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Town Center Plan
January 2007
are needed to keep traffic moving through
the intersection with Chapel Hill Road. Town
Hall Drive, however, has good access, but is
less visible at present. The passby traffic on
this road, however, is expected to steadily
increase over time with growth in the area,
and with the planned construction of the
Triangle Parkway at the northern end of Town
Hall Drive and Crabtree Crossing Extension
at the southern end. This will improve the
prospects for supporting some commercial
uses in this location.
Even so, with considerable competition from
existing and planned retail development
near the Town Center, this district will
depend heavily on new community facilities
and a quality design to help draw people to
this location. As a result, the Town Center
Design proposes that the district consist of
a main street anchored by a civic/cultural
facility at its eastern terminus, which may in
turn enable the district to support a limited
number of commercial businesses, especially
those that take advantage of the distinctive
character of the Town Center to help attract
customers. Conducting a needs assessment
and feasibility study for a civic/cultural
facility are important early implementation
projects to help determine the prospects for
this potential anchor.
The civic/cultural facility and other structures
along the main street should frame an
outdoor plaza, which could provide a venue
for farmers markets, concerts, and other
public events throughout the year. Primary
access would be provided via Town Hall Drive,
with a dogleg at the eastern end to provide
connectivity while slowing traffic moving
into the residential neighborhood. On the
eastern side of the civic/cultural facility, the
Town Center Design calls for a children’s park
that might include a water play feature and
public art to ensure a quality outdoor space
for families and mark the transition into the
neighboring residential area.
4) Civic/Government District:
This
district includes the current Town Hall, Police
Station, and Chamber of Commerce. As the
Town government tries to keep pace with
growing service demands in the community,
new office space will be needed for Town staff.
The Town Center Design includes space for
additional buildings along Town Hall Drive.
A through road running from Morrisville-
Carpenter Road through the existing Town
Hall parking lot could provide connectivity to
the planned internal street network to the
What do you think the density is in this photo? If you
guessed, 16 - 18 units per acre, then you are correct.
Design standards can help ensure that neighborhoods
like this one in upscale Southern Village in Chapel
Hill are attractive and function well for residents
and the community. (Photo: Ben Hitchings, Town of
Morrisville)
What do you think the density is in this photo? If you
guessed, 8 - 10 units per acre, then you are correct.
Design standards can help ensure that neighborhoods
like this one in upscale Fearrington Village in Chatham
County are attractive and function well for residents
and the community. (Photo: Ben Hitchings, Town of
Morrisville)
Chapter 3: Detailed Design