09-19-13 Regular Meeting, Public Hearing and Workshop of the Planning and Zoning Commission

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#13-92000002 P&Z 09/19/13 Page 2of 4 The 33 acrespropertyhasapproximately 1600feet of frontage along Spencer Highwayand 900 feet along Sens Road.The property in question is also in the vicinity of single-family residentialsubdivision, LaPorte Independent School District’s undeveloped property along Sens Road,Credit Unions,City of La Porte’s Public WorksDepartment,Police Department and the La Porte Municipal Court. With theextension of Bay Area Boulevard from Fairmont Parkway to Spencer Highway,improvement to the intersection of Spencer Highway and Sens Road has beencompleted. Currently, Harris County is undertaking the project of Sens Road widening from Spencer Highway to North ‘P’ Street connecting with State Highway 225.Both, Spencer Highway and Bay Area Boulevard are classified as primary arterial roadways. As, the housing market is turning around and housing demand is up, the applicant seeksto rezone17.3705 acresofthispropertyfrom General Commercial (GC) to Low Density Residential (R-1) for proposed development of single-family residentialsubdivision. A designated builder for this subdivision is Beazer Homes. Analysis :In considering this request, Staff reviewed the following Comprehensive Plan elements: Land Use, Thoroughfare System, Utility Infrastructure, and Economic Development. The specific issues considered are as follows: Land Use --Review of the City’s future Land Use Plan shows the subject tract developing as commercial, however,single-family residential uses are shownand exist nearthe intersection of Spencer Highwayand Bay Area Boulevard (Sens Road). The proposed amendment will reconfigure the future land uses in preparation to develop only the rear portion of the propertyas residential. The current configuration of the land does not lend itself to logical development of the property due to current parcel configurationand depth. The proposed amendment will not change the relationship to the public health, safety, welfare or protection of the environment. However, the following aspects shouldbe considered for a rezone request: Ability of infrastructure to support the permitted use Impact on the value and practicality of the surrounding land uses Conformance of a zoningrequest with the land use plan Character of the surrounding and adjacent areas Suitability of the property for the uses which would be permissible, considering density, access and circulation, and adequacy of public facilities and services