[Source: Mark Cowling, Casa Grande Valley Newspaper] -- Twenty elected and appointed town officials met last week with staff to discuss how the town's new Downtown Commercial zone might best help to achieve goals for downtown. Several of the ideas aired at last Thursday's work session will likely reappear in coming weeks before the Planning and Zoning Commission and Town Council for action. Those two panels met in last week's work session, along with the Historic District Advisory Commission and Downtown Redevelopment Commission. With DC zoning at last in place on North Main Street and a block on either side, officials spoke of the opportunities presented as well as lingering concerns.
Officials eagerly anticipated National Bank of Arizona's relocation to the corner of Main Street and Butte Avenue. Florence Planning Director Mark Eckhoff said the bank's architect spent some time studying local architecture to design a building that would fit well into downtown. However, the new bank will have a drive-through, which is not currently allowed in the DC zone. Barbara Parkin-McBride, a member of the Historic District Advisory Commission, said the commission would be in favor of allowing the bank's drive-though, "given the architectural provisions and the streetscape provisions that have been made." [Note: To read the full article, click here.
