2017 Spencer Comprehensive Land Use Plan

Spencer, Iowa  2017  Comprehensive Plan

Policy 4.f. – Promote development of commercial land uses in areas designated as such on the city’s future land use map. Land use compatibility by separation of conflicting land use between commercial, industrial and residential promotes a more pleasing atmosphere in which to live. Policy 4.g. – Prohibit future scattering and spot commercial development in residential neighborhoods, aside from approved home occupations regulated by the city’s zoning ordinance. Policy 4.h. – Minimize negative influences from commercial development upon adjacent non- commercial areas such as natural resource, recreation or residential uses by the use of appropriate buffers such as physical screens and natural vegetative buffers. Policy 4.i. – Existing and proposed commercial development should receive the same zoning protections from residential or less intense land use encroachments limiting future development opportunities. Policy 4.j. – According to community survey results, the City of Spencer should direct economic development efforts toward strengthening the central business district, soliciting “big box” or major brand retail, and promoting tourism, hospitality and lodging businesses. Policy 4.k. – Future highway commercial developments, both individually and collectively, should require traffic safety and address congestion by providing safe and convenient access, require off-street parking, and require proper loading facilities for goods and vehicles. Policy 4.l. – Promote and encourage the successful implementation and redevelopment of the proposed mixed-use retail, public space, and residential development planned along the West Park Street riverfront corridor as identified in the Spencer Riverfront Plan. INDUSTRIAL LAND USES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Industrial uses primarily include the on-site extraction or production of goods by non-agricultural processes, including the warehousing and distribution of goods. Industrial land uses are difficult to specifically plan for due to many factors governing the location of industries, including land availability, transportation access, workforce availability, available utilities and city services, etc. With that said, those communities such as Spencer that have designated industrial, business or technical parks make the land use planning efforts much easier and clearly defined in terms of locating or the desire for the city to locate new industries in the community. The success of Spencer in recruiting and attracting new industries and henceforth growing the local labor force is essential to the city’s ongoing economic development efforts. Industrial and business development is one of the most important variables related to land use planning since overall community and economic development is extensively dependent upon it for new job creation and retention. The city and local economic development organizations must consider the impact from employee growth and expansion needs of existing businesses and industries in Spencer. Not only should the city and local economic development organizations be focused on recruitment of new businesses and industries, but taking care of the economic development needs of existing businesses as well. It is through growth and expansion of existing local businesses and industries from which Spencer will continue to flourish. The city should anticipate expansion of its industrial base and henceforth the need for additional land available to accommodate future growth.

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NW Iowa Planning & Development