01-20-2005 Regular Meeting and Public Hearing of the La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission

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Zone Change #R OS-002 February 17, 2005 Page 2 of 4 establishment site is approx. 4.89 acres (30% of the total area), while the rest of the tract (70%) is vacant and fenced all around. The site under consideration is currently zoned Low-Density Residential (R-1) and Medium Density Residential (R-2). The property is located along Underwood Road, which is a primary arterial for north and south running traffic from Fairmont Parkway enroute to S.H. 225. Currently, the facility is being operated under SIC Code# 7699 (Miscellaneous Repair Services), which is a permitted use in General Commercial (GC) zone. The operation at this site is considered to be pre-existing and non-conforming. Keeping in view the future development of adjoining tracts and due to the broader ranges of uses allowed in GC zones; the NC zone is, by comparison, not as attractive for business development. The area in which the subject tract is located is one that, based on the criteria established by the City's Comprehensive Plan, is suitable for the requested zone. Staff feels that it will provide for better land use opportunities, some degree of conformity with the current ordinances, and protect neighboring residential uses by conforming the land use to neighborhood commercial development. Conformance of a zoning request with the Land Use Plan is one consideration among several criteria to be considered for approving the zone change request. Other criteria may include: • Character of the surrounding and adjacent areas; • Suitability of the property for the uses permissible within the zoning designation;. • Extent to which approval of the application would detrimentally affect of substantially harm the value of nearby properties; • Extent to which the proposed use designation would adversely affect the carrying capacity of existing infrastructure; and, • The gain, if any, to the public health, safety, and welfare of the City. Land Use -- A zoning change from Low-Density Residential (R-1) and Medium Density Residential (R-2) to Neighborhood Commercial (NC) would be compatible with the surrounding area. Neighborhood Commercial zones are designed to provide services and goods only for the surrounding neighborhoods and are not intended to draw customers from the entire community. The zones