Opinion ID: 1817476
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Spillover development into the PAA

Text: ¶ 18. According to the exhibits introduced by the City and other evidence presented at trial, the only meaningful access road through the PAA, which connects the City to the substantial growth and development along Lakeland Drive (Highway 25), is El Dorado Road. During the past decade, substantial residential development has occurred along this corridor, including more than six hundred new residential units between U.S. Highway 80 and Old Brandon Road. There has also been, to a lesser extent, some commercial development. The City provided evidence of growth and development north along El Dorado Road, including over thirty instances of residential and commercial construction. ¶ 19. Michael Slaughter, the City's expert in the fields of civil engineering and urban and regional planning, testified that spillover growth into the PAA from Pearl was taking place. While Pearl, with a population density of over 1,000 persons per acre, increased its population by approximately 12% from 1990 to 2000, the PAA experienced a 33% increase in population during the same period and increased its population density from 283 persons per square mile in 1990, to 377 in 2000. Relying on a field study, Slaughter testified that both commercial and residential development was occurring in the PAA. Furthermore, Slaughter found the PAA in dire need of proper planning and zoning. ¶ 20. Slaughter's testimony, together with the other evidence in the record, was considered by the special chancellor, and we cannot say he was manifestly wrong in his analysis of this factor.