06-21-12 Regular Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission

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• Site operations that are conducted indoors with no outdoor storage or display. Auto -Urban Industrial. La Porte's has been traditionally known as an industrial City, and as such, there are many industrial areas located in and around the City which exhibit an Auto -Urban character. Although, these areas can be enhanced through landscaping and buffering standards, master - planning via "industrial parks," and optimal site selection. The City's existing industrial buildings are a mix of older and new brick and metal buildings scattered throughout the City. Auto -Urban Industrial character areas typically exhibit: • Predominantly characterized by large parking and storage areas and minimal greenspace; although some industrial park developments may feature more open space and landscaping, regulated signage, screening, etc. • Outdoor activity and storage, which should be screened where visible from public ways and buffered from residential areas. It could also include certain publicly owned uses (e.g., public works facilities, fleet maintenance, treatment plants, etc.) Parks and Open Space. This designation is for the City's park, recreation, and open space areas and the trail system. Parks are formally developed recreation areas comprised of public parks, trails, and other improved recreational (active and passive) or cultural amenities. Open spaces are less developed natural areas typically characterized by sensitive or unique environmental features that may or may not be developed. Typically, public parkland will remain in the public realm in perpetuity with future parkland acquired to fill the gaps and support new development. Park design, intensity of development, and planned uses/activities should match the area character (e.g., Five Points Town Plaza should look different than Pete Gilliam Park). Parks and Open Space character areas typically exhibit: • Manicured lawns, parking lots and sidewalks, playgrounds, sports courts and sports fields, etc. • Unimproved natural areas or improved to provide limited amenities, e.g., parking, trails, bird blinds, etc. Public/Institutional. This designation includes the City -owned buildings and facilities (including City Hall and the police and fire stations), as well as other publicly or privately -owned schools and hospitals, churches and accessory buildings, public parking lots and structures, and other non -governmental civic functions (e.g., Chamber of Commerce). Since these facilities occur throughout the City, they should be designed to be compatible with the character of the surrounding area. Irrespective of which character area these facilities are placed, they should still exhibit: