Orange County NC Website
Approved May 21, 2008 <br />207 <br />208 <br />209 <br />210 <br />211 <br />212 <br />213 <br />214 <br />215 <br />216 <br />217 <br />218 <br />219 <br />220 <br />221 <br />222 <br />223 <br />224 <br />225 <br />226 <br />227 <br />228 <br />229 <br />230 <br />231 <br />232 <br />233 <br />234 <br />235 <br />236 <br />237 <br />238 <br />239 <br />240 <br />241 <br />242 <br />243 <br />244 <br />245 <br />246 <br />247 <br />248 <br />249 <br />250 <br />251 <br />252 <br />253 <br />254 <br />255 <br />256 <br />257 <br /> <br />Karen Lincoln stated at this time this board can make specific recommendations to the Planning Board to consider in <br />developing its final recommendations. <br /> <br />Jan Grossman asked if the (adjacent) communities want a walking/bicycle path to the proposed development. The <br />open space around the exterior would allow for walking paths. <br /> <br />Alice Gordon stated that this board needs to have a strategy for how to make your recommendations. <br /> <br />Paul Guthrie stated there’s not a single thing that I suggested on this plan. This transportation plan still isolates this <br />project by itself at the corner of two roads with a minimal attempt to reach out to the community to the north and <br />south. <br /> <br />Karen Lincoln asked what ways he suggested for the developer to make those connections. <br /> <br />Paul Guthrie stated our previous discussion was the need to have access by various ways without the barriers of <br />either roadways that were unfriendly to pedestrian or bicycle travel and the ability to have, as growth occurs, a <br />reasonable degree of housing. He stated that he did not see anything that suggests that this development <br />demonstrates those interests. <br /> <br />Sam Lasris stated that it comes down to what the definition of destination shopping center is, whether the shopping <br />center is going to be a neighborhood oriented shopping center (or more regionally oriented). <br /> <br />Randy Marshall stated that the developer is probably targeting travelers of I-85. <br /> <br />Bryn Smith stated that the developers proposed landscaping did not indicate any walkability, there are walls of trees <br />and bushes that will not allow people to walk thru from one area to the other areas. There’s also the question of who <br />would be responsible for getting the easements for walkways that could connect the development from other <br />properties. <br /> <br />Karen Lincoln stated that the developers can provide a trail to the edge of the development. A major comment <br />regarding connectivity is to extend the major road through the development to the property boundary to connect the <br />remaining EDD, and include bike and pedestrian facilities along that road all the way to the edge of the property. It <br />would be nice if they showed some kind of bicycle and pedestrian facilities that would provide connectivity to the <br />adjacent property in the southern part of the development. <br /> <br />Nancy Cole Baker stated that the sewer easements would be a possible connection from the soccer field and <br />Gravelly Hill from the development. The water lines on the other side of 85 could also be future connections. <br /> <br />Sam Lasris stated that planning board is going to start deliberations at their next meeting on May 7th and then again <br />on the 14th and 21st. He asked for the board’s general comments to transmit to the planning board. He suggested <br />that one would be to know what the draw (how much traffic and where is it coming from) to this shopping center will <br />be. <br /> <br />Randy Marshall reiterated that we need to know where the target customers are coming from that will feed this <br />enterprise. It’s hard to determine transportation issues when you don’t know where they are coming from. The current <br />density is not sufficient to support this shopping center. Has the carrying capacity of retail for the region been <br />reached? <br /> <br />Karen Lincoln stated the handout we have is a list on comments/conditions compiled by the planning department and <br />we could review this list and make recommendations to the planning board. Our next meeting is scheduled for May <br /> Page 10 of 6