Issue link: http://townofcary.uberflip.com/i/791958
CHAPTER 6:SHAPE Policy Policy Intent Policy 3: Design New Neighborhoods in the Southern Section of the Special Planning Area to Complement the Historic Context New residential developments located south of the realignment of Morrisville Carpenter Road should be compatible with and support the historic character of the area, and blend into the landscape. New residential development located proximate to the Crossroads area should employ compatible mass, scale, and density, and use landscape and architectural elements that create a transition to the Crossroads. The intent of this policy is to support new residential development south of the realignment of Morrisville-Carpenter road that complements and protects the historic character of Carpenter. For historic preservation to be successful, it must not just protect the structures themselves, but also the surrounding context. Generally, single-family housing is most preferable. Townhomes may be feasible in proximity to the Crossroads area when the number of connected units in a single building mass is limited appropriately. In order to implement the intent of this policy, updates to zoning and development ordinances may be required for transition areas, as well as design guidelines. Policy 4: Design New Neighborhoods in the Northern Section of the Special Planning Area that Complement the Historic Rural Character of Carpenter New developments located in the northern section of Historic Carpenter (north of the realigned Morrisville Carpenter Road) should be compatible with and support the historic rural character of the area, blending into the landscape. The intent of this policy is to support new single-family residential development in the northern section of Carpenter that minimizes impacts on views from thoroughfare and collector corridors. Subdivisions should be buffered from view along these corridors. Clustered development is encouraged, allowing homes on smaller lots in exchange for the provision of additional open space or buffers adjacent to these roadways. Generally, single-family housing is preferable, however townhomes may be feasible when using clustered development. The provision of natural forested buffers around neighborhoods also helps support the rural context. Policy 5: Use Roadway and Streetscape Designs that Reinforce the Historic Character of Carpenter The design of key roadways and their streetscapes should complement and be compatible with the historic character of Carpenter. This policy applies in particular to the future widening and realignment of Morrisville-Carpenter Road, Good Hope Church Road, and to roads within and proximate to the historic Crossroads area. There are two parts to this policy. First, within and proximate to the Crossroads, the goal is to retain the community within its historic context. Accordingly, for the area south of the realigned Morrisville-Carpenter Road, the existing sections of Carpenter Upchurch Road, Carpenter Fire Station Road, and the remaining portions of Morrisville-Carpenter and Saunders Grove Roads should be retained in their current design and configuration as of 2015. That is, they should be retained with the appearance of county roads typical of the area up through the 1970's, namely as two- lane roads without curb, gutter, or sidewalk. Within and adjacent to the Crossroads, a connected system of pedestrian paths should be used in lieu of roadside sidewalks. Street lighting should be typical of the period. New local streets proximate to the Crossroads should provide appropriate transitions when tying into the village. The second part of this policy concerns the widened and realigned sections of Morrisville-Carpenter Road, and along Good Hope Church Road. The design of these roads and their streetscapes should reinforce and complement the historic character of Carpenter, while also providing suburban amenities such as curb and gutter treatments along the road edge. Non-traditional curb and gutter designs should be considered to better reflect the character of the area. Streetscapes should have a more natural and "organic" appearance than elsewhere in Cary. In lieu of typical roadside sidewalks, meandering pedestrian paths should be used. Design elements such as low stone walls can reinforce historic context. Dense hedgerow plantings at the outer edge of streetscapes can shield new development from view. 186