Land-use study goes industrial - A new study on land use could affect commercial and industrial development for years to come.

Starting this week, a consultant hired by Lee County will perform a study of commercial and industrial land, and make recommendations for any changes to the county's land-use plan and land-development code.

"The Horizon Council expressed the concern that we were losing potential industrial land to the white-hot residential market," explained Paul O'Connor, director of planning for Lee County. "The county's comprehensive plan has an industrial land-use category, which provides an economic base as the community matures. If we don't identify the proper land for industrial uses now and preserve it, then we'll lose the opportunity to expand our economic base in the future."

The Horizon Council is the advisory board to the Lee County Commission on economic development issues. This public-private partnership is made up of members from government, education, business and community organizations.

In 1983, planning consultant Thomas Roberts did a study of industrial land-use needs for the county. Roberts predicted that a certain proportion of the county's work force would have industrial-related jobs, so to increase that percentage he advised preserving land for those uses.

"We've seen that potential industrial land erode away into residential uses over time," O'Connor said, "so last October we went to the county commissioners and they gave us direction to find consultants to do this study."

Consultant Ralph Basile of Maryland-based Basile Bauman Prost & Associates Inc. was the county's No. 1 choice.

"After Basile's firm completes the analysis, we can see if we have sufficient commercial/industrial lands, and where they should be, and do we need to change any of our policies to expand our economic base," O'Connor said.

The scope of the project encompasses five tasks. The first will be initiated Aug. 2-3 when Basile will meet with key members of county staff to gather available information related to the project and conduct interviews with public officials, county planning and economic development staff, the Horizon Council, developers, and real-estate brokers.

The second task is to take an inventory and assessment of existing commercial and industrial land use, including both vacant and improved property. The consultant will also inventory vacant land currently not zoned for commercial or industrial use, but with the potential for such uses.

Basile's third task is to consult with county staff and other sources to develop key data for land-use projections including existing county employment and population, projected employment and population growth, employment trends, land-to-building ratios, and real-estate absorption rates.

The fourth task is to review the county's land-use plan and land-development code and make recommendations for additions or modifications needed. Basile will assess existing policies and particular consideration will be given to transportation and highway access, proximity to the labor pool, and infrastructure. The consultant will also examine whether existing land-use categories are still relevant.

Basile's fifth and final task will be to report all major findings, including an inventory of existing commercial and industrial uses and zoning, and recommendations for amendments to the land-use plan and policies. The outcome of this study could have a significant impact on Lee County real estate, because it will determine where and how much nonresidential development is most suitable for smart growth.

— Frank D'Alessandro is a real-estate broker with Gates D'Alessandro & Woodyard LLC Realtors. Contact him via e-mail at fdalessandro@dw-cr.com or by calling (239) 425-6000.

Website provided by ImageGrafix - Computer and Network Systems - Site Hosting Solutions
© Copyright  2003 ImageGrafix. All Rights Reserved.