Agenda - 01-19-1999 - 9b - Laserfiche WebLink

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M Facilitated Small Area Plan for Carrboro's Northern Study Area A "Facilitated Small Area Plan" for Carrboro's Northern Study Area (see attached map) was presented for comment at the April 8, 1998 Joint Planning Area Public Hearing. The plan attempts to balance community, conservation and development objectives within the Transition Areas and extraterritorial jurisdiction that lie to the north of Carrboro's town limits. Community and conservation objectives include: allowing patterns of growth which minimize negative impacts and maximize positive impacts on the community; allowing for the efficient provision of town services; the provision of a variety of housing types and styles; development of a multi -modal transportation system; and the conservation of natural and environmentally sensitive areas. The Facilitated Plan places primary emphasis for development in the study area on residential activity, although no site - specific proposals are included. The Plan proposes the use of net, rather than gross, residential density calculations, with reductions based on natural constraints such as floodplains, steep slopes, and utility easements. The plan also proposes to cluster a bulk of the new residential development by encouraging village -scale development, conservation of environmentally sensitive areas, density bonuses for affordable housing meeting certain development criteria, and neighborhood and community -scale commercial centers. The overall target density for the study area is approximately the same as the current density of the town: 2.1 dwelling units per acre. The target density for mixed -use areas is approximately five dwelling units per acre. These development management options have been selected in order to minimize the negative impacts of new development on environmental quality, transportation, taxation, and existing neighborhoods. These elements should discourage a sprawled pattern of monotonous development, preserve Carrboro's unique, small town character, and allow for the creation of new, neighborhood -scale communities which can be connected to existing and new areas via a network of open space corridors. The mixed -use and office /assembly districts described in the plan allow for small - scale commercial and light manufacturing activities to occur in the study area. Conditional-use, floating zones in both categories are to be established, which will require that rezoning requests for these uses be supported by master plans for site development. The plan proposes no changes to the small commercial node at Calvander. If adopted, the Facilitated Plan will become an amendment to the Joint Planning Area Land Use Plan. Presented along with the Plan on April 8 were proposed amendments to the Joint Planning Agreement which would: remove the density cap of one unit per acre in Transition Area II; combine Transition Areas I and II into a single Transition Area; and allow the Board of Aldermen to establish floating, conditional use zones. Attached are sections from the Joint Planning Area Land Use Plan and Joint Planning Agreement where amended text would be required. Text proposed for deletion is shown in 94i eagh and text for addition is in boldface.