Functions of Town Center Development Office

Downtown Current Planning:
The Town Center Development Office acts as a one-stop shop for planning services in the Town Center Redevelopment Area. Since the downtown area has its own designated zoning districts, the Town Center Development Office processes, through the Downtown Development Committee, all of the design review, zoning cases, use permit applications, as well as redevelopment projects that guide development within the Town Center Redevelopment Area.

Economic Development:
The Town Center Development Office is part of the Economic Development Division and also partners with Downtown Mesa Association to develop and promote Downtown Mesa as a premier location for new business. In fact, Downtown Mesa is one of seven major employment centers in Mesa and represents a labor market of 1.2 million within a 30-minute commute.

Business Advocacy: 
For businesses within the Town Center Redevelopment Area, our office performs an advocacy role, working with other City departments to assist businesses with a variety of questions or issues. We serve as the ombudsman for those developing or opening a business in the Redevelopment Area.  

Long Range Planning:
The Town Center Concept Plan developed for the downtown area includes planning for future land uses, density, transportation and development design components for future growth. Specific action items are identified regarding new development and infrastructure.  The concept plan is included in the City's General Plan adopted by the citizens of Mesa in 2002.

Capital Improvement Development: 
We are also responsible for planning and managing projects that improve the infrastructure of the Redevelopment area. This includes streetscape improvement projects, pedestrian pathway systems, and demonstration projects.

Town Center Development Projects: 
We encourage partnerships with private developers that are designed to encourage private investment in downtown Mesa. Most of these projects are mixed-use development that include office, retail, and restaurant space, and often housing components as well.

Citizen Participation: 
Our office promotes citizen involvement in projects and decisions that are made affecting their business or neighborhood. We develop citizen input from the earliest stages so that each voice is heard. We routinely go beyond the minimum code requirements for citizen notification and participation because we believe the best projects are those in which everyone has participated.