Somerton looks for ways to meet housing demand
Population has more than doubled since 2000; officials expect growth to continue
SOMERTON — Even as it’s trying to set aside land for future housing demand, this city is faced with the question of how to pay for the services it will have to provide the newly developed residential areas.
Nearly $2.6 million would have to be spent on sewer systems, streets and other infrastructure improvements in areas on Somerton’s east and west sides where the city hopes to channel future growth, according to estimate by city’s community development director.
That estimate was presented to the Somerton City Council as part of a report on availability of residential lots in the city and on options for meeting future housing demand.
Carmen Juarez, the community development director, said six subdivisions in the city have among them 106 lots available for new home construction — far fewer than the projected housing demand in the years ahead.
“We have very few lots in the existing subdivisions,” she said. “We have to attract development in other areas of the city and see what infrastructure is needed.”
Juarez said another 276 lots are projected to be available in subdivisions recently approved by the city or that are expected to get approval. Still, she said, that number will not satisfy what city officials expect will be future demand for housing among families that want to relocate to Somerton.
Since 2000, Somerton’s population has more than doubled, to more than 16,000, according to Census figures. And city officials believe that trend will continue.
Juarez said the city has room for new residential growth in two areas — on the city’s north-
east side in an area east of Somerton Avenue, where up to 805 lots could be opened up, and on the northwest side, west of Cesar Chavez Avenue, where potentially 682 lots could be subdivided.
Were those areas to be developed, she said, the city would have to spend up to $1.5 million alone to build sewage pump stations to serve the new residents. Options for financing the new sewage systems would be limited to charge impact fees or by issuing bonds, she said.
Juarez noted that the city has taken steps to squeeze more lots out of each parcel by reducing the amount of land that must be set aside in subdivisions as open space or green areas. And she told the council she is working a proposal aimed encouraging new housing construction in some of the city’s oldest neighborhood.
But again, she said, the city will face the issue of how to finance water, sewer and other infrastructure improvements to serve those newly developed areas.
Gerardo Anaya, the city’s vice mayor, recommended the city look at raising the necessary funds through impact fees set according to a study done by a consultant.