Policy 5.5: Emphasis Complete Street Design Standards
Policy 5.7: Improve Transportation-Land Use Coordination The Future Land Use Map advocates for a transportation system that safely and efficiently moves ‘people’ throughout the Town. Balancing land use (demand), transportation (supply) and urban design (environment) will improve overall efficiency of the transportation system while promoting livability principles important to new communities and centers in the planning area. Supply-side solutions for the transportation system include:1) a complete and integrated grid street network for major roads and local streets; 2) complete street principles; 3) access management standards; 4) minimum street spacing guidelines; 5) special intersection treatments (including grade separated intersections at some locations); and 6) different street design standards for suburban and urban conditions. Demand-side solutions for improving the transportation system focus on land use, development density, and urban design principles that promote lower vehicle trip generation (internal capture), shorter travel distance, and non-vehicular travel modes. Land use mix and development locations, patterns, and intensities depicted on the FLUM and described in the Character Area section of the document will improve overall efficiency of the transportation system by lowering demand for long-distance vehicle trips. Street design standards for more urban conditions serving new walkable communities or centers will also bind together land use, transportation and urban design decisions.
development incentives, and then tailor a marketing message to feature this aspect of the Town with the business community. Policy 6.3: Identify Locations for Business Incubators and Co-Working Space Local start-ups and new businesses form the foundation of a community because they generate both financial and social capital. Local businesses serve as a morale booster that help the local economy and create the entrepreneurial spirit and buzz that attracts other creative types. The process of encouraging new business development can be spurred by the provision of incubator space. For an incubator space to be successful, it needs to be reasonably priced to facilitate the start-up phase, with the understanding that the business will eventually move into a larger space once they are more established and their business begins to grow. Policy 6.4: Promote Manufacturing and Build a Competitive Advantage for Fuquay-Varina within the State and Region Mass-production manufacturing has moved considerably away from the Triangle Region, and more emphasis is being placed on research, development, and innovative technology manufacturing from the area’s academic institutions and corporations. Organizing and promoting a manufacturing cluster around these trends in Town should capitalize on its set of competitive advantages: in-place zoning, highway or rail access, utility availability, other major employers nearby, highly-skilled workforce, quality of life, etc. Rail access is specifically beneficial considering the possibility of future commuter rail service. Bringing new manufacturing facilities to Fuquay- Varina will require a systematic approach, and simplifying the site selection process will be critical to landing the next firm. The Town should work with state, regional, and private partners to advocate for industrial sites on the Future Land
Economic Development
Policy 6.1: Use the Land Use Plan as an Economic Development Tool The Land Use Plan sets forth a clear and concise vision for conservation and development in the community, including provisions for continued economic development as it becomes a self- sustaining town. Information from the Plan should be used in print and digital marketing materials to promote specific candidate sites for economic development. It should also be used to highlight specific initiatives of the Town to provide the key livability and quality of life variables companies are looking for to satisfy their employees. Policy 6.2: Build a Community Attractive to Today’s Businesses and Their Employees In today’s idea-based economy, where creativity and innovation are often valued more than experience and seniority, a new type of business environment has taken shape. The internet and other technologies have minimized old ways of doing business based on the physical office, time spent at your desk, and a long commute. The new resource is creative people and finding ways to attract them with incentives such as flexible schedules and telecommuting. The office park of the 80’s and 90’s has been replaced with mixed-use corporate campuses and urban lofts and warehouses. Previously, municipalities competed to attract business with the tax breaks or Class A office space. Today, many companies will only locate in a community that is walkable, mixed-use, and diverse. This is because the best employees will no longer settle for a suburban lifestyle and are seeking employment in vibrant communities with active street life and culture. To take advantage of this shift in culture and mindset, Fuquay-Varina should promote the creation of high-quality built environments through smarter land use regulations and
Traditional suburban street design standards emphasize the function of vehicle movement over the creation of place for a street (National Association of City Transportation Officials, Urban Street Design Guide, 2012). Growing trends toward more urban, walkable, and mixed-use development patterns necessitate a change in conventional street design standards to: 1) balance the needs of vehicle, bus, bicycle and pedestrian within the right-of-way; 2) reduce travel lane width; 3) match design speed to posted speed limit; 4) control the number, location and spacing of driveways; 5) complement adjacent development; and 6) design intersections for multi-modal turning/route conflicts. Together, these changes will help move people (vs. only vehicles) and create memorable places that are great for the community, great for business, and great for creating safer environments for everyone. Complete street applications should be considered in Town policy in the context of rural, suburban, and urban character and development conditions. Policy 5.6: Enhance Bicycle & Pedestrian Facilities Throughout the Planning Area A complete network of bicycle and pedestrian facilities throughout planning area ― bicycle lanes, bicycle routes, greenways, side paths, and sidewalks ― would connect nearby destinations for meeting daily needs while also providing an extensive network for recreation purposes and improving community health. Most bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure should be included in street construction following ‘complete street’ design principles. A network of greenways provides quick, convenient access to nature for communities and centers identified on the Future Land Use Map.
138
3-139 139
Fuquay-Varina Land Use Plan
Chapter 6: Policies & Recommendations
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker