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<br />redevelopment efforts. The plan also provides a means of coordinating the <br />actions of many different departments and divisions within municipal <br />government. <br /> <br />Finally, planning is a dynamic process that must be continuously monitored <br />and renewed as changes occur. The C <br />flexible in responding to changing conditions and needs, yet steadfast in its <br />vision and support for the community goals and objectives. It is precisely for <br />this reason, that this update is important. Since the original plan adoption in <br />2001, La Porte has been and will continue to be affected and shaped by <br />some fairly significant internal and external influences, changing conditions, <br />and changing priorities, including, but not limited to: <br />Panama Canal Expansion Impacts. In 2007, the Panama Canal <br /> <br />Authority started on an ambitious project to double the <br />capacity of the Panama Canal by 2014 by allowing more and <br />larger ships to transit from the Atlantic to the Pacific and vice <br />versa. Although 1,700 miles and over three two years away, this <br />project is already having significant influences on the City of La <br />Porte. With <br />1 <br />container terminals to the north and south of the City, much is <br />being done by the public sector to maximize the future <br />economic benefits stemming from the canal expansion, <br />2 <br />including widening and deepening the Houston Ship Channel <br />3 <br />and the possibility of adding more rail lines. On the private <br />side, it has been said that a significant number of new hotels <br />have been constructed in La Porte over the past few years in <br />order to accommodate increased numbers of shipman and <br />other employees as the port traffic increases. There has also <br />been an increase in warehouse and distribution center <br />development and inquiries for other prospective port <br />supporting businesses. Outside of land use issues (i.e., where <br />La Porte is bookended by some of the <br />will these be facilities be placed?), there will also be an increase <br />busiest container terminals in the <br />country. <br />in heavy truck traffic that will have a direct effect on the <br /> <br /> <br />community and its major arteries (including State Highways 146 <br />Source: Port of Houston website. <br />and 225, Fairmont Parkway, among others). <br /> <br />1 <br /> Port of Houston Website. http://www.portofhouston.com/geninfo/facilities.html. <br />Retrieved 29 June 2011. <br />2 <br /> Ibid. http://www.portofhouston.com/geninfo/overview2.html#channel. Retrieved <br />29 June 2011. <br />3 <br />ABC News/KTRK-TV Website. http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/ <br />local&id=8210166. Retrieved 29 June 2011. <br />1.3 <br /> <br />2.ř Adopted July 20, 2009 <br />Plan Context <br /> <br />