06-16-1994 Regular Meeting of the La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission

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• • • Staff Report 1994 Annual Zoning Ordinance Review July 21, 1994 There are three items relating to the Zoning Ordinance review that require discussion by the Commission. Two of these items have been referred to the Commission by the City's Board of Adjustment (see Exhibit A). The first of these issues regards the Main Street Commercial District. Specifically, Chairman Bernay has requested that requirements for parking and building setback be reviewed. Staff concurs with Chairman Bernay in regards to this issue. The Main Street District is a major component of the recently adopted Bayfront Master Plan. Main Street's re- emergence as a specialty shopping district is serving to further the goals of the Bayfront Master Plan. The "old town" character of the district is a major element of its current success. Preserving • this character is an important goal. To achieve this goal, some amending of the Zoning Ordinance will be necessary. Parking and setback are key issues but not the only ones to be considered. Requirements regarding these issues should be unplemented as part of a broader set of guidelines, possibly in conjunction with the designation of Main Street as a historical "overlay district". For the reasons stated above, staff would request that the Commission defer action on this topic.. Rather than including just parking and setback issues as part of the Zoning Review, staff would recommend taking up the issue of Main Street as a separate project to be initiated in January 1995. The second item referenced in Dr. Bernay's letter is that of setback requirements as applied to "Old La Porte" lots. The Board of Adjustment has recently heard a variance request dealing with the issue of building and driveway setback from side property lines. The applicant in that case contended that a 50 foot wide lot, even though it meets Zoning Ordinance width requirements, is excessively limiting in terms of development options. While staff feels there is some validity to this view, the problem being cited is not serious or widespread enough to warrant Zoning Ordinance amendment. The limitations imposed by 50 foot lot widths will most commonly be felt with "in fill" type developments. These are situations where a 50 foot wide building site is sandwiched between two existing homes. In these instances, in order to help protect the interests of • neighboring property owners, the Board of Adjustment variance procedure appears to be the most appropriate way to proceed. Requests for variance setback are considered on a