04-25-12 Special Called Planning and Zoning

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REVISED DRAFT MARCH 23, 2012 Economic Sustainability. Economic sustainability was one of The Bayfront An Asset and a the topics that repeatedly surfaced during the Small Group Liability Interviews. Many times it was framed in the terms of a lack of availability and diversity of commercial retail, restaurants, and other As discussed throughout the public non-industry business opportunities within City limits. Concerns participation process,the Bayfront is were expressed over the lack of choiceretail shopping opportunities both an asset (for residents and (e.g., only one grocery store), about the amount of tax money being tourists), but also a liability (for retail development). This is due to the fact generated just outside of City limits (and conversely, not being that larger national chain and generated to support th and the trade apparent disinvestment of certain types of businesses (e.g., the area which are identified recent closings of the automobile dealerships, among others). in their retail market analyses. The Finally, there was a general concern that there was not much that could be done to resolve these problems (see inset); that it was an bayfront areas as effectivly halving the potential trade area (market loss) unsolvable dilemma that has been and will continue to plague the needed to development and sustain a community due to being land-locked, not enough rooftops to retail establishment. generate commercial investment, and too much industry was Source: Kendig Keast Collaborative. deterring other forms of land use investment. The other part of economic sustainability is being able to accommodate the normal, but major shifts in local business and regional and global trends (e.g., a dwindling feedstock). For a geographic area that is so closely tied to the industry, this requires a dual approach that both promotes the expansion of existing industry (e.g., the petrochemical industry), but also plans for further economic diversification. Need for a New Collective Vision. When the original comprehensive plan was adopted in 2001, there was a defined consensus about what La Porte should be in the future. The vision talked about La Porte becoming - sustainability, celebrating its history, balancing land uses, among other things. In the past 10 years, there are many positive examples around the City where the vision has been implemented, such as the recent . However, during the public participation efforts of this update process, the members of the community made it abundantly clear that there is a need to once again seek unity as to their vision for the future of La Porte. Presently, there are diverging opinions on several fronts. By way of a few examples, many expressed great need for increased access and availability to commercial retail and other businesses within City limits, others felt those needs were sufficiently provided just outside City limits. Many expressed approval of Street, while others felt that the City was not doing enough to bring back Main Street. The value and purpose of this plan is to reengage the 1.4 Chapter 1