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HomeMy WebLinkAbout043-07AMENDMENT Action: PLANNING COMMISSION: January 17, 2007 - Recommended Approval BOARD OF SUPERVISORS: February 28, 2007 - i~] APPROVED ^ DENIED AN AMENDMENT TO THE FREDERICK COUNTY 2003 COMPREHENSIVE POLICY PLAN CHAPTER 6, LAND USE WHEREAS, An amendment to the Frederick County 2003 Comprehensive Policy Plan, Chapter 6, Land Use, to modify the ]and use policy text to reflect the Land Use Policy Proposal for the Urban Areas of Frederick County, as promoted by the Urban Development Area Study, was considered as an addition to the existing land use policies of the 2003 Comprehensive Plan. These amendments _ were reviewed by the Comprehensive Plans and Programs Subcommittee (CPPS), and the Planning Commission during their regularly scheduled meetings; and, WHEREAS, The Comprehensive Plans and Programs Subcommittee (CPPS) recommended approval of these amendments on October 9, 2006; and, WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on these Comprehensive Policy Plan amendments on January 17, 2007; and, WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors held a public hearing on this Comprehensive Policy Plan amendment on February 28, 2007; and, WHEREAS, the Frederick County Board of Supervisors finds the adoption ofthis Comprehensive Policy Plan amendment to be in the best interest of the public health, safety, welfare, and in good planning practice; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Frederick County Board of Supervisors that the Frederick County 2003 Comprehensive Policy Plan, Chapter 6, Land Use, is amended to modify the land use policy text to reflect the Land Llse Policy Proposal for the Urban Areas of Frederick County, as promoted by the Urban Development Area Study, as an addition to the existing land use policies of the Plan. PDRes# 11-07 Passed this 28th day of February 2007 by the following recorded vote: Richard C. Shickle, Chairman Aye Barbara E. Van Osten Aye Gary W. Dove AYe Bill M. Ewing Aye Gene E. Fisher AYe Charles S. DeHaven, Jr. Aye Philip A. Lemieux Aye A COPY ATTEST John ' ey, Fred 'ck County Administrator These Comprehensive Policy Plan amendments shall be in effect on the day of adoption. PDRes# 11-07 BOS Resolution I6043-07 COUNTY of FREDERICK Department of Planning and Development 540/ 665-5651 FAX: 540/665-6395 MEMORANDUM TO: Frederick County Board of Supervisors FROM: Michael T. Ruddy, AICP, Deputy Director ~,~ RE: Public Hearing; UDA Study -Land Use Proposal for the Comprehensive Plan. DATF,: January 30, 2007 Enclosed for the Board of Supervisors' review and public hearing is the Urban Areas Land Use Proposal for the Comprehensive Plan. The UDA Working Group and Comprehensive Plans and Programs Subcommittee have been working over recent months to finalize the proposal. Both the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors held discussion sessions during November and December respectively, and provided valuable input and direction on this item. This policy will be inserted directly into the Land Use section of the 2003 Comprehensive Policy Plan, Chapter 6, as a desirable addition to the County's land use policy. As noted in the proposal, this land use policy would enable a positive alternative to the land use policy presently within the Comprehensive Plan. In summary, the proposed land use policy and principles promoted by the UDA Study for the urban areas of the County enables a proactive and creative land use plan that will meet growth demands, assure a sustainable community, and maintain a high quality of life for its citizens. The improved land use plan promotes and enables a new pattern of land use for the urban areas of Frederick County that would be applicable within the UDA, and in identified areas adjacent to the UDA. The Land Use Proposal for the Urban Areas is based upon Creating Community in the Urban Areas and the following: Development Principles in the Urban Areas New Urbanism and Traditional Neighborhood Design methods are envisioned to be an effective tool for growth management of the County's urban areas. Future land uses and new development within the County will be generally based upon the following principles: Mix and integration of a variety of uses, Mix and diversity of housing opportunities, Increased density in an urban form, Walkability, Connectivity, Traditional neighborhood structure, High quality architecture and urban design, Sustainability and environmental quality, Smart transportation, Integrated cormnunity facilities, Community focal points, and Enhanced design and planning. 107 North Kent Street, Suite 202 Winchester, Virginia 22601-5000 Page 2 Frederick County Board of Supervisors UDA Study -Land Use Proposal, Public Hearing January 30, 2007 Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers Envisioned throughout the urban areas of the County is a new philosophy of development that creates neighborhoods which incorporate residential, retail, educational, and public uses, commercial services, opportunities for employment, and institutional and recreational resources. Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers would be the building blocks of the urban fabric of Frederick County's urban areas. The land use concept of the Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers would enable land owners and the County the opportunity to choose an appropriate development style and form that would add long term value to the community. This choice is in addition to the land use concepts presently identified in the Comprehensive Plan. Potential Neighborhood Village and Urban Center Locations have been identified. Neighborhood Villages Neighborhood Villages are envisioned to be compact centers that focus and complement the surrounding neighborhoods, are walkable and designed at a human scale, and which are supported by existing and planned road networks. Urban Centers The Urban Center is larger than the Neighborhood Village and is envisioned to be a more intensive, walkable urban area with a larger commercial core, higher densities, and be designed around some form of public space or focal point. Urban Centers should be located in close proximity to major transportation infrastructure. Community Facilities in the Urban Areas Community facilities, in particular schools and their locations, have tremendous effect on how our communities grow. There is an opportunity to improve the quality of the community and schools together by applying contemporary planning principles to community facility planning. hl general, an important theme of this land use approach is that community facilities should serve as the focal point for Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers and the urban areas. Community centered schools are aimed at promoting more livable places and improving the overall educational experience. In general, the community should place a greater emphasis on joint use of facilities for a variety of entities and uses. The importance of community connectivity is recognized. There is a need to provide linkages between trails, parks, opens spaces and community uses. Transportation in the Urban Areas The Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers are based on the premise of walkable, pedestrian orientated urban communities. In general, the County's transportation network should be designed for connectivity. Streets within the neighborhood should provide a connected network, offering a variety of routes and dispersing traffic. Transportation improvements should be designed as public spaces with multimodal opportunities that promote traffic safety and reduce congestion. Page 3 Frederick County Board of Supervisors UDA Study -Land Use Proposal, Public Hearing January 30, 2007 The County should continue to ensure that the Community's transportation planning efforts promote a multimodal transportation plan that addresses existing and future transportation needs of the County and the Win-Fred MPO area. This regional planning effort is supplemented by the County's Eastern Road Plan, a tool that enhances the level of planning, detail, and design of the needed transportation improvements of the community. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Mobility Plan effort should be used as a tool that enhances the community's walkability and generally improves the multimodal accommodations available to the community. In general, walkable, pedestrian orientated human scale urban communities are encouraged. Green Infrastructure in the Urban Areas The Green Infrastructure includes those features that enrich the quality of life and are necessary for the protection of clean air, water, and natural resources, and will serve as the central organizing concept for future land use in both the urban areas The Planning Commission held a public hearing on this proposal at their meeting of January 17, 2007. Commission members inquired if a tune line had been established to revise ordinances and to - write the green zone design standards in order to implement the proposal. They also questioned whether a separate zoning classification or an overlay district was envisioned. The staff noted that an aggressive approach on revising ordinances and design standards was anticipated in order for this to happen very quickly. A combination of both a separate zoning classification and an overlay district was planned as a preliminary approach. Continued input from stakeholders emphasized a need to have the implementation tools in place in a timely manner. Commission members emphasized that this land use choice was in addition to the land use concepts presently identified in the Comprehensive Policy Plan and does not replace any land use concepts in the plan. There were no public comments regarding the proposal and the Planning Commission unanimously endorsed the proposal as presented and recommended its approval to the Board. (Note: Commissioner Morris was absent from the meeting.) MTR/rsa Attachments UDA Study - Land Use Proposal for the Comprehensive Policy Plan UDA S[udy Land Use Proposal for the Comprehensive Policy Plan The UDA Working Group of the Comprehensive Plans and Programs Subcommittee October 2006 -DRAFT for Public Hearing 1 UDA Study 2006 UDA Study - Land Use Proposal for the Comprehensive Policy Plan Urban Areas Urban Development Area Sewer and Water Service Area Creating Comnxu2xity in the Urban Areas Development Principles in the Urban Areas Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers Potential Neighborhood Village and Urban Center Locations Community Facilities in the Urban Areas Transportation in the Urban Areas Green Infrastructure in the Urban Areas Implementation of the UDA Study Neighborhood Urban Community Center Land Use Plans New UrbanistlTraditional Neighborhood Zoning Classification C & I Opportunities 2 UDA Study 2006 UDA Study - La~zd Use Proposal for the Comprehensive Policy Plan Urban Areas Urban Development Area (UDA) Sewer and Water Service Area (SWSA) The concept of Urban Growth Boundaries, such as the County's Urban Development Area and Sewer and Water Service Area, is based upon the theory that within the County's urban. areas, a more compact, dense development is better and more efficient than extensive, low density development. In order to manage growth effectively it is important to appropriately designate the general location of planned urban development. By identifying the Urban Development Area and confining urban development to that area, the County is able to determine where to direct special, intensive efforts at providing facilities and services. Generally, within the urban areas there is a need to provide a diversity of types of locations for various types of development in °- order to accommodate a competitive land market, and provide for consumer choice. Therefore, sufficient land needs to be included in the Urban Development Area to accommodate a variety of development opportunities. A principal aim of the land use policy for the urban areas is to increase the opportunities available within the UDA by identifying focal points within the UDA that would enable greater potential to accommodate anticipated community growth in a well planned area. It is anticipated that providing sufficient land and opportunity for development in the Urban Development Area should also decrease development pressures in the rural areas. In general, average gross densities of conventional suburban developments in the Urban Development Area have been between two and three units per acre in recent years. There is a need to continually monitor densities and intensities of development and associated impacts. However, a variety of residential densities which are generally higher than those previously experienced in the County would be appropriate throughout the County's urban areas with higher densities accommodated in designated areas of the UDA. 3 UDA Study 2006 UDA Study - Land Use Proposal for the Comprehensive Policy Plan Larger, plamied communities with urban densities are proposed as an appropriate form of development in the Urban Development Area. Such planned communities provide an opportunity to create well planned, distinct places. However, they should only be approved if roads and facilities are provided with sufficient capacity to support such developments. Such planned communities should fit witlun the context of the Comprehensive Policy Plan. In order for new areas of urban land uses to be established in the Urban Development Area and Sewer and Water Service Area, roads and public facilities of adequate capacity should be provided to serve the new urban areas. In order for any proposed rezoning to be approved, the applicants will be expected to contribute a reasonable portion of the costs of new or expanded infrastructure needed to serve the proposed development. Such contributions can be in the form of cash, dedicated land, or constructed improvements. Creating Community in the Urban Areas. The UDA Study of 2006 evaluated current land use patterns, comprehensive policy plan language, development trends, and contemporary planning practices. Two ways of creating community were identified and are as follows. One is to infill where appropriate both public facilities acid non-residential uses where existing residents live, where children go to school, creating places where residents can shop, places where residents can recreate, and places where residents can work are examples. The second is to promote a new form of development as a desirable choice for the UDA, a new form of development that is designed to accommodate anticipated community growth in an urban environment. Further, the approach promotes an increase in the overall residential density in the UDA. It is believed that such an approach will also provide efficiency in providing community facilities. It is an approach that will also provide an opportunity to address the multimodal transportation needs of the community. In proposing a new form of development of the UDA, the Comprehensive Policy Plan firmly seeks to create community within Urban Development Area. 4 UDA Study 2006 UDA Study - Land Use Proposal for the Comprehensive Policy Plan The land use policies of this plan are designed to enable new focal points to emerge within the urban areas of the Comity. Whether this is within an area of the UDA with an existing land use pattern that has developed conventionally over time, or within an undeveloped greenfield area of the UDA which would provide an opportunity to fully realize the creation of community within the UDA. In either of the above scenarios, the goal of the UDA Study is to enable the creation of livable communities within the UDA that are diverse and vibrant, appealing and functional, provides a high standard of living for a broad cross section of the community, and promotes a sense of place. Development Principles in the Urban Areas To further facilitate the growth and development of the County's urban community, and to ensure that the right kind of development is occurring in the appropriate places, a set of development principles is promoted to guide the new form of development. New Urbanism and Traditional Neighborhood Design methods have been studied and are envisioned to be an effective tool for growth management of the County's urban areas. The principles of New Urbanism or Traditional Neighborhood design are extremely appropriate for application throughout the urban areas of the County. As such, it is intended that future land uses and new development within the County will be generally based upon the following principles. Mix and integration of a variety of uses Increased density in an urban form Connectivity High quality architecture and urban design Smart transportation Community focal points Mix and diversity of housing opportunities Walkability Traditional neighborhood structure Sustainability and environmental quality Integrated community facilities Enhanced design and planning 5 UDA Study 2006 UDA Study - Land Use Proposal for the Comprehensive Policy Plan The application of the development principles in the appropriate locations seeks to ensure that the urban areas of the County will be made up of walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods, feature a variety of housing choices, high quality retail, community facilities as focal points, employment opportunities, and will provide for land uses that are coimected by an attractive, efficient, multimodal transportation system. The mixing of uses will provide a greater choice in mobility. Further, focusing development around walkable centers affords people the opportunity to work, live, shop, and play in locations that are near each other. Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers. Envisioned throughout the urban areas of the County is a new philosophy of development that creates neighborhoods which incorporate residential, retail, educational., and public uses, commercial services, opportunities for employment, and institutional and recreational resources. The land use concept of the Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers would enable land owners and tlxe County the opportunity to clzoose an appropriate development style and form that would add long term value to the community. This choice is in addition to the land use concepts presently identified in the Comprehensive Plan. Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers would be the building blocks of the urban fabric of Frederick County's urban areas. Neighborhood Villages Neighborhood Villages are envisioned to be compact centers that focus and complement the surrounding neighborhoods, are walkable and designed at a human scale, and which are supported. by existing and planned road networks. Urban Centers The Urban Center is larger than the Neighborhood Village and is envisioned to be a more intensive, walkable urban area with a larger commercial core, higher densities, and be designed around some form of public space or focal point. Urban Centers should be located in close proximity to major transportation infrastructure. 6 UDA Study 2006 UDA Study - Land Use Proposal for the Comprehensive Policy Plau The intent of the Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers is to provide for a mixture of housing types and uses within a carefully planned environment. Guided by Neighborhood Villages and Urban Center Community Plans, similar to the small area land use plans historically implemented in recent County planning efforts, Neighborhood Villages and Urban Center Conununity Plans would be designed to guide the physical form, structure, density, mix of uses, community facilities and transportation enhancements. This concept would build upon recent Small Area Plans which introduced the mixed use concept into the County. Neighborhood Residential Land Uses, Neighborhood Commercial Land Uses, Public acid Institutional Land Uses, and Planned Communities would be integrated within the Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers. Further, the physical form of the urban areas would be guided by development principles previously described in this Chapter. A goal of the Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers is to create new neighborhoods with an appropriate balance between residential, employment, and service uses. The appropriate balance would be determined by the characteristics of their particular location within the Urban Development Area. A feature of the Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers will be the mix anal variety of uses. A horizontal and vertical mix and integration of uses should be encouraged. Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers would be designed to enable a complementary, pedestrian oriented mix of public and private facilities to meet the needs of the community. The design of Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers is intended to foster a sense of cormmunity by creating vibrant places of activity that could accommodate life, work, and play. The Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers should be different from each other and be designed with the concept of placemaking as a guiding element. It should be recognized that a range of centers from a smaller neighborhood scale to a more intensive urban scale may be appropriate. ~ UDA Study 2006 UDA Study - Land Use Proposal for the Comprehensive Policy Plmz More detailed neighborhood planning efforts would ultimately help determine the scale of the Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers based upon a variety of factors, not least of which is the locational opportunities that may exist in any particular location. For example, it would be important to recognize that an Urban Center located adjacent to a future interchange on hiterstate 81 would have the opportunity to be significantly more intensive than a Neighborhood Village located ceritral to the existing communities located along Senseny Road. Density is essential to making the vision of the Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers and desirable urban places a reality. Density is a good thing for the urban community in that it provides an opportunity to create the diverse and vibrant, appealing and functional, urban places envisioned for the urban areas of the County. Density and a mix of uses would provide the opportunity for an increased level of community activity and social interaction. Density, appropriately designed, would snake possible the walkable, human scaled, pedestrian oriented Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers envisioned by this plan. It is anticipated that Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers will be located within the Urban Development Area. Modifications to the boundaries of the Urban Development Area to facilitate the development of the Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers should only occur when the primary goal of the UDA Study has been addressed to the satisfaction of the County. To that end, conformance with the Comprehensive Plan is a primary consideration. Neighborhood Villages and Urban Center Plans should be ideally developed prior to the contemplation of requests to modify the boundaries of the UDA. Such plans, elements of the Comprehensive Policy Plan would then guide future growth and development in the appropriate areas of the County. Community facility and infrastructure capacities and capabilities, implementation of County transportation planning efforts, unique proposals that addresses an expressed need of the County, economic development opportunities, and affordable housing are also important elements to consider when considering modifications to the urban areas of the County. 8 UDA Study 2006 UDA Study - Land Use Proposal for the Comprehensive Policy Pla~z Special emphasis is placed on the thoughtful provision of public spaces, recreational areas, and open spaces. In addition, the urban areas should be carefully planned to respect and take advantage of unique natural features and settings, protect and preserve natural and historic resources and features, and enhance the natural, scenic, and cultural value of the urban areas of the County. Special care must be taken to ensure that the necessary infrastructure improvements, community facilities, and transportation improvements are available and provided for to support the urban areas and Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers. It is the intent of land use policy, through the application of a new form of development and the identification of the Neighborhood Villages and Urban Center concept, to provide the opportunity for a new pattern of growth that will provide a new market opportunity and ultimately result in enhanced urban areas within Frederick County. Potential Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers Locations. The preliminary location of Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers was identified by evaluating general qualifying characteristics of a particular location that provided the County with an opportunity to implement the proactive and creative land use principles presented in the UDA Study. The general public, through their participation in the series of public meetings, further helped define the potential locations for Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers. Potential locations. Senseny Road Triangle Justes Drive School Cluster Villages at Artrip Wamor and Tasker Lakeside at the Library Kernstown Sunnyside Papermill Road at New I-81 Interchange Stephens City 277 Area West Jubal Early Crosspointe Neighborhood Village Neighborhood Village Neighborhood Village Neighborhood Village Neighborhood Village Neighborhood Village Neighborhood Village Urban Center Urban Center Urban Center Urban Center 9 UDA Study 2006 UDA Study - Land Use Proposal for the Con2prehensive Policy Plan Neighborhood Villages and Urban Center Plans would be designed for the identified locations to guide the physical form, structure, density, mix of uses, community facilities and transportation enhancements. Neighborhood Villages and Urban Center Plans would be designed to address the goals of the Urban Development Area as identified through the UDA Study and would be designed at a human scale and with walkability as a key concept to facilitate the creation of Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers that have character and create a sense of place. The design and form of the development within the County's urban areas is a very important consideration. With an increase in the density of the County's urban areas is a need to recognize that the level of design and planning within the urban areas must increase accordingly. The level of sophistication of community planning should increase and the community should provide leadership in this regard. The initiation of a neighborhood planning effort would be an example of a proactive approach to addressing the needs of the urban areas of the County and promoting successful Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers. Equally important is the predictability that is offered by such an approach to the County and to the development community when developing such projects. An increase in density in the urban areas is also important when considering the need to provide necessary community facilities and amenities in locations that are highly accessible. Efficiency in addressing the community facility, infrastructure, and transportation needs of a growing community in a resourceful and effective manner is a component of the land use approach proposed. The land use approach would also allow for the efficient delivery of public services. In order for new areas of urban uses to be established in the Urban Areas in the manner envisioned in this plan, roads and public facilities of sufficient capacity should be provided to serve the new urban areas. For any proposed rezoning to be approved, the applicants will be expected to contribute a reasonable portion of the costs of new or expanded infrastructure needed to serve the proposed development. Such contributions can be in the form of cash, dedicated land, or constructed improvements. 10 UDA Study 2006 UDA - Land Use Proposal for the Comprehensive Policy Plan In planning the urban areas, careful consideration of land uses adjacent to the Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers must occur to ensure that an appropriate transition to the surrounding areas and sensitive integration into the community is achieved. Community Facilities in the Urban Areas In evaluating community growth patterns, it is appropriate to assess how and where the community invests in the community facilities needed to support a growing community. Community facilities, in particular, schools and their locations have tremendous effect on how our communities grow. The challenges associated with community growth and the provision of new community facilities, in particular new school construction, also create an opportunity to improve the quality of the community and schools together by applying contemporary planning principles to community facility planning. This opportunity translates to other community facility needs including parks and recreation, library, and emergency services. It has been determined through the UDA Study that many of the needs of County's community facility providers could be addressed through this proactive land use approach. Collaboration between County agencies should continue to be a priority goal in order to ensure that the investment made in the County's community facilities, including the community's school system, will provide the best possible environment for positive community growth. In general, an important theme of this land use approach is that community facilities should serve as the focal point for Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers and the urban areas. Cormnunity centered schools are aimed at promoting more livable places and improving the overall educational experience. New Urbanism promotes community centered schools as an element of a fully integrated community and as a resource and enhancement for the entire community. Schools should be located in existing or future neighborhoods, within walking distance and accessible to residents of the community. 11 UDA Study 2006 ___ I { k UDA Study - Land Use Proposal for the Comprehensive Policy Plan New Urbanism also promotes the importance of small playgrounds and open spaces being near every dwelling. Accordingly, Parks and Recreation facilities are an important component of this land use approach. In general, the community should place a greater emphasis on joint use of facilities for a variety of entities and uses. Such an approach would be beneficial to the community facility providers and the broader eonununity. The importance of community coimectivity is reco~mized with this land use approach. There is a need to provide linkages between trails, parks, opens spaces and community uses. This should be a prominent element of future planning efforts. Transportation in the Urban Areas The County's Comprehensive Policy Plan continues to ensure that a sufficient transportation network is provided to accommodate the Plan's envisioned future land uses. The nexus between land use planning and transportation planning continues to be a critical consideration of the Community's planning efforts. The County should continue to ensure that the Community's transportation planning efforts promote a multimodal transportation plan that addresses existing and future transportation needs of the County and the Win-Fred MPO area. Coordination within the Win-Fred Metropolitan Planning Organization is essential. The Win-Fred 2030 Transportation Plan is a multimodal plan that seeks to provide a blue print of the locally desired transportation improvements which address both existing and long- range transportation needs of the community. This regional planning effort is supplemented by the County's Eastern Road Plan which provides additional guidance regarding transportation improvements necessary to accommodate the land uses envisioned in the urban areas of the County. The Eastern Road Plan should continue to be used as a tool that enhances the level of planning, detail, and design of the needed transportation improvements of the community. 12 UDA Study 2006 UDA - Land Use Proposal for the Comprehensive Policy Plan The County, in conjunction with the Win-Fred. MPO, is currently completing a Bicycle and Pedestrian Mobility Plan. This effort should be used as a tool that enhances the community's walkability and generally improves the multimodal accommodations available to the community. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Mobility Plan's application to the new urbanism approach to land use planning should prove to be invaluable as a tool in the County's future community planning efforts. In particular, the goal of encouraging walkable, pedestrian orientated human scale urban communities. Within the context of the urban areas, the Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers are based on the premise of walkable, pedestrian orientated urban communities. The concept of walkable catchment areas, also known as ped sheds, guides the general scope of Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers by showing the actual area within a five to ten minute walking distance from a Neighborhood Villages and Urban Center, community focal point, or major transportation stop. In general, the County's transportation network should. be designed for connectivity. Streets within the neighborhood should provide a connected network, offering a variety of routes and dispersing traffic. Transportation improvements should be designed as public spaces with multimodal opportunities that promote traffic safety and reduce congestion. The community's business corridor planning effort should continue to be enhanced with corridor design standards that reflect the aesthetic and functional needs of the community's entrance corridors and the urban qualities of the transportation system within the Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers. Creen Infrastructure of t/ie Urban Areas An important feature that translates through both the rural and urban areas of the County is the concept of Green Infrastructure. Green Infrastructure is the County's natural life support system - an interconnected network of land and water that supports native species, maintains natural ecological processes, sustains air and 13 UDA Study 2006 ___ I I UDA Study - Land Use Proposal for the Compre%ensive Policy Plan ' water resources and contributes to the health and quality of life for this community and its people. Green Infrastructure encompasses farmland, streambeds, woodlands, parks and scenic views. The Green Infrastructure includes those features that enrich the quality of life and are necessary for the protection of clean air, water, and natural resources, and will serve as the central organizing concept for future land use in both the rural areas and the urban areas. In the rural and urban areas of the County, the Green Infrastructure concept identifies critical areas for conservation, establishes priorities for protection, and recommends tactics for implementation. It focuses on ecologically important resource areas (woodlands, quality wildlife habitat), and critical areas for the protection of aquatic resources (wetlands, riparian corridors, floodplains). It can also include culturally important resources such as historic buildings and battlefields, which while not part of the Green Network, are valued by the community and contribute to the overall character of the area. Designing the Frederick County Green Infrastructure Network In order to design the Green Infrastructure Network for the County's Urban Areas, desired network attributes should be identified and data gathered on their spatial arrangements. Firstly, all land features protected by the Frederick County Zoning Ordinance should be considered. These include: • floodplains; • lakes and ponds; • wetlands, natural waterways and riparian buffers; • sinkholes; • natural stormwater retention areas; and • steep slopes. These areas warrant the highest level of protection, and are generally unbuildable land unfit for development. These areas should be the Primary Conservation Resources of the Frederick County Green Infrastructure Network. 14 UDA Study 2006 _ UDA Study - Laud Use Proposal for the Comprehensive Policy Plena Secondly, other landscape features were evaluated for possible inclusion in the Green Infrastructure Network. These were based on input from the public and stakeholders that was received through recent planning efforts and the UDA Study process. Suggested features worthy of consideration in the development process include: • Woodlands; • Scenic viewsheds: • Riparian areas; • Existing corridor screening; • Parks; and • Trails. Land resources such as these should be classified as Secondary Conservation Resources of the Frederick County Green Infrastructure Network. _ Thirdly, historic features were evaluated for possible inclusion in the Green Infrastructure Network. Properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Virginia Landmark Register and Civil War Battlefields and Sites (as defined by the National Parks Service Shenandoah Valley Civil War Sites Study), should be classified as Secondary Resources. Secondary conservation resources should not have the same level of protection as primary resources. However, their presence on a site should be a consideration in designing any new developments. Land owners and developer will be encouraged to protect secondary conservation resources, but this will be done on a voluntary basis. The natural and cultural features of an area provide an opportunity to incorporate the unique features of an area into a planning effort that promotes the character of the community, furthering the community's sense of place. 15 UDA Study 2006 UDA Study - Land Use Proposal for the Comprehensive Policy Plan In summary, the proposed land use policy and principles promoted by the UDA Study for the urban areas of the County enables a proactive and creative land use plan that will meet growth demands, assure a sustainable community, and maintain a high quality of life for its citizens. The improved land use plan promotes and enables a new pattern of land use for the urban areas of the Frederick County that would be applicable within the UDA, and in identified. areas adjacent to the UDA. Implementation of the UDA Stndy Neighborhood Urban Community Center Land Use Plans Promote the initiation of an on-going Neighborhood Planning Effort and the implementation of the principles of New Urbanism in the identified Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers. Prioritization of the Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers for the purpose of initiating the application of the County's Neighborhood Planning Effort. Senseny Road Ureenwood Road Channing Drive Route 277 -New Main Street Stephens City New Urbanist/'I'raditional Neighborhood Zoning Classification Flexible zoning classification tailored to enabling Neighborhood and Urban Village Centers, or a part thereof, to be developed. The Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers are to be designed to implement the planning principles promoted for the urban areas of the County. Approach would be similar to that of the R-4, Residential Planned Community; however it would be applicable to smaller properties located within those areas designated as Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers. Such an approach should be promoted throughout the UDA. However, particular emphasis should be placed on the designated Neighborhood Villages and Urban Centers 16 UDA Study 2006 UDA Study - Land Use Proposal for the Comprehensive Policy Plan An additional tool would be the creation of a New Urbanist Overlay zoning district that embraces the principles of New Urbanism. This could be applied over exiting residentially zoned land uses. In addition, enabling ordinances that would create Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance language that would facilitate the planning principles promoted to be realized and the implementation of New Urbanist projects a reality. C & I Opportunities. Achieve a business development strategy that seeks to provide appropriate locations for commercial and industrial opportunities and seeks to achieve a balanced ratio between the residential and commercial/industrial growth of 60 percent residential to 40 percent commercial/industrial (60/40) within the UDA/SWSA. Update Zoning Ordinances to accommodate targeted businesses. Identified C & I Opportunities beyond the current boundaries of the UDA and SWSA: Double Tollgate Triangle South East Frederick/East 522 Route 50 East at Route 37 Bypass 1 ~ UDA Study 2006 ,.