03-09-2000 Special Called Regular Meeting and Public Hearing of the La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission

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Staff Report Texas Import/Export Park, Phase I April 27, 2000 Extension of Special Conditional Use Permit #98-001 Reque One -Year Extension of Special Conditional Use Permit (SCUP) #98-001, Proposed Development within a Planned Unit Development (PM) Zone Requested By: La Porte 81, Ltd., La Porte 82, Ltd., La Porte 115, Ltd., by Stuart Haynsworth, General Partner, and Daetwyler Enterprises Corp. Requested For: Approximately 292 acre tract in the Geo B. McKinstry, A47; Wm. P. Harris Survey, A 30; Johnson Hunter Survey, A 35 City of La Porte, Harris County, Texas. The property is located in the 2000 Block of Powell Road (So. le Street). Present Zoning: Planned Unit Development (PUD) Requested Use: Industrial, Commercial and Multi -Family Residential Background: Texas Import/Export Park is a proposed industrial, commercial and multi- family residential development to be located in an area south of Fairmont Parkway, north of McCabe Road and between existing Southern Pacific railroad tracks and State Highway 146 South. The Development Agreement, SCUP, and General Plan were all presented to the Commission on March 3, 1999. The Commission recommended approval of the Texas Import/Export Park, Phase I and City Council granted final approval for this development on March 15, 1999. Analysis: Section 106-216 of the Code of Ordinances, and the approved SCUP both define a one-year time frame for construction to begin for the Phase I development. Failure to begin construction within one year voids the approved SCUP unless an extension is granted by the Commission. Since gaining final approval from City Council, there has been no submission of Site Plans or Plats and subsequently no construction has occurred associated with the Phase I development. The applicant has had interest shown in development of Phase I. Interested industrial developers are performing due diligence activities and sale of property out of Phase I is pending. Planning Dept. staff has reviewed the request for a one-year extension. There are no notable changes in the development conditions that would affect the subject property. All street, utility, and drainage requirements are the same as they were when this project received initial approval. There is however, a development enhancement that has been finalized since the Texas Import/Export Park, Phase I initially received approval. The subject property is now part of Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) No. 1. Based on current guidelines established by City Council, certain infrastructure improvements within the development may be eligible for reimbursement from the TIRZ. This is a separate activity that would need to be reviewed and approved by the TIRZ Development Board.