08-30-12 Special Called Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission

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PUBLIC HEARING DRAFT SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 Economic Sustainability. Economic sustainability was one The Bayfront An Asset and a of 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, an As discussed throughout the public other non-industry business opportunities within City limits. participation process, the Bayfront is Concerns were expressed over the lack of retail shopping both an asset (for residents and opportunities, the amount of tax money being generated just tourists), but also a liability (for retail development). This is due to the fact outside of City limits (and conversely, not being generated to that support th and the apparent trade disinvestment of certain types of businesses (e.g., the recent area which are identified closings of the automobile dealerships, among others). Finally, in their retail market analyses. The there was a general concern that there was not much that could b done to resolve these problems (see inset); that it was an bayfront areas as effectively halving unsolvable dilemma that has been and will continue to plague the the potential trade area (market loss) 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 trend dwindling feedstock). For a geographic area that is so closely t industry, this requires a dual approach that both promotes the expansion of existing industry (e.g., the petrochemical industry 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 (see inset) talked abo becoming -ily and youth, committing to sustainability, celebrating its history, balancing among other things. In the past 10 years, there are many positiv examples around the City where the vision has been implemented, as the recent upgrades to the . However, during the public participation efforts of this update the members of the community made it abundantly clear that there need to once again seek unity as to their vision for the future Presently, there are diverging opinions on several fronts. By wa examples, many expressed great need for increased access and availability to commercial retail and other businesses within Ci others felt those needs were sufficiently provided just outside Street, while others felt that the City was not doing enough to Main Street. The value and purpose of this plan is to reengage t 1.4