1. August 2004 Hickory by Choice Linking Land Use and Air Quality Planning

2. Address Major Concerns Congestion Sprawl, high energy use, loss of open space Transportation and neighborhood protection New development appearance Preserve older neighborhoods Protect air, water, open space Keep Hickory attractive and distinctive Sound economic development

3. Create Tools for Growth Planning Zoning rules that include environmental protection Specific plans for area development Growth boundaries Alternative transportation

4. Land Use Building Block

5. Commercial Development Planning Principles –Discontinue the corridor commercial development pattern for new development. Recognize that commercial establishments in Hickory serve a variety of customers ranging from residents in surrounding neighborhoods to regional customers. –Promote the development of pedestrian friendly neighborhood and community commercial districts.

6. Commercial Development Planning Principles –Establish appropriate design standards for commercial districts that reveal a “sense of place” and respect the surrounding residential neighborhoods.

9. Commercial Development Neighborhood Core Concepts –Walking distance from housing –Mixed-use (retail, office, schools, civic space) –Scaled in proportion to neighborhood housing –Minimize impact of parking

10. Commercial Development Neighborhood Core Concepts –Located along arterials or at major intersections –Pedestrian connections to adjacent uses –Slow traffic

12. Transportation Planning Principles –Promote multi-modal transportation options. –Promote vehicular and pedestrian connectivity throughout the city. –Establish measures to ensure pedestrian and motorist safety. –Reduce congestion and the amount of vehicle miles traveled through relationship of home/work/shopping.

13. Transportation Strategies Match character of street to land use –Move traffic quickly where appropriate –Slow traffic through residential and commercial areas reduce lane width landscaping landscaped medians on-street parking reduce curb radius Improve traffic safety/congestion through access control measures

14. Transportation Strategies Improve road connectivity Improve roadway aesthetics -primarily gateways Develop new road hierarchy Improve pedestrian circulation –All neighborhood roads have sidewalks –Connections between residential and commercial –Aggressive sidewalk planning and development

16. Natural Resources/Community Image Planning Principles –Conserve natural resources and open space of local and regional significance. –Protect air and water quality. –Further develop recreational facilities and public access to recreational/natural resources.

17. Natural Resources/Community Image Develop a comprehensive greenway plan –Conservation greenways along specified waterways for water quality and flood protection –Pedestrian greenways Develop parks and open spaces –Neighborhood parks and open space in northeast –Improve access to Lake Hickory –Regional open space - Henry Fork River watershed –Storm water management –Improve water quality –Conservation of wildlife and plant habitat

18. Natural Resources/Community Image Coordinate a long-range open space protection plan with state and local governments and civic organizations Utilize conservation subdivision design for new subdivisions and industrial/commercial development in watershed areas

19. Conservation Subdivision

20. Sidewalks On both sides of streets in residential, neighborhood core and community commercial areas. On one side only for cul- de-sacs with less than 200 cars per day Separated from traffic with 6’ planting area Can diverge from street in shopping and parking areas Accomplish 150 mile sidewalk plan in 20 years

21. Land Use and Transportation Plan Neighborhood Core Districts are the foundation Transportation reflects land use patterns Advantages of the Land Use and Transportation Plan include: –Less emissions of air pollutants and degradation of water quality new pattern reduces vehicle travel by 50% over existing pattern overall, new plan reduces vehicle travel by 4% over existing projections –Conservation of natural resources/open space

23. Contact Information John Tippett Western Piedmont Council of Governments Hickory, NC (828) 485-4237 john.tippett@wpcog.org