16 <br /> <br />(f) New neighborhood commercial uses shall be located away from River Road in locations <br />that facilitate the provision of commercial facilities scaled to a residential area and that <br />allow for dispersal of commercial uses throughout River Road-Santa Clara. (Policy 6) <br />(g) Ensure compatibility between neighborhood commercial developments and the <br />surrounding residential area by identifying and applying siting and development standards. <br />(Policy 7) <br />(4) River Road/Railroad Avenue Subarea. <br />(a) Designate and zone existing medium-density development. <br />(b) Limit River Road access to existing commercial development. <br />(c) Maintain existing land use patterns until completion of the Chambers Connector. The <br />effects of the Chamber Connector and related road improvements on the immediate area <br />should be examined upon completion of final design and right-of-way acquisition and any <br />appropriate changes adopted. <br />(d) The area south of Fir Lane and east of River Road is appropriate for commercial and <br />low density residential uses. <br />(e) Medium density residential development along the east side of River Road north of Fir <br />Lane is appropriate, and requires a minimum development area of 2/3 of an acre. <br />(f) Rezone the apartments on the west end of Briarcliff Drive from industrial to medium <br />density residential use. <br />(g) Delay for six months rezoning of the vacant parcels south of Briarcliff and adjacent to <br />the Northwest Expressway from industrial to low density residential use. <br />(h) Designate the two parcels north of Holeman Avenue and west of River Road for <br />commercial use. <br />(5) River Road/Knoop Subarea Recommendations. <br />(a) Maintain existing land use pattern. <br />(b) Apply site review for medium-density development in the northern portion of the <br />subarea. <br />(c) Limit number of River Road access points to medium-density development in the <br />southern portion of the subarea. <br />(6) River Road/Hilliard Subarea. <br />(a) Rezone small split-zone tax lots to their most intensive use. <br />(b) Maintain viability of existing residential land use. <br />(c) Recommend professional office development for the undeveloped land on the west <br />side of River Road between West Hillcrest and Horn Lane. Only professional office <br />development making unified use of one or more acres shall be allowed in the area. Access <br />shall be limited to mitigate impacts on existing low-density residential development west of <br />the area. <br />(7) River Road/Howard Subarea. <br />(a) Maintain the status of non-conforming uses. <br />(b) Maintain the status of existing medium-density land use. <br />(c) Encourage medium-density residential development for all portions of the subarea, <br />with the exception of the following areas: Hatten Street commercial area, the area west of <br />River road between Maxwell and Howard, and the area east of River Road between Owosso <br />and Corliss.