Davis Ford Gateway
This process was kicked off with community meetings last year on the Bacon Race Fire/Police stations. The following are the combined suggestions from community meetings MIDCO has held since those initial meetings. Overall, they encourage a holistic approach to this important entry area to the Davis Ford community. The goal is to have all the projects coming to this area looked at and evaluated as to how they relate to each other and to the community as a whole instead of as separate entities.
A. The Bacon Race Fire/Police Station property:
1. The planned police/fire stations should be moved closer to the Parkway to allow direct right/left access to the Parkway through the existing entrance there and to allow for more parkland (see #3 below).
2. The middle parcel between the McCoart Center and the police/fire station property should be aggressively pursued and secured before finalizing plans for the police/fire stations. It makes no sense to spend funds providing two access points on Davis Ford Road when a connector to McCoart will be needed and constructed as soon as the purchase of the middle parcel is finalized. There is no immediate pressing need for the police/fire stations and this entire area should be planned together after consolidation of all the parcels.
3. The northern areas of both parcels should be connected and made a park contiguous with existing parkland at McCoart. The topography of this area prohibits development but would be ideal for a park.
4. The property buffers along Davis Ford Road should be at least 75 feet and left undisturbed unless they absolutely have to be.
B. The various adjoining properties along Asdee Lane:
1. The Comprehensive Plan designation of Office for these parcels should be changed to SRR. Office use does not fit in this area, which is surrounded by large-lot residential and (ideally) future parkland uses.
C. The “Branscome” median break in the Parkway:
1. This should be closed if not needed for police/fire access (see A.1. above).
D. The “Village On The Parkway” property:
1. Wetlands/streams should be protected for any “by right” project.
E. New development around the Harris Teeter Shopping Center:
1. This is Comprehensive Planned at SRR 2.5 acre average lot size and should be developed at those densities.
F. The Davis Ford Road viewshed:
1. Existing vegetation should be maintained if at all possible.
2. A planted buffer should be provided if the above is not possible. This gateway area should reflect the demarcation between the semi-rural area and the more developed eastern area and treed buffers provide that effect.
3. New housing units along Davis Ford Road should be set back at least 100 feet from the road.
G. The “Palm Pools” Property and the immediate area:
1. The existing stale zoning on part of the “Palm Pool” property should not be abused or used for expansion of the commercial area.
2. Any future uses on the “Palm Pool” property or the church property next to it should be low-rise, low-density and fit into the semi-rural theme.
3. The Comprehensive Plan designation for the sliver of property between the old and new paths for Davis Ford Road near the Parkway intersection should be changed from Office to SRR to reflect the road location change.
4. The Hoadly Falls proposal should strictly adhere to the SRR 2.5 acre average lot size recommendation of the Comp Plan.
Any new development to this gateway area, whether private or government, should to fit in to the semi-rural community that already exists and it is very important that any higher-density sprawl is discouraged.
The above is just a rough outline to start a discussion. We look forward to continuing this discussion in future MIDCO meetings with our elected representatives and county staff geared toward achieving an overall product that both the area community and government can live with and be proud of.
A. The Bacon Race Fire/Police Station property:
1. The planned police/fire stations should be moved closer to the Parkway to allow direct right/left access to the Parkway through the existing entrance there and to allow for more parkland (see #3 below).
2. The middle parcel between the McCoart Center and the police/fire station property should be aggressively pursued and secured before finalizing plans for the police/fire stations. It makes no sense to spend funds providing two access points on Davis Ford Road when a connector to McCoart will be needed and constructed as soon as the purchase of the middle parcel is finalized. There is no immediate pressing need for the police/fire stations and this entire area should be planned together after consolidation of all the parcels.
3. The northern areas of both parcels should be connected and made a park contiguous with existing parkland at McCoart. The topography of this area prohibits development but would be ideal for a park.
4. The property buffers along Davis Ford Road should be at least 75 feet and left undisturbed unless they absolutely have to be.
B. The various adjoining properties along Asdee Lane:
1. The Comprehensive Plan designation of Office for these parcels should be changed to SRR. Office use does not fit in this area, which is surrounded by large-lot residential and (ideally) future parkland uses.
C. The “Branscome” median break in the Parkway:
1. This should be closed if not needed for police/fire access (see A.1. above).
D. The “Village On The Parkway” property:
1. Wetlands/streams should be protected for any “by right” project.
E. New development around the Harris Teeter Shopping Center:
1. This is Comprehensive Planned at SRR 2.5 acre average lot size and should be developed at those densities.
F. The Davis Ford Road viewshed:
1. Existing vegetation should be maintained if at all possible.
2. A planted buffer should be provided if the above is not possible. This gateway area should reflect the demarcation between the semi-rural area and the more developed eastern area and treed buffers provide that effect.
3. New housing units along Davis Ford Road should be set back at least 100 feet from the road.
G. The “Palm Pools” Property and the immediate area:
1. The existing stale zoning on part of the “Palm Pool” property should not be abused or used for expansion of the commercial area.
2. Any future uses on the “Palm Pool” property or the church property next to it should be low-rise, low-density and fit into the semi-rural theme.
3. The Comprehensive Plan designation for the sliver of property between the old and new paths for Davis Ford Road near the Parkway intersection should be changed from Office to SRR to reflect the road location change.
4. The Hoadly Falls proposal should strictly adhere to the SRR 2.5 acre average lot size recommendation of the Comp Plan.
Any new development to this gateway area, whether private or government, should to fit in to the semi-rural community that already exists and it is very important that any higher-density sprawl is discouraged.
The above is just a rough outline to start a discussion. We look forward to continuing this discussion in future MIDCO meetings with our elected representatives and county staff geared toward achieving an overall product that both the area community and government can live with and be proud of.