Item 5: Ordinance Amending Metro Plan and Refinement Plan - Huntington Crossing

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Campus Industrial. The portions of the applicant’s written statement addressing the Low Density Residential designation, and the Metro Plan diagram in the applicant’s materials, are not incorporated into these findings The following polices are applicable to this request: Residential Land Use and Housing Element: Generally locate higher density residential development near employment or commercial services, in proximity to major transportation systems or within transportation-efficient nodes. (Policy A.11) Provide opportunities for a full range of choice in housing type, density, size, cost, and location. (Policy A.17) As noted by the applicant, the area proposed for designation as medium density residential is adjacent to the Chad Drive employment area to the southwest, and within .9 miles of the Springfield RiverBend medical employment area and the Gateway commercial center, which are in proximity to major transportation systems, including the existing street system and LTD services. Re- designation of the subject property to medium density residential provides additional opportunities for additional housing types, density, size, cost and location. The applicant’s proposal is not inconsistent with the applicable policies. Economic Element Provide existing industrial activities sufficient adjacent land for future expansion. (Policy B.5) Increase the amount of undeveloped land zoned for light industrial and commercial uses correlating the effective supply in terms or suitability and availability with the projects of demand (Policy B.6) The policies above are brought into question with the request to remove the Campus Industrial Designation. According to the applicant’s written materials, adjacent property owners with industrial uses were consulted regarding the availability of this parcel for purchase, and there was no desire of the surrounding property owners to acquire the property. In addition, there is currently vacant industrial land in the area, so the re-designation would not preclude existing industrial activities from expansion. The applicant also consulted a number of real estate agents and Metro Partnership staff who indicated that the size and orientation of the site posed significant limitations for industrial development. The suitability of the subject property for industrial activities and the consolidation potential is limited based on the relatively narrow, long lot configuration and the 6.89 acres size of the parcel. The areas for campus industrial uses were typically envisioned as large campus style developments. The Land Use Designations section of the Metro Plan describes a 50- acre minimum lot size for parcels over 50 acres, to protect undeveloped sites from piecemeal development until a site development plan can be approved by the responsible city. As suitability of this parcel for location or expansion of industrial uses is constrained, the proposed amendments are not inconsistent with the applicable Economic Element policies. Preliminary Findings – January 16, 2007 Page 8