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The Planned Commercial Industrial Development (PCID)
District is intended to permit development of a mixed-use
limited commercial and light industrial park which is under
one ownership or control. Planned Commercial Industrial
Developments shall be planned and developed as a single
entity, subject to an approved Development Plan. The PCID
shall be designed with a park-like atmosphere to complement
surrounding land uses by means of appropriate siting of
buildings and service areas, attractive architecture, and
effective landscape buffering which protect property values
in surrounding neighborhoods. PCID Districts shall be
located within Service Districts and in locations designated
for such use in the Comprehensive Plan.
The Comprehensive Plan envisions all of its nine service
districts as traditional towns or villages that are centers
of civic and commercial activity serviced by public
facilities. Chapter 9, page 3, states that public
facilities and services should be sited in a manner which
will efficiently and economically serve the greatest number
of residents while keeping within the plans for the County
growth as presented in this Plan.
At present, only day care facilities and technical schools
are permitted in PCID Overlay Districts. While the proposed
amendment is to allow schools “by right,” Section 4-605 of
the Zoning Ordinance requires a special exception for “[a]ny
use listed in Sections 603 and 604 above which was not
specifically designated in the approved Development Plan
establishing the PCID.” Thus, the proposed amendment makes
new schools a use allowed by special exception.
There is one school operating in the PCID Overlay District.
It is operated by the Fireside Wesleyan Church on Aiken
Road. At present, the church has 49 students ranging from
preschool to high school. It also teaches various classes
as part of its ministry. Included in such classes are
Spanish classes for employers and English as a second
language. Should this amendment pass, the Fireside Wesleyan
Church would have to secure the necessary permits for its
teaching activities. The New Baltimore Service District Plan
(both the existing plan and the plan scheduled to go the
Planning Commission in June, 2006) identifies the need for
schools in the service district. Accordingly, the proposed
amendment is also consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.
This proposed amendment was initiated by the Planning
Commission on May 25, 2006. On June 29, 2006 the Planning
Commission unanimously recommended adoption.
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