The Town is examining the Walnut Street Corridor District to evaluate the effectiveness of ordinance standards and development requirements designed to help property owners along Walnut realize alternate uses for their property while preserving the residential character of the boulevard and adjacent neighborhoods.

View the Walnut Street Corridor Plan (html).

An ad hoc committee will be established to identify specific issues or challenges facing property owners within the district. Staff will also conduct neighborhood meetings to include property owners within the district along with adjacent property owners to ensure a broad and balanced perspective.

Background

The Walnut Street Corridor Plan was adopted by Town Council in March 1998 in response to residents of the homes along Walnut Street between Cary Towne Center and the Buck Jones Road area who felt that increasing traffic and noise were affecting their quality of life. The approximately 30 houses along this part of Walnut Street provide separation and a change in character along Walnut Street between the mall and the commercial area to the south, including Crossroads.

The community envisioned retaining the residential character along Walnut Street while allowing land use to evolve. The direction from Town Council was to avoid strip development that would overburden Walnut Street and be out of harmony with the general residential character of the neighborhoods.

In November 2002, Council amended the 1998 Southeast Gateway Area Plan, providing additional details and refining the vision for Walnut Street and the future inclusion of low intensity, non-residential uses. The updated plan's guidelines cover land uses, buffers and screening, access and circulation, architectural treatment, building size and typical development standards. This amendment was translated into a new zoning ordinance in 2003, the Corridor Transition (CT) District, which is defined in the Land Development Ordinance.

Current Initiative

In January 2008, the Cary Town Council directed Town staff to evaluate how well the CT District has worked during the past 5 years and whether any changes to the District are warranted at this time. Read the staff report.

Before suggesting any ordinance changes, staff will determine if the current design regulations are negatively impacting economic development and evaluate whether or not modifications to the plan would continue to provide appropriate transitions and buffering between the redevelopment area and the adjacent neighborhoods.

Contact

For information on the Walnut Street Corridor Plan, contact:
Scott Ramage, AICP
Principal Planner
919-462-3888
scott.ramage@townofcary.org