TOWN OF CARY STAFF REPORT
Town Center Design Guidelines (PL02-037a) Consideration of Guidelines.	Speaker The Chesapeake Group
COMMITTEE MEETING	DATE
Operations Committee
Planning & Development Committee	2/21/02
Public Hearing	3/26/02
Planning and Zoning Board	4/15/02
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

FROM:	Jeff Ulma, AICP, Director, Planning Department
Prepared by:	Gordon Sutherland, MRTPI, Senior Planner Jim Parajon, AICP, Long Range Planning Manager
Approved by:	William B. Coleman, Jr., Town Manager Benjamin T. Shivar, Assistant Town Manager

Review

On March 18^th the Planning and Zoning Board held a work session and on March 26^tha Public Hearing was held for proposed guidelines. The guidelines are likely to form a component of future zoning regulations for the Town Center. The zoning ordinance changes to implement the plan will be part of the town wide rezoning scheduled for later this year.

Background

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 August 9^th, 2001.

In anticipation of and in order to implement the plan recommendations the Town contracted with the Chesapeake Group to prepare Downtown Design and Signage Guidelines and a market feasibility study in June 2000.

The private signage guidelines and amendments to the Ordinance that put these in place were completed last year. The market feasibility study was completed in November of 2001.The Design guidelines are the final part of the contract.

A committee consisting of downtown business representatives assisted by Town staff working with the consultant has shaped the guidelines. A final meeting of the committee and a public open house showing the draft guidelines was held February 19^th, 2002.

Purpose of the Guidelines

The purpose is to:

Describe the general urban design vision, type of built environment desired for the Town Center Area.

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 within the Town.

Provide clear design standards for development ,redevelopment and revitalization based upon the Town Center Area Plan’s recommendations

Educate property owners, developers, the public, and plan reviewers on what is expected and desired for new development in the Town Center;

Assist the Town in developing practical approaches for the treatment of public spaces and public infrastructure in the Town Center

Design Vision for the Guidelines

The design vision for the guidelines was outlined in the Town Center Area Plan. This envisions that the town center should be a compact, pedestrian friendly environment with good connections to surrounding neighborhoods. The heart of the center was defined as an area centered on the intersection of Chatham and Academy Streets extending out 2 to 3 blocks in all directions. A distinction was made that buildings south of the CSX railroad should be about 2-3 stories and reflect traditional architecture, whilst north of the CSX line, buildings could transition to more contemporary architecture of 3-6 stories.

An emphasis was placed on providing street trees, wide sidewalks, bringing buildings closer to the street, discouraging voids and frontage parking lots providing the majority of parking in public decks.

Application of the Guidelines

The guidelines are intended to:

Convey what is allowed "as a matter of right" or provide direction to development interests and property owners. Compatible development that employs these guidelines will seek review and approval by a Town Center Development Review Committee.

Apply to new buildings and to the remodeling or expansion of existing buildings.

Apply to all new Town infrastructure provision and publicly maintained spaces in a defined core area.

Be viewed as one part of a larger set of ordinances and regulations governing land use within the Town Center. Development applicants and interested citizens will need to refer to other sources such as the Town’s Sign Ordinance for signage issues, the Unified Development Ordinance for more detailed land use regulations within Town Center District(s), and the Town’s Standard Specifications and Details for more precise construction and engineering requirements.

Contents of the Guidelines:

The guidelines are broken into three parts covering development of the private realm, treatment of the public realm and recommendations for wayfinding and trailblazing to the Town Center as a destination.

Private realm. Guidance is set out for the composition and site layout of private developments including: Building height, arrangement and siting, design, colors, materials, facades, windows, entrances, awnings, storage and service areas, security gates and cameras, exterior lighting, outdoor cafes, sidewalk displays, views, parking and landscaping.

Public realm. A proposed design treatment for the public streetscape along the town centers principal streets, including guidance, standards and specifications for benches, trash receptacles, bike racks, planters, bollards, tree guards and grates, landscaping (including tree planting recommendations), street lighting, pavers, pavement treatments, utilities, and public signage.

Wayfinding and Trailblazing. A trailblazing sign system to direct people to the town center and specific destinations in the center such as government offices, library public parking structures. The recommendation is for the sign system to employ the image and form of the clock, which is located at the intersection of Chatham Street and Academy Street. The potential locations of signs are indicated on a map of the town and a re chiefly located at the intersections of principal roadways entering the town.

Staff Recommendation: We recommend that the Planning and Zoning Board forward the guidelines to Town Council for approval at their April 24, 2002 meeting.