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<br />REVISED DRAFT APRIL 9, 2012 <br />A character-based approach focuses on the <br />Why should is Community Character be Important development intensity, which encompasses <br />the density and layout of residential <br />toConsidered in La Porte? <br />development; the scale and form of non- <br /> <br />residential development; and the amount of <br />The community character approach offers many benefits <br />building and pavement coverage (i.e., <br />including: <br />impervious coverage) relative to the extent <br />the ability to determine and realize the intended <br />of open space and natural vegetation or <br />character of future development; <br />landscaping. This applies both on individual <br />an increased assurance as to quality development <br />outcomes; development sites and across entire areas. It <br />improved compatibility within and between districts; is this combination of basic land use and the <br />characteristics of such use that more <br />attraction of highly-skilled workers and high-tech <br />businesses; <br />accurately determines the real compatibility <br />potential premium to the value of housing; <br />and quality of development, as opposed to <br />increased design flexibility to protect natural resources <br />land use alone. For instance, both Main <br />and valued open space; <br />Street and Fairmont Parkway have <br />fewer zoning map amendments and thus, streamlined <br />restaurants (i.e., the same use); however, <br />approval; <br />when patronizing a restaurant along Main <br />increased certainty in the development process; <br />Street, one encounters a more pedestrian- <br />ability to better plan for infrastructure needs; <br />friendly environment with sidewalks, <br />mixed use projects on a by-right basis; and <br />gridded streets, buildings brought mostly to <br />buffering that is commensurate with the level of impact <br />the street, and on-street parking. In <br />on adjacent and abutting properties. <br />contrast, when patronizing a restaurant <br /> <br />along Fairmont Parkway, one encounters a <br />Source: Kendig Keast Collaborative. <br />more auto-oriented environment where <br />there are no sidewalks (or they are sporadic) <br />and buildings are set back behind off-street parking (see inset on next page <br />for an example of the same residential use exhibiting three different <br />characters). <br /> <br />Key Planning Considerations <br />1)Amending the zoning ordinance to repurpose and recalibrate its districts <br />and standards to reflect their intended community character outcomes. <br /> <br />GOAL 711: Implementing a character-based approach to planning by <br />rRefocusing the zoning ordinance to emphasize the character and <br />form of development in appropriate zoning districts. <br />The City’s zoning ordinance was originally adopted in the 1980s and is based <br />on a conventional (Euclidean) approach to zoning – one that focuses on land <br />use and minimum area standards. As part of the implementation of this <br />comprehensive plan update, it is advisable recommended that the City <br />consider at some time in the future to for the zoning ordinance to be <br />repurposed and recalibrated the zoning and development ordinances to <br />place emphasis on the character of development (without placing as much <br />emphasis on land use). While use should remain a secondary consideration, <br />2.32 <br /> <br />Chapter 2 <br /> <br />