Orange County NC Website
vegetation, to the incorporation of ‘global’ design of a neighborhood to maximize the ability of <br />residents to have ‘eyes on the street’. <br />The concept is not just landscaping but relies on the overall design of the community. Such <br />strategies typically rely upon the ability to influence a potential offender decisions to engage in a <br />criminal act by increasing the perceived risk of being caught. <br />First and foremost it is our contention that a primary goal of any residential development project <br />is to ensure the security and safety of the residents who will be residing there. This can be <br />accomplished through the implementation of many different individual mechanisms such as the <br />installation of street lights, fencing, development of appropriate roadways and pedestrian <br />pathways to allow for internal movement of residents and vehicular traffic, etc. <br />Generally speaking, most implementations of CPTED occur within urbanized environments. <br />Hart’s Mill is not only a small rural development, but also has many unique features which <br />promote safety and crime prevention even though they may not strictly adhere to some of the <br />specific recommendations in the CPTED literature. <br />From our standpoint, we are incorporating the concept of crime prevention through <br />environmental design in the following manner: <br />1. The project has a central entrance way requiring all residents, visitors, and guests to <br />enter and exit the project from a central roadway. <br />2. Individual residences are accessible only through a restricted pedestrian street and <br />pathways. As a result, vehicular traffic in and around them is limited, thereby reducing <br />crimes of opportunity. <br />3. This will be a pedestrian oriented community where walking and bicycles will be the <br />preferred method of travel to and from individual homes and the common house. <br />Residences are proposed to be closely clustered along the pedestrian street and will have <br />ample windows and porches opening onto the street. This is intended not only to create <br />a village atmosphere, but also to provide heightened visibility of residences by neighbors, <br />4. Some residents are expected to have home-based occupations such as telecommuting, <br />writing, and arts and crafts; and some will be retirees. The community is being designed <br />to encourage on-site socializing, recreation, work and hobbies rather than as a commuter <br />neighborhood that is largely empty during the day. <br />5. Adjacent parking areas are proposed to be designed with low berms and shrubs that will <br />block headlights from shining into homes while being low enough to allow clear visibility <br />of people and larger vehicles. Outdoor lighting in and around the parking areas (as well as <br />the rest of the village) is proposed to be strategically located to provide security and <br />allow residents to see ‘what is going on’. This lighting shall comply with County <br />regulations and be fully shielded to reduce glare while providing visibility for safety. <br />37