Morrisville Town Center Plan - 2007

Chapter 2: Planning Process & Concept Design

with woodlands protecting the water quality of the stream that flows through the park. Other key sites from the Civil War period could be marked with interpretive signage or kiosks that share thematic links. The Page-Ferrell House and its large lot could be similarly protected as community amenities in the form of a rural heritage park. These sites would be further connected to other local and regional parks, such as soccer fields and Lake Crabtree, by greenway trails.

key sections of the study area. All these elements – parks, trails, signage, community visual character protections, and historic sites – taken together work to strengthen the community’s sense of identity and history, which was another key concept receiving very strong support from the public. Boundary Area: The periphery of the study area is occupied mostly by a mix of housing types, somewhat higher than the surrounding densities but not out of scale with the area. While floodplains and public land may be used for parks, upland sites would be well suited for townhouses, small-lot detached houses, and conventional single-family residences, either as new development or redevelopment. The market for housing in the vicinity is expected to be strong, as the central regional location with nearby amenities is highly desirable. These surrounding residential areas would be connected to the rural crossroads village, area parks, and the civic and community heart of Morrisville by abundant sidewalks and greenway paths, making the whole area a well-loved destination for families, young people and those of retirement age, and further enhancing the market advantage enjoyed by properties in proximity to the historic village core.

The network of greenways should be clearly marked and mapped at key locations so that users can see how sites of interest in the study area – including the outdoor plaza, with its farmers’ markets and children’s play area, the visitor’s center, and other locations – may be connected to the broader regional network of paths and public places, including the American Tobacco Trail, the Cary greenway, and Umstead State Park. Visual gateways and transition zones (marked with a special symbol on the Concept Design) would be locations where, entering the study area on foot or by car, one senses the change from suburbia to historic rural village. The change could be enhanced and managed by visual protections that require architectural compatibility and careful site design within In the Design Workshop, residents expressed a desire to tie together points of interest in the Town Center with sidewalks and greenways, such as the Indian Creek Greenway pictured above. (Graphic: Site Solutions for the Town of Morrisville)

Coordinated signage like this in downtown Raleigh can help enhance the visual identity of the Town Center and enable visitors to find key points of interest. (Photo: Ben Hitchings, Town of Morrisville)

22 │ Town Center Plan

January 2007