Transit Street Cross-Sections and Green Plus Frontage (TC-4-21)
Transit Street Cross-Sections and Green Plus Frontage (TC-4-21)
Transit Street Cross-Sections and Green Plus Frontage (TC-4-21): This text change proposes adding three new street-type cross-sections for streets with median busways and revise the corresponding sections in the Raleigh Street Design Manual. Read the full TC-4-21 draft for specific details on each applicable street type.
It also includes the creation of a new zoning frontage, Green Plus, that has emerged from the New Bern Station Area Planning process. The frontage will ensure that sections of the corridor with a significant tree canopy retain and renew that canopy as the area evolves.
Background information:
The Comprehensive Plan contains two maps related to this text change, Map T-1 Street Plan and T-2, Planned Transit Facilities. The UDO specifically codifies map T-1 in the street type cross-sections in Sections 8.4 and 8.5. These street standards are applied administratively during subdivision and site plan reviews. City staff has recognized that the current street sections do not provide the necessary elements and right-of-way to implement the bus rapid transit (BRT) lines recommended in map T-2. This change will address the implementation of the Wake Transit Plan and specifically BRT corridors that are currently planned or may be planned in the future.
The UDO has a number of zoning frontages that address how new buildings relate to the street. As the name suggests, the proposed Green Plus frontage would be similar to the Green frontage but would include tree planting requirements and an additional setback.
Current Rules:
There is no current distinction between streets planned for BRT and those not so planned.
The creation of the Green Plus frontage would not create a change until it is mapped. Currently, no frontage exists on the section of New Bern where it is envisioned, meaning that trees can be removed with no replanting requirement.
Proposed Text Change:
The proposed text change will create an option to designate streets to have a number of general travel lanes as well as a median busway and the same behind the curb bikeway and sidewalk currently specified in the UDO.
The frontage change would create a Green Plus frontage. Primary features include a minimum 30-foot setback (a 30’-50’ build-to area) and would require the planting of four canopy trees every 100 feet. The credit would be given for retaining existing trees.
Public Meeting Schedule:
This text change is scheduled for the Planning Commission meeting in January. We will be collecting comments here through January 3. Comments after this date should be submitted directly to Keegan McDonald via email.