08-02-11 Planning and Zoning - Laserfiche WebLink

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actions of many different departments and divisions within municipal government. Finally, planning is a dynamic process that must be continuously monitored and renewed as changes occur. The City's comprehensive plan must be flexible in responding to changing conditions and needs, yet steadfast in its vision and support for the community goals and objectives. it is precisely for this reason, that this update is important. Since the original plan adoption in 2001, La Porte has been and will continue to be affected and shaped by some fairly significant internal and external influences, changing conditions, and changing priorities, including, but not limited to: Panama Canal Expansion Impacts. In 2007, the Panama Canal Authority started on an ambitious project to double the capacity of the Panama Canal by 2014 by allowing more and larger ships to transit from the Atlantic to the Pacific and vice versa. Although 1,700 miles and over three years away, this y tr-Jsh" project is already having significant influences on the City of La Porte. With the Port of Houston's Barbour s Cut and Bayport container terminals to the north and south of the City, much is being done by the public sector to maximize the future economic benefits stemming from the canal expansion, including widening and deepening the Houston Ship Channel2 and the possibility of adding more rail lines.3 On the private side, it has been said that a significant number of new hotels rp have been constructed in La Porte over the past few years in order to accommodate increased numbers of Shipman and other employees as the port traffic increases. There has also; been an increase in warehouse and distribution center IT development and inquiries for other prospective port supporting businesses. Outside of land use issues (Le., where will these be facilities placed?), there will also be an increase in heavy truck traffic that will have a direct effect on the community and its major arteries (including State Highways 146 g a and 225, Fairmont Parkway, among others). Economic Sustainability. Economic sustainability was one of the topics that repeatedly surfaced during the Small Group Interviews. Many times 1 Port of Houston Website. http;//www.portofhoustorr.com/geninfo/facilities.htmi. Retrieved 29 June 2011. 2 Ibid. http://www.portofhouston.com/geninfo/overview2.html#channel. Retrieved 29 June 2011. 3ABC News/KTRK-TV Website, http://abclocal.go,com/I<trl</story?section=news/ local&id=8210166. Retrieved 29 June 2011. A (-'O 1h4LlNl IY VISION FOK LA P alp"I F. [. XAS - 2010 UPDA CF