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- Economic Development Element Policies 8.1 and 8.5 Economic Development Element Policies 8.1 and 8.5 address the use of incentives, including increased densities, to reduce the cost per housing unit and to encourage the provision of affordable housing. By allowing increased density on the subject property, consistent with its comprehensive plan land use designation, the request would implement Economic Development Element Policies 8.1 and 8.5. - Mass Transit Element Policy 1.2 Mass Transit Element Policy 1.2 states that the county will provide higher densities along major transportation corridors in order to facilitate future mass transit provision. Since the proposed rezoning will increase the allowed density along SR 60, one of the county's major transportation corridors, this request implements Mass Transit Element Policy 1.2. As part of its consistency analysis, staff compared the proposed request to all the objectives and policies in the plan and found no conflicts. Therefore, the request is consistent with the comprehensive plan. Compatibility with the Surrounding Area Staff's position is that multiple -family residential development is appropriate for the site and that such development would be compatible with surrounding land uses. Multiple -family development is already prominent in that area of the county. Located near the SR 60/58th Avenue commercial/ industrial node, the subject property is particularly well suited to meet the demand for multiple -family housing generated by development within that node. In effect, the proposed rezoning would increase the opportunity for people to live near their place of employment. The primary impacts of development on the subject property would be on the Lake -in -the -woods development. Abutting the subject property's west boundary, Lake -in -the -Woods is a multiple -family residential development that is zoned RM -6. With respect to the potential impacts development of the subject property may have on Lake -in -the -Woods, there are several mitigating factors. The first factor relates to the layout of Lake -in -the -Woods. That project is designed with most buildings located in, and oriented towards, the interior of the development. In contrast, most open space and stormwater retention areas are located along the development's perimeter, thus acting as a buffer. The required site plan approval process for multiple -family development would work to provide similar features for such a project on the subject property. Additionally, under the requested RM -8 zoning district, building coverage for multiple -family development on the site would be restricted to a!maximum of 25% of the lot, while a minimum of 305 of the site mush be open, or green, space. Finally, county LDRs require side yards that are at least 10 feet wide (chapter 911), perimeter landscaping (chapter 926), and landscaping of parking lots and open space (chapter 926). For these reasons, staff feels the requested land use designation and zoning district would be compatible with adjacent residential development. 27 January 21, 1997 BOOK PAGE 33