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Staff Report Apri128, 2011 <br />Fire Station No.1 <br />Special Exception Request #11-94000001 <br />Requested by: City of La Porte c/o Reagan McPhail — Public hnprovements Coordinator <br />Requested for: Yard setbacks and other requirement for the Main Street District <br />Location: 125 South 'I'd Street <br />(Block 39; Lots 11-16; Town of LaPorte) <br />Zoning: Main Street District (MSD) <br />Background: The City of La Porte has plans to build a new Fire Station No. 1, along with <br />administrative offices at 125 South 'I'd Street. Currently, Fire Station No.l is <br />located along West `A' and South 2nd Street. Current growth trends and first <br />responder's approach require advanced equipment and better personnel <br />accommodation at these facilities. In addition, this is an old building and <br />require much needed space for the Fire Department personnel <br />The proposed layout plan shows no setback for a 2-story administrative <br />building along front, side yard adjacent to West `A' Street, and rear yard <br />abutting 16' wide public alley to the east (See Exhibit). In developing a <br />corner lot, zoning regulations require a minimum ten -foot (10') setback on <br />the side that adjoins a public right-of-way (West `A' Street) and 20' rear <br />yard setback for the Main Street District. <br />The Main Street Overlay and District were created to attract mixed use <br />developments. Minimum yard setbacks for the Main Street District are; <br />Front *, Rear 20', Side 5'. In addition, all yards adjacent to public right-of- <br />way must be a minimum of ten feet. It is likely that existing buildings and <br />lots available for development may not meet these regulations, as most of the <br />buildings in the downtown area are considered to be zero lot line or have no <br />setbacks. <br />* denotes front yard setback as the average of the existing structures on that <br />side of the street on the same side or the setback of the closest structure on an <br />adjacent lot. In this case, front setback is proposed to be zero as other <br />structures are considered zero lot line on the same side of the street. It is <br />considered to be consistent with the existing structures and will look <br />aesthetically pleasing. In order to build a two story administrative office <br />building, 0 side setback is shown instead of 10' side yard setback when <br />adjacent to public right-of-way (West 'A' Street). In staffs opinion, a 10' <br />side yard setback may not be necessary for the proposed building, which will <br />be similar to other structures on the same side of the street. The proposed <br />