Agenda - 10-11-1995 - Items 1 and 2 - Appendix 1

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Close to the village center core should be a mix In comparison to typical suburban developments, of higher density residential uses that interact to the village pattern is designed to have smaller reduce automobile usage. A village-wide lots for single-family homes and a higher greenway system, incorporating open spaces and percentage of multi-family housing. It also has a parks, should connect the village residential areas mix of uses designed to encourage more with the village center, providing safe,convenient interaction and to create a sense of community. pedestrian and bicycle pathway linkages throughout the village community. By creating a pedestrian friendly environment and placing residents close to shops that can meet The village center should be designed to meet the their needs, this form of development seeks to individual needs and wishes of residents, ranging decrease the number of vehicle trips that each from the diversity of housing to the convenience family takes. Therefore, village pattern develop- of shopping and services, and the provision of ments produce fewer vehicle trips per household educational and recreational opportunities. It than conventional subdivision developments. becomes an area that belongs to the people of the community, serving them in numerous ways. Village pattern developments that are located directly adjacent to rail lines also have the The most notable example of a village pattern is additional opportunity to support transit usage. By Downtown Chapel Hill, where residences are clustering uses and developing smaller lots, closely located within easy walking distances of sufficient density is provided to support mass stores, shops, services and employment. These transit. By accessing an adjacent rail line, a same "village" principles are being incorporated "transit-oriented" village development could into the Southern Village that is now under provide significant pedestrian, bicycle, bus, or construction. other access to other areas. Some of the important features of the village Employment Campus pattern are summarized as follows: The term "Employment Campus" describes a land ► a street network based on a grid rather use category that would be new to Chapel Hill's than on cul-de-sacs, resulting in the Comprehensive Plan. This new category would dispersion of traffic. include uses in a park-like campus that would allow employees to remain at their place of ► narrower streets and a sidewalk network employment for the duration of the work day (as that slow traffic and encourage walking opposed to other types of uses that draw people and bicycling, as well as pedestrians. throughout the work day). ► smaller lots and houses closer to the street In particular, this land use designation would be to build community. primarily characterized by office and small-scale flex-space uses. Flex-space refers to buildings that P. a village center with a mix of uses, are generally a "shell" where the interior can be including shops, offices, apartments, and developed in a variety of ways. The front of these open space, surrounded by higher density buildings is often glass, and a high emphasis is residential development, that interact to placed on the buildings being attractive and well- reduce auto usage. designed. ► Open spaces that can be used for the Other supportive uses, in coordination with a public benefit. primary use, that could be considered appropriate for employment campus areas are service-related ► A greenway network that incorporates businesses, research and development uses, small open space and surrounding parks and assembly operations, and medical facilities. recreational centers. Commercial uses would be limited to those that Page 32 Northwest Small Area Plan