2011-02-21 Work Session NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 32
WORK SESSION,FEBRUARY 21,2011 PAGE 124
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met for a Work Session on Monday, February 21,
2011, at 4:09 p.m. in the Assembly Room of the New Hanover County Historic Courthouse, 24 North Third Street,
Wilmington,North Carolina.
Members present were: Chairman Jonathan Barfield, Jr.; Vice-Chairman Jason R. Thompson;
Commissioner Brian M. Berger; Commissioner Richard G. Catlin; Assistant County Attorney Sharon J. Huffman;
Deputy Clerk to the Board Kymberleigh G. Crowell;and County Manager Bruce T. Shell.
Others present were: Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Executive Director
Mike Kozlosky, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc./Seven Hills Town Planning Group, Inc. Principal Matt
Noonkester;Assistant County Manager Chris Coudriet;and Planning and Inspections Director Chris O'Keefe.
Commissioner Brian M.Berger arrived at 4:25p.m. Commissioner Ted Davis,Jr.was absent.
Chairman Barfield called the meeting to order and reported that the purpose of the meeting was to receive
the final report on the Market Street Corridor Study.
MARKET STREET CORRIDOR STUDY DISCUSSION
Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Executive Director Mike Kozlosky provided
a brief history of the Market Street Corridor Study. The project was funded by the North Carolina Department of
Transportation in 2008 and a collaborative effort between NCDOT, New Hanover County, City of Wilmington as
well as the Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization. In an effort to review and evaluate transportation and
land use planning from Colonial Drive in Wilmington, NC to the New Hanover/Pender County line, Kimley-Horn
and Associates,Inc. (KHA)was hired to complete a comprehensive analysis of the eleven mile corridor.
KHA/Seven Hills Town Planning Group, Inc. Principal Matt Noonkester reported the purpose of the study
is to provide vision and goals for the corridor, specific transportation recommendations, land use/urban design
considerations, focus area studies/catalyst sites, and implementation (i.e. policy, ordinance, road construction).
Study components cover preferred access management plan,bicycle &pedestrian connectivity map, collector street
plan,road concept plans,market analysis for the corridor,general development map,focus area studies,and corridor
overlay and mixed-use ordinances.
The partnering philosophy focused on two principles of public outreach:
1. Citizens have an intimate understanding of the community and planning decisions that have a direct
impact on their daily lives.
2. Groups can share in the collective vision for the project even as they hold differing opinions on how
this vision should be reached.
The partnering strategy included a project steering committee, stakeholder interviews, two public design
charrettes, four public work sessions, public surveys and public information meetings. Efforts were made to adhere
to current the regulatory framework/design standards at State and local levels to be able to make recommendations
that could be implemented or constructed. The corridor contains two distinct areas: "traditional suburban" and
"auto-oriented suburban".
In reference to the current traffic congestion analysis, the total expected reduction in traffic congestion
delay for the corridor is expected to be 4 minutes in the AM peak and 5 '/2 minutes in the PM peak with the proposed
improvements. In reviewing the safety concerns analysis, construction of a median in the corridor might prevent up
to 1/4 of the total crashes experienced along the corridor.
Focus for transportation recommendations was based on different scales such as a regional scale,
community scale, corridor scale and included a policy focus, intersection improvements and multimodal
considerations. Street connectivity focused on providing driving options that do not require using the corridor for
short trips; implementation strategy is to use the future collector street map to review proposed development plans
and help locate future collector streets. The access management plan, of which NCDOT is an active partner and
supporter, focuses on site access treatments, median treatments and intersection / minor street treatments. The
preferred access plan consists of two sections: Colonial Drive to Military Cutoff Road and Military Cutoff Road to
Porters Neck Road with corridor specific improvements and provides multimodal considerations for transit,bicycle
and pedestrian improvements for each.
The general development section focuses on the inherent relationship between land use (demand), urban
form(design), and transportation(supply) and advocates for a long-term view on development, defined by efficient
land use patterns, distinctive architecture, enhanced multi-modal transportation opportunities, and high quality-of-
life, for attracting new residents, businesses, and visitors to the corridor. This focus resulted in an expanded study
area with a two tier analysis of(1)corridor centric and(2)area of influence with recommendations being kept to the
center study area while acknowledging the outside area of influence. This section focus also looks at providing more
sustainable development patterns that link development with quality-of-life and improve community cohesiveness
and economic vitality.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 32
WORK SESSION,FEBRUARY 21,2011 PAGE 125
The general development map represents preferred development types, patterns, and intensities favored in
the study area. It also acts as a guide for amendments to local planning documents and other policies and ordinances.
Important to note that it may be 15 or 20 years before some recommendations are realized. The general
development map would need to be accepted as part of the study and then be moved on for inclusion in the
comprehensive plan and other related documents for implementation. The preferred development principles support
the general development map to:
• Promote mixed-use development
• Build walkable neighborhoods
• Require high-quality building architecture
• Limit franchise architecture
• Promote architectural unity
• Provide cohesive site design
Focus area studies represent possible build-out scenarios for undeveloped or underdeveloped parcels in the
study area. The five locations selected to represent build-out scenarios for activity centers or activity nodes
recommended in the General Development Map are Kerr Avenue Intersection (Traditional Suburban), College
Road/Corning Area(Auto-Oriented Suburban), Military Cutoff Extension(Auto-Oriented Suburban), Independence
Boulevard (Auto-Oriented Suburban), Marsh Oaks (Auto-Oriented Suburban). Together, these locations represent
the most influential properties for implementing recommendations in the Market Street Corridor Study.
The general planning process for the focus area studies consists of:
• Build-out scenarios for undeveloped (or underdeveloped) parcels that promote mixed-use
development, a variety of housing types and residential densities, and multi-modal transportation
options.
• Each site design study included a market-realistic development program, illustrative master plan
concept, and three-dimensional renderings.
• Drawings were done over aerial photography with roadways, water features, property lines, and
building footprints displayed.
• Many of the focus area site design studies were formulated in partnership with local landowners during
the public design charrette.
As a general disclaimer for the focus area studies it is important to note the type of land uses or
development patterns assumed in the site design studies were for illustrative purposes only, and could vary
significantly based on future landowner interests, development approvals, or location of available infrastructure.
However, property owners with similar vision, or with sites sharing similar characteristics, should consider the best
development practices highlighted in focus area studies when developing their own land.
Implementation strategies are important for this type of study. The Model Development Ordinance will
take local initiative to implement. Although is still in process the following is what it is and consists of:
• Complements/enhances existing zoning and subdivision regulations
• Supports overlay ordinance concept
• Follows recommendations from Market Street Corridor Study
• City&County Attorney review still needed
• The Table of Contents consists of Site Design Standards, Building Architecture, Signage, Access
Management,and Mixed-Use Activity Centers and Activity Nodes
• Key Points include Site Design Standards, Building Architecture Standards, Signage, Mixed-Use
Overlay Districts (i.e., centers and nodes), and Access Management Standards. It is important to note
that the access management standards exceed the NCDOT manual for driveway standards.
QUESTION AND ANSWER AND DISCUSSION
Planning and Inspections Director Chris O'Keefe, Director Kozlosky and Principal Noonkester responded
to Board questions on the study and ordinance. The overlay district concept has been used before by the County and
have a special highway overlay district currently in place. The County has a legal right to place an overlay over
existing properties and could have impacts on property values. Moving forward, guidelines or matrix can be created
to assist the Board in knowing where the priorities are in the recommendation list and in coming years there may be
times the plan needs to be flexible rather than the development application being more flexible. Although the entire
corridor is in a Special Highway Overlay District(SHOD) and no new billboards are allowed the current billboards
are protected. There is the ability to apply the ordinance to areas outside of the overlay in order to try to address
unintended future consequences while moving forward with projects.
Brief discussion was held regarding concerns about the lack of input to date from affected property owners
about this study. There will have to be more of a push on all fronts to offer the public opportunities for input on the
study as well as the ordinance. Director Kozlosky stated that efforts have been made to get community involvement
but unfortunately until work is seen on the ground most people are not concerned.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 32
WORK SESSION,FEBRUARY 21,2011 PAGE 126
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Chairman Barfield thanked everyone for the work on this study and
adjourned the work session at 5:02 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kymberleigh G. Crowell
Deputy Clerk to the Board
Please note that the above minutes are not a verbatim record of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners
work session. A copy of the Market Street Corridor Study Final Report is on file in the New Hanover County
Planning Departmentfor review. The entire proceedings are available for review on www.nhcgov.com/NHCLive or
www.nhcgov.com paQes.BOC/asps