By Cesar Neyoy Bajo El Sol
SOMERTON – The city council has given tentative approval to a plan that would offer incentives to developers for projects that revitalize the city’s historic downtown.
The plan, approved by majority vote Dec. 15, creates three zones in which the city will permit and encourage various commercial, mixed commercial and residential uses, construction of multi-level buildings, and preservation and reuse of existing buildings.
Drawn up by Somerton’s Community Development and Economic Development departments, the plan dubbed the Infill Incentive Overlay District also seeks to preserve neighborhoods of what are defined as historic homes.
One of the zones within the overlay district is the Entertainment District, in which the city would permit primarily commercial activities along Main Street and along adjacent streets to the north and south of Main.
The city would offer financial incentives for preservation of historic homes and buildings within the Pioneer District, the area north of Spring Street and bounded on the east and west by Somerton and Carlisle avenues.
