Mesa City Code tit. 11, art. 6, ch. 62 — CIVIC SPACE STANDARDS | Mesa City Code (Supp. No. 22: codified through Ordinance No. 5996, adopted March 9, 2026) — City of Mesa

Mesa City Code § 11-62-1 PURPOSE

11-62-1: - PURPOSE The purpose of this Chapter is to provide a set of civic space types and their associated standards to use within the transect zones.

Mesa City Code § 11-62-2 APPLICABILITY

11-62-2: - APPLICABILITY The standards established in this Chapter shall apply to all proposed development within the transect zones, and shall be considered in combination with the standards found within the other Chapters in Article 6 (Form-Based Zoning).

Mesa City Code § 11-62-3 CIVIC SPACES

11-62-3: - CIVIC SPACES A. The standards established in this Chapter provide the transect zones with a diverse palette of parks and other publicly accessible civic spaces, publicly or privately owned, that are essential components of walkable urban environments. B. There are 11 different civic space types defined in Table A (Civic Space Type Standards). Two of the civic space types, Playgrounds and Community Gardens, may be incorporated into any of the other nine types or may stand alone. C. In Table A (Civic Space Type Standards), the illustration and description of each civic space type are illustrative in nature and not regulatory. D. The service area, size, frontage and disposition of elements standards of each civic space types are regulatory. 1. Service Area. Describes how the civic space relates to the City as a whole and the area that will be served by the civic space. 2. Size. The overall range of allowed sizes of the civic space. 3. Frontage. The relationship along property lines of a civic space to adjacent buildings or lots. a. The front of the lots attached to or across a thoroughfare from a civic spaces should face on to the civic space to the maximum extent possible. b. Building. Lots that are attached to or across a thoroughfare from civic spaces listed as having an "Building" frontage shall have the front of the lot facing on to the civic space for a minimum of three quarters of the civic space perimeter. [image omitted; see the official code] c. Independent. Lots that are attached to or across a thoroughfare from civic spaces listed as having an "Independent" may have the front, side street, or rear of the lot facing on to the civic space. 4. Disposition of Elements. The placement of objects within the civic space. a. Natural. Civic spaces with natural character are designed in a natural manner with no formal arrangement of elements. b. Formal. Civic spaces with a formal character have a more rigid layout that follows geometric forms and has trees and other elements arranged in formal patterns. c. Informal. Civic spaces with an informal character have a mix of Formal and Natural characteristics. E. Typical Facilities. A list of the typical facilities found within the civic space. This list is not intended to be a complete list of facilities allowed nor is it intended that every civic space would contain each of the facilities listed. Facilities larger than indicated gross square footage (gsf) require review and approval by the Director and Parks Director. F. The civic spaces specified in Table A (Civic Space Type Standards) are allowed By Right or By Review in the designated transect zones. (Civic Space allowed By Review are allowed if approved by the Director and Parks Director.) Table 11-62-3.A Civic Space Type Standards Transect Zone | [image omitted; see the official code] | [image omitted; see the official code] | [image omitted; see the official code] Civic Space Type | Regional Park | Sport Complex | Community Park Illustration | [image omitted; see the official code] | [image omitted; see the official code] | [image omitted; see the official code] Description | A natural preserve available for unstructured recreation. | An open space that consolidates heavily programmed athletic fields and associated facilities. | An open space available for unstructured recreation and a limited amount of structured recreation. Location and Size Location Service Area | Regional | Regional | Multiple Neighborhoods Size Minimum | 200 acres | 25 acres | 12 acres Maximum | - | - | - Character Frontage | Independent | Independent | Independent Disposition of Elements | Natural, Formal or Informal | Formal or Informal | Informal Typical Facilities Passive and Active Recreation, Accessory Structure, Drinking Fountains, Community Facility <7,500 gsf, Paths and Trails | Passive and Active Recreation, Accessory Structure, Drinking Fountains, Community Facility <7,500 gsf, Paths and Trails | Passive and Active Recreation, Accessory Structure, Drinking Fountains, Community Facility <5,000 gsf, Paths and Trails [image omitted; see the official code] Table 11-62-3.A Civic Space Type Standards (continued) Transect Zone | [image omitted; see the official code] | [image omitted; see the official code] | [image omitted; see the official code] Civic Space Type | Greenway | Neighborhood Green | Neighborhood Square Illustration | [image omitted; see the official code] | [image omitted; see the official code] | [image omitted; see the official code] Description | A linear open space that may follow natural corridors providing unstructured and limited amounts of structured recreation. | An open space available for unstructured and limited amounts of structured recreation. | An open space available for civic purposes, unstructured and limited amounts of structured recreation. Location and Size Location Service Area | Multiple Neighborhoods | Neighborhood | Neighborhood Size Minimum | 8 acres (60' wide by 1 mile long) | 1 acre | ½ acre Maximum | - | 15 acres | 5 acres Character Frontage | Independent or Building | Building | Building Disposition of Elements | Natural or Informal | Informal | Formal Typical Facilities Passive and Active Recreation, Accessory Structure, Drinking Fountains, Community Facility <5,000 gsf, Paths and Trails | Passive and Active (unstructured or structured) Recreation, Accessory Structure, Drinking Fountains, Community Facility <5,000 gsf, Paths and Trails | Passive and Active (unstructured or structured) Recreation, Accessory Structure, Drinking Fountains, Community Facility <5,000 gsf, Paths and Trails [image omitted; see the official code] Table 11-62-3.A Civic Space Type Standards (continued) Transect Zone | [image omitted; see the official code] | [image omitted; see the official code] | [image omitted; see the official code] Civic Space Type | Plaza | Pocket Plaza | Pocket Park Illustration | [image omitted; see the official code] | [image omitted; see the official code] | [image omitted; see the official code] Description | A formal open space available for civic purposes and commercial activities. Plazas are typically hardscaped. Commercial activities shall be subordinate to Civic use. | A formal open space available for civic purposes and commercial activities. Pocket Plazas are typically hardscaped. Commercial activities shall be subordinate to Civic use. | An open space available for informal activities in close proximity to neighborhood residences. Location and Size Location Service Area | Neighborhood | Neighborhood | Neighborhood Size Minimum | ½ acre | 2,000 sf | 2,000 sf Maximum | 2½ acres | ½ acre | 1 acre Character Frontage | Building | Building | Building Disposition of Elements | Formal | Formal | Formal or Informal Typical Facilities Passive Recreation, Accessory Structure, Drinking Fountains, Paths and Trails | Passive Recreation, Accessory Structure, Drinking Fountains, Paths and Trails | Passive Recreation, Accessory Structure, Drinking Fountains, Paths and Trails [image omitted; see the official code] Table 11-62-3.A Civic Space Type Standards (continued) Transect Zone | [image omitted; see the official code] | [image omitted; see the official code] Civic Space Type | Playground | Community Garden1 Illustration | [image omitted; see the official code] | [image omitted; see the official code] Description | An open space designed and equipped for the recreation of children. A Playground should be fenced and may include an open shelter. Playgrounds may be included within other civic spaces. | An open space designed as a grouping of garden plots that are available to nearby residents for small-scale cultivation. Community Gardens may be included within other civic spaces. Location and Size Location Service Area | Neighborhood | Neighborhood Size Minimum | - | - Maximum | - | - Character Frontage | Independent or Building | Independent or Building Disposition of Elements | Formal or Informal | Formal or Informal Typical Facilities Accessory Structure, Drinking Fountains, Paths and Trails | Accessory Structure, Drinking Fountains, Paths and Trails 1 See Section 11-31-10 (Community Gardens) for specific standards. [image omitted; see the official code]

Mesa City Code § 11-62-4 ADDITIONAL STANDARDS

11-62-4: - ADDITIONAL STANDARDS A. Accessory Structure Standards. All accessory structures within parks and open spaces, including, but not limited to, restrooms, open-air pavilions, gazebos, picnic shelters and outdoor theaters, shall not be subject to the physical requirements of the Building Form Standards in Chapter 58 (Building Form Standards). They shall be designed and furnished to be consistent with the character of the transect zone in which they are located. Such consistency may require accessory structures to maintain building setbacks, frontage, massing, disposition and character similar to adjacent development as determined by the Director. B. Lighting Standards. 1. All lighting shall comply with the standards found in the Mesa Lighting and Electrical Code, Title 4, Chapter 4 of the Mesa City Code. 2. All lighting shall comply with § 11-30-5 of this Zoning Code. 3. All athletic field/sport court lighting shall be Dark Sky Compliant and shall require a Special Use Permit (SUP).