09-25-06 Regular Called Meeting of La Porte Development Corporation

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IL STUDY GOALS The City of La Porte, Texas, has retained the Consultant team to provide a Marina Waterfront District Master Plan. The boundaries of this district are described in a subsequent section of this report. The primary aims of this study are to stimulate economic development with in the City of La Porte, to diversify the City's economic base through the stimulation of its tourist industry and to create a more desirable physical environment through the enhancement of its waterfront assets. La Porte, once the site of grand celebration and intense summer holiday activity, has experienced considerable decline as a regional recreational destination. This study is intended to identify current development opportunities which are consistent with recreational demand factors in the region. It is neither a statistical study of the market nor an assessment of the demographic composition of the base of potential users for regional recreational resources. Rather, it is a vehicle through which the current philosophies of City personnel may be incorporated with the conservatorial experience of the Consultants in recreational resort development. The recommendations contained herein represent a range from safe, immediately - achievable physical improvements to more aggressive, transformative proposals which would fundamentally alter the character and quality of the waterfront of the City of La Porte. The Consultant intends that these recommendations be imp]ementable from a technical engineering point of view, that they be reasonable from an economic point of view, and that they serve the greater good of the public community. This requires the acknowledgment that some of the recommendations will have limited adverse impact on private property owners within the district. The broad general goals of this study fall within four categories: To identify opportunities for the general growth of new development to make the Sylvan Beach area a vital activity zone for the City of La Porte. 2. To identify areas for potential redevelopment, either through the establishment of redevelopment districts or through stimulation of private - sector investment. 3. To identify underdeveloped areas and to enhance the developability of undeveloped parcels of land. 4. To identify opportunities for beautification and visual enhancement of the approach to the waterfront as well as of the waterfront district itself. The study area has been defined as an area bounded by Avenue E on the north, Broadway on the west, and by Bayshore Elementary School on the south. At a preliminary workshop with the City staff, the district was extended to include the southern -most areas of the subdivisions of Shady Oaks and Bay Colony. The Consultant has recommended the study area be expanded northward to include the residential area up to East Main Street. In addition, the Consultant team has focused on a combination of short- and long-term project opportunities of varying scales which will enable the City to undertake projects as fiscal and political considerations warrant. e 7 e