04-18-1991 Workshop Session of La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission

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. Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes of April 18, 1991 Page 3 of 5 A review of Ordinance regulations pertaining to carports and front yard fences has been requested. Staff will look to the Commission for guidance addressing these items. After discussion on the carports the item was tabled for more reviewing and will be brought back to the Commission at the next meeting. After the review of the fencing regulations, the Commission decided that no changes to the ordinance should be made at this time. Staff is requesting the Commission to consider amending the screening requirements of Section 5-800. There are several uses and activities which under Zoning Ordinance requirements, must be screened. These standards appear to be practical in most applications, a review of screening standards as they apply to parking requirements is in order. The problem with parking lot screening is one of security. Seclusion increases the likelihood of parking lot users being subjected to robbery and assault. Parking lots in or abutting residential uses can detract from the adjacent neighborhoods. An alternate scheme which "softens" the impact while maintaining public visibility, is accomplished by landscape beds interspersed with tree planting. This has proven to be an effective buffer. The requirements for solid landscape screening would remain in effect for all other present ordinance applications. Paragraph #3 of Section 5-800 specifies the situations in which screening presently applies. This paragraph would remain as currently written and regulate application of buffering requirements. After discussion, Wayne Anderson made a motion to change the wording as requested by staff and this was seconded by Eugene Edmonds. All were in favor and the wording was approved. At the July 19, 1990 meeting, the Planning & Zoning Commission voted to review the portable sign provisions of Section 10-1000. There are two sign regulation amendments which staff would like to propose. the first is a new footnote for Residential, Commercial, and Industrial Sign Table B. The proposed language is: No portion of any free-standing sign shall encroach into any utility easement Throughout the Zoning Ordinance, other types of structures are prohibited from encroaching into utility easements. This is done to insure access to the underground utilities located within easements. Adoption of this amendment would serve to protect easement access. The second amendment deals with signs on Main Street and will be discussed at a later portion of the review which will be devoted to the Main Street issue. The Commission had no problem with the wording change in the first requested amendment and will discuss the second requested amendment at a future meeting.