Pursuant to the general purposes of this chapter, the intent of the RP Research Park
District is to encourage development of a technology research park as envisioned in
the downtown plan. The district regulations are intended to promote an environment
that is conducive to continued development of the research park and to accommodate
the unique needs of research, development and laboratory facilities related to the
medical, biotechnology and other life sciences industries. Such facilities, along
with offices, are the primary intended uses in the district, with secondary uses such
as retail and personal services intended for the convenience of workers and visitors
in the area. These convenience uses are encouraged to be located on the ground floor
of buildings devoted to permitted principal uses and with active pedestrian orientation
to the main street frontages in the district. Public entrances and storefront character
along the streets are encouraged in order to enhance pedestrian presence in the district.
The district is designed to enable flexibility of development, maximum utilization
of scarce land resources and innovative and efficient means of providing needed off-street
parking facilities, while affording protection from potentially incompatible development.
Through the district regulations and the plan of development review process, the district
is intended to encourage high-quality development that promotes continued economic
investment; that provides amenities that contribute to an attractive and comfortable
pedestrian environment; and that complements and does not detract from the adjacent
downtown retail, office and medical areas.
(Code 1993, § 32-451.1; Code 2004, § 114-451.1)
