Title
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 1205 OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE RELEVANT TO COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL USES PERMITTED WITHIN DISTRICT 8: INDUSTRIAL/BUSINESS PARK
Brief Description: Proposed Land Development Code Amendment to permit restaurant, retail, and services uses along the east side of Darrow Road between Terex Rd and Georgetown Road.
Body
Legislative History
None
Purpose & Explanation
The Land Development Code currently permits commercial restaurant/retail/service uses within District 8 under three narrow conditions focused on limited allowances within Planned Developments and as secondary to existing office/industrial development.
The 2024 Comprehensive Plan recommended that commercial uses be formally permitted along the east side of Darrow Road from Terex Road to Georgetown Road. The proposed amendment is intended to implement this recommendation.
This current area contains the frontage of 5455-5555 Darrow Road which is presently occupied by Joanns Fabric Centers Inc. This area was initially developed in the 1950s as the Terex Plant, a General Motors facility that produced earth moving equipment from the 1950s to 1980s. The facility has over one million sq ft under roof across a development site of 92 acres. While there is a large area of vacant land along the Darrow Rd frontage, a single day care facility is the only use that has been developed since the establishment of the LDC in 1999. The proposed allowances of restaurant/retail/service uses in this area is intended to:
1. Provide amenities to the surrounding office/industrial parks to keep the district stable and competitive within the region. There are presently very few adjacent services to support the large employment base in the immediate area.
2. Provide for smaller scale outlot development to soften the large scale, million plus sq foot facility located along a primary arterial roadway.
3. Provide increased flexibility to the corridor as the current site configuration is not adaptable to redevelopment.
Legal Authority for Proposed Legislation
Pursuant to Charter Section 6.04, Contracts & Purchasing:
Competitively bid and advertised for two consecutive weeks; bid tab attached: [Yes/No/NA])
Joint or Cooperative Purchase Program
Professional Services
Other [provide explanation]
Fiscal Impact
Currently Budgeted (Account #, $)
Supplemental Appropriation Required (Account #, $)
Appropriation Not Required
Does this legislation require use of an emergency clause?
Yes [if so, explain why]
No
Recommendation
Suggested Action
Staff recommends City Council complete a first reading and referral to the Planning Commission for conducting a public hearing and providing a recommendation.
Submitted by,
Thomas J. Sheridan, City Manager
Greg Hannan, Community Development Director