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connection with a planned development that never <br /> Moaorbtte /1* came to fruition. The largest blocks of mature <br /> Speed—y \� <br /> forest are located in the eastern portion of the study <br /> area abutting the neighborhoods that front <br /> Morehead Road(Timber Forest,Whitefield <br /> zs <br /> • Manor,and Valhalla)and in the floodplain <br /> Mallard Creek �; <br /> w slewaler "'tf e,.. ,�,. .► adjacent to Mallard Creek.The Mallard Creek <br /> ` rrealmem Piarlc r° , I'. ' <br /> 1. <br /> floodplain, a defining natural feature in the <br /> landscape,is exceptionally wide,exceeding 800 feet <br /> in width at a few points. As shown in Figure 2,the <br /> 1� <br /> r <br /> r area's rolling terrain has steep slopes(greater than <br /> 15%)that together account for approximately 130 <br /> -- - - 49; <br /> S "'{, Harrisburg acres of the study area. The steepest slopes are <br /> �� Park located adjacent to streams and drainage ways, <br /> l.IVEB M Cltt BL.. 4g ,,J ` _ • ✓ drainage <br /> is which are also the locations of important habitats. <br /> Percent Slope c' Here,the Natural Heritage Program has <br /> _0%-5% <br /> / documented the occurrence of the Carolina Darter <br /> 11%-15% and Eastern Lampmussel. (Refer to Appendix A <br /> _1s%-20% <br /> z,%-'°% A Miles for Existing Natural Features Map). <br /> Figure 2. Steep Slope Map <br /> Why is it mostly undeveloped? <br /> This western edge of the town is relatively undeveloped due primarily to environmental constraints and the lack of <br /> infrastructure. A road network that would provide sufficient access to the area,particularly with a north-south <br /> arterial road that would directly connect NC-49 and US-29,is needed. Steep slopes,creeks,and floodplains are <br /> among the features that make development,including roadway construction,challenging. Serving this area with <br /> water and sewer is also problematic given the physical characteristics of the area. Further hindering development in <br /> the area is the zoning applicable to 753 acres,which constitutes 52%of the available land in the study area. The <br /> Planned Unit Development(PUD)zoning district has special conditions attached to it that must be met before <br /> development—or the permitting of it—can commence. So,rezoning is required to develop parcels in the PUD <br /> district. Given the constraints of physical features,infrastructure,and zoning,sites here require more upfront <br /> investment to develop relative to other potential development sites in the region. <br /> Introduction 13 <br /> Attachment number 1 \n <br /> G-2 Page 145 <br />