Issue link: http://townofcary.uberflip.com/i/791958
CHAPTER 6:SHAPE Policy Policy Intent Policy 1: Maintain Land Use Transition Ensure that Green Level is characterized by a transition, east to west, from more intense suburban development patterns around the Triangle Expressway (I-540) to lower densities at the area's western edge with Chatham County. The intent of this policy is to create transitions in development density and character that will provide for more intense development on the eastern portion of Green Level near I-540 and transition to lower density development closer to Chatham County. In order to maintain a downward density transition across the County Line into Chatham, and into the area guided by the Chatham-Cary Joint Land Use Plan, residential densities in the areas approaching the western edge of Wake County should be somewhat higher than those proposed just over the County Line, while providing a compatible transition. Policy 2: Respect Heritage and Open Space Organize the pattern of new development around important natural and historic features, landscaped transportation corridors, open spaces and community gathering spaces. The intent of this policy is to recognize and respect the heritage and history of Green Level by designing developments to utilize and incorporate a site's environmental and historic assets and features as prominent or integrated design elements in new development. It is the intent that new development should uphold the rural character by retaining historic structures in their original location when near streets, and use landscape designs that set out key natural features as focal points and that protect these areas as public open spaces. Open spaces and community gathering places in neighborhoods should be connected and easily accessed from neighborhood homes. Thoroughfare and collector roads should have streetscape buffers that shield new development from view, and also use a less formal type of streetscape landscaping. Such streetscape designs might have a greater reliance on retaining existing forest, utilizing native vegetation, grassed medians, and/or design elements such as rural fences. Policy 3: Allow Either Rural or Suburban Designs for Local Roads Encourage local streets to be designed to a suburban standard that includes curb and gutter, sidewalks, street lighting, etc., while allowing local streets to alternatively use a rural design that uses swale and ditch edges in lieu of curb and gutter. The intent of this policy is to encourage local streets to be designed to include street lights, sidewalks or streetside trails, and curb and gutter, as found in other parts of Cary. This is in response to public input suggesting that the "swale and ditch" type of local street that was encouraged for Green Level subdivisions built during 2004-2015 did not meet the mobility and safety needs of the community. (Note that from 2004- 2015, Cary's policy was for thoroughfares and collectors in Green Level to use swale and ditch designs rather than curb and gutter, avoid the use of street lights, and use off-road greenways rather than sidewalks. That policy was repealed in summer 2015.) Policy 4: Support Development of a Signature Mixed Use Destination Center Support development of a signature Mixed Use Destination Center at Green Level West Road and the Triangle Expressway (I-540) that incorporates special features which acknowledge the area's culture and past, as well as its location proximate to unique environmental features and resources. The intent of this policy is to create a prominent Destination Center that will support residences in Green Level and the larger region. The new Destination Center will highlight the juxtaposition of a major interchange and nearby sensitive natural areas by integrating environmental features into a densely developed and vertically-mixed center. As one of the last quality sites for employment uses, this Destination Center should include not only commercial and residential uses, but also a significant portion of the site should be dedicated to office or other employment uses. Policies for Green Level In order to achieve the vision for Green Level, the Town's special policies for this area are: 202