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Memo/Mayor and Council/ZC 98-1 <br />March 16, 1998 <br />Page 4 <br /> <br />Natural Features - For the most part, the property included in the <br />rezoning requests is relatively fiat and contains a considerable amount of <br />open space. One the other hand, the areas lying east of the roadway have <br />varying topography and are heavily wooded. The fiat open land is much <br />more conducive to industrial development, whereas the rolling topography <br />would require considerable grading to allow for large structures to be <br />built. Even though there are wetlands in the area proposed for industrial, <br />the wetlands often are considered an amenity and will fit right into a <br />business park environment. <br /> <br />Land Use Compatibility- As mentioned above, the new roadway serves as <br />a strong physical separation between land uses. A continuation of <br />industrial land use along the west side of the corridor allows for a linear <br />industrial park of compatible uses. The east side of the new corridor can <br />still maintain the integrity of its residential character by preserving the <br />natural features. <br /> <br />Economic Development Strategic Plan - This plan, along with the <br />Comprehensive Plan, target industrial development as a top priority. The <br />goals are to diversify the land use mix in the City, expand the industrial <br />inventory, broaden the City's tax base, and compliment the residential <br />and commercial growth. By rezoning the property along this new road <br />corridor, steps will be taken to complete the desired goals of both the <br />Strategic and Comprehensive Plans. <br /> <br />Economic Development Strategic Plan <br /> <br />The applications presented to the City Council this evening are all areas <br />identified as part of the Economic Development Strategic Plan. The <br />Economic Development Strategic Plan was approved by the City Council on <br />May 19, 1997. The rezoning and land use plan applications are brought <br />forward to implement the plan. In the coming months, additional identified <br />industrial areas will follow the three areas presented to the Council this <br />evening. These additional areas have been shown and identified on the <br />Strategic Plan. <br /> <br />Proposed Zoning and Land Use Designations <br /> <br />All of the areas presented this evening would propose the rezoning of <br />properties to a BP (Business Park) zoning designation accompanied by a LI <br />(Light Industrial) land use. Together, these two designations will allow for <br />industrial development under the business park zoning guidelines (see <br />attached for additional information). The business park zoning district is <br /> <br />\\elkriver\sys\shrdoc\council\zc98-1.doc <br /> <br /> <br />