Morrisville Land Use Plan 2009

5.3 Future Land Use Categories, cont’d 2. NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVITY CENTER (NAC) A. Function i. Provide for moderate scale, mixed use activity centers that serve as convenient, walk- able service and retail destinations for surrounding neighborhoods. ii. Provide for a mix of residential, retail, cultural, entertainment and office opportunities in a mixed use village center, with street-level uses that generate pedestrian activity and upper-story uses that provide complementary residential and employment uses to “keep the street level active.” B. Preferred Uses i. A compatible mix of land uses including housing (if located outside the Airport Overlay District), commercial and office uses, restaurants, entertainment, personal and house- hold service establishments, institutional uses, public facilities, parks, playgrounds and other similar uses meeting the needs of the adjoining neighborhoods. ii. In general, residential uses should be located above the first floor, reserving first floor storefront space for activity-generating uses such as retail shops, restaurants or grocery stores. C. General Policies + Development Character i. Neighborhood Activity Centers should include, where feasible, a vertical mix of resi- dential and non-residential uses within buildings to create a complementary mix of uses and activities and foster a sense of identity and place. NACs should provide a pedes- trian-friendly environment with short block lengths and connected, walkable streets. ii. Development density and intensity should be sufficient to permit maximum use of small lots and the development of structures that support ground-floor shops and upper-level residential and office uses. However, buildings should remain small scale and compat- ible with the surrounding neighborhood – generally from two to four stories. iii. Development should combine uses vertically, as well as horizontally (i.e. mixing uses among buildings and within individual buildings), to achieve convenience, variety and walkability in the center. iv. Design elements should be integrated with wide sidewalks, street trees, pedestrian- scaled lighting, benches, and entrances to buildings at the edges of street rights-of-way. Bicycle facilities, on-street parking, and usable public spaces should be provided. v. Connections to undeveloped parcels should be designed and built to the property line and in a manner that can be continued. vi. Land use or intensity/density transitions should be provided between non-residential uses and existing residential communities. vii. Development should be oriented away from sensitive natural resources, such as flood- plains and ponds to minimize the environmental impacts of new development. viii.Development proposals in Neighborhood Activity Centers should combine open and civic space in features such as pedestrian promenades and plazas, public art, entrance features, linear parks and trails, outdoor seating, lawns or greens and similar design fea- tures that invite pedestrian activity. ix. Parking areas should be de-emphasized through location, landscaping, fencing, or other decorative elements to minimize visual impact from the public right of way.

Neighborhood Activity Centers incorporate multiple uses into a walkable, pedestrian-friendly environment with compact block sizes.

encouraged discouraged

Bicycle racks should be placed in safe, visible locations, preferably near building entrances and transit stops, and should not obstruct pedes- trian traffic. Effective racks support the bicycle frame upright in two places. The rack must be anchored and resistant to metal cutting tools to prevent theft or vandalism. Covered racks are encouraged to prevent damage to bikes from rain.

Building setbacks strongly influence street character. Minimal front setbacks are recommended to encour- age pedestrian activity along the sidewalk. Additional setbacks may be used where necessary for outdoor dining, pedestrian promenades, courtyards, or plazas. Development that lacks street frontage may discour- age pedestrian activity and/or require automobile ac- cess.

The sidewalk is one of a variety of design elements that together contribute to an active and vibrant streetscape. Promoting a walkable environment requires safe, accessible, and connected sidewalks that unite the pedestrian with a desired destination or activity. Public sidewalks on both sides of urban roadways should be designed to a width that en- courages pedestrian activity desired in a particular area.

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