Transportation & Planning Committee
Monday, April 12; 3:30 – 5:00 PM
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center
Room 280
Committee Members:
Staff Resource:
David Howard, Chair
Michael Barnes, Vice Chair
Warren Cooksey
Susan Burgess
Patsy Kinsey
Jim Schumacher
AGENDA
I.
University Research Park – 30 minutes
Staff Resource: Kathy Cornett
Staff will present the draft plan for review by the Committee.
Action: Forward the Plan to City Council for public comment.
Attachment: 1. URP Area Plan.ppt
II.
Freeway Managed Lanes Studies Update – 30 minutes
Staff Resources: Danny Pleasant & Norm Steinman
Staff will provide an update of the regional “Fast Lanes” study and NCDOT’s more
detailed study of managed lanes for the North I-77 corridor.
Action: Information only at this time.
Next Scheduled Meeting: Thursday, April 22 at 2:00 p.m. in Room 280
.
Distribution:
Mayor & City Council
Transportation Cabinet
Tim Gibbs
Curt Walton, City Manager
Kathy Cornett
Leadership Team
Garet Johnson
4/7/2010
University Research Park Area Plan
Transportation and Planning Committee
April 12, 2010
URP Area Plan Presentation
• Introduce the University Research Park (URP)
Area Plan
– Describe the Plan Purpose and Process
– Identify the Plan Context and Boundaries
– Introduce the Plan Goals
– Introduce the Key Draft Recommendations
• Request to Refer to Council for Public Comment
1
4/7/2010
URP Area Plan Team
• University City Partners – funding plan
– Steering Committee
• Consultant Team
– Land Design
– Kublins Transportation Group
– George Henry George
• City and County Staff
–
–
–
–
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Department
Charlotte Department of Transportation
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation
Other City/County Agencies
Plan area includes one
Activity Center and part of
a Wedge.
Majority of the area within
a Mixed Use Activity
Center.
Mixed Use Activity Centers
encourage diverse uses to
support existing office
uses in a compact,
walkable pattern.
Activity Center boundaries
refined as part of this area
planning process.
2
4/7/2010
Plan Area
~2,300 Acres
~700 Acres undeveloped
~1,600 Acres developed
Over 25,000 employees in
plan area
Incorporated into
University City MSD in
2008
University Research
Park
Why Develop a Plan for the
URP?
Lacks a cohesive vision.
Research zoning (RE)
inconsistent with Mixed
Use Activity Center
concept.
Poor connectivity – lack
of signage and
wayfinding; uninviting
atmosphere.
Lack of identity –
confusing for potential
tenants and visitors.
visitors
Increased competition
from other mixed use
employment centers.
Doesn’t capitalize on
natural features.
3
4/7/2010
Plan Process and Tentative
Schedule
• Public Kick-off Meeting – October 1, 2009
• Four Steering Committee Meetings
– September 2009-February 2010
• Three Day Workshop – November 16-18, 2009
• Wikiplanning Outreach – October 2009-June 2010
• Final Public Meeting – April 1, 2010
• Planning Committee Public Comment, Review and Action –
April-June 2010
• City Council Public Comment, Review and Action April-June 2010
Plan Purpose
• Update the Northeast District
Plan to provide more specific
guidance for growth and
development
p
in this Activity
y
Center;
• Better integrate research park
design, land use planning and
transportation policy; and
•
Help create a cohesive vision
for the MSD and a
framework for an attractive
business park that will draw
new businesses and help
spur economic development
in the area.
4
4/7/2010
URP Area Plan
Issues and Opportunities
• Opportunities
• Challenges
– Location : proximity to
Center City, UNC-Charlotte
and UNC
UNC-Charlotte’s
Charlotte s Carolina
Research Institute
– Multiple Ownership: difficult
to take advantage of
undeveloped areas
– Steep Terrain, Creeks and
Floodplain
– Building Space Available
for immediate use or
Redevelopment
– Insufficient Infrastructure:
particularly transportation
– Open Space and park-like
setting
tti
– Research Zoning: doesn’t
allow for mixed use
environment
– Sustainable Development
Approach
– Lack of Identity
URP Area Plan Vision
Building on the successes of the University
Research Park in previous years, the URP
area is envisioned to be a premier
employment center in the region with a
diverse mixture of uses, sophisticated
infrastructure and attractive amenities
that will facilitate the evolution of the
place into a vibrant destination.
With opportunities for better utilization of
vacant land,
land improvements to the existing
transportation network, an expanded
range of uses and better linkages physically and economically – to its
surroundings, the URP will be a more
sustainable development and the
preferred location in the region.
5
4/7/2010
URP Area Plan Goals
•
Land Use: Strategically use
undeveloped land, while
incorporating diverse uses.
•
Natural Environment: Create a
conservation community that
emphasizes parks and greenway.
Capitalize on “green” nature of URP.
•
Community Design: Enhance the
URP brand and identity in the region
by designing unique gateways,
streetscape and signage
opportunities.
•
Transportation: Improve
connectivity through a variety of
modes, providing people with
choices while facilitating the
integration of new land uses.
URP Area Plan
Concept Map
8 Distinct Districts Rather Than “One
Size Fits All”
District A – Retail District
District B – Enterprise District (Multitenant and Corporate Office)
District C – Park District (Park and
Residential Uses)
District D – Employment District
District E – Edge District (Small Office,
Medical Office, YMCA)
District F – Endeavor District (Large
Format Office)
District G – Governor’s Village (CMS
Campus)
District H – Mix of Office, Residential
and Retail (Vacant Today)
6
4/7/2010
URP Area Plan
Key Draft Recommendations
•
Expand the Mixed Use Activity
Center and create unique districts
within the Center.
•
Introduce a mixture of land uses modify the RE zoning districts to
allow a more urban and mixed use
environment.
•
Enhance the transportation network
and improve accessibility into and
within the Plan Area - identify
additional street network for future
growth.
•
Protect environmentally sensitive
features, including tree canopy.
•
Incorporate 120 acre central park
and expand and improve greenway.
URP Area Plan
Key Draft Recommendations
• Identify gateways
and improve
wayfinding with a
signage program
• Create a brand and
identity for URP.
• Create an
environmental art
program.
7
4/7/2010
URP Area Plan Next Steps
• Planning Committee Public Comment –
April/May, 2010
• City Council Public Comment – April/May, 2010
• Planning Committee Recommendation –
May/June, 2010
• Transportation and Planning Committee
Recommendation – May/June, 2010
• City Council Action – June, 2010
Request for Committee Action
• Refer to City Council for Public Comment
8
4/7/2010
Questions?
9