5/26/04

Holly Springs on Track to Update Land Use Plan
Plan to Shape Future Development Within Town

As the Town of Holly Springs has grown, the Town landscape has evolved – new roads have been paved, new shopping centers have developed or are in the works, and new subdivisions have been constructed. Along with the Town landscape, Town leaders’ vision for Holly Springs ’ future has also evolved. To reflect the growth and to better plan for the future, the Town is currently in the process of updating its Land Use Plan.

The Land Use Plan is part of the Town’s Ten-Year Comprehensive Growth Plan, which establishes land use and development patterns that create and maintain the Town’s identity. The Land Use Plan is a guide for future development of the Town and a policy determining what types of development should be placed in different areas of Town, should property owners decide to develop their land.

“The old Land Use Plan is not providing staff, the development community or councilmen the proper direction for where the Town vision now lies for development,” said Gina Bobber, director of the Town’s Planning & Zoning Department, on why an update to the plan is needed.

The differences between the original plan and the proposed update are:

Expanded planning boundaries

The Town’s land use plan boundary will be expanded to the southwest to include the land to the west of Piney Grove-Wilbon Road down to the Wake/Harnett county line, and from the northern Town limits along the south side of US 1 to the Wake/Chatham county line. Being included in the Town’s planning area does not annex property into the Town. Establishing a planning boundary merely allows a Town to plan utilities for the future, should property owners within the planning area decide to develop their property.

Commercial development along bypass

Commercial development will be encouraged along the NC 55 bypass at the major intersections, in addition to downTown Holly Springs.

Residential density specified

Residential land-use designations will be modified to better correspond with the Town leaders’ vision for residential development and the new Unified Development Ordinance, adopted in November, 2002. The original plan allows for the majority of the residential areas to be developed at up to five residential units per acre, compared with the 3.25 units that will be allowed with the update.

“This will provide for more opportunities of preservation of open space in environmentally sensitive areas,” Bobber said. “T he original residential designations allowed for a wide range of densities to fit within one land use designation, which did not reflect the current development visions of the Town.”

Mixed-Use areas added

A variety of non-residential land-use desig nations have been added to provide the opportunity for better transitions from one land use to another, and to provide flexibility for areas for commercial, office and industrial uses.

Future work plan included

Text of the plan was also updated to include a more specific work plan for the Planning & Zoning Department; the Town would work with the county to better plan for areas outside of the Town’s limits.

The Department of Planning & Zoning hosted a public information meeting on May 11 to present the proposed draft plan. The meeting was attended by more than 60 people. Issues regarding transportation, utilities and timing of growth were presented to the staff for consideration while preparing the plan.

The Holly Springs Planning Board met May 25 to review the plan update. The board’s recommendations will be forwarded to the Town Council.

A public hearing regarding the plan update will be held June 15 at the Town Council meeting at 7 p.m. in the Council Chamber of Town Hall at 128 S. Main Street. The public is invited to attend and to participate. The update is tentatively slated for action that night, as well.

For more information about the plan, contact Alysia Bailey, Holly Springs planner II, at (919) 557-3908.

Town of Holly Springs - PO Box 8 - 128 South Main Street - Holly Springs, NC 27540 - (919) 552-6221 - Holly.Springs@hollyspringsnc.us