AG 1992 12 21 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ISSUES AND GOALS The issues and goals for the Western A.rea were compiled to help formulate the recommendations of this plan. It is important to know what residents and business owners believe are the most important issues affecting them and also what their goals are for the future of the area. A number of sources were used to formulate the list of issues and goals. Among these were the preliminary staff study of the area, the community meetings held with area residents, individual meetings with major land owners and businesses, and a questionnaire distributed at the community meetings. A summary of the questionnaire is included in the appendix of fids document. Issues covered a broad range and there was often disagreement about goals for the area. Some residents for instance either considered growth inevitable and good while others wished to retain the sparse rural development pattern that still typifies much of the area. Both residents and business representatives, however, agreed that if growth is inevitable then the basic infrastructure of the area must be upgraded. The brief discussion of issues that follows is divided into four categories. These are the same categories that the recommendations section will be divided into also. Many of the issues and concerns are related and some may be contradictory, but each is important in arriving at the plan recommendations. LAND USE ISSUES Current land use, discussed in the "Existing Conditions," demonstrates that land use and growth vary considerably across the planning area. The considerable variation has caused conflicts between existing and new development. There have even been conflicts between different types of new development. This planning document represents a common plan to be followed regardless of jurisdiction, that w'ill control and/or eliminate future conflicts. Both planning entities and residents of the Western Area strongly support this approach. The study area of the Western Area Plan has the most rapidly growing residential, commercial, and industrial sectors within the County. With this growth has come concerns about property values, the environment, and transportation facilities. There is also an overriding concern that a balance must be struck between the amount of residential growth and job growth through new commercial and industrial activity. Residents had fairly consistent views about the type of residential development that should occur. Most felt that it should be medium to Iow density and almost everyone believed that it should be site built, single-family homes. There was a basic belief that multi-farrfily housing and mobile homes are not desired in the area, even along major roads with utility services in place. In contradiction, however, residents agreed that affordability of housing is a major concern, and slightly higher density and the use of modular housing (which meets N.C. State Building Code) were two approaches to reducing cost that were mentioned. Residents and business representatives recognized the existing major ~'ansportat~on corridors as the prime industrial/commercial development sites. These corridors are 1-85, U.S. 29, N.C. 73 and N.C. 49. It was felt that non-residential growth should be encouraged on these corridors and discouraged in areas not in close pro)cimity to the major roads. There was less agreement about two planned major roads. Residents agreed that the planned King's Grant interchange and parkway would be good sites for non-residential development, although many felt removed from the growth because of the lack of an easy connection between the new road and the general area. The larger disagreement surfaced over the role of the planned Westside Bypass in non-residential development of the area. It is the opinion of both planning departments, and most residents, that this road to properly function should have limited access and commercial/industrial growth only where it intersects the other major transportation corridors. Other residents and landowners, specifically those who will WESTERN AREA PLAN DRAFT4 PAGE8