Issue link: http://townofcary.uberflip.com/i/791958
GREEN LEVEL SPECIAL PLANNING AREA Neighborhoods West of Flat Branch • This area con nues the gradual downward transi on in density moving west from I 540, heading towards the Cha- tham County Line, as begun in the Neighborhoods East of Flat Branch. At buildout, the aggregate density of the area west of Flat Branch will be lower than the area east of Flat Branch, with an aggregate, gross area-wide density not ex- ceeding about 2.5 dwellings per acre. •This area is generally akin to Contemporary Neighborhoods. •Single family detached housing predominates over most of the area, with lot sizes generally about a quarter acre or larger in conven onal subdivisions, with smaller lot sizes possible in clustered subdivisions. •Pockets or occasional mixes of other housing types, such as small-lot single family, pa o homes, or townhomes, may also occur. Small or specialty mul family (e.g., senior hous- ing, care facili es, affordable housing) are also acceptable provided they are on sites of limited size – ideally about 10 acres or less (as opposed to sites of about 20-30+ acres typ- ical for such housing in other parts of Cary). These types of housing should be shielded from view from thoroughfares and the American Tobacco Trail. 3 Conventional Subdivision Cluster or Conservation Subdivision Conven onal subdivisions are typically developed to accommodate the maximum number of single family dwellings permi ed by zoning, and do not set aside public spaces except for roads, recrea onal ameni es, and protected environmental features. The illustra on below shows how a conven onal subdivision might be developed to maximize the number of homes and protect cri cal areas, but provide no common open space. Conserva on subdivisions (popularly called "cluster subdivisions") provide the same number of homes as a conven onal subdivision, but u lize allow homes on smaller lots in order to preserve more land in its natural condi on as permanently protected open space. Open spaces should be designed as large, cohesive and con guous areas to maximize the ecological viability and natural habitat of the site. Some communi es provide developers with a density bonus – an increase in the total number of homes – as an incen ve to use the conserva on subdivision approach. 205