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TO: William G. Collins II DATE:october 18, 1988 FILE: <br />Acting County Administrator <br />DIVISION HEAD CONCURRENCE: <br />Robert M. Keati <br />4. <br />Planning & Deve'1opme.It Director <br />P <br />SUBJECT: <br />AMENDMENT TO SEC. 17: <br />PRO ZONING DISTRICT, TO <br />PERMIT MEDICAL RELATED <br />OFFICES AND OPTICAL FIRMS <br />FROM:Staff Plannervid C. <br />FROM. REFERENCES: <br />It is requested that the data herein presented be given formal <br />consideration by the Board of County Commissioners at their <br />regular meeting of November 1, 1988. <br />DESCRIPTION & CONDITIONS <br />This is a county initiated request to amend Section 17.0 PRO: <br />Professional Office District of the county code. The requested <br />amendment is to allow the development of medical related offices <br />and optical firms in the PRO district as a permitted use, or as a <br />use requiring either an administrative permit or special <br />exception approval. Currently, neither medical offices nor <br />optical firms are permitted in the PRO district. <br />This request was initiated as a result of a discussion which <br />occurred at the August 9, 1988, Board of County Commissioners <br />meeting. At that meeting an applicant for site plan approval for <br />a professional office building approached the Board to discuss <br />the issue of the suitability of medical offices in the PRO <br />district. After considerable discussion, the Board directed <br />staff to examine the feasibility of permitting medical offices in <br />the PRO district. <br />° History <br />The PRO district regulations were adopted by the Board of County <br />Commissioners on January 13, 1987. As stated in the purpose and <br />intent section of the professional office district, the PRO <br />district is to be used as a redevelopment tool or as a buffer <br />between commercial and residential uses. One objective of the <br />PRO district is to limit strip commercial development. With <br />increased setbacks, enhanced buffering requirements, and <br />low -intensity use limitations, this district is designed to be <br />compatible with residential uses. <br />During the adoption proceedings for the PRO district ordinance, <br />the Planning and Zoning Commission and the planning staff <br />expressed different positions concerning the suitability of <br />medical offices in the PRO district. The Commission felt that <br />medical offices should be included in the district and reviewed <br />on a case by case basis as a special exception use. The staff <br />felt that medical offices were incompatible with the PRO district <br />due to high traffic impacts. In approving the PRO district, the <br />Board of County Commissioners agreed with staff's opinion. <br />° September 1988 P&Z Action <br />On September 22, 1988, the planning staff presented several <br />alternatives concerning this matter to the Planning and Zoning <br />Commission. These alternatives are discussed in detail in the <br />"Alternatives and Analysis" section of this report. Briefly, the <br />three alternatives are as follows: 1) take no.action, continue <br />24 <br />NOV 1 1988 <br />ROOK 75 PAGE 24 <br />