so that a newly married couple is able to afford it or someone who’s just graduated from college.”The city maintains balance by requiring recent developers to commit to larger, higher-quality homes since earlier projects focused heavily on entry-level housing. Financing these expansions requires sophisticated mechanisms. Tax Increment Financing districts and Public Improvement Districts allow developers to front infrastructure costs for roads, water lines, sewer systems, and sidewalks, then receive reimbursement over time.“These funding mechanisms are basically a way that these developers are able to upfront the money for this infrastructure that is very much needed,” Sanchez explains. The approach enables rapid development while spreading municipal costs across multiple stakeholders. DOWNTOWN VISION AND COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE The comprehensive plan serves as Crandall’s blueprint for managing growth while preserving its historic character. Unlike typical zoning documents, this framework establishes design standards that will outlast current leadership.“The beautiful thing about the comprehensive plan is that this is a guide not only for us who are serving the city right now, but also it’s prepping so that we can have a solid foundation for those that are going to come after us,” Sanchez explains.The document includes specific guidelines for materials, signage, and architectural appearance to maintain downtown’s authentic feel. City officials envision transforming the historic core into a walkable retail district spanning multiple streets rather than just Main Street. “We don’t just want it to be one street, we want it to be maybe several so that we can have smaller shops where people can come and park their vehicle, get out, go shopping, get an ice cream and visit all these little shops with more of that small town feel,” Sanchez says. The strategy allows residents to access local businesses on foot while still providing big-box retail options elsewhere in town. Budget allocations align with this downtown priority, with funds specifically earmarked for incremental improvements.The city carefully separates residential and commercial zones to preserve neighborhood 96 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 09
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