4.0 Community Character

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Jonah Atkins
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1 4.0 Community Character 4.1 Introduction What characteristics can help define a Village character for Holly Springs? The idea of maintaining the village atmosphere will create a place where residents feel a strong sense of community life, visitors and shoppers feel welcome, and where local celebrations are held in a central gathering space that all residents can reach on foot. Community Character is defined through the image that is apparent through streetscape details, ease of multi-modal access (pedestrian, bicycle, automobile), people on the street, architectural appearance of community facilities and major activity nodes, and entrance features to know that you have entered the Town. Maintaining and enhancing the Town s village character will augment its efforts to compete with other cities and influence economic development decisions including company location and investment choices. Village character can also improve the perceived quality of life for workers and company owners, and enhance the Town s attractiveness as a place to live, work and visit. 4.2 Community Character Objectives 1) Encourage a village atmosphere by creating a sense of community and identity for the residents and businesses of Holly Springs. 2) Enhance the public streetscape with trees, landscaping and street furniture as appropriate along thoroughfares and in the cores of the community growth areas, using both public and private initiatives to develop the character of pedestrian places. 3) Ensure streetscape design elements (lighting, plantings, decorative features) are of a consistent theme throughout the Town and vary in scale and intensity in a manner that is appropriate for each location. 4) Encourage street furniture to be placed along Major Thoroughfares to provide respite for pedestrians and seating for future transit routes. 5) Maintain the appearance and consistency of the Town s distinctive street signs to continue to create community identity by indicating that one has entered the Town. 6) Develop a comprehensive wayfinding signage program for the Town to direct motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists to major areas of interest throughout the Town. Amended Supplement #1 4-1

2 7) Create identifiable entries to the Town that evoke the small town, village atmosphere. 8) Encourage the development of pedestrian oriented developments. 9) Ensure residential neighborhoods contribute to an overall sense of community through the interconnectivity of roads and pedestrian pathways. 10) Establish procedures and policies to protect, preserve and manage cultural and historical resources. 11) Ensure (or Encourage) development proposals that are adjacent to known historic or cultural resources are (or should) include measures to protect those resources from demolition, including adaptive reuse strategies by encouraging developers to utilize existing historic structures and features into the design of new developments or relocating them to appropriate locations to maintain glimpses of the Town s past with its future. 4.3 Defining the Village Streetscape The appearance of the Town s streets has a great impact on the impression that visitors and residents have of the Town. Through continued improvement and enhancement of the streetscapes, the Town s desire to create a village atmosphere throughout Holly Springs will continue to develop. Additional guidelines for Streetscape design are provided within the specific Area and Gateway Plans that have been developed for particular areas as specified on the Future Land Use Plan Thoroughfare Planting Plan The Thoroughfare Planting Plan (see Thoroughfare Planting Plan Map) will have the most significant impact in the creation of a village streetscape. The Thoroughfare Planting Plan specifies the desired plantings for the Town s thoroughfares in order to create a cohesive appearance along the streetscapes. By creating a unified planting scheme along the Town s thoroughfares, a sense of a well planned community will be apparent. Street trees enhance property values and provide a sense of community identity that may attract homebuyers and businesses and assist in retaining businesses. In addition, street trees provide shade for pedestrians and cyclists as well as reduce the glare for motorists and act as a traffic calming element. The Plan specifies street trees that should be planted along each of the major thoroughfares so that a uniform appearance and street tree canopy will be formed along the various routes through Town. The perimeter landscape yards that are 4-2 Amended Supplement #1

3 planted as development occurs will provide a varied backdrop for the uniform street tree canopy to provide visual interest. Plantings for medians and corner plantings at major intersections should also be provided.. These planting areas should include a variety of landscape materials (evergreen trees, deciduous trees, shrubs, flowers, and groundcover) and should remain consistent within the area. Species selection should be based on drought tolerance, maintenance requirements, aesthetic value, utility locations, and sight distance requirements. All plantings shall be designed to conform with the Town of Holly Springs Design and Construction Standards and NCDOT requirements. Typical Median Plantings The following graphics complement the existing Village District Area Plan. The intent is to illustrate how overall Village character can be enhanced on Main Street by adding a variety of streetscape features including sidewalks, defining on-street parking, establishing appropriate lighting elements, tree planting and landscaping. New commercial development should hold the street and stimulate visual interest. Before: View of Main Street south of Town Hall Amended Supplement #1 4-3

This simple treatment involves planting existing medians and adding additional trees to buffer development from the road.

4 After: Main Street View with Village Streetscape The following graphics illustrate how the addition of street trees and median plantings can greatly enhance the village character near existing commercial development at Holly Springs Crossing. This simple treatment involves planting existing medians and adding additional trees to buffer development from the road. The overall impact, however, is dramatic and effective. Before: Entrance to Holly Springs Crossing Commercial Center After: Regional Commercial Entrance Treatment 4-4 Amended Supplement #1

4.3.2 Street Furniture and Decorative Transportation Features Commercial development at major intersections and in the cores of the Community Growth Areas should be developed to enhance the village

5 4.3.2 Street Furniture and Decorative Transportation Features Commercial development at major intersections and in the cores of the Community Growth Areas should be developed to enhance the village atmosphere of the Town by welcoming and accommodating pedestrians and cyclists as well as automobile traffic. Such features as street furniture, decorative lighting, decorative traffic signals assist in promoting high quality visual aesthetics and functional pedestrian access in and around commercial areas. Street Signage- Distinctive street signage should be used along major thoroughfares to show visitors that they have arrived in Holly Springs. The Town began utilizing distinctive street name blades in These blades should be continued and existing street name signs upgraded to unify the appearance along the major thoroughfares. All new street name blade signs along major thoroughfares should be on round black posts and existing street name blade sign posts upgraded to enhance the streetscape appearance along the major thoroughfares. In addition, all other new and existing traffic control signs should be upgraded to black u-channel posts. Decorative Street Sign Black Traffic Sign Posts Underground Utilities- The existing overhead utility lines contribute to the visual clutter experienced along key arterial streets. The lines also limit tree species and pruning height. A program to place utilities underground along key streets would facilitate street tree planting and eliminate unsightly clutter. Amended Supplement #1 4-5

Street Furniture- All street furniture and fixtures - benches, trash receptacles, bollards, planters, tree grates, and bus shelters should be a consistent color and style to provide a harmonized

These fixtures should be located along sidewalks, major intersections, within the cores of the Community Growth Areas, and at potential future TTA transit stops to provide respite for pedestrians.

Typical Furniture Style Lighting Distinctive nighttime illumination along the Town s street system is an integral part of enhancing the Town s streetscape.

6 Street Furniture- All street furniture and fixtures - benches, trash receptacles, bollards, planters, tree grates, and bus shelters should be a consistent color and style to provide a harmonized appearance along the streetscape. These fixtures should be located along sidewalks, major intersections, within the cores of the Community Growth Areas, and at potential future TTA transit stops to provide respite for pedestrians. Specific locations should be determined based on existing and future conditions as development occurs. Typical Furniture Style Lighting Distinctive nighttime illumination along the Town s street system is an integral part of enhancing the Town s streetscape. Gray flat glass cutoff cobra head light fixtures mounted on upgraded (not wooden) poles should be used along all streets outside of the Village District area for consistent appearance throughout Town, except when line clearance requires use of existing wooden poles. The Village District Area Plan has specific criteria regarding street and pedestrian lighting for the downtown area. Street Light Fixture Traffic Signals- Decorative mast arm monocurve traffic signals with mounted street name blade signs should be used at all intersections outside of the Village District area. The Village District Area Plan has specific criteria regarding traffic signals for the downtown area. Decorative Mast Arm Monocurve Traffic Signal at Sunset Lake Road and Holly Springs Road intersection. 4-6 Amended Supplement #1

4.3.3 Wayfinding Signage Program As the Town continues to grow and provide additional public facilities, the need for directional signage is increasing.

To enhance the visual appearance of the Town, a wayfinding signage master plan should be created.

7 4.3.3 Wayfinding Signage Program As the Town continues to grow and provide additional public facilities, the need for directional signage is increasing. As a result, along many of the Town s major thoroughfares, multiple unmatched signs are being installed to provide motorists directional information. To enhance the visual appearance of the Town, a wayfinding signage master plan should be created. Cultural Center Library Police Town Hall Wayfinding signs will unify street signage that is currently inconsistent and cluttering the Town s major roadways. The master plan should create a standard sign style for all public signage, including size, lettering, colors, symbols, and logos. A coordinated banner can also be created that will enhance the village streetscape that is sought. 4.4 Town Gateways The enhancement of the gateways, or entrance points, to the Town of Holly Springs will immediately define the objective to encourage a Village atmosphere. Through the development of gateway features, visitors, shoppers, and residents will be able to immediately recognize that they are entering the Town and get a sense of the Town s village character and know that they are entering a special place. Gateways should be designed with distinctive features such as decorative signs, landscaping, lighting, or other features that sets the tone for the Town s commitment to high-quality development. The Thoroughfare Planting Plan indicates the proposed locations for Primary and Secondary Gateways Primary Gateways The Primary Gateways are those areas where one gets a sense that you have arrived and are entering the heart of the Town. These major visual intersections should include a major identification sign with distinctive landscaping welcoming people to the Town. An example of a Primary Gateway sign has already been designed for the Sunset Lake Road/Holly Springs Road intersection. Amended Supplement #1 4-7

4.4.2 Secondary Gateways Secondary Gateways are generally the point along a Major or Minor Thoroughfare where the official corporate limits of Holly Springs begin.

5 Preserving Town History As Holly Springs continues to grow, it is important to preserve its past for future generations.

However, there are several historic structures and monuments within the Town s Village District that identify the area as Holly Springs downtown.

8 4.4.2 Secondary Gateways Secondary Gateways are generally the point along a Major or Minor Thoroughfare where the official corporate limits of Holly Springs begin. By marking these locations with permanent, classic, and timeless features, a subtle statement will be made regarding the goal to create a village atmosphere as depicted. 4.5 Preserving Town History As Holly Springs continues to grow, it is important to preserve its past for future generations. Historically, Holly Springs was a cross-roads community that did not have a well developed town center as most traditional southern towns have. However, there are several historic structures and monuments within the Town s Village District that identify the area as Holly Springs downtown. Those sites most recognized are the National Register Site of the Leslie-Alford-Mims House, the war memorial, and the bungalows along Raleigh Street. As is evidenced in this Plan s Mission Statement, preserving the Town s character and village atmosphere is a top priority for the Town. Despite this, with little regulation in place, several significant structures have been lost over the years. To insure that the community s historic resources are appropriately preserved and protected, a comprehensive list of existing resources with local historic significance should be developed and maintained. The following is a list of the local resources that were identified in 2007 with the original publication of Vision Holly Springs and included in local historic tours and are also identified on the Historic Resources Map. 4-8 Amended Supplement #1

Table 4-01 Local Historic Resources Map # Resource Status Location 9 Masonic Lodge #115 National Register 224 Raleigh Street pending 13 Holly Springs Baptist Church 304 Raleigh Street 2

Main Street 1 Haywood Alford House 114 Center Street 3 David Cross House 205 Raleigh Street 10 Martin Collins House 237 Raleigh Street 11 Britain Utley House 301 Raleigh Street 12 Paschal Wood House

Main Street 19 Bryant-Brewer House 201 Grigsby Avenue 21 First Baptist Church Grigsby Avenue and Rogers Avenue 22 Grigsby House 412 Grigsby Avenue 20 Holly Springs Christian Church and Cemetery

Historic Springs (from which Holly Springs 100 Avent Ferry Road derives its name) 17 Holly Springs Methodist Church 106 Avent Ferry Road 18 Seagroves Drug Store (New police station) 104 W.

9 Table 4-01 Local Historic Resources Map # Resource Status Location 9 Masonic Lodge #115 National Register 224 Raleigh Street pending 13 Holly Springs Baptist Church 304 Raleigh Street 2 Brown-Holloway House 200 N. Main Street 4 Nathan Burns House 120 N. Main Street 1 Haywood Alford House 114 Center Street 3 David Cross House 205 Raleigh Street 10 Martin Collins House 237 Raleigh Street 11 Britain Utley House 301 Raleigh Street 12 Paschal Wood House 305 Raleigh Street 14 John Seagraves House 306 S. Main Street 19 Bryant-Brewer House 201 Grigsby Avenue 21 First Baptist Church Grigsby Avenue and Rogers Avenue 22 Grigsby House 412 Grigsby Avenue 20 Holly Springs Christian Church and Cemetery Grigsby Avenue and Rogers Avenue (Holly Springs Church of Christ) 15 Leslie-Alford-Mims House National Register 100 Avent Ferry Road October 1, Civil War Monument 100 Avent Ferry Road 6 Historic Springs (from which Holly Springs 100 Avent Ferry Road derives its name) 17 Holly Springs Methodist Church 106 Avent Ferry Road 18 Seagroves Drug Store (New police station) 104 W. Ballentine Street 8 G.B. Alford Store (Dewar s Antiques) 101 N. Main Street 5 Blanch Holt House 127 N. Main Street 7 Wright House 100 Avent Ferry Road 23 James T. Adams House 709 Avent Ferry Road 24 Cad Norris House Lost Avent Ferry Road 25 Reverend Henry Norris House 716 Avent Ferry Road 29 Samuel Bartley Holleman House National Register 3424 Avent Ferry Road April 7, Collins Grove Baptist Church and Cemetery 3400 Avent Ferry Road 26 Needham Norris House and John Norris, Jr Avent Ferry Road Revolutionary War Marker 30 Bethel Christian Church Cemetery Avent Ferry Road and Holleman s Crossroads 27 Civil War Rifle Pits (Union) Avent Ferry Road and Holleman s Crossroads 31 Possible Civil War Encampment Area Avent Ferry Road and Holleman s Crossroads 32 Richard Adams House National Register- Eligible 7450 GB Alford Highway Source: Town of Holly Springs Department of and Capital Area Preservation The Wake County Board of Commissioners established the Wake County Historic Preservation Commission in 1992 in an effort to create a comprehensive and cooperative approach to protecting historic resources throughout the county. The towns of Apex, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Morrisville, Rolesville, Wendell, and Zebulon participate in the Commission through an inter-local agreement. The Wake County Historic Preservation Commission Amended Supplement #1 4-9

10 seeks to preserve districts and landmarks in Wake County that embody important elements of the county's culture, history, architectural history, or prehistory; and to promote the use and conservation of such districts and landmarks by residents. There are a number of resources within the Town of Holly Springs that have historic and cultural value for residents. Currently, two Town resources are included in the National Register of Historic Places: the Leslie-Alford-Mims House located at 100 Avent Ferry Road and the Samuel Bartley Holleman House at the intersection of Avent Ferry Road and Holleman s Crossroads. One other structure is currently being studied for inclusion on the National Register: the Holly Springs Masonic Lodge #115. In order to promote and protect the historic resources throughout the Town that may not qualify for individual National Register listing, a Town historic preservation ordinance should be developed to minimize the loss of these important resources. 4.6 Creating a Town-Wide Pedestrian System Holly Springs had the unique opportunity to development a Parks and Recreation Master Plan and Pedestrian Transportation Plan while preparing the Comprehensive Plan. The Parks and Recreation Master Plan, Beyond the Green, establishes a green infrastructure system centered around the central Green Parkway system and the Pedestrian Transportation Plan seeks to address retrofitting existing pedestrian facilities as well as building and maintaining a high quality pedestrian system. The pedestrian system as depicted will establishes a strategy to provide pedestrian and bicycle access to parkland, open space and recreational nodes, as well as commercial and other destinations. The plan shows how these important features can link together to create an integrated network of Town spaces making major destinations reachable by foot. By uniting the Town through a multi-modal pedestrian and greenway system, Holly Springs becomes better integrated and more cohesive and builds on defining the Town s village atmosphere. For details on the Greenway System, see Section 3: Parks, Recreation and Open Space. For details on the Sidewalk System, see Section 2: Transportation Amended Supplement #1

11 4.7 Community Character Implementation Program Short-Term (0-5 years) Long-Term (5+ years) Project Department Project Department Prepare detailed plans for Secondary Gateways Research grant opportunities to complete infill of streetscape improvements Amend Standards to accommodate Thoroughfare Plantings Work with NCDOT to authorize the installation of the proposed Throughfare Planting Plan Update Village Streetscape Master Plan to specify locations for underground utilities, enhanced paving, Amend Standards to accommodate Street Furniture in CGAs Amend UDO and DPM to update language regarding gateway features Develop a Town-wide wayfinding system Upgrade all traffic control and street name blades and posts along all major thoroughfares Prepare Historic Preservation Ordinance to discourage the demolition of historic resources Public Works Public Works Create a Town sponsored Street Tree Planting Program to plant street trees along previously developed properties Prepare detailed plans for Primary Gateways Public Works Administration Amended Supplement #1 4-11

Community Design Plan

Community Design Plan Gardena General Plan 2006 Authority While the is not a required element of a General Plan, it is included because improving the community appearance and image is paramount to the overall quality of life