The Town of Pittsboro recently reviewed and unanimously passed comments along for a proposed scenic corridor overlay district that strives to create a pleasant sense of arrival into the town.
The overlay district seeks to foster a smooth transitional zone into Pittsboro for those traveling on major entrance roads and gateways through creating two corridors. At a July 8 board of commissioners meeting, Senior Planner Eric Sanchez said that each hopes to preserve the town’s character as it prepares to grow with future developments, and also provide opportunities for various methods of transportation for residents.
Located along US 64 Business, the East Street and West Street Corridor features two zones for recreational and agricultural use only. The high area of vegetation would transition into an intermediate area of vegetation, creating what Sanchez described as a gradient effect into town.
“The idea is to go from a very high vegetative zone, to an intermediate vegetative zone, to something that then says ‘Hey welcome to Pittsboro,’” he said.
A proposed rendering of the East Street and West Street Corridor. (Photo via the Town of Pittsboro.)
As the tree canopy decreases in density, he said the transitional corridor would help inform residents and visitors that they are approaching the town and its businesses. The design seeks to both preserve and add to the area’s existing vegetation, as well as offer multipurpose paths throughout the zones for pedestrians and cyclists.
The Hillsborough Street Corridor would also be split into two transitional zones — modern and historic. Located along US Highway 15-501, the corridor strives to make the roadside safer and more appealing for those traveling into town through implementing buffer zones. Sanchez said this prohibits having businesses that are less appealing to the eye within 150 and 200 feet from the street, like drive-thrus, gas stations, food trucks, and auto repair shops.
“We’re looking at bigger, chain fast food restaurants. The ones that scream ‘Welcome to every town in North Carolina’ that [is what] we’re not trying to be,” Sanchez said.
A proposed rendering of the Hillsborough Street Corridor. (Photo via the Town of Pittsboro.)
Instead, he described businesses like boutiques, dentist offices, and townhomes to line the corridor, with parking behind, as a more inviting way to welcome travelers to Pittsboro. He said businesses beyond the buffers would have a coordinated aesthetic for the respective zone.
Commissioner John Bonitz, however, expressed the need for food trucks within the buffer until more restaurants are possible for the area. He suggested removing them from the list of exclusions with the expectation that they can be phased out after Pittsboro sees an increase in brick and mortar restaurants when the town grows.
The zones also feature 30- and 50-foot buffers where no building construction would be permissible, providing the opportunity for increased walkability and trees closer to the road. To make the roadside safer for pedestrians, the design emphasizes the use of shared driveways, reducing the amount of impact points along the street.
“You don’t just want to not have a car turning left every so often but you also want to ensure that when somebody’s walking across the street they are safe,” Sanchez said.
He said the buffer zones would work together to create another gradient-like transition into the town, which will be helpful for newcomers. Currently, he said the town can abruptly transition from a newer portion, to a suburban area, to a more historic one.
“But how do you know as a tourist or as a traveler that that is what it’s leading to,” he said. “If you’re walking, you tend to want to stop at French Connections because you don’t know better, that there is more there. So what we’re trying to do for the next couple years is to build in that transition.”
The town only has four primary entrances, and Pittsboro Mayor Kyle Shipp said the overlay would help ensure that they are inviting.
“A lot of times, those types of entrances will get filled up with businesses right up along the road, and we’ve got an advantage now of some existing tree coverage before development really comes,” he said.
He said the design is one way the town is working to protect its historic character, while also allowing for future development.
Bonitz said he appreciates the design and says it’s a good start in preparing the town for future growth.
“There’s obviously a lot of significant work, thought, and reflection that’s been put into this, existing conditions considered,” he said. “And I think the general thrust and desire of this board is well-reflected here too.”
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
Comments on Chapelboro are moderated according to our Community Guidelines