A theme park may be coming to the former site of the torn-down Fiesta Mall in west Mesa.

Council in a special meeting Nov. 26 approved the formation of the Palo District, a taxing mechanism for the 80-acre site that puts control over its development in the hands to a four-person board – not the city.

Mesa council approved a theme district formation on the 80-acre site of the former Fiesta Mall.

“A theme park district is a statewide economic development tool that lays the foundation for a higher caliber and a special type of entertainment-centric district,” explained Jeff Robbins, redevelopment administrator.

“Theme park districts provide both a dedicated financing as well as a dedicated governance mechanism to support development and in this case, redevelopment.”

According to Robbins,

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