Introduction The Town of Fuquay-Varina continues to experience unprecedented growth every year since the 2035 Community Vision Land Use Plan was adopted in 2017. The area’s location, climate, charm, neighborhoods, and downtown attract new residents from all over the United States, and they come for the high quality-of-life provided in Fuquay Varina. In six years, the population of the planning area for the Land Use Plan has increased from 54,568 residents (2017) to 63,792 residents (2022). On an annual basis, this equates to an increase of 5.05 new residents per day in the community. Cumulative growth during this time period has changed the community and elicited different, sometimes strong, opinions about new development and the benefits or consequences it brings to the community. With each new wave of growth, challenges and opportunities present themselves to a community that wants to remain unique and respectful of the norms, values, and traditions that make Fuquay-Varina a great place to live and do business. Balancing the desires of Fuquay-Varina residents to retain the charm and character of the community in the face of increasing demands of new residents and businesses is a challenge facing the Town. Managing this pressure while striving to retain the characteristics that keep, or improve upon, what makes Fuquay-Varina a desirable place to live and work is why planning for the future is so critical at this time. The 2040 Community Vision Land Use Plan builds upon the vision, guiding principles, and recommendations in the 2035 Community Vision Land Use Plan (the “Land Use Plan”), and provides more focus and clarity related to expectations for character, land use mix, and quality development expected in the planning area. The Plan also contemplates a future where Fuquay-Varina is a major center of economic activity in southern Wake and northern Harnett Counties. The Land Use Plan is a visionary document, one of the few times a community dreams big and really challenges itself to think about its long-term future. Information presented in the Land Use Plan
Note: a large-scale, printable version of the map on page 5 is available on the Town of Fuquay-Varina website under the Planning Department page.)
provides direction for updates to the Town’s Land Development Ordinance, Capital Improvements Plan, and Annual Budget. It also helps manage municipal service areas and influences other planning documents. The 2040 Land Use Plan is the official adopted statement for future growth and development in the Town of Fuquay-Varina. It establishes a long-term vision for the community and sets forth the framework for a future land use plan that invites investment and does not overburden Town resources. The plan also establishes a strategy for wide-spread implementation. Recommendations in the document should be used to set public policy and provide a more predictable environment for public investment, private development, and expected returns-on- investment. The long-term horizon of the Land Use Plan (20 years) keeps the document somewhat general. However, the broad range of development topics and issues addressed in the Plan makes it a true playbook for smart, sustainable growth in the future ― always with a focus on the community’s stated priorities, values, and attitudes that make Fuquay-Varina a dash more of everything. The Land Use Plan should be used by elected officials and appointed board members to evaluate development applications, amend ordinances, and plan future expenditures. Together, the Land Use Plan and its implementation tools ensure future decision- making regarding conservation and development topics are consistent with the community’s vision and residents’ expectations for a high quality-of- life. Ultimately, the Land Use Plan’s relevance will be measured by its use in every day decision-making. Monitoring the Plan’s implementation should be an open and on-going process, summarized each year in a community report card that examines performance, measures achievement, and reflects change shaped by the Land Use Plan.
Future Road Alignments Consistent with the Town’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan
Fuquay-Varina Town Limits Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Urban Services Area
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Fuquay-Varina Land Use Plan
Chapter 1: Introduction
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