Workshop back up only - 4/30/08 Planning and Zoning Commission

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Staff Report Workshop April 30, 2008 Commercial Recreation (CR) District Baclmround: The Planning and Zoning Commission, at the April 17, 2008 meeting, requested staff to schedule a workshop to discuss allowable uses and proposed boundary lines for the Commercial Recreation (CR) Zoning District. At the March 20, 2008 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, staff gave a presentation, which provided background information on past and current plans and concepts that support activities in CR District. The Code of Ordinances recognizes the CR District, however, its boundaries, uses and regulations have not yet been established. Earlier, the Commission reviewed a map showing various waterfront area properties that might be suitable for inclusion in the CR District. Later, staff made all referenced documents with page numbers and sections available to the Commission Members accompanied with a copy of the power point presentation shown at the previous workshop meeting. The purpose of the Commercial Recreation zone is to enhance and diversify the recreational and economic opportunities that compliment the natural and cultural attractiveness of the area without significant adverse affect on environmental and natural features, cultural or historic resources and their settings, and other significant resources of Sylvan Beach and the Bayfront. The CR zone allows mixed use developments, which provide a mixture of visitor-oriented and full-time accommodations, including a variety of residential, recreational, and commercial facilities, consistent with the 1984 Comprehensive Plan, Visions' 89, Bayfront Master Plan 1993, and La Porte Comprehensive Plan 2020. The intent of the Commercial Recreation zone is to stimulate new economic development, diversify the City's economic base through tourism attraction, and encourage improvement in the physical environment by taking advantage of La Porte's water front assets. Commercial recreation facilities are not limited to sports and other amusement activities but for retail and commercial service facilities to serve the needs of visitors and residents as well. The District is not intended for general application in the City but will be limited to this area where tourist facilities are desired. Proposed Boundaries: The proposed District includes the area east of Park Ave. between south and north Circle Drives, east of Bayshore Drive between Sylvan Beach Boat Ramp and Little Deer Creek. Proposed boundary map is attached as Exhibit . EXHIBj~' A'