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APP 14 1937 BOOK 6 8 f',�Gr 58 5. An objective of the Plan is to "Maintain level -of -service C, or better, on all major thoroughfares in the County."9 Comment: Although the proposed amendment would leave the adjacent thoroughfares at level -of -service C on an annual basis, and at level -of -service D in peak season, those are "minimum standards" under the Plan.10 It would seem more desirable to not amend the plan, thereby aiding in meeting Plan objectives, rather than amending the Plan, and having road service drop to a minimum standard. 6. Plan performance standards for medium density residential locations say that such uses "shall be located... where governmental services can be provided in a cost effective manner."11 Plan design performance standards include "buffering living units.. -.from commercial uses ... utility plants and principal streets near the site."12 Comment: This parcel, as planned for medium density residential, is proximate to public power, wastewater treatment, major roads, employment and service centers. It could be served very efficiently by government, were it to develop residentially as planned. The Plan -design performance standards mandate buffering. This could be accomplished by berming, landscaping, physical barriers or some combination of all three. The effectiveness of this technique is apparent to anyone driving north on A -1-A through Johns Island, a developed area that'�appears undeveloped from the road. 7. The Plan's strategies for commercial development mandate "Future sites shall locate in specified nodal areas."13 The pperformance standards for retail and service commercial uses14 state that "Traffic generated should not pass thru residential neighborhoods" and "traffic ingress and egress should not disrupt through traffic." Comment: The parcel proposed for Plan amendment is not within a specified node. Because the site is adjacent to the Vero Beach City limits, consideration should be given to the commercial areas nearby in the City before a new commercial node is created. Hundreds of acres of vacant commercial sites already exist within nodes. If the performance standard of not having commercial traffic pass through residential neighborhoods is to be accomplished this parcel's access would have to be restricted to 17th Street. The other performance standard of not disrupting through traffic on 17th Street can be accomplished through acceleration and deceleration lanes mixing site and 17th Street traffic. However, if traffic accelerating west onto 17th Street wanted to return east to the barrier island, there is a great likelihood that traffic would loop through residential streets rather than driving several extra miles around the major street system. 8. The Plan's special policy regulating nodal areas #4 states "Commercial centers within all nodes shall have 4.5 square feet of land area to everone (1) square foot of building space whenever possible."y 5 -3