City of Wilson, North Carolina

Growth Plan

Wilson Growth Plan

Policies for Growth and Development
Prepared by the Planning Board Appointed Growth Plan Update Committee - July 1999
With the assistance of the Department of Planning and Development Services, City of Wilson

Approved by the Planning Board - September 1999
Adopted by the City Council as a Guide for Development - September 1999

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The preparation of this plan was made possible by the efforts of a committee established by the Planning Board to update the 1990 Growth Plan. The committee met almost trice monthly from January 1999 through July 1999. Members concentrated their work efforts on revision the Growth Policies and Growth Boundary Map. Various community and governmental leaders were invited to their meetings to discuss growth issues and opportunities. Members also discussed their vision and values for Wilson's growth, evaluating all the 1999 Growth Policies in light of their vision and values. Although many policies from the 1990 Growth Plan was left intact and some were omitted with new ones added and others were completely revised. The completed work of the committee included revised growth policies and a growth boundary map. The committee recommended the revised policies and map to the Planning Board who subsequently made final recommendations to the City Council for its adoption.

Growth Plan Update Committee Members

James Bissette, Committee Chairman & Chairman of the Planning Board
Jack Wiggins III, Planning Board Member
Kevin O'Brien, Planning Board Member
Maurice Coble, Planning Board Member
Doris Jones, Planning Board Member
Cleveland Flowe, Citizen
John Campbell, Chairman of Appearance Commission
Bill Bartlett, Engineer with Bartlett Associates
Russell Hesmer, Realtor
Jennifer Lantz, Director for Wilson Economic Development Corporation
George Leach, Citizen
Barbara Blackston, Director of Wilson Community Improvement Association

Growth Plan Update Resource Members

James Bradshaw, Director of Planning and Development Services (City of Wilson)
Charles Pittman, Deputy City Manager (City of Wilson)
Gary Mills, City Engineer (City of Wilson)
Kent Montgomery, Director of Parks and Recreation (City of Wilson)
Will Aycock, Planning Intern (City of Wilson)
Eddie Philips, County Planning Director (Wilson County)
Tom Corbett, Downtown Director
Russell Landen, Assistant Superintendent (County School System)

GIS Growth Boundary Maps prepared by Kathy Garner

Policies for Growth and Development

Introduction

In 1990 the City of Wilson and the County of Wilson adopted the Wilson Growth Plan. This plan established planning principles in the form of general growth policies for development of the community. In addition, a Growth Strategy Map with growth boundaries to promote orderly growth was delineated. Although critical growth factors, such as community economic development needs and population outlook that influenced the 1990 Wilson Growth Plan remain relevant, growth patterns, related development interests and public improvements have significantly evolved since 1990. While some growth policies continue to remain valuable in influencing development within the community, others are no longer important. In addition, the Growth Strategy Map is almost 10 years old and many of its boundaries are no longer valid.

Recognizing that revisions were needed to the growth policies and map, the City of Wilson Planning Board established a Growth Plan Update Committee with the mission of revising the policies and map. This City of Wilson Growth Plan: 1999 Update consists of the revised growth policies and map recommended by the update committee. The committee consisted of Planning Board members and their appointments of residents from within the community, as well as representatives from real estate, development, business, industrial and engineering interests who help influence growth and development within our community.

In preparing the revisions, the committee evaluated each policy category, inviting representatives from other agencies or organizations to discuss policies of importance for their interests. The results are policies that address areas of current interest and needs and are refined into a consolidated set of policies to guide growth and development over the next ten to twenty years. The recommended policies modify, eliminate, add to, and/or expand upon the more general ones in the earlier Wilson Growth Plan and to provide more relevant policies of importance to the City of Wilson in its growth and development.

Use of the Policies

The growth policies and map reference a variety of growth and development related issues. The policies and accompanying Growth Strategy Map serve as a relevant guide where there are growth issues and land use conflicts. As an adopted guide by the City Council, the policies and map serve as a foundation upon which future decisions can be based, influencing capital improvements, ordinances, development requests, zoning matters, subdivision approvals and other growth or development issues. Different users of the policies, including planning staff members, developers, residents, and Planning Board or City Council members, can evaluate the policies according to their interests and formulate a decisions based upon the priorities they assign to the various policies. As the evaluations result in identified policy priorities, interests, and interpretations, the policies can serve as a consistent and relevant foundation to guide growth and development within the community.

Vision and Values

Reflecting a shared vision of Wilson as "a friendly and prosperous community growing together with full, viable and obtainable economic development and cultural enrichment equal for all", the 1999 Growth Plan Update contains cohesive policies that:

promote development variety,
support a diversified job market,
endorse economic development and related opportunities,
encourage commercial and industrial development,
target clean growth industries,
foster inner city growth and revitalization,
address intrusions into and/or impacts on residential areas,
advance geographic equitability in distribution of growth,
stress continued job education, and
enhance the overall quality of life in our neighborhoods and community.

In preparing the City of Wilson Growth Plan: 1999 Update, the committee also valued a fact-based plan, not only realistic enough to accomplish desired goals, but flexible enough to serve as a working document, keeping economic reality and needs in sight.

Policies for Growth and Development

1. Economic Development Policies
2. Transportation Policies
3. Water and Sewer Service Policies
4. Industrial Development Policies
5. Commercial and Office Development Policies
6. Housing and Residential Development Policies
7. Growth Area Development Policies
8. Parks, Recreation and Open Space Policies
9. Community Appearance Policies
10. Environmental Quality Policies
11. Education Policies
12. Central City Development Policies
13. Planning Coordination Policies

Selected Policies, Summary and Home Links:
1. Priority Policies
2. Policies About Neighborhood Infill/Intrusion
3. Summary of Policies
4. All Policies

Policies for Growth and Development

1. Economic Development:

Policy 1.1: The community’s pro-growth/pro-active economic development approach supports new and expanding industries and businesses that help:

a) Diversify the local economy,
b) Increase employment, preferably by training and/or utilizing a more highly-skilled labor force,
c) Increase area residents’ incomes,
d) Equitably distribute development throughout the community, and/or
e) Encourage small business start-ups, expansions and spin-offs.

Policy 1.2: The community’s economic development strategy encourages the promotion of environmental quality and balanced growth, as well as enhancement of a high quality of life, image and cultural amenities and improvements for all segments of the population.

Policy 1.3: Economic growth is fully encouraged within the community’s Urban Growth Area boundaries and especially where urban development fosters compact or infill growth and inner city revitalization.

Policy 1.4: Partnerships and others are encouraged to revitalize the physical character of declining commercial and residential areas.

Policy 1.5: The community’s built resources are important, and their use, preservation and maintenance are encouraged with destruction of significant architectural or historic resources discouraged.

Policy 1.6: Promotion and development of local and regional tourism is encouraged.

2. Transportation:

Policy 2.1: The adopted 1996 City of Wilson Thoroughfare Plan or revised thereof shall be employed to promote a hierarchical, functional road network and to promote the proper arrangement of land patterns by controlling the location of city and state streets and roads.

Policy 2.2: Properly designed arterial intersections containing both right and left turn bays on the existing and future street system shall be encouraged.

Policy 2.3: Sufficient right-of-way along new roadways and at major intersections shall be reserved to allow for future facility expansion.

Policy 2.4: Street patterns should be designed so as to protect the integrity of the neighborhood, accentuate focal points and interesting vistas, while allowing for smooth traffic flow within the neighborhood and onto arterials with a minimum of congestion at access points.

Policy 2.5: A program of improvements and maintenance to maximize the use of existing roadways shall be utilized as a cost effective and environmentally sound means of meeting area transportation needs.

Policy 2.6: Pedestrian, bikeway and other similar facilities shall be encouraged as energy efficient and environmentally sound transportation alternatives.

Policy 2.7: Continued improvement and appropriate expansion of area air facilities shall be encouraged and supported. Development in and around the air facilities shall be carefully planned to minimize potential land use conflicts or hazardous conditions. In particular, development within the adjacent landing and take-off flight approaches should be limited to uses that are not or only minimally impacted by noise and other hazards.

Policy 2.8: Driveway cuts and street access points along arterial and collector streets or roads should be limited to allow these streets or roads to primarily serve as safe traffic movement corridors.

Policy 2.9: Private roads serving multiple uses shall be discouraged in new developments, except where public performance standards can be met.

Policy 2.10: Residential neighborhood street design patterns are encouraged to promote inter-connectivity and minimize cul-de-sacs, accommodate sidewalks and on-street parking, and foster safe environments for pedestrians and cyclists.

3. Water and Sewer Service:

Policy 3.1: Water and sewer services should be concentrated within the limits of a geographically defined Urban Growth Area*. The Primary Urban Growth Area* should receive first priority for the provision or enhancement of water and sewer services.

Policy 3.2: Water and sewer services shall not be extended to properties in the Rural Growth Area* (outside the Urban Growth Area). Exceptions to this policy may include the provision of services to Community Growth Areas*, cooperative agreements on major economic development initiatives, and extensions to address imminent public health problems or related environmental hazards.

Policy 3.3: Major extensions of water and/or sewer services that could result in scattered, non-directed development and costly provision of other urban services shall be discouraged. Extension of water lines by the City or County beyond the Urban Growth Area boundaries* shall be within planned service areas and not include sewer line extensions except in accord with Policy 3.2.

Policy 3.4: The City and County shall employ incentives to encourage a concentration of urban type development within the Urban Growth Area* and discourage scattered urban type development elsewhere.

Policy 3.5: The City and County shall consider the highest level of participation in the cost of providing water and sewer services within the Primary Urban Growth Area* with the next highest level of participation considered for the Secondary Urban Growth Area*.

*Note: See Growth Boundary Maps for maps showing the locations of the boundaries for the Urban Growth Area (Primary & Secondary), Community and Rural Growth Areas.

4. Industrial Development:

Policy 4.1: Industrial development shall be located on land which is physically suitable and has unique locational advantages for industry, preferably in existing and/or planned industrial parks. Advanced planning for the identification of such land shall be encouraged.

Policy 4.2: The City and County shall encourage a public service and regulatory environment conducive to industrial development, tempered by environmental quality considerations and the availability of public financial resources.

Policy 4.3: Heavy industrial uses shall be separated from non-industrial areas by natural and man-made features such as green belts, major transportation facilities, transitional land uses, and/or other suitable means.

Policy 4.4: Industrial development should not be located in areas which would diminish the desirability of existing and planned non-industrial uses, nor shall non-industrial uses be allowed to encroach upon existing or planned industrial sites.

Policy 4.5: Light industrial uses may be located in or near existing built-up areas to take advantage of available services and to minimize home to work distances. Careful design and/or buffering shall be required to ensure compatibility with surrounding areas.

Policy 4.6: Warehousing, storage and distribution facilities shall have access to thoroughfares, and shall be visually buffered according to their location and surrounding uses.

5. Commercial and Office Development:

Policy 5.1: Commercial and office development is encouraged to locate in planned commercial (shopping) centers and office parks.

Policy 5.2: Regional or major commercial centers should be located adjacent to freeways, major thoroughfares and/or mass transit routes and should contain or be near existing or planned concentrations of employment and housing.

Policy 5.3: Community or neighborhood commercial centers should be located adjacent to arterial highways and/or mass transit routes and contain or be near other appropriate community facilities with compatible accessibility for nearby existing or planned concentrations of housing.

Policy 5.4: Generally, commercial development should not encroach into residential areas.

Policy 5.5: Isolated commercial, office or highway-oriented business development along through streets should be avoided with preference for consolidated development patterns that promote contiguous development clusters and contain mutually compatible land uses and designs with minimal access points and signage.

Policy 5.6: Commercial uses shall be encouraged to develop by consolidation and expansion of existing commercially zoned property, only when such consolidation and expansion of development does not encroach upon a viable residential area.

Policy 5.7: Office and institutional development shall be encouraged to locate as a transitional land use between residential areas and activities of higher intensity, where such development is compatible with and well-fitted to adjacent residential areas in scale, intensity, design and buffer or distance separation considerations.

Policy 5.8: Effective buffering and/or landscaping shall be provided where commercial or office development adjoins existing or planned residential uses. Compatibility in building scale, intensity of use, distance separation and design is also encouraged to minimize encroachment into or adverse impact problems for residential areas.

Policy 5.9: Development should take into consideration its impacts, such as traffic, intensity of use and other incompatible characteristics, on adjacent land uses, in particular schools and other sensitive land uses. Minimization of such impacts should be sought through appropriate site design and configuration, land use, street design, distance separation, buffering and/or building scale and intensity.

6. Housing and Residential Development:

Policy 6.1: The protection and rehabilitation of viable neighborhoods shall be encouraged to insure their continued existence as a major housing source and as a reflection of the area’s image as an attractive, highly livable community.

Policy 6.2: Residential neighborhoods which have become infused or closely surrounded by non-residential uses may undergo an orderly and controlled conversion from residential use to higher density residential use or other compatible alternative land uses.

Policy 6.3: Efforts to reduce through traffic in existing neighborhoods and prevent through traffic in new residential areas shall be encouraged.

Policy 6.4: Proposed residential development that would expose residents to the harmful effects of incompatible development or to environmental hazards shall be prohibited.

Policy 6.5: The continued viability of single-family homes as a major housing source shall be encouraged.

Policy 6.6: Innovative and flexible land planning and development practices shall be encouraged to create livable developments which better safeguard land, water, energy and historic resources.

Policy 6.7: Factors in determining preferred locations for high density residential development shall include: close proximity to employment and shopping centers, access to major thoroughfares and transit systems, the availability of public services and facilities, and compatibility with adjacent areas and land uses. Impacts on adjacent land uses, such as traffic and other incompatible characteristics, should be addressed through appropriate site design and configuration, land use, street design, distance separation, buffering and/or building scale and intensity.

Policy 6.8: The affordable housing needs of elderly and low to moderate income residents shall be particularly recognized in City and County policies and actions regarding residential development.

Policy 6.9: The housing unit density for proposed residential development should be similar to the overall density of adjoining residential areas.

7. Growth Area Development:

Policy 7.1: Properly planned urban-type development, including developments with mixed zoning districts, that promotes efficient provision of public services and meets appropriate City standards, including provision of City water and sewer, is encouraged within the Urban Growth Area. (The Primary Urban Growth Area and Secondary Urban Growth Area as depicted on the Growth Strategy Map define the City of Wilson Urban Growth Area.)

Policy 7.2: Land outside the Urban Growth Area identified as the Rural Growth Area on the Growth Strategy Map and having a high productive potential for crop growth should be conserved, to the extent possible, for appropriate agricultural use.

Policy 7.3: Agriculture and low density residential activities shall be the preferred land uses in the Rural Growth Area. Commercial development in the Rural Growth Area should be limited to generally accepted rural business establishments, including local convenience stores. Urban-type development is not encouraged in the Rural Growth Area.

Policy 7.4: Natural environments, including forests, surface waters, wet lands, floodplains, and stream corridors, are recognized as valuable environmental resources that serve as integral parts of the area's existing and potential open space, natural, and wildlife habitat areas and conservation is encouraged. Note: Also, see Environmental Policies 10.2.

Policy 7.5: Urban-type development should be concentrated within compact growth areas contiguous to or within the existing Primary Urban Growth Area where public service infrastructure already exists, is imminent, or can be efficiently or economically extended.

Policy 7.6: "Leap frog" development in which properties within the Primary Urban Growth Area are bypassed and new, scattered, urban-type development occurs in isolation and/or small clusters within the Secondary or Rural Growth Areas should be avoided.

Policy 7.7: Within the Secondary Urban Growth Area, urban-type development along or outside street corridors is acceptable where it is or likely to become contiguous to such development in the Primary Growth Area.

8. Parks, Recreation and Open Space:

Policy 8.1: Future park development and open space preservation shall be carefully planned by the City, County, other public/private agencies, and/or private development to provide for the rational and equitable distribution of recreation and open space opportunities within the planning area. Such planning should be in keeping with the City/County Master Plan for Parks and Recreation or revisions thereof. Land acquisition for new public recreation sites in advance of need is encouraged to obtain desirable locations and achieve cost effective operations.

Policy 8.2: In determining future sites for park, recreation and open space facilities, multiple objectives for natural area conservation, visual enhancement, promotion of cultural and historic preservation, watershed and floodprone area protection shall be considered.

Policy 8.3: Provision of open space and recreational facilities shall be encouraged in private developments and through intergovernmental and public/private partnerships.

Policy 8.4: The identification and appropriate recreational development of a system of open space greenways within the planning area shall be encouraged. The use of natural corridors such as streams, floodplains, and secondarily man-made corridors such utility corridors and transportation rights-of-way and easements shall be emphasized. Creation of greenways, parks, open spaces, and preservation of natural areas should also be coordinated with the development of schools, major public facilities and other development.

Policy 8.5: While emphasizing programs that serve the unmet recreation needs of the greatest number of people, the City should also strive to meet the needs of specific population subgroups.

9. Community Appearance:

Policy 9.1: Major roadway entrances into Wilson are measures of community image and quality, and their significance should be recognized through landscape, signage and other visual improvements. The City should work jointly with State DOT, private property owners, and developers to improve the appearance and design of major street rights-of-way and adjacent corridors through improved landscaping, sign control and building design.

Policy 9.2: Sign policies and standards should be periodically updated to enhance community identity and create a high quality business image.

Policy 9.3: Measures to improve the effectiveness of landscaping and buffering standards for new and existing developments shall be encouraged. New developments shall provide landscape improvements to the maximum extent.

Policy 9.4: New development, redevelopment and rehabilitation of structures and sites should occur in ways that are consistent and supportive of the neighborhood and architectural context of the surrounding area. New large retail development or revitalization shall incorporate architectural features and design variations in their façade, roof and other architectural elements so as to contribute to the overall enhancement of the community.

Policy 9.5: The significance of street trees in providing visual relief, summer cooling, improved air quality and livability shall be recognized through public policies and actions to encourage their planting and maintenance.

Policy 9.6: The placement of utility wires underground shall be required, where feasible, in all public and private developments.

10. Environmental Quality:

Policy 10.1: Continued improvements to public sewage collection and treatment facilities shall be supported, with priority to servicing existing or planned densely developed areas where environmental and economic benefits can be realized.

Policy 10.2: Development activities in the 100-year floodplain or near lakes and streams shall be carefully controlled. If development must occur, low intensity uses such as open space, recreation and adequately buffered agricultural activities shall be preferred. Note: Also, see Growth Area Development policy 7.4.

Policy 10.3: Runoff and drainage from development and agricultural activities shall be of a quality and quantity as near to natural conditions as possible, with special emphasis given to critical watershed areas.

Policy 10.4: Development that preserves the existing natural features of the site, including topography and significant vegetation, shall be encouraged.

Policy 10.5: Local area requirements for solid waste disposal facilities shall be anticipated through advanced planning; facilities shall be located and designed to not adversely impact significant natural or man-made resources.

Policy 10.6: The City and County recognize the need for a regional solution to the solid waste issue, and will support efforts toward that end.

Policy 10.7: Research and development of recycling and resource recovery programs, whether public or private, shall be encouraged and supported.

Policy 10.8: The location of hazardous waste storage and disposal facilities within Wilson County shall not be supported.

Policy 10.9: Industries producing noise, odor, air and water pollution, or other harmful impacts, shall be discouraged in non industrial areas, unless such adverse impacts can clearly be overcome through effective mitigation.

Policy 10.10: Within industrial and other areas, harmful environmental pollutants resulting from manufacturing, production or other land use activities shall be mitigated or minimized so as not to exceed water, land and air quality standards or laws.

Policy 10.11: The development of a county-wide comprehensive drainage and flood management plan, including public and private actions in support of plan implementation, shall be supported.

11. Education:

Policy 11.1: The attainment of a quality educational system shall be recognized as one of the most important factors in the future economic development of Wilson County.

Policy 11.2: The importance of hiring and keeping dedicated, creative and highly motivated teachers shall be recognized through a commitment to improved student/teacher ratios and better incentives, including higher pay.

Policy 11.3: Responsibility for improvements to the educational system shall not be placed solely with policy makers, professional educators and administrators. Programs and actions, which emphasize 1) parental involvement and 2) assistance from the business community, shall be strongly sought.

Policy 11.4: Non-traditional and alternative approaches to educational programming shall be supported.

Policy 11.5: Technical training and other educational programs shall be encouraged to help unemployed, underemployed and other local residents take advantage of business expansion, stay abreast of new technologies and meet the ever changing job needs of existing and future development within our community.

12. Central City Development:

Policy 12.1: Public policies and actions shall continue to support the maintenance and revitalization of the Central Business District and adjoining neighborhoods as the historic and cultural center of the community with emphasis on economic development, revitalization and compatible redevelopment, and elimination of urban decay and blight.

Policy 12.2: The City, in concert with the County, other agencies, organizations, property owners and merchants, shall encourage collaborative and innovative public and private initiatives and revitalization efforts in the Central Business District and adjoining areas. Such initiatives include development of pedestrian oriented open space systems, streetscape improvements, incorporation of art into public and semi-public spaces, sufficient and appropriately designed and landscaped off-street parking lots, compatible reuse or redevelopment of multiple buildings or disused areas, and effective marketing. Also, improvements to central city residential neighborhoods, including redevelopment or renewal activities that compliment the overall revitalization of the central city area, are encouraged.

Policy 12.3: A variety of mutually compatible and supportive mixed land uses that compliment the existing major business, industrial and institutional anchors within the Central Business District shall be encouraged, reinforced and supported in order to promote a quality and vibrant central city image that benefits the entire community.

Policy 12.4: Land uses and conditions that promote signs of urban decay and blight in the central city area shall be discouraged or eliminated with emphasis on rehabilitation and/or removal of deteriorated buildings and implementation of strategies that aid in the overall economic and market restructuring of the area.

Policy 12.5: Residential neighborhood improvement and/or redevelopment activities as well as other coordinated public policy actions, including abatement of blighting influences and conditions, shall be encouraged and sustained in support of overall central city revitalization.

New Policy 12.6: Adaptive reuse of buildings in or near the Central Business District for residential purposes shall be encouraged, including rehabilitation of upper stories of appropriate buildings for residential uses such as studio-type apartments.

13. Planning Coordination:

Policy 13.1: Coordinated inter-governmental planning for land use and development, transportation, utilities, environmental management, law enforcement, education, recreation and tourism development shall be encouraged.

Policy 13.2: Public involvement shall be encouraged in decisions on land use and development by making the public aware of proposed developments at the earliest opportunity, as well as fostering communication between developers and the general public.

Policy 13.3: Neighborhood and special area planning shall be encouraged, where feasible and appropriate to foster public involvement in the production of closely tailored, action oriented special area plans and programs.

Policy 13.4: Specific functional plans and implementation tools shall be supported as part of a comprehensive planning program and economic development strategy for the City and County.

Policy 13.5: Urban type development within the Urban Growth Area should meet appropriate City standards.

Policy 13.6: Properly planned, mixed use developments that promote efficient provision of public services shall be encouraged within the Urban Growth Area.

Summary of Policies

1. Economic Development Policies:

Economic development policies fully encourage pro-active/pro-growth to support new and expanding industries and businesses that diversify the economy, increase employment and incomes, and equitably distribute growth while promoting environmental quality, balanced growth, and quality of life for all segments of the population. In addition, economic growth that fosters compact development and inner city revitalization within the Urban Growth Boundaries is supported.

2. Transportation:

Transportation Policies support improving and maintaining a functional, interconnected road system that controls the location of city and state streets and encourages proper arrangement of land use and street patterns designed so as to meet area transportation needs with minimum congestion, safe access points and protection of neighborhood integrity. Although continued expansion of area air facilities is encouraged, policies stress development in and around such facilities to be carefully planned to minimize potential land use conflicts or hazardous conditions.

3. Water and Sewer Service:

Water and sewer policies encourage concentration of these facilities in the Urban Growth Area with discouragement of major extensions that could result in isolated, scattered development and costly provision of other urban services. Policies guide extension of water or sewer lines by the City or County beyond the Urban Growth Area with criteria to minimize urban sprawl.

4. Industrial Development:

Industrial development policies encourage planning for such development preferably in existing and/or planned industrial parks on physically suitable land with advantages for industry and proper separation of industrial uses from non-industrial areas. Although policies urge public services and regulatory environment to be conducive to industrial development, policies also support environmental quality considerations and prudent fiscal capacity.

5. Commercial and Office Development:

Commercial and office development policies encourage planned commercial (shopping) centers and office parks of varying sizes with consideration for consolidated development patterns that promote contiguous development clusters along appropriate streets and do not encroach into residential areas. Policies encourage office and commercial development that adjoins existing or planned residential uses to be compatible with and well-fitted to adjacent residential areas in building scale, intensity, design, buffering and/or distance separation. Policies also encourage development to consider and minimize its impacts, such as traffic, intensity of use and other incompatible characteristics, on adjacent land uses.

6. Housing and Residential Development:

Housing and residential policies encourage the protection and rehabilitation of viable neighborhoods to reflect the area’s image as an attractive, highly-livable community and discourage proposed residential development that would expose residents to the harmful effects of incompatible development or to environmental hazards. Policies support the affordable housing needs of elderly and low-to-moderate-income residents and continued viability of single-family homes. Policies also address interest in reducing through traffic in neighborhoods and preventing through traffic in new residential areas. In addition, policies encourage adjoining residential developments to have similar densities and impacts on adjacent land uses, such as traffic and other incompatible characteristics, to be addressed.

7. Growth Area Development:

Growth area development policies encourage properly-planned, urban-type development, including mixed zoning districts, and efficient provision of public services within the Urban Growth Area with preference for urban development to be concentrated within compact growth areas contiguous to or within the existing Primary Urban Growth Area. Policies discourage urban development in the Rural Growth Area, with its productive farm and natural environments. While discouraging "leap frog" development in which properties are bypassed and scattered, isolated urban development occurs within the Secondary or Rural Growth Areas, policies support development along street corridors where contiguous urban development is likely to occur.

8. Parks, Recreation and Open Space:

Parks, recreation and open space policies support planned intergovernmental and public/private efforts to serve unmet recreational needs in keeping with the City/County Master Plan for Parks and Recreation. Policies encourage rational and equitable distribution of public and private recreation and open space opportunities with emphasis on meeting multiple objectives and utilizing natural areas, such as linking schools with parks and greenways.

9. Community Appearance:

Community appearance policies recognize that appropriate landscaping, street trees, signage and other visual improvements along Wilson’s major roadway entrances enhance community image and quality and public/private partnerships to improve the appearance and design of major street rights-of-way and adjoining corridors are encouraged. Policies also encourage extensive landscaping and buffering for new and existing developments with architectural designs encouraged that contribute to the overall community enhancement. New development, redevelopment and rehabilitation activities are also encouraged to be supportive of the neighborhood and architectural context of the surrounding area.

10. Environmental Quality:

Environmental policies stress mitigation of harmful environmental pollutants and compliance with State and Federal Laws. Policies also support continued improvements to public sewage collection and treatment facilities, with priority for existing or planned densely developed areas where environmental and economic benefits can be realized. Policies also address storm drainage and runoff, development in the 100-year floodplain, storage of hazardous waste, solid waste disposal, preservation of the natural environment, production of noise, odor, air and water pollution, or other harmful impacts.

11. Education:

Education policies recognize the importance of a quality educational system for the future of Wilson County with emphasis on hiring and keeping dedicated, creative teachers, parental involvement, assistance from the business community, and encouragement for technical training and other educational programs to help unemployed, underemployed and other residents.

12. Central City Development:

Central city development policies encourage public and/or private collaborative initiatives that support the maintenance and revitalization of the Central Business District and adjoining neighborhoods with emphasis on economic development and marketing restructuring, revitalization, including mutually compatible mixed land use development/redevelopment, and elimination of urban decay and blight.

13. Planning Coordination:

Planning coordination policies stress coordinated inter-governmental planning for land use and development, transportation, utilities, environmental management, law enforcement, education, recreation and tourism development with public involvement and neighborhood area planning encouraged. Policies also support application of appropriate City standards for urban development, including mixed-use development, that promote efficient provision of public services within the Urban Growth Area.

Priority Policies

NOTE: Although many policies were viewed as important, the following policies received priority ranking by the Planning Board and members of the Wilson Growth Plan Update Committee.

Policy 1.1: The community’s pro-growth/pro-active economic development approach supports new and expanding industries and businesses that help:

Policy 3.1: Water and sewer services should be concentrated within the limits of a geographically defined Urban Growth Area. The Primary Urban Growth Area should receive first priority for the provision or enhancement of water and sewer services.

Policy 6.4: Proposed residential development that would expose residents to the harmful effects of incompatible development or to environmental hazards shall be prohibited.

Policy 7.1: Properly-planned, urban-type development, including developments with mixed zoning districts, that promotes efficient provision of public services and meets appropriate City standards, including provision of City water and sewer, is encouraged within the Urban Growth Area. (The Primary Urban Growth Area and Secondary Urban Growth Area as depicted on the Growth Strategy Map define the City of Wilson Urban Growth Area.)

Policy 9.6: The placement of utility wires underground shall be required, where feasible, in all public and private developments.

Policy 11.1: The attainment of a quality educational system shall be recognized as one of the most important factors in the future economic development of Wilson County.

Growth Policies That Address Intrusion or Infill Into Residential Neiborhoods

NOTE: City Council has been asked on occasion to specifically address problems associated with commercial/office intrusions or encroachments into residential areas. Since several Commercial and Office Development Policies in the Wilson Growth Plan already address this issue, the subcommittee dedicated an entire meeting to review the commercial policies. Based upon this review, the 1990 policies were modified and additional policies were added to more adequately address the issue of intrusions or infill into neighborhoods. In several instances the resulting policies are far more reaching than the 1999 policies and may help resolve conflicts that arise from potential encroachment problems.

Policy 5.4: Generally, commercial development should not encroach into residential areas.

Policy 6.3: Efforts to reduce through traffic in existing neighborhoods and prevent through traffic in new residential areas shall be encouraged.

Policy 6.4: Proposed residential development that would expose residents to the harmful effects of incompatible development or to environmental hazards shall be prohibited.

Policy 6.9: The housing unit density for proposed residential development should be similar to the overall density of adjoining residential areas.

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