Mara Latorre’s interest in urban and regional planning is driven by her passion for the people in her hometown community.
Some people look at the layout of a town and see only the negatives. Mara Latorre sees opportunities for improvement.
Latorre is the newest planner with the City of Plant City’s Planning and Zoning Department. After graduating with a master’s degree in urban and regional planning at the University of South Florida, Latorre was hired by the City of Plant City late this summer.
“I’m a native of Tampa Bay,” Latorre said. “I grew up here, and I wanted to stay regional. I very much consider Plant City a part of that.”
While she was finishing her graduate degree, the opening with the City of Plant City was announced to Latorre and her fellow students. Because she also was interested in working in local government, she applied for the position.
“I wanted to stay local,” she said. “This is my home, and I stayed vested.”
Creating a Community
Latorre first became interested in urban and regional planning during her first few years of undergraduate study, which she also completed at the University of South Florida. She was part of Tampa Underground, a non-denominational church based in Ybor City that did urban ministry and focused on helping marginalized communities.
“I became aware of urban issues,” Latorre said. “I wanted to do urban community development. Everything had something to do with community and government. It really opened my eyes. It was an influential way to pave that path. How can you systematically improve a community? At the end of the day, urban planning seemed like the best way to go about that.”
Latorre earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology with an emphasis in urban studies in 2011.
Prior to earning her master’s degree, Latorre served as an urban planning intern with the City of Tampa and a street team member for Creative Loafing.
A Tampa-based artist, she’s also used her interest in painting and drawing to help positively influence her community. In 2013, she was the festival planning coordinator for Arts Rise North Tampa Festival of the Arts, a visual and performing arts festival. She served as the visual art coordinator for outdoor gallery spaces. That same year, she was a curator for The Conscious Art Show: Voices of the Homeless which highlighted the unseen talents of the homeless community in the Tampa Bay area.
Now, she’s bringing that community focus to Plant City.
As the new planner for the City of Plant City, Latorre is responsible for helping with site plan reviews and ensuring that plans are up to code with the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Additionally, she’ll serve on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee on the Metropolitan Planning Organization of Hillsborough County.
“I’m just going to be helping the public,” Latorre said. “From aesthetics to infrastructure to community issues. I’ve always had a heart for people, really.”
She’s looking forward to the positive impact that she’ll have a hand in through her work with the City of Plant City.
“You’re helping to influence the blueprint of a community, the future well-being of an area,” Latorre said. “From helping with roadways to affordable housing and parks … (ultimately) the quality of life improves for people. I’m really in a place of learning right now. I’m excited to learn whatever I can about Plant City, and I’m excited to have this position. I want to make sure I’m listening to the community. It is your city, and I’m excited for what the future holds.”
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
