Heritage Neighborhood Designation Process

Overview

An honorary designation that  recognizes and gives status to neighborhoods in Mesa that have a unique history that do not have historic district designation. Unlike a Historic District,  Heritage Neighborhoods do not contain regulatory requirements. The designation is intended to help encourage, educate, and influence the historic character of the neighborhood.  

The main steps in the process are:

Step 1: Pre-Submittal Conference

A Pre-Submittal application is required prior to filing an application for a Heritage District designation. Pre-Submittal applications are due each Monday by 12:00 p.m. and must be submitted via the DIMES portal.

Staff will review the Pre-Submittal application for compliance with all appropriate standards, codes, specifications, and requirements and provide written review comments within 10 calendar days.

Please note that a Pre-Submittal does not constitute a complete review or guarantee that all issues are identified. Additional meetings may be set up with staff and the applicants to further discuss the application and process.

Eligibility Requirements:

The Criteria for Heritage Neighborhood includes the following:

1. The majority of the neighborhood was originally developed at least 50 years ago.

   a. Period of significance

2. The overall character of the neighborhood, in terms of types and scale of building, remains the same as in the historic period.
3. Documentation is submitted indicating that, during the historic period, the residents and/or business owners in the area worked together to create a unique and identifiable neighborhood character distinguishable from their surroundings or neighboring areas that brought people together and continues to influence the nature of the neighborhood.
4. There are unique and identifiable physical characteristics that create the fabric of the neighborhood (i.e. building scale, material, color, proportions, or other historical associative or contextual values).
5. Residents are able to document the people, events, and/or cultural heritage that influenced the neighborhood’s historic integrity.

Required Documents:

• Application - submitted through the DIMES portal
• Project Narrative - At a minimum, a preliminary description of the important historic aspects and physical features of the neighborhood that warrant designation as a Heritage Neighborhood.History of the area.
• Map - Showing clearly defined boundaries of the neighborhood/district
• Photos of the neighborhood/district

Desired Documents:

• Documentation of the character defining elements of the neighborhood, including the street patterns, building forms, historic uses, and significant landscape features. The neighborhood and staff also work together to record overall neighborhood history and identify specific historic places and any people from the neighborhood to be recognized
• Historic photos
• Identify indicate major intersections, streets, main entrance points, etc.
• Optional signature sheets

Step 2: Application Submittal

Application for a Heritage Neighborhood designation may be submitted at any point after a Pre-Submittal Conference has been completed.

Complete applications and fees must be submitted electronically via the DIMES portal. Applications are due each Monday by the end of the business day.

The applicant is responsible for the accuracy and completeness of all information submitted. Incomplete applications will NOT be accepted.

Required Documents: 

• Application - submitted through the DIMES portal
• Project Narrative - At a minimum, a preliminary description of the important historic aspects and physical features of the neighborhood that warrant designation as a Heritage Neighborhood. Identify and describe any important or notable events that have taken place at this location and how they contribute to the importance of the neighborhood/district. Identify any notable or important people associated with the neighborhood/district. If applicable, include a detailed history and description of the architectural styles and any notable architectural details that are present in the neighborhood/district.  The narrative should also address any changes to the neighborhood/district that have occurred throughout its history. 
• Identification of Character Defining Elements (Cultural/Architectural)
• Historic Context including a description of the history of the area
• Map - Showing clearly defined boundaries of the neighborhood/district.
• Photos of the neighborhood/district - including detail photographs of important buildings or locations of that help define the distinctive cultural characteristics of the neighborhood/district. 

Desired Documents:

• Documentation of the character defining elements of the neighborhood, including the street patterns, building forms, historic uses, and significant landscape features. The neighborhood and staff also work together to record overall neighborhood history and identify specific historic places and any people from the neighborhood to be recognized
• Original development maps/documents
• Historic photos
• Identify indicate major intersections, streets, main entrance points, etc.
• Optional signature sheets

Step 3: Staff Review

Staff will review the Heritage Neighborhood designation application for compliance with all appropriate standards, codes, specifications, and requirements and provide written comments within 8 working days of the next closest formal submittal listed on the Planning & Zoning Board Calendar(PDF, 372KB). This comment letter will identify requirements that need to be resolved before attending a public meeting.

The applicant will revise pertinent documents to address review comments and provide a written comment response letter stating how each review comment was addressed.

This process repeats until all requirements are met.

Step 4: Public Notice

When all comments have been addressed staff will schedule the project for a Historic Preservation Board meeting.

Historic Preservation Board Noticing Requirements

Posting the project site - No less than 15 days prior to the public hearing staff will post a sign on the property in a manner that is legible from public right-of-way with the hearing information pursuant to A.R.S. §9-462.04.

Step 5: Public Hearing & Entitlement

Historic Preservation Board Hearing

Historic Preservation Board meetings are typically held the first Tuesday of every month at 5:00 p.m.

Staff will prepare a staff report describing the proposed project and compliance with codes and policies. Staff reports will be available and posted to the case file within the DIMES system the Thursday prior to the Board meeting. 

Staff will prepare and present to the Board a presentation outlining the proposed project at the public meeting. The applicant is highly encouraged to attend the meeting to answer questions and participate in discussion.  

Historic Preservation Board

City Council Hearing

City Council hearings are typically held the first and third Monday of every month at 5:45 p.m.

The Heritage Neighborhood designation is done through a resolution and does not contain any regulatory requirements.

City Council Meetings