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14 <br />Machinery Manufacturing. <br />Since the growth of clusters (e.g., biotech cluster) is significantly affected by <br />local economic factors that can be modified or improved by local policy <br />makers, it is critical that further evaluation is undertaken. <br /> <br />However, expanding the City’s industrial base (or targeted clusters) cannot, <br />and should not, be to the detriment of the City’s overall livability. <br />Conversely, new industrial development should be in conformance with the <br />City’s overall vision as being a business-, tourism-, and family-friendly <br />community (see section on Vision in Chapter 1, Plant Context). Achieving this <br />business/tourism/family balance may require the City to think differently <br />about its approach in the coming years. <br />One of the primary ways to achieve this balance is to strengthen <br />development regulations to implement the Business Park and Auto-Urban <br />Industrial character areas. As detailed in the Future Land Use section of <br />Chapter 2, Land Use and Character, business parks are primarily for office, <br />medical, and technology/research uses, but can also include light industrial <br />(including warehousing/distribution) when well screened and in buildings <br />with enhanced materials and design. Business parks also have areas of <br />common open space, extensive landscaping along the perimeters, special <br />streetscape and design treatments at entries (and other areas), and site <br />operations that are conducted indoors with limited or no outdoor storage or <br />display. <br /> <br />Auto-Urban Industrial, by contrast, is more typical of the industrial <br />operations currently in existence within the City and the ETJ. They are <br />characterized by large parking and storage areas (e.g., container yards) and <br />unscreened or lesser screened outdoor activities. For future developed <br />areas, strengthened regulations should mitigate these areas through <br />landscaping and buffering standards, including screening of any outdoor <br />activity and storage from the public rights-of-way and adjacent uses and <br />properties. <br /> <br />Key Planning Considerations <br />Key Planning Considerations for expanding opportunities for higher quality <br />industrial operations within the City and the ETJ include: <br />1)Continued partnerships and support for the Port of Houston’s Barbours <br />Cut and Bayport Terminals. <br /> <br />14 <br /> The Gulf Coast Economic Development District conducted a regional cluster <br />analysis to assess regional competiveness in attracting and retaining industry <br />clusters. It revealed dominant clusters in the region as well as the ones that are <br />emerging or transforming. Gulf Coast Economic Development District – 2009-2011 <br />Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. July 17, 2009. <br />5.15 <br /> <br />Economic <br />2. <br />15Adopted July 20, 2009 <br />Dlt <br /> <br />