Changes in the economy, consumer preferences, climate, and lifestyle choices may also impact how the Town and its partners plan for and invest in new infrastructure. Forward-thinking and close coordination with officials that influence land use and development standards — the demand factors for the various systems — will be needed to control costs and manage the timing of new infrastructure to meet demand. True Cost of Infrastructure Some communities struggle with managing the true cost of providing infrastructure ― starting with construction or acquisition of the facility or equipment, budgeting for its annual operating and maintenance costs, and programming funds for future years to eventually rehabilitate or replace the asset because it has reached its useful life. These communities are surprised by large, unanticipated budget requests because departments or elected officials are not prepared for the full-accounting of providing infrastructure. Unplanned expenditures lead to unfortunate budget discussions where priorities are triaged because there is not enough money for everything. Rising debt burden for the Town may result in less capacity to authorize new debt for capital projects in the future. And, with debt less affordable, the Town may need to make difficult decisions to control expenditures and prioritize competing infrastructure requests. Continued unmet operating and maintenance costs for existing infrastructure deferred to future years may also lead to larger, more expensive capital costs when facilities fail and lead to emergency repairs or replacement. The cost to complete these improvements could place additional long-term burdens on future budgets for decades to come that could be managed with regular spending on maintenance of existing infrastructure.
Changing Infrastructure Needs Infrastructure needs in Fuquay-Varina change over time as some portions of the community transition from agrarian to rural to suburban to urban. Demands for service generally increase over time in these areas, and existing facilities expand, or new facilities are built, to provide minimum levels- of-service to existing and new customers. Solutions for meeting new infrastructure demands also change as portions of the community transform. In more rural areas, minimal infrastructure is provided by the Town and its partners to meet existing needs, and local residents or businesses rely on private solutions to meet at least some of their demands (e.g., well and septic systems, private open space, etc.). In more suburban areas, infrastructure investments are increased and provide either “point-of-service delivery” at the property line (water distribution and waste sewer collection systems) or “close proximity to nearby facilities” in defined services areas for the different providers (e.g., parks and recreation facilities, schools, fire and rescue services, or police protection). In many U.S. cities, providing infrastructure to serve areas that are primarily single land use, low-density, and not well-connected is expensive and over time demands for service eventually surpass available supply to the point that systems break down. As the Town grows, some suburban nodes on the Future Land Use Map may become more denser and take on certain urban characteristics: mixed-use development, taller buildings, different living options, different mobility solutions, or formal public spaces. Increased density or new land uses not anticipated at the time original infrastructure was provided may create various stresses on the system and needs to retrofit (make larger) existing systems to accommodate increased demands. In addition, one or more suburban models used previously for delivering specific facilities and services ― such as school location and construction standards, or park design and location standards ― may need rethinking to meet the needs associated with a more urban area.
Supporting Plans & Ordinances The Land Use Plan is one document in a library of plans, studies, and ordinances that influence the type, location, timing, and magnitude of infrastructure built in the community. It provide general direction for future year conservation and development trends — the demand-side of infrastructure planning — that is further refined in future functional plans or master plans, which are completed by the different facility or service providers after the Land Use Plan is adopted — the supply-side of infrastructure planning. Specific functional plans or master plans in Fuquay-Varina address nearly all of the infrastructure categories highlighted in the chapter. They provide more detail ― service area maps, preferred technologies or solutions, level of service standards, candidate projects, and policies ― to implement broad ideas or concepts in the Land Use Plan. They also serve as another bridge between the policies in the Land Use Plan and specific rules and requirements in the Town’s Land Development Ordinance. A few examples of specific functional plans or master plans in the Town that focus on infrastructure and implement policies from the Land Use Plan include: • Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Comprehensive Systemwide Master Plan • Public Utilities Department Water System Master Plan • Public Utilities Department Sewer System Master Plan
Likely Impacts Analysis Future year impacts to supporting infrastructure anticipated for the planning horizon were calculated assuming implementation of the Future Land Use Map presented in Chapter 2 and future year growth projections for the planning area presented in Chapter 1. The table on page 111 summarizes conditions for a base year (2021), future year planning horizon (2040), and full build- out of the Future Land Use Map (date uncertain). These numbers could change if Town service delivery standards or service areas change over time. Recommendations for the Land Use Plan focus on conditions assumed through 2040. Demand projections to serve future year population and employment increases focus on the Town’s key public service areas: transportation, water supply and delivery needs, sewer treatment and collection demands, additional open space needs, police personal, and fire protection. Impacts to the transportation system are specifically considered in the Town of Fuquay-Varina Comprehensive Transportation Plan. It should be recognized that the impact calculations are based on current and anticipated trends moving forward, and a wide range of variance is possible in future years because of changing conditions not anticipated at the time the Land Use Plan was adopted (e.g., widespread implementation of autonomous vehicles or a major new employer coming to Town). As a result, the impact calculations presented herein should be reviewed and adjusted annually by Town officials. Priority Investment Areas Continued growth in the planning area places new demands on infrastructure that lowers levels of service and ultimately requires increased capacity or new service areas to keep pace with development. Future investments in community infrastructure should support build out of the Future Land Use Map (FLUM) presented in Chapter 2 of the Land Use Plan. Generally speaking, the FLUM advocates for more compact and efficient development patterns
• Comprehensive Transportation Plan • Community Pedestrian Master Plan • Town Standard Specifications and Construction Details • Economic Development
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Fuquay-Varina Land Use Plan
Chapter 4: Supporting Infrastructure
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