Now that the town’s center has been designated as a cultural district, the Abita Springs Board of Aldermen is reviewing what uses it would like to allow in that area.

The board voted Tuesday to place a 120-day moratorium on issuing occupational licenses in the area included in the state’s “cultural district” designation.

The designation, which the town received in 2007, is designed to promote the arts by exempting all original works of art sold inside the district from sales tax and provide tax incentives for people wishing to restore historic buildings. Mayor Louis Fitzmorris said he is hoping the designation will attract businesses to Abita Springs, but he said he does not want to attract the wrong kind of businesses.

The town is looking to market off its increasingly popular new trailhead and to make the town a weekend attraction for diners and shoppers.

Fitzmorris said while the town will not benefit from the sales tax derived from the sale of art, art buyers might also patronize one of the town’s restaurants and purchase some other items while shopping for art in the area.

His goal is to promote the type of businesses in this cultural district that would lend them to foot traffic and prohibit those types of businesses that would not benefit or support the cultural arts district.

At Tuesday night’s meeting, the board introduced an ordinance to limit the types of uses allowed in this district.

There will be a public hearing at the next board meeting on Nov. 17 to determine what uses to include and exclude.

Fitzmorris said he encourages the public to attend and share their opinions on the matter.

Some of the uses he said the board is considering excluding are funeral homes and pawn shops. Uses he said he would like to include are art galleries, shops, bars and restaurants.

Once the ordinance is adopted, Fitzmorris said he would lift the moratorium, adding that it will likely be in effect for less than 120 days.