03-26-12 Fiscal Affairs Committee

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Local economy. The City of La Porte is located in the southeast quadrant of Harris County, which is a 1,723 square mile county is a leading oil, gas and petrochemical areas. The County has more than 3,200 manufacturing plants, the nation’s largest concentration of petrochemical plants, the third largest United States seaport and is a corporation management center. A significant part of the County’s major employers, manufacturers, education and financial institutions are located in Houston, the County seat. The Texas Medical Center, located in Harris County, is one of the nation’s largest, providing medical care and educational opportunities. Higher education facilities includes: University of Houston, Rice University, Texas Southern University, St. Thomas University and Houston Baptist University, all offering full four- year as well as postgraduate programs. The Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center is also located here. Located some 20 miles southeast of Houston on Galveston Bay in Harris County are the three communities that make up the La Porte Bayshore Area: La Porte, Morgan’s Point and Shoreacres. The area has a combined population of approximately 40,000. Though much of the image of this area is industrial, the La Porte- Bayshore area is still characterized by an expanse of resort homes. Future planning. The La Porte 2020 Comprehensive Plan is a 20-year master plan adopted by the City Council to guide policy decisions relating to the physical and economic development of the community. In general, the plan indicates how the community desires to develop and redevelop over the course of the next twenty years. The comprehensive plan is a physical plan; it is long range, comprehensive and states the goals, objectives and policies of the local government. The comprehensive plan provides clear direction through specific statements of action to achieve the desired results envisioned by citizens and the leadership of the community. The essential objectives of the comprehensive plan are as follows: It is a plan to guide the future physical development and redevelopment of the community; The time frame is long, extending over a twenty-year horizon; It encompasses a large geographic area including the corporate limits and ETJ of the community; It is general in nature, allowing some issues to be resolved and many decisions to be made; It articulates ideas in a framework of goals and objectives, policies and actions, and plans and projects; It is intended foremost, to serve as a continuing guide to decision-making, to provide a common direction and to provide stability as issues are addressed and future decisions are made. Residential Development. Neighborhoods are one of La Porte’s greatest assets as they form a foundation for a sound quality of life. The City is made up of several distinct neighborhood areas, each with somewhat different physical characteristics such as the age of housing, street configuration, and the sizes of structures and lots. Much of the City’s overall image and identity is due to the unique character of its neighborhoods and these distinguishing features should, therefore, be preserved. Neighborhoods that are safe, well maintained and have character which will maintain property values and thus maintain a sound neighborhood environment along with a stable residential tax base. The attractive appearance and environmental quality of existing and future low-density residential neighborhoods should be protected and improvements made where necessary to maintain the value of properties and enhance the quality of life. As the city continues to develop it is important that the integrity of the neighborhoods is preserved and the value and enjoyment of property is maintained and enhanced. iii