The Town of Cary is considering updates to the Site Design Designs to replace the current Design Guide Manual adopted in 2001 and create specific standards for all new development and re-development in Cary. After extensive research into characteristics of both good and bad examples of various types of development, staff proposed a number of standards for good site design to address vehicular circulation, building placement, pedestrian circulation, and community gathering spaces. Staff has also proposed associated Land Development Ordinance (LDO) amendments to provide the legal framework for implementing the new Site Design Standards. The LDO will provide the overall site requirements while the Site Design Standards will illustrate and provide alternative ways to achieve the requirements.
For reference, a series of 10 Focus Group meetings with representatives from the development community, 4 community meetings, and 2 council work sessions have been held over the past 2 years . In the TCC’s recent Coffee Chat with the Town of Cary on March 14, 2012, the Mayor was supportive of delaying the adoption of the Site Design Standards to provide additional time for the TCC to provide feedback. Representatives from the TCC participate in a subsequent meeting with staff on April 4, 2012. Staff was supportive of several suggestions to clarify some of the requirements and make available the draft LDO amendments for further review. Many of the standards have evolved from some of the Alston Activity Center Concept Plan (ACCP) and may impact how the development community considers site analysis and conceptual design efforts moving forward.
While the attached Site Design Standards and LDO Amendments are still in draft format, staff anticipates that Council may adopt as early as July 26, 2012. As such, we encourage the TCC membership to provide feedback on or before Friday, April 20, 2012 to allow sufficient time for staff to consider and incorporate applicable revisions. Either share your comments with TCC’s Charlene Logan (charlenel@tricc.org ) or TCC’s Chair Michael Birch (michael.birch@klgates.com ) or communicate directly with staff (Ricky Barker -Ricky.Barker@townofcary.org , Kevin Hales – Kevin.hales@townofcary.org , and Meredith Chandler – Meredith.Chandler@townofcary.org .
This is our opportunity to influence change before the Town engages in the public hearings. Already, we have seen that staff has been receptive to changes to ensure that these standards achieved the desired goals with consideration of the challenges that face the development community with regard to economics and tenant requirements.
If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Craig Duerr at cduerr@withersravenel or TCC Chair Michael Birch (michael.birch@klgates.com), or the Cary Staff members at the emails listed above. To access the documents, please visit the TCC website at
http://www.tricc.org/docs/DRAFT
Site Design Standards 033012.pdf
http://www.tricc.org/docs/Draft
PL12_027 LDO Amendments.pdf
If you are concerned with the fee, we highly recommend that you make your voice heard.