10-16-2003 Regular Meeting and Public Hearing of the La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission

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• #R 03-008 PBtZ 11!20/03 Page 2 of 4 According to the applicant, the entire property was covered with miscellaneous construction debris and materials. Some of the buildings were in a bad shape and needed repairs immediately. There were unused concrete foundations and sidewalks throughout the property. Since taking over by a current owner, all of unused material or equipmerns and unnecessary buildings have been removed as a part of clean up of the property. A copy of their letter is attached for your convenience. While reviewing the subject request, staffdiscussed the following options: • Non-conforming use and/or structure • Rezoning • Planned Unit Developmern (PUD) The first option involves non-conforming issues associated with this site; the portion of fence encroaches into the front setback, .site drainage,. and fabrication of metal products. However, fabrication of metal products is a non-conforming use in GC. In order to expand the present business, the applicant must get approval from the Zoning Board of Adjustment. The second option. is to request for the zone change. The tract in question comprises 21 acres, of which, approximately 15 acres are zoned R-2 and R- 1. If rezoned, the new Business Industrial zone would be surrounded on all sides by residentially zoned property except along Underwood Road. There is no other industrially zoned property in close proximity to this tract. In addition, the. facility to the south of the subject property is also non- conforming. The third option is to establish a Planned Unit Development district. The purpose of this district is to provide for the grouping of land parcels for development as an integrated unit as opposed to traditional parcel by parcel and unplanned approach to developmern. It provides flexibility of site design through conditional use provisions. It is further intended that planned unit developments are to be characterized by central management, common use of parking, detention, maintenance of open spaces or other facilities, and efficiern distribution of uses. The applicant looked at the second option of rezone to Business Industrial (BI). ,Using this scenario, the applicant would ask to rezone the property from GC, R 2, and R 1 to BI; where, existing use of the facility is a permitted use as per Section 106-521, Table A, Industrial Uses. The rezone to BI would alleviate only non-conforming use while side building setback on the south will become non-conforming. If the zone change is approved, the applicant's other non-conformities must be resolved. The applicant may still have to go to the Zoning Board of Adjustmern.