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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