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The general description and size constraint of the node as described in the text of the land use element; The existing industrial uses in the general area of the node; The existing zoning pattern; and Property boundaries. All of the nodes are generally described in the Comprehensive Plan. The South Winter Beach Road node is described as: "Two industrial nodes are located in the Winter Beach/Gifford area. A one hundred (100) acre node is located on South Winter Beach Road, west of the Florida East Coast Railroad right-of-way." All of the existing industrial uses in the general area of the node are included in both of the alternative node boundaries. These existing uses include a millworking establishment and a waterbed manufacturing facility in metal buildings abutting the south side of South Winter Beach Road. The node boundaries follow property boundary lines except for the properties on the east side of the node which are partially in the node and partially in the MXD area. The first alternative node boundary does include property on both sides of South Winter Beach Road. This node configuration arranges a large amount of the node adjacent to the F.E.C. railroad tracks rather than extending the node to the west. This alternative also concentrates the node around the existing industrial uses on the south _side of South Winter Beach Road. As new industrial uses are established around these existing uses, they could provide additional setbacks and landscaping to buffer surrounding residential uses. The second alternative maintains all of the node south of South Winter Beach Road and extends west to include the County trans- fer station. Excluding the property on the north side of the road would require that land to be rezoned and developed in conformance with the LD -2 land use designation. This would establish residential uses across the street from the existing industrial uses on the south side of the South Winter Beach Road. These new residential uses would not be adequately buffered from the existing industrial uses. Environment The node area is not designated as environmentally sensitive nor is it in a flood -prone area. However, the node is located on the sand ridge, an important aquifer recharge area. At the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting of June 13, 1985, there was discussion about whether or not industrial development should be allowed on the sand ridge because of the possibility that an industrial use would probably have more impermeable surface than a residential use. A large amount of impermeable surface would impede the percolation of water through the sand ridge to the aquifer, thereby reducing the quantity of water in the aquifer. The impervious material would generally direct water away from the sand ridge into canals leading to the river. However, while residential development generally creates less impermeable surface than industrial developments, -there are also potential negative effects upon the aquifer from residential development. These include percolation of fertilizers used on residential lawns and the leaching of septic tanks as well as others. 69 M _I