11-18-1999 Regular Meeting and Public Hearing of the La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission

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• 0 Shipping Containers P&Z 12/16/99 Page 2 of 2 An outside storage of shipping containers use (SIC Code #3443) could be completely eliminated from the City's Code of Ordinances. As the establishment of these container yards is not attractive to the physical development of La Porte. Furthermore, they do not enhance the visual aesthetic character of the community. On the other hand, the Port of Houston Authority has developed a master plan for a new fully intermodal terminal at Bayport. A bond election was held in November, 1999 and 380 million dollars were approved in order to complete phase one of the Bayport expansion. This phase will complete 2600 feet of berth, 140 acres of container yard, equipment, utilities, access improvements, a gate complex, a container freight station and numerous other buildings. With these facilities in sight, staff feels the development of container yards could be prohibited in the City of La Porte. A second option that needs to be addressed deals with a zoning designation. At present, outside storage of shipping containers are permitted in the Light Industrial (LI) zones, subject to measures such as screening to a height of six feet, lighting & glare, smoke, dust, and odor. The containers could be limited to heavy industrial (Hp zones with minimum yard setbacks as front 50 ft., rear 50ft., and side 30 ft., along with required 6% landscaping, which is already a part of City's Code of Ordinances. A third option to be examined is the standards and additional requirements for LI zones in which the containers are permitted at present, as regulated by Sections 106-521& 522 (b) of the Code of Ordinances. These standards include regulations regarding height, setbacks, and landscaping & screening The following recommendations could apply to the outside storage of shipping containers in LI and HI zones, with a height limitation for containers to be two (2) stacks high, a typically 7'9" plus the frame would be 16%18'high. At present, the maximum height allowed is 45 ft. or 2-5 stacks high. The minimum front yard setback could be 50', whereas rear and side setbacks would be 50' and 40' respectively. Whereas, required landscaping a minimum of 10% shall be located in the front and side yards. This is an increase from the present minimum 6% landscaping requirements. Landscaping and screening shall be required for aesthetic impact of the area and to screen it from public view (See Exhibits). Minimum height of plants and trees at the time of planting would be 10-12 ft. with a minimum of 20 ft. apart. A height of sixteen to eighteen feet could be realized in about 2-5 years. A solid fence 6 ft. high would be another alternative for screening with required landscaping in place on property. A suitable surface to control dust and drainage would be either asphalt or concrete. Conclusion: The above mentioned standards, in stars opinion, are reasonable and workable. ff, there are other options for addressing this issue, staff would welcome input and suggestions from the Commission.