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The
plans propose a four-story predominately brick building containing
9,549 square feet of commercial development on the first floor and
24 dwelling units on the second, third, and fourth floors. A
three-story secondary building containing six dwelling units would
be located south of the primary commercial/ residential building.
The maximum density allowed is 50 units per acre, and the
proposed density is 30 units per acre.
At-grade parking is proposed behind the
commercial/residential building within the first floor area of the
secondary residential building and within one-story garages facing
Williams Street
.
Considering the
unique nature of the downtown area, certain development requirements
are not applicable within the
Town
Center
district, such as:
·
The required number of parking spaces may be reduced
up to 50 percent, provided there is adequate on-street parking
available. The plans
propose 48 parking spaces; however, 62 parking spaces are required,
resulting in a proposed 23% reduction in the number of required
parking spaces. Parking
would also be available in the adjoining western parking lot, which
is not fully utilized daily.
·
The streetscape and buffer widths normally required
are not applicable in the Town Center District. Street tree
plantings and screening from adjoining properties, however, must be
consistent with Downtown Design Guidelines.
This plan would comply with these provisions.
The plans will
comply with all applicable Town Center Design Guidelines, which
provide:
·
That buildings be located close to the street
right-of-way and sidewalk, with parking located behind the
buildings;
·
That architectural form, facades, materials, and
colors complement adjoining properties and eliminate blank walls;
·
That parking be placed to the side or rear of
buildings;
·
That on-street parking be encouraged; and
·
That required landscaping consists of streetscape, of
appropriate screening from adjoining properties, of screened parking
areas, of foundation plantings, and of accent plantings.
During the review
and approval of the ballroom addition to the Mathew’s House, which
is located west of the proposed Cary Mixed Use site, staff and the
Town Center Review Commission (TCRC) recommended the brick wall
north and east of the Mathew’s House be extended west along
Chatham Street
across the frontage of the parking lot.
The extension of the brick wall would screen the parking lot
from off-site views, as required by the Downtown Design Guidelines.
The staff and the TCRC concluded that a wall would provide
the desired level of parking area screening and would provide a
suitable transition from the Mathew’s House to the Cary Mixed Use
site. The Town Council
deferred action on the brick wall extension until submittal of the
third phase of development, the Cary Mixed Use site.
The plans propose
to screen the adjoining western parking lot from Chatham Street by
utilizing a 4’ high picket fence located between 2’ X 2’ X
7’ high brick columns at set intervals.
The columns would match the columns surrounding the Mathews
House. Ornamental
plantings and benches would be installed along the
Chatham Street
side of the fence and a double offset row of evergreen shrubs would
be located adjacent to the parking area.
The combination of fence, brick columns and evergreen
plantings should adequately screen the parking area from off-site
views.
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