Moving Forward
Council approves amendments to redevelopment area plan
The Sierra Vista City Council approved amendments to the West Sierra Vista Redevelopment Area Plan, which was the final step needed to enable the City to provide matching grant dollars to additional commercial tenants and property owners seeking to improve their sites in the West End.
The original redevelopment area was established in 2017 and encompassed about 23 acres, before being expanded in 2019 by another 29 acres. The newly expanded area adds 162 non-residential parcels, totaling about 111 acres west of N. 5th Street, where there has been significant interest from businesses seeking to apply for matching grant funds under the City’s West Sierra Vista Partnership Program.
The amendments approved on Thursday also increased the annual planned allotment for the grant program from $50,000 to $100,000, subject to the City’s annual budget process. The plan amendments also recommend establishing a $15,000 annual budget for increasing public art in public spaces to add vibrancy to the downtown area and create a stronger sense of place.
The City will begin accepting applications for properties in the new expansion area immediately and can begin approving them in 30 days once the resolution takes effect.
Both the West End Commission and Planning and Zoning Commission recommended adoption of the plan amendments. The Planning and Zoning Commission found them to be consistent with the City’s General Plan Vista 2030.
Concept plans for the property located on the southeast corner of Fry Boulevard and Fab Avenue property were removed from the plan amendments and will return to the City Council at a future work session as a stand-alone item to discuss the future direction of that site. The plan amendments as approved do still include drainage and right-of-way improvements for that property, which will be part of the budget recommendations for next fiscal year.
Read more about last night's City Council meeting, to include initial consideration of proposals to use the next round of Community Development Block Grant funds.
