintaining overall compliance with all other applicable standards.
3. The proposal either:
a. Provides equivalent or superior quality and functionality; or
b. Provides offsetting public benefits (e.g., improved streetscape, enhanced shade/canopy, open space, sustainability features).
(Ord. No. 5996, § 1, 3-9-26)
Source: City of Mesa, Arizona, Mesa City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/az/mesa/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_TIT11ZOOR_ART2BAZO_CH6COMIEDI_11-6-5ALCOFetched: 11/1/2026