02-16-12 Regular, Public Hearing and Workshop Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission

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major deterrent to moving to a particular community. As such, a community cannot afford to ignore its public schools. Higher education also plays a pivotal role. Not only must employers be assured of access to educated and skilled workers, but talented individuals are often drawn to places that offer access to higher education and related amenities. As a result, it is imperative that the City remains supportive of La Porte Independent School District (La Porte ISD) and San Jacinto College to ensure the City remains a more attractive option for new residents and employers. Increasingly, companies rely on the skills and talent of their workforce to retain or gain a competitive advantage. Only recently have employers discovered that one way to tap into talented workers is by locating operations in communities with a strong sense of place. This is because communities offering a multitude of amenities are the ones attracting many of today’s skilled and talented workers. While no set definition for “quality of place” exists, the one common factor is the wide availability of choices in housing, entertainment, culture, recreation, retail, and employment. In La Porte, the same assets that make it a desirable tourism and recreation destination enhance its quality of place. The historic Main Street, proximity to Sylvan Beach and the bay front, and the recently constructed Citywide trail system are attractive to residents and visitors alike. For this reason, as the City supports projects to revitalize Main Street, the greater Downtown area, and Sylvan Beach; improve its physical appearance; and expand the number of choices available, marketing these opportunities is of the utmost importance. Increasing the number of visitors to and expanding the population of La Porte is a necessary component of sustaining an enhanced quality of place. Key Planning Initiatives Key planning considerations for continuing to commit to placed-based economic development include: 1)Strengthening partnerships with San Jacinto College as a means to improve the City’s overall economic development conditions. 2)Developing a targeted tourism and internal / external marketing strategy. 3)Facilitating infrastructure improvements to enhance community livability. Goal 5.7: Improving the City’s overall economic development conditions by investing in the community and making La Porte an attractive place to live and work. Actions and Initiatives 5.21 Economic 2. 21Adopted July 20, 2009 Dlt