AGENDA #5c
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Mayor’s Homestead Road Committee:
Council Member Pat Evans
Council Member Bill Strom
Council Member Jim Ward
SUBJECT: Recommendations for Council Objectives for Homestead Road Property
DATE: April 24, 2000
On March 6, the Council concurred with the suggestion that Mayor Waldorf appoint a committee to study a property on Homestead Road that is the subject of a possible development application. Council Members Evans, Strom, and Ward were appointed. This memorandum reports on the committee’s findings and recommendations.
The subject property is approximately 52 acres in size, located on the north side of Homestead Road, just east of the railroad tracks. A vicinity map is attached.
A development group has prepared a Concept Plan for this property called The Homestead, and discussed the concept with our Community Design Commission. No application for development approval has been filed as of this date, and therefore no planning department discussion has taken place. It is expected that in the future, applications for rezoning and/or Special Use Permit may be filed with the Planning Department.
The Mayor’s Committee believes that it would desirable for the Council to articulate a set of objectives for the development of this property reflecting our community interests.
Immediately to the north of this property is a tract for which a subdivision application has been filed. (We understand that this application will be coming to the Council in the future as part of a Public Hearing.) Immediately to the north of that property is the Northwood Phase V tract, a subdivision currently under development by Calvin Mellott. Running through all of these properties is the Weaver Dairy Road Extension. The road is under construction on the Northwood tract, and shown on Town plans as traversing the next two properties south to ultimately intersect with Homestead Road. Town plans show it intersecting with Homestead Road directly across from land owned by the University as part of the Horace Williams tract. The intent of these plans is that the Weaver Dairy Road extension would cross Homestead Road and serve as a northern entry and egress for the Horace Williams tract.
Homestead Road historically has been a rural, low density residential area. However, during the last several years development with higher densities and varied uses has occurred (Orange County Southern Human Services Center, Project Homestart, entry for Homestead Road Park and new church, Homestead Village Subdivision, Habitat subdivision and Glenbrooke subdivision on nearby Rogers Road).
The proposed development site includes the gymnastics school on Homestead Road.
We suggest that the Council identify the following objectives as matters of community interest to be considered in the design of development on this 52-acre parcel:
1. Dedication of Land for Municipal Facility: Significant community need would be served if approximately 10 buildable acres of this site were to be dedicated to the Town for construction of a future municipal facility. A portion of the site fronting on Homestead Road would be better suited for these purposes than a portion on the interior. If the site containing the gymnastics facility were given to the Town it could be used immediately for recreation purposes.
2. Mixed Use Development: This pedestrian, bike-oriented development could include neighborhood commercial space. This could be small scale retail and office. Day-care facilities would be desirable. Existing examples of neighborhood-scale retail are the Courtyard on Franklin Street and Cedar Falls Courtyard. There should be no cul-de-sacs.
3. 15% of any housing units built should be developer-built units with long-term affordability, and the development as a whole should offer diverse housing options.
4. Low-impact design principles should be used. Characteristics of low-impact design include: minimizing land/soil disturbance; minimize and break up impervious surfaces; preserving stands of large, healthy trees and forested land (large and connected to existing green spaces); and minimizing the sheeting action and channelization of water runoff - stormwater management should occur on site, mimicking the site’s pre-development hydrology. The general rule is to “minimize what you’re going to have to mitigate.”
5. Additional Considerations: Recreation needs should be addressed to serve the needs of residents of whatever housing is proposed, although consideration of this developments location adjacent to the Homestead Community Park should be taken into consideration. Payment-in-lieu of providing required recreation space may be an option. A greenway corridor could be a part of the design of this site and the new development should not “turn its back” on the greenway. Efforts should be made to save as many of the existing white oaks on the site as possible. The property should be developed with a vision of the adjacent railroad corridor actively serving as a multi-modal transit route.
The Committee recommends that the Council adopt the attached resolution, stating that the Council would like to see these objectives considered in the design of the development for this Homestead Road site.
1. Area map
A RESOLUTION STATING OBJECTIVES TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE DESIGN OF NEW
DEVELOPMENT ALONG HOMESTEAD ROAD (2000-04-24/R-7)
WHEREAS, development is being planned for a parcel of land on the north side of Homestead Road, as indicated on the attached map; and
WHEREAS, there are community interests that might be involved as development plans are prepared for this property;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council identifies the following objectives to be matters of community interest to be considered in the design of development on this 52-acre parcel:
1. Dedication of Land for Municipal Facility: Significant community need would be served if approximately 10 buildable acres of this site were to be dedicated to the Town for construction of a future municipal facility. A portion of the site fronting on Homestead Road would be better suited for these purposes than a portion on the interior. If the site containing the gymnastics facility were given to the Town it could be used immediately for recreation purposes.
2. Mixed
Use Development: This pedestrian,
bike-oriented development could include neighborhood commercial space. This could be small scale retail and
office. Day-care facilities would be
desirable. Existing examples of
neighborhood-scale retail are the Courtyard on Franklin Street and Cedar Falls
Courtyard. There should be no
cul-de-sacs.
3. 15%
of any housing units built should be developer-built units with long-term
affordability, and the development as a whole should offer diverse housing
options.
4. Low-impact
design principles should be used.
Characteristics of low-impact design include: minimizing land/soil
disturbance; minimize and break up impervious surfaces; preserving stands of
large, healthy trees and forested land (large and connected to existing green
spaces); and minimizing the sheeting
action and channelization of water runoff -
stormwater management should occur on site, mimicking the site’s
pre-development hydrology. The general
rule is to “minimize what you’re going to have to mitigate.”
5. Additional
Considerations: Recreation needs
should be addressed to serve the needs of residents of whatever housing is
proposed, although consideration of this developments location adjacent to the
Homestead Community Park should be taken into consideration. Payment-in-lieu of providing required
recreation space may be an option. A
greenway corridor could be a part of the design of this site and the new development
should not “turn its back” on the greenway.
Efforts should be made to save as many of the existing white oaks on the
site as possible. The property should
be developed with a vision of the adjacent railroad corridor actively serving
as a multi-modal transit route.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council requests that the Town Manager transmit this set of objectives to anyone contemplating development of this subject property.
This the 24th day of April, 2000.