CARY, NC – An open house will be held on Tuesday, February 19 from 7 – 9 p. m. at the Page-Walker Arts & History Center on the town hall campus. Property owners, developers, the public, and plan reviewers are invited to review and comment on the draft Downtown Design Guidelines for the Town Center Area Plan. The draft guidelines for the town center cover private development (guidance for composition and site layout), public realm (proposed design treatment for the public streetscape), and wayfinding and trailblazing (sign system to direct people to the town center and specific destinations in the center).

The Town Center Area Plan, a long range land use and transportation plan for the development of the downtown and surrounding neighborhoods, was adopted by Town Council on August 9, 2001. In order to implement the plan recommendations, the town contracted with the Chesapeake Group, a planning and economic development consultant, to prepare the draft Downtown Design Guidelines. These guidelines have been prepared in association with a committee of citizens and business representatives.

The Downtown Design Guidelines were drafted to: 1) describe the general urban design vision desired in the town center area; 2) assist in focusing design principles in order to preserve property values, promote the public health, safety and general welfare, and develop a satisfactory visual appearance with the town; 3) provide clear design standards for development, redevelopment and revitalization based upon the Town Center Area Plan’s recommendations; 4) educate property owners, developers, the public and plan reviewers on what is expected and desired for new development in the town center; and 5) assist the town in developing practical approaches for the treatment of public spaces and public infrastructure in the town center.