Exploring Our Planning Principles Public Engagement Report
March 2019
This report was written by the planning team for the What’s Next Davidson planning process, which includes:
TOWN STAFF
Jason Burdette Cristina Shaul Planning Director Former Communications Director and Co-Project Manager Trey Akers Senior Planner Project Manager
CONSULTANTS
Leigh Anne King Project Manager Jamie Greene Project Lead on Public Engagement Nate Baker Project Planner Sarah Bongiorno Project Planner Chris Peterson Graphics and Mapping Mary McKay Project Planner Jai Daniels Project Intern
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CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... 3
ABOUT THE PROCESS ...... 5
WHO PARTICIPATED...... 9
WHAT RESPONDENTS SAID ...... 11
CONCLUSION ...... 24
APPENDICES ...... 25
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“We’re looking forward to this process and want you to know that all community members are invited to participate. You’ll see us around town at a variety of events — the farmers market, Davidson college athletic events, the grand opening of the new park, etc. — to share information, encourage people to take our online survey, and invite the community to our town-wide workshops in the early part of 2019.”
- Trey Akers, Town of Davidson Senior Planner and What’s Next Davidson Project Manager
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Executive Summary
What’s Next Davidson is the process to update the character and the reality of unprecedented growth Town of Davidson’s comprehensive plan. Exploring pressures. Our Planning Principles was the first round of Generally, community participants perceive public engagement for the What’s Next process. growth as both a threat and an opportunity. Many Engagement took place between October 2018 and participants want to manage growth so that it January 2019 and involved more than 1,300 points occurs in appropriate locations and in a manner that of contact. Participants evaluated the town’s General complements and enhances Davidson’s character. Planning Principles, which were first implemented There is strong community support for conservation in 2001 to guide decisions on physical changes and of connected open space for public access, aesthetic public investments in the community. beauty, wildlife habitat, tree canopy, and water This report presents an overview of the first round protection. Other ideas that were raised included of public engagement activities for the What’s Next maintaining agricultural lands for local healthy Davidson process. The next two pages present a foods production and maintaining the existing rural brief summary of input provided by community character, uses, and viewsheds — in particular along members. More detail about the process is provided corridors leading into downtown Davidson from the on subsequent pages. east.
Growth Management & Rural Transportation Options Preservation Many community members expressed concern over Growth management is an important topic in the increase in local and regional automobile traffic Davidson, especially as development from Charlotte congestion. The growing congestion is due to several reaches the town and surrounding communities. To trends, including regional automobile-oriented land many in the community, this growth clashes with use patterns and growth. Community members Davidson’s history as a rural community and its small generally expressed a desire for more travel options, college town character. Rapid regional growth has such as better transit, safer bicycling, and expanding created a challenge for the town as members of the the greenway networks. The town is currently community wrestle with reconciling the small-town finalizing the draft Mobility Plan, which will include transportation analyses and opportunities.
Community Character Davidson’s residents love their downtown, which is small-scale, walkable, and mixed-use, with high quality design and both new and historic buildings between one and four stories. Respondents overwhelmingly want to maintain that character and replicate it in other parts of town. Some participants expressed concern about the inability to find parking.
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Davidson’s residential neighborhoods are also Activity Nodes highly valued and residents see them as assets to Although there were a mix of ideas and feelings the community. There is concern over changes that about future activity nodes, many community have occurred in some of Davidson’s neighborhoods, members suggested future growth in the town including tear-downs, splitting of existing lots to could be directed toward activity nodes, in particular maximize yield in existing neighborhoods, and in a walkable, human-scale, mixed-use, transit- new residential development that is perceived as oriented pattern. Some suggested new nodes inconsistent in character with the town’s existing should replicate the character of the downtown. fabric. Several respondents also expressed a desire While most respondents support walkable, mixed- to maintain and grow Davidson’s tree canopy. use development, several community members Housing Affordability expressed concern over the massing and design of recent developments. This indicates that there may The cost of housing for low- and middle-income be opportunities to explore modifying materials, households is a concern of many community form, and design standards. members. The cost of living has increased beyond the reach of many low- and middle-income workers, Several community members suggested that resulting in cost-burdened households and the need appropriately designed commercial and office for workers to live somewhere else and commute development in Davidson represents an opportunity into the town. for improving the town’s fiscal balance and alleviating the tax burden on residents as well as Community participants provided a number of providing nearby service amenities. ideas for addressing affordable housing, including exploring options for preserving existing units that are affordable, and building affordable housing around transit, jobs, and services. Several members also felt that affordable housing options in the community are inadequate to serve a diverse population and want to see more rental affordable housing for very low income people.
Inclusive Community Many respondents identified fostering a diverse and inclusive community as important for the future of Davidson and are concerned about the potential loss of existing community fabric. There were several ideas shared — from developing and improving tools for protecting and building affordable housing, to ensuring there are adequate facilities, activities, businesses, and services that meet the needs and wants of an inclusive town.
Communications Director Cristina Shaul meets Will E. Wildcat while encouraging Davidson College football game attendees to participate in the process.
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About the Process
Exploring Our Planning Principles was the first round of public engagement for the What’s Next Davidson Davidson’s General comprehensive plan process (see timeline below). Planning Principles Engagement took place from October 2018 through the beginning of January 2019 and engaged more 1. We must preserve Davidson’s character than 1,300 Davidson participants. Community and sense of community. members evaluated the town’s General Planning 2. We must preserve and enhance Principles, which were first implemented in 2001 Davidson’s unique downtown. to guide decisions on physical changes and public 3. We must encourage alternative means investments in the community. The principles helped of active transportation. to create the Davidson that exists today by managing 4. We must use our scarce land resources growth and requiring excellent design. wisely. 5. We must create an environment that fosters diversity. The timeline below identifies the four phases of the project. Exploring Our Planning Principles occurred 6. We must manage growth so the town during Phase 1. Other rounds of engagement include can provide public facilities and services Conversations on What’s Next (January 2019), and the apace with development. Shaping What’s Next Workshop (April 2019). 7. We must enhance our quality of life through architecture and design.
What’s Next Project Timeline
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PUBLICPUBLIC INTERCEPT INTERCEPT ENGAGEMENT ENGAGEMENT summary by the numbersSUMMARY BY THE NUMBERS Oct-Dec 2018
1,301+ 22 642 Personal Interactions Events Surveys Completed
5%, Referral 13%, Search 16%, Social 1,490 87% Unique new 65%, Direct Website Visitors Traffic Sources
Members of the Publicity & Outreach Committee march in the North Mecklenburg Christmas Parade to promote the What’s Next Davidson? process (left) and Planning Director Jason Burdette and Senior Planner Trey Akers engage community members at the Davidson Farmers Market.
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At public intercept events participants place stickers to identify how much they support the General Planning Principles and how well they have been implemented.
The engagement process was designed following project and town websites, social media, email the underlying philosophy that every member of the listservs, announcements at board of commissioners’ Davidson community should know that they have a meetings, and person-to-person at meetings, choice to participate in the What’s Next process. To events, and gatherings throughout the town seeking accomplish this, community members were made engagement where people already were. Notification aware of the process and encouraged to participate channels included e-blasts, door hangers, outreach in a variety of ways. to community leaders and institutions, quarterly A Publicity and Outreach Committee was formed newsletters, social media, direct mail, and word- with the sole focus of formulating effective and of-mouth. Stakeholder meetings were convened innovative ways of spreading the word about to target and hear from specific groups, such the What’s Next process. The committee was as the Planning, Design Review and Livability instrumental in the communication and publicity Boards, neighborhood representatives, school efforts to reach out to the Davidson community. administrators, places of worship, and businesses. They provided insight on communication channels The project team pursued a de-centralized approach and tactics including strategies for engaging hard-to- to public engagement, participating in 22 events reach populations. These efforts helped the project throughout the town — seeking engagement team provide targeted outreach and engagement where people already were. During those events, during the process. such as Davidson College athletic events, farmers Outreach was conducted through a variety of markets, the grand opening of Plum Creek Park, and channels and in a variety of settings, including the Christmas in Davidson, people had the opportunity
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to learn about the process, take the survey, and chat into Spanish. It was distributed throughout the with What’s Next team members. The What’s Next community in places like town hall, the library, places project website provided news and updates about of worship, as well as via door-to-door efforts and the planning process, and hosted the online survey, pushed-out to audiences in its electronic form. which was provided in English and Spanish. The survey asked participants to rank the importance of Davidson’s General Planning Principles, share how successfully they believed each principle has been implemented, and provide comments on each principle. Respondents had the opportunity to weigh in on two open-ended questions related to Davidson and our future opportunities and challenges. They were also asked to provide basic demographic information to better understand who was providing the input and ensure The project team handed out business cards to each demographic was represented. community members with information about how to In an effort to reach the greatest number of engage in the process. Fliers and handouts like the one community members as possible, the survey was at the bottom of the page were also shared at events available in several different forms (online, hard to spread the word about the process and how to get copy, and on interactive boards) and translated involved.
Frequently asked questions
1. What is the comprehensive plan? A comprehensive 6. How will this affect me? As residents and/or plan is the leading policy document and tool to help a business owners in the town, you stand to gain from community create a vision and guiding principles for a well-executed comprehensive plan. This is especially decision-making for their town. This consolidated set true if you become active in the process and share your of policies covers a range of topics including: land use; thoughts and ideas. The town is committed to an open transportation; economic development; demographics; process where anyone who cares about the future of housing; health; environment; and, others. Davidson has a chance to contribute. Ultimately, the comprehensive plan is intended to deliver greater 2. What is the purpose of the comprehensive plan? prosperity and quality of life to all segments of the The comprehensive plan’s purpose is to directly inform community. By getting involved, you can help shape the decisions that we make as a community. It does so by vision and recommendations that make this happen. helping us to understand our historical context; identify current or anticipated issues; evaluate options for how to 7. How can I get involved? There will be many best proceed; and, establish a set of policies to accomplish opportunities to contribute your ideas to the What’s our aims. Next process. Whether at an in-person workshop, a small focus group, or through the online public input Davidson has a long, successful history of planning that created 3. Why are we undertaking a comprehensive tool, everyone is invited to contribute their thoughts plan now? The board of commissioners identified the and ideas. Meetings will be announced well in advance the vibrant community we love today. What’s Next is a process comprehensive plan as a priority in their 2018-2019 through traditional media, social media, and the project to build upon previous successes and update the town’s Strategic Plan. Additionally, our last comprehensive plan website www.WhatsNextDavidson.com. was completed in 2010 — most communities update or comprehensive plan. create a new plan every five to ten years. This is especially 8. Do I have to be an expert to contribute ideas? true for communities in high-growth areas like the Absolutely not! By living, working, or raising a family in Charlotte metropolitan region. Davidson, you know so much about our community. The updated comprehensive plan will act as guide for Davidson Your intuition is vital to the plan’s success. Whether 4. Who’s involved in making the comprehensive you’ve just moved to the community or are a fourth- to ensure the town continues to embody the character and plan? Everyone! First and foremost, it’s a community- generation life-long resident, your perspective is centered process. The comprehensive plan process entails important. special qualities for which our community is known. an extended community conversation that intentionally engages all stakeholders – residents, neighborhoods, 9. How will my input be used? When you contribute businesses, the college, town government, non-profits, and an idea to What’s Next you are contributing directly institutions. To assist with public engagement, visioning, to the comprehensive plan. Depending on when you and plan composition, an experienced team of public get involved, your ideas could serve as the foundation engagement practitioners was selected by a commissioner- for the community’s vision statement, contribute to appointed committee of citizens, staff, and elected one of the plan’s goals, inspire a specific action (like The conversation is starting now officials. Led by Clarion Associates and Planning Next, the a new project, policy, or program), or set the course planning process will feature dedicated public engagement for implementation. Each comment will be recorded, Help determine what’s next for Davidson — you can: beginning in the fall of 2018. A variety of events, tools, and databased, categorized, and analyzed. meeting formats will encourage community members to provide insight into our community via in-person meetings/ workshops, email, and online as well as hard-copy surveys.
Take the exploration survey 5. When will this process begin? In May, the board This is an opportunity for the planning team to gather initial input and of commissioners appointed a group of citizens, staff, 1 feedback from the community about the town’s existing planning principles, and elected officials to draft and distribute a Request Where can I learn more? which enhance the quality of life for Davidson’s residents. Take the survey at: for Proposals, which was released May 25, 2018. Over www.WhatsNextDavidson.com WhatsNextDavidson.com the summer, proposals were reviewed, interviews includes more information about the conducted, and a consultant recommended by this process and how you can get involved – group. After reviewing their qualifications and meeting please explore all its pages! Share your with the recommended firm at their August 28 meeting, email on the website and we’ll keep you the Davidson Board of Commissioners directed staff to updated on upcoming meetings and Save the date: January 17, 2019 enter into a contract with Clarion Associates of Chapel Hill, major announcements. The “Conversation on What’s Next” community workshop is a chance for the NC. The first round of public engagement, Exploring Our 2 entire town to come together to learn about critical planning influences and Planning Principles, is underway and will continue through provide ideas on how to make Davidson an even better place in the future. December.
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Who Participated
Since October 2018, What’s Next engaged over 1,300 engage people that represent these hard-to-reach people during 22 public intercept events and the groups by going door-to-door in parts of town and online survey. Between October and December of being on-site at Davidson College to reach students 2018, 642 surveys were completed, and 1,490 people and staff. Significant outreach was provided to target checked out the What’s Next website. these groups, and the project team will continue to The chart below compares age representation of provide dedicated outreach to underrepresented participants in the first round of engagement with populations during subsequent rounds of the age demographics of the town. The majority of engagement. combined survey and in-person survey respondents The chart on the next page shows the number of were over the age of 35. Populations under the age respondents by the number of years they have lived of 25 and over the age of 74 were underrepresented. in Davidson. Of those who participated in the first Those under 18 were the least represented even round of public engagement: though that age group comprises the largest share • 19 percent have lived in Davidson for over 20 of Davidson’s population. years In observing the obvious disparities in age • 39 percent have lived in Davidson between six representation, it is important to note that the and 20 years underrepresentation of these age groups is common • 41 percent moved to the Davidson within the in planning processes and the team worked to past five years
Age Representation of Respondents
Davidson Respondents 25%
20%
15%
Percent of Total 10%
5%
0% Underunder 18 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+
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Participants, young and old, share their thoughts on the future of Davidson.
How Long Respondents Have Lived in Davidson 250
209 200
150 139 121 104 100
49 50 Number of Respondents
0 Less than one year 1-5 years 6-10 years 11-20 years More than 20 years
5 YEARS OR LESS 6 - 20 YEARS OVER 20 YEARS 41 Percent 39 Percent 19 Percent
10 Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report What Respondents Said
RESULTS FROM PUBLIC RESPONSES Community members evaluated the town’s General principles. Compared to other communities, this Planning Principles, first implemented in 2001 to general level of support is high and illustrates the guide decisions on physical changes and public community’s commitment to its long-standing investments in the community. Respondents values. In terms of support, the General Planning first ranked the degree to which they agree with Principles scored between 4.3 and 4.8 out of 5. each principle. Then they evaluated how well they Principle 7 (Design) ranked the lowest while Principle believed each principle was being implemented. 1 (Character) and Principle 4 (Land Resources) ranked the highest. The implementation of the Overall, community members ranked the planning planning principles ranked between 2.8 and 3.9 out principles highly and felt that there was room of 5. Principle 3 (Transportation) ranked the lowest for improvement on the implementation of the while Principle 2 (Downtown) ranked the highest.
How Residents Rated the Planning Principles
How strongly do you support ___? How Successfully has ___ been implemented?
5.0 4.76How strongly do you support ___? How Successfully has ___ been implemented? 4.7 4.70 4.65 5.0 4.76 4.33 4.5 4.7 4.25 4.70 4.29 4.65 4.33 4.04.5 3.8 4.25 4.29 3.43 3.53 3.54.0 3.8 3.53 3.43 2.91 3.03.5 2.85 2.87 2.79 2.91 2.87 2.53.0 2.85 2.79
2.02.5
1.52.0 1.5
Average Score 1.0
0.51.0
0.00.5 0.0 Principle 1 Principle 2 Principle 3 Principle 4 Principle 5 Principle 6 Principle 7 Principle 1 Principle 2 Principle 3 Principle 4 Principle 5 Principle 6 Principle 7 Principle 1 Principle 2 Principle 3 Principle 4 Principle 5 Principle 6 Principle 7 Character Downtown Transportation Land Diversity Manage Design Resources Growth
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SYNTHESIS OF PARTICIPANT COMMENTS In addition to quantitative evaluations of each of the Each comment was categorized under one of the planning principles, survey respondents provided ten themes. The comment was then assessed and open-ended comments. To evaluate and synthesize assigned a positive, negative, or neutral value. the comments, each comment was reviewed, Comments that had a positive, grateful, or hopeful categorized, and quantified. tone were assigned a positive value. Comments Using this methodology, ten themes were generated that were critical, disapproving, or unfavorable were based on the content of the General Planning given a negative value. Principles and the open-ended public comments. Comments that did not fit either the positive or Those topics included: negative categories based on the criteria were 1. Growth management and rural preservation assigned a neutral value. Neutral comments tended to be ideas and suggestions for how the town could 2. Walking and biking improve (i.e., more public amenities, improved 3. Community character greenway connectivity, etc.). Some individual 4. Housing affordability comments touched on multiple topics or had both positive and negative aspects, and so were counted 5. Traffic and roads more than once. 6. Inclusive and civil community 7. Public amenities and services The table below includes ten different topic areas that 8. Neighborhood compatibility community members discussed in the survey. The numbers represent the compiled number of comments 9. Alternative transportation (transit) that were assessed as positive, negative, or neutral for 10. Tree protection each comment. The topics are listed in order from most positive/neutral to most negative by total comments.
Synthesis of Comments from Public Responses
Topic Positive Negative Neutral Public Amenities and Services 25 24 55 Community Character 56 61 37 Alternative Transportation (transit) 17 23 39 Neighborhood Compatibility 36 43 9 Tree Protection 2 25 4 Walking and Biking 33 74 66 Inclusive and Civil Community 10 83 16 Traffic and Roads 4 85 21 Housing Affordability 6 89 21 Growth Management and Rural Preservation 45 190 64
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The following are examples of positive, negative, and The bullet points on the following pages summarize neutral values. common themes that emerged from the public input for each of the principles and from two questions Examples of positive comments: that asked people about what they liked most • “Davidson has improved as it has grown, and about Davidson and what the current and future aside from some growing pains...I believe opportunities and challenges are for the town. The the majority of Davidson is still Davidson in purpose of these themes is to illustrate shared its character and appreciation and sense of perspectives and do not indicate that everyone in community.” the community is in agreement. The quotations in • “Davidson has done a great job protecting orange represent a sample of comments provided the Town’s character, making it a place that’s by respondents in the public survey. A full list of attractive to current and potential residents.” comments is provided in the Appendices.
Examples of negative comments: • “The Davidson of today is very different from the Davidson of 2001. I don’t think it’s possible to maintain some sense of the community given the present size and far-flung developments.” • “Traffic is making the town unwalkable.” • “Divisiveness and mean-spirited voices are something new and destructive to the community.”
Examples of neutral comments: • “Would love to see more local restaurants in town.” • “Need more inclusive sense of community - more initiative and proactive expansion and inclusion of all people who live in Davidson.”
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PRINCIPLE 1: CHARACTER Score: 4 .8 | Implementation: 3 .5 Principle 1 focuses on Davidson’s character and SELECT QUOTES sense of community . Common sentiments included the following: “There are pockets of strong community feelings — in some neighborhoods (e.g., McConnell), in some • Davidson’s character is its greatest asset and the organizations (churches and schools), in some town has done well to maintain it. public locations (e.g., farmer’s market), but not all • The town has succeeded in preserving older residents participate in any of those and I fear they buildings and has generally maintained the do not feel included in ‘community.’” look and feel of the town, however, some respondents felt this could be implemented “Preserving Davidson’s character, while extremely better. important, should not mean a halt to all development.” • Recent population growth, an increase in traffic congestion, and the rate of new development “Davidson has done an excellent job of allowing threatens the loss of the small-town character new development in a manner that fits with its that makes Davidson unique. existing buildings. Its Main Street will always be its • There are recent developments, including most special place, but it has evolved both here teardowns in older neighborhoods, that depart and in other areas in a way that is healthy and from Davidson’s character. realistic.” • “Cookie cutter homes” and “McMansions” are “It’s nice to live in a small town where many also shifting away from the town’s character. people know each other. However, there are some • Some respondents felt that our neighborhoods neighborhoods that are still segregated and it’s are not integrated with the rest of town, due to hard to believe they feel any sense of community the extended geography of our jurisdiction, lack with other neighborhoods in Davidson. Perhaps of connectivity, or segregation. a part of the unwelcome atmosphere in the downtown district is due to the pricey shops and restaurants.”
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PRINCIPLE 2: DOWNTOWN Score: 4 .7 | Implementation: 3 .9 Principle 2 concentrates on the preservation and SELECT QUOTES enhancement of downtown. Common sentiments “The downtown area has become less appealing included the following: because of traffic, and there are really only two • Davidson’s charming downtown is a highly spaces to congregate (behind Summit and the town valued and important asset to the town. green).” • There is a lack of accessibility in some places, “There are a number of vacancies on Main St. – and many comments identified the need for should be working to bring in new business that safer pedestrian and bicycle connections to and are relevant to the community.” through downtown. “Downtown has the potential to grow in an • There is too much traffic congestion and a incremental way that would preserve our historic lack of parking on Main Street (there is some core but offer residential development, gathering disagreement about whether there is enough spaces, office space, and new entertainment parking in downtown or not). venues.” • Some respondents would like to see more parking options (like a parking deck) off of Main Street as well as the re-routing of traffic around the downtown area. • Many comments reflected an interest in maintaining vibrant storefronts along Main Street and other commercial parts of town. Several respondents commented negatively on vacant/ run down storefronts. • Some comments stated an interest in increasing the number of public places to gather in town.
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PRINCIPLE 3: TRANSPORTATION Score: 4 .4 | Implementation: 2 .8
Principle 3 considers alternative transportation. • Many respondents said they valued walking and Common sentiments included the following: biking in and around downtown, but feel current • More transportation options are desired, facilities are inadequate, unsafe, or that more including transit that is frequent and reliable. connections/improvements are needed. • People enjoy the trolley or regular shuttles for • Many comments reflected an interest in events, the farmers market, and getting around addressing vehicular traffic issues throughout town on the weekends. Davidson but especially in the downtown area. • Many members of the community would SELECT QUOTES like to see more regional cooperation and transportation options, especially to Charlotte. “Walking isn’t always safe in this town, even if you Commuters to Charlotte prefer train or light rail walk defensively. For a driver, to deal with walkers to buses, but are open to better express bus and cyclists is a real challenge. Dangerous.” options. “Davidson is better than a lot of towns in providing • Existing options, such as the CATS 77x bus walking and bicycle facilities, but it could do much service, need to be improved. CATS 77x has a better. Main corridors like Concord Rd., Beaty, limited schedule and no service on weekends. and Potts Streets. need spacious sidewalks at a • When considering new options, there needs to minimum. I would love to be able to safely ride my be extra consideration for the elderly, Davidson bike from town to Allison/Fisher Farm on Grey Rd.” College students, and those who live on the “Need more sidewalks or pathways ensuring bike outskirts of town and currently lack access to or walking access to downtown.” public transportation. “Too much congestion and poor planning of • The greatest concerns regarding walkability in traffic flow before new developments began town were connectivity and safety. construction.” • Increased traffic and development has led to fewer residents with access to walkable routes “Public transit in town and from town to and fewer pedestrians and cyclists feeling safe neighboring communities is not easily available or on the roads. convenient.”
• Existing sidewalks and greenways need to be “I would like to see new greenway/bike connections improved and better connected, and new ones be a priority along with the development of new should be added, especially in higher traffic traffic patterns that remove big trucks from areas. Road conditions are currently not safe downtown.” for pedestrians and cyclists and could benefit from certain design elements to improve the “Fue muy dificil user el autobus cuando no habia safety (i.e., wider or separated bike lanes, better un bus stop en Beaty St. Yo uso el autobus y una crosswalks/sidewalks, etc.). Some areas in town bicicleta cuando mi esposo no puede llevarme en were highlighted as needing improvements, coche. [It was very difficult to use the bus when such as access to Fisher Farm Park, Grey Road, there was no bus stop on Beaty Street. I use the bus Concord Road, Beaty Street, Potts Street, and and a bicycle when my husband cannot bring me Main Street. by car.]”
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PRINCIPLE 4: LAND RESOURCES Score: 4 .8 | Implementation: 3 .0 Principle 4 focuses on Davidson’s scarce land SELECT QUOTES resources . Common sentiments included the following: “Time to plan ahead for parks, before all the land is built out. Passive parks and active rec is a HUGE • Most responses fully supported this principle asset to community life and property values.” and especially valued the preservation of open space, green space, and the tree canopy. “Fisher Farm and Abersham Park are nice • Open space needs to be better preserved, resources for the community. Would like to see and the loss of woods and farmland has been additional preservation parks incorporated in our upsetting. area.” • Many respondents asked for more parks and “We need more parks, tennis courts, playgrounds, other green space. etc.” • There were several requests to stop cutting “Keep a reasonable balance between rural open down trees, especially along the greenway as space and sensible development.” the removal of trees in some areas along the greenway has flooded the walkways with red “Weighting private property rights with land clay. restrictions is tough. However, no community • The tree canopy contributes to the character and survives rapid, unmitigated development.” appeal of the town, and strict tree protections “The Rural Area Plan was a good example of a are needed. collaborative effort that resulted in a balanced • Several respondents recognized the importance approach creating a lot of open space, and of individual property rights concerning land use recognizing property owners’ rights.” decisions. “The number 1 reason we moved to Davidson is for the trees - big, old trees, farms, and open space. Please keep those trees!”
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PRINCIPLE 5: DIVERSITY Score: 4 .4 | Implementation: 2 .9
Principle 5 focuses on fostering diversity. • People indicated that while they support Common sentiments included the following: diversity overall, they preferred organic diversity • To a portion of the community, Davidson seems and/or a more limited role of local government welcoming and tolerant. A few responses in this area. suggest a feeling that the town values inclusivity and does well with civic engagement (i.e., the SELECT QUOTES Christmas events, festivals, cookie trail, etc.). “As Davidson is not exempt from national • On the other hand, a major community concern demographic trends, going forward Principle 5 is that the lack of affordable housing in Davidson may involve some greater emphasis on facilitating precludes economic and social diversity. aging in place.”
• A few respondents discussed the value of the “I am not sure how many homes are built with affordable housing ordinance and believe the design and architectural features needed for increasing inclusionary housing will enhance graceful aging-in-place.” diversity. Several comments addressed the need for regional cooperation in this area. “Diversity cannot be forced, it must be organic, but must be supported and encouraged.” • Several responses mentioned that Davidson feels racially homogeneous and economically “The Town is woefully segregated and non-diverse segmented. — much talk about supporting diversity, but • For people of color who currently live in town, actions are weak in this.” there tends to be a feeling of less inclusion. • There seems to be a divide between east and west Davidson. People living in the west side of town, particularly the black community, have felt neglected and believe the west side is disproportionately affected by development. • Several events over the past few years have been seen as divisive. Some respondents feel Davidson seems to have made great strides to try addressing division and divisive issues and value all of its residents, but there is still room for improvement. • Some saw a need for a greater balance in the number of workers who work and are able to live in town. • Many respondents recommended that we need to more clearly define what is meant by “diversity.” • Some respondents expressed an interest in more planning for aging in place.
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PRINCIPLE 6: MANAGE GROWTH Score: 4 .7 | Implementation: 3 .0 Principle 6 discusses growth management. SELECT QUOTES Common sentiments included the following: “Our public facilities and services are not apace • Respondents tended to believe development with our current state.” must occur, but it needs to be better assessed and controlled. “The town should focus on basic infrastructure needs (police, fire, rescue, waste management, • The general feeling is that there is too much etc.).” uncontrolled growth in outlying areas as well as overcrowding in schools. “Our infrastructure does not currently support the • There is not enough focus on improving existing overload of development.” infrastructure, like roadways, and not enough “The new fire station is great!” commercial development to support residents in certain parts of town or a more balanced tax “Road infrastructure throughout town cannot base. support the population boom, overcrowding is • New development throughout the region has becoming an issue.” increased traffic congestion. “Growth should be encouraged in areas with • Existing roads need to be resurfaced. infrastructure already in place.” • Several respondents expressed unease “There is little investment in economic development about the concept of high density and infill to provide a better balance in tax revenues to development. support public facilities and services. We are left • Others believe that more compact development with a restrictive budget that will never improve will contribute to increased walkability and without business growth.” neighbor interactions, which can benefit the community. “Our community cannot be vibrant or successful without economic development.” • The town needs more north-south alternatives and a way to get around the bottleneck of Davidson College. • Numerous responses stressed the importance of balanced economic development as a guiding principle. • Many respondents expressed frustration with the financial resources tied up in supporting Continuum. • People see that the town has taken steps in building infrastructure (Fire Station 2, 251 South Street, sidewalks, greenways), and acknowledge we need more work in this area. • Several responses indicated support for the town’s long-standing value of and renewed interest in growth management.
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PRINCIPLE 7: DESIGN Score: 4 .3 | Implementation: 3 .5 Principle 7 focuses on architecture and design. “Design Review Board is committed to doing the Common sentiments included the following: right thing. I appreciate their efforts.” • There is support for public art and more parks, “More parks, playgrounds and public spaces plazas, and public spaces, specifically more distributed throughout the town would be playgrounds, a town square, public tennis and appreciated.” basketball courts, and community gathering “Some of the recent built structures are at odds spaces. with the surrounding areas... They stand out and • A few community members think the town detract.” should require all new development to bury “Continue to foster good design and power lines to preserve a historic feel. implementation in new developments and public • A number of comments describe the importance spaces.” of building or design codes to address “Is there a way to get more urban/public art in the issues they see with teardowns and/or infill public spaces? Like wraps around utility boxes? Art development. at bus stops? Murals downtown? Sculpture?” • Many respondents emphasized support for the “Feel that there is a confusion between “old” Design Review Board citing the Design Review and “historic”. We should focus preservation on Board is an asset to the town. buildings/homes that are truly unique or that • There were a number of comments regarding contain a great deal of historical significance and historic preservation: many describing the are mostly original materials.” benefits of a more robust approach to historic “I think we do a decent job of preserving and preservation, while others cautioned that saving attempting to preserve our architecture and every building is neither feasible nor desirable. historical assets. More work is needed on ensuring • Numerous comments addressed the importance older buildings (residential and commercial) are of building design, including compatibility with repurposed/renovated instead of torn down.” surrounding uses. Respondents seemed split on “We need more community spaces and buildings their preference for newer architectural design for the people of the town to gather and use. Yes to versus more traditional design. more public art!” • Promoting more public art throughout the “Our zoning is superior to that of our regional community was highlighted as a key opportunity neighbors and we appreciate Davidson’s eye for moving forward, though this was not supported design.” by all. “Davidson has done a good overall job at keeping SELECT QUOTES the look/feel of the Town consistent with strict “The aesthetic of the newer development has zoning and appearance rules.” blended well with older designs, [I’m in favor of] using more eco-friendly and locally sourced building materials.”
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WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT DAVIDSON?
Survey respondents provided reactions to the (i.e. the “Davidson Way” of making decisions). question, “What do you love most about Davidson?” This also manifests in positive comments about Themes from respondent answers and a sampling of the town’s approach to design and its authentic/ their quoted answers are provided here. historic character.
• Davidson’s small-town character and community SELECT QUOTES feel is perhaps its most-valued asset. • Several responses cited the town’s quiet, “Its tradition of a small, cohesive community.” peaceful pace of life as important. Many “I love that young people can have some also cited safety as a key element of their independence in their hometown.” appreciation for Davidson. “I love how authentic it is. Whenever I go on • Numerous participants commended Davidson’s vacation, I come back and think how I wouldn’t collaborative approach to problem-solving, want to live anywhere else.” emphasizing the positive role that it’s community institutions, engaged citizenry, and inclusive/ “I love the neighborhood that I live in. My welcoming atmosphere can play in tackling local townhouse suits my lifestyle and there’s a small as well as regional issues. park (with trees) right across the street. I can take a • Being able to walk around town was identified as daily walk all around town and see familiar faces.” a cherished part of life in Davidson. “The fact that the downtown still functions as a • The college’s presence and role as a leading town center with businesses, public facilities, and institution offering world-class education, restaurants.” programs, and events is highly valued. “I love that I can walk or run anywhere at any time • Davidson’s downtown and Main Street continue and feel safe.” to be a treasured place, especially in the variety of local businesses and services offered. Further “I love our uniqueness and historical willingness to diversity of everyday services was desired by go our own way, eschewing cookie-cutter decisions some. and willingness to play a positive leadership role in • Many noted the positive role played by religious regional issues.” and non-profit institutions as significant to the “I love the small-town feel of Davidson and the town’s life. warmth that I often feel when in downtown • Access to rural areas and passive recreation Davidson. This is a place where people are invested opportunities continues to be important to in the community and truly want local businesses many. Many also praised trees as one of the to succeed.” town’s best features. “We love the walkability, unique restaurants and • The town’s access to regional destinations such shops, parks, and community events.” as Lake Norman, Charlotte, and the international airport is appealing to residents. “The neighborly feel and that I can walk around • Several people appreciated the variety of shared town and see and talk with my neighbors.” public spaces and places to gather in and around “It’s simply an enjoyable place to be.” downtown. “I most love that the Davidson community • Numerous responses cited the town’s unique (residents, churches, non-profits, businesses, and identity as a distinguishing factor, including in government) works on difficult challenges that both tangible (i.e. “oasis”) and intangible terms other communities do not even address.”
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WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE MAJOR CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FACING DAVIDSON TODAY AND OVER THE NEXT 10-20 YEARS? Survey respondents also provided reactions to the question, “What do you think are the next challenges and opportunities facing Davidson today and over the next 10-20 years?” Themes from respondent answers and a sampling of their quoted answers are provided here.
Challenges • Davidson’s ability to manage its future growth • Many commented on a loss of civility in local was listed repeatedly as the biggest challenge. discourse and underscored the need to For many, this includes addressing the timing of reestablish respectful patterns of dialogue. infrastructure, development, and traffic issues. SELECT QUOTES • Respondents also stressed the importance of housing affordability and access. Several “The infrastructure, specifically the roads, have not identified existing residents, millennials, and kept up with the population (traffic) growth.” people who work but do not live in Davidson as “Access to affordable housing for people who work key groups on which to focus. in Davidson and also for the aging population who • Concerns about school facilities and want to stay in Davidson.” overcrowding were mentioned a lot. Some saw the high number of charter and private schools “The major challenges I see are the lack of diversity in town as detrimental to community. that will seemingly get worse as the cost of living • Numerous comments emphasized the goes up.” importance of fiscal responsibility moving “Maintaining a civil discourse about key issues.” forward, with many viewing the town’s financial obligations to Continuum as a significant “The challenge is older people on the west side of restraint. town are being taxed out of their homes.” • Respondents generally cautioned against too “Minimizing tear down houses and sub-dividing much development and/or growth, citing the lots in older residential areas.” encroachment of growth from Charlotte as a concern. “Managing the goal of walkable and usable space • The incompatibility of new development downtown and the very dense traffic pattern with existing development featured in many flowing through the central part of town.” comments. Comments frequently noted teardowns/infill of single-family home lots to be a major reason for this issue. • Various responses said that it was important to preserve existing as well as create new open spaces. Maintaining/establishing a healthy tree canopy is also a challenge many identified.
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WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE MAJOR CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FACING DAVIDSON TODAY AND OVER THE NEXT 10-20 YEARS?
Opportunities SELECT QUOTES • Many were optimistic about Davidson’s ability “To continue to grow and keep its personality while to be a regional leader in terms of open space providing opportunities for new businesses and creation, water quality protection, and green living spaces to come into the center of town, to design. bring in a greater economic diversity.” • A number of comments also viewed regional cooperation on transportation, housing, and “Because of the desire to develop in and around employment as critical to the town’s success. Davidson there is a big opportunity to push • Support of the local business community, for green infrastructure, green building and including independent or home-grown sustainable design to ensure our natural resources enterprises, should be a focus for the town in the are preserved.” coming years. “The Town must be much more proactive in engaging effectively with its municipal neighbors on various key regional matters.”
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Conclusion
NEXT STEPS The project team is excited about the response from community members to date – the consultants felt the number of participants was “quite high” compared to other communities. There is a growing momentum in engagement, a testament to Davidson’s community members’ commitment to creating a new vision for the town. After the first phase of engagement concluded in December 2018, the town hosted a Conversations on What’s Next workshop on January 17, 2019 at Davidson College. Results from that round of public input and the subsequent online survey will be distributed in a second public engagement report.
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Appendices
DAVIDSON’S GENERAL PLANNING APPENDIX 1 PRINCIPLES APPENDIX 2 EXPLORATION SURVEY EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC APPENDIX 3 COMMENTS
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26 Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report APPENDIX 1: DAVIDSON’S GENERAL PLANNING PRINCIPLES 1. We must preserve Davidson’s character and sense of community. The essence of Davidson is that residents know their neighbors and interact with them in a variety of well-designed settings. This sense of community is enhanced by: • Compact developments with community open space • A street, sidewalk, and greenway network that knits the community together • Engaging public spaces • A walkable and historic downtown • Neighborhoods welcoming to all citizens • Neighborhoods as integral parts of town 2. We must preserve and enhance Davidson’s unique downtown. The presence of our cherished downtown has always contributed to the quality of life of our residents. This valuable asset will remain viable if we: • Capitalize on its status as Davidson’s social and civic center • Encourage a mix of uses in each building • Provide a variety of retail and services to meet citizens’ needs • Provide compelling areas for citizens to congregate • Strengthen existing businesses while encouraging new businesses • Maintain its walkability and increase its bikability 3. We must encourage alternative means of active transportation. The built environment can enhance the use of alternatives to the car and increase our physical health. We will make it preferable to do some of life’s activities without driving by: • Development and redevelopment in walkable, mixed-use, connected neighborhoods • Planning commercial centers so walking, bicycling, and riding public transit to these destinations are viable options • New greenway, bike, and sidewalk connections to existing developments • Creating streets that give preference to cyclists and pedestrians
4. We must use our scarce land resources wisely. The natural environment enhances our quality of life, both physically and socially. We will preserve this irreplaceable asset for future generations by: • Preserving rural views, significant hardwood forests, farmland, wildlife habitats, rock outcroppings, parkland, and watersheds in their pristine form • Balancing natural habitat with active and passive recreational opportunities in our preserved open space Encouraging development that uses green design, energy conservation, and flexible spaces • Ensuring that development builds up and not out 5. We must create an environment that fosters diversity. We will create a community where all persons are welcome and are able to fully and safely participate in community life. To encourage diversity of all economic levels, all races and ethnic groups, all ages, and all physical and mental abilities we will: • Provide a mixture of housing types and prices in every neighborhood • Support our citizens who wish to age in place by employing universal design and accessibility principles • Encourage economic opportunities at all income levels and all abilities • Preserve our cultural heritage 6. We must manage growth so the town can provide public facilities and services apace with development We will create a community where all persons are welcome and are able to fully and safely participate in community life. To encourage diversity of all economic levels, all races and ethnic groups, all ages, and all physical and mental abilities we will: • Establishment and maintenance of an adequate commercial tax base • A healthy diversity of uses in walkable, compact neighborhoods • Alternative transportation options between destinations • Encouragement of economic growth without jeopardizing our sense of community • Decisions based on the long-term goals of the comprehensive plan rather than a short-term benefit 7. We must enhance our quality of life through architecture and design. Livable environments include well- designed buildings, a dynamic public realm, and seamless connections between the two. This means that: • Private buildings and public infrastructure must work together to shape public space and to build community character • We will preserve our historical assets • The design of our public spaces, parks, and plazas will encourage social interaction, cultural experiences, and recreational opportunities • Public art will animate our civic spaces APPENDIX 2: EXPLORATION SURVEY Share your ideas today by taking the exploration survey. This survey helps get the conversation started about what’s next for Davidson. It is an opportunity for the planning team to gather initial input and feedback from the community about the town’s existing seven planning principles, which enhance the quality of life for Davidson’s residents. Davidson’s Planning Principles were implemented in 2001 to guide decisions on physical changes and public investments in the community. The principles help create the Davidson that exists today by managing growth and requiring excellent design. What’s Next is kicking off with an exploration of these principles.
Directions: For each of the town’s Planning Principles below, circle your level of support for the principle and then how successfully you think the principle has been implemented. In the text box below, provide thoughts, comments, or additions you have for the principle. 1. We must preserve Davidson’s character and sense of community. How strongly do you support Principle 1? How successfully has Principle 1 been implemented?
DO 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 NOT FULL NOT VERY SUPPORT SUPPORT SUCCESSFUL SUCCESSFUL
Additional Feedback on Principle 1: ______2. We must preserve and enhance Davidson’s unique downtown. How strongly do you support Principle 2? How successfully has Principle 2 been implemented?
DO 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 NOT FULL NOT VERY SUPPORT SUPPORT SUCCESSFUL SUCCESSFUL
Additional Feedback on Principle 2: ______3. We must encourage alternative means of active transportation. How strongly do you support Principle 3? How successfully has Principle 3 been implemented?
DO 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 NOT FULL NOT VERY SUPPORT SUPPORT SUCCESSFUL SUCCESSFUL
Additional Feedback on Principle 3: ______4. We must use our scarce land resources wisely. How strongly do you support Principle 4? How successfully has Principle 4 been implemented?
DO 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 NOT FULL NOT VERY SUPPORT SUPPORT SUCCESSFUL SUCCESSFUL
Additional Feedback on Principle 4: ______5. We must create an environment that fosters diversity. How strongly do you support Principle 5? How successfully has Principle 5 been implemented?
DO 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 NOT FULL NOT VERY SUPPORT SUPPORT SUCCESSFUL SUCCESSFUL
Additional Feedback on Principle 5: ______Activity continues on back 6. We must manage growth so the town can provide public facilities and services apace with development. How strongly do you support Principle 6? How successfully has Principle 6 been implemented?
DO 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 NOT FULL NOT VERY SUPPORT SUPPORT SUCCESSFUL SUCCESSFUL
Additional Feedback on Principle 6: ______
7. We must enhance our quality of life through architecture and design. How strongly do you support Principle 7? How successfully has Principle 7 been implemented?
DO 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 NOT FULL NOT VERY SUPPORT SUPPORT SUCCESSFUL SUCCESSFUL
Additional Feedback on Principle 7: ______
Assets & Challenges 1. What do you love most about Davidson? ______2. What do you think are the major challenges and opportunities facing Davidson today and over the next 10-20 years? ______
Tell Us About Yourself
Email: ______1. What is your age?
[ ] under 18 [ ] 25-34 years [ ] 45-54 years [ ] 65-74 [ ] 18-24 years [ ] 35-44 years [ ] 55-64 years [ ] over 75
2. How long have you lived in Davidson
[ ] Less than 1 year [ ] 6-10 years [ ] more than 20 years [ ] 1-5 years [ ] 11-20 years
3. Where do you live? ______
4. Where do you work or go to school? ______5. Additional Comments (Optional): ______
Thank you for completing this survey and participating in the What’s Next process!
Please return your completed survey to the front desk at Davidson Town Hall (attn: Cristina Shaul) or mail to Cristina Shaul at P.O. Box 579 Davidson, NC 28036 by December 14. APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS | Principle 1
Additional Feedback on Principle 1 Preserve however move with the times and surrounding communities The Planning Department for the past 20 years has been horrible. Their devotion to density and new urbanism is not reflective of what the community desires. The lack of ethical behavior (conflicts of interests) by prior Board of Commissioners and MI Connection purchase has been extremely damaging to our Town morale and created distrust. Real community character is acheived when people talk and listen to each other Traffic is making the town unwalkable. Character of town is being destroyed by development over-stressing transportation infrastructure. Just take a walk on Woodland, Greenway, and Spring Streets. Woodland Street has become Alternate 115. Home builders have been clear cutting, sub-divide and squeeze large homes onto the small lots. The amount of litter deposited on our streets is just another symptom of how much the town has changed. You ruined the town with the circles at 30 Concord St has chaotic traffic, historic downtown actually has a bunch of closed stores; older health food market is empty; some places near ice house also empty "Character" and "Community are two different things -- take out the word "historic" and the rest is all about community, which I do strongly support. It's nice to live in a small town where many people know each other. However, there are some neighborhoods that are still segregated and it's hard to believe they feel any sense of community with other neighborhoods in Davidson. Perhaps a part of the unwelcome• atmosphere in the downtown district is due to the pricey shops and restaurants. Davidson has an elitist "talk only" attitude towards minorities and lower income citizens. It needs to start walking the talk! Greenways being compromised by multiple developments. Compact development may impact the lives of some via gentrification Open spaces are being filled with both residential and business development. Too much density. Loss of trees, open space and a variety of housing. We cannot preserve the character of Davidson by allowing developers to buy fine old hoses, tear them down, and then put up 2 houses on the lot. Reference what is going on on South and Woodland Streets. It is impossible to get to Fisher Farm Park by bike or foot without endangering your life on the road Dump financial support of Continum (formerly MI connections) money much better spent on Principle 1 support and funding. traffic through the downtown has become incredibly heavy, development has occurred w/out regard to preserving open/public space Totally selliing out our town's affordable housing in high-end etj devleopments and village infill scrape-off, split-the-lot for two starter castle developments. The architecture of the new starter castles on Woodland, South, Greenway is a farce, a self-parody. Davidson's character is NOT super- sized ego houses with exterion night lighting that makes them look like th Holiday Inn Express. We need modest houses, GREEN footprints (how about a green energy code?), affordable duplexes and triplexes in all town areas. I feel like we're watching the mega-sellout to developers. (I've been here for 30 years, my wife started here in 1980.)
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Intense inward focus has fostered a sense of exclusivity which has lead to an isolation from surrounding communities. When the previous Board (strongly encouraged by staff) preemptively rezoned large swaths of rural area as part of the RAP for higher density developmnent, they did great harm to this principle. Excessive growth is hurting us. There are too many cars and traffic through downtown/walkable areas. The new apartments out at the roundabouts make walking around Harris Teeter and Sabi area dangerous. we failed to improve the downtown public spaces specifically the farmers market space and others when the catalyst project was abandoned. We also rejected a proposal for the Beaty street property that would have well served the neighborhood that killed the project. Read the first bullet in Principle 1 next to this questions. Our sense of community is protected by repeating what was done before we arrived. We had a downtown that served many of our needs without many car trips. We need to repeat that form as we grow. The circles at 30 are a good example. Bailey Springs, Bradford, River Run and the Westmoreland development are not. None of the residents in those neighborhoods are near services and must drive to everything. Riding in a car dose not preserve character and sense of community. I do not support compact development even with open space The village infill area is being destroyed by lot subdivision and tree-cutting to build huge houses that tower over the neighbors and the hoses are 5 feet off the property line -- way too close. Village infill should have a zoning overlay with 15 foot setbacks to protect trees and the character of the neighborhood. The town needs to require the planning director to protect trees, wooded areas and pedestrians and bicycles. Planning has lacked cohesion and has catered to builders and developers for many years. I'm not sure we have the right people in our Planning Department. I think that some developers have been allowed to squeeze two houses on small lots and often these houses don't have adequate front lawns. Consequently a lot of the village feel is lost. I fear an acceleration of development will bring an unplanned for wave of additional people that the town can't handle. Density as a means to an end is not a goal I do not support It is beyond the town's charter to force its citizens to interact with each other. This is a free country. Principle 1 is the opposite of a free people doing what they, in their best judgement, chose to do. The town is not in a position to tell me with whom I should interact. That is a totalitarian state mentality and has no place in our town. The lack of infrastructure as an inclusion in this principle is creating havoc. Before one could answer this truthfully, one would need to know the definition of Davidson. Is is the center city, the expanded area include developments such as River Run or does it include all of these and what is left of the rural ETJ? Odd. The first bullet point of preservation includes the word developments. Too much infill with giant houses too close together that look nothing like the previous community. Streets so small that its dangerous to drive on especially with people parked on both sides and no sidewalks. When streets are too compact, cars and bicycles have issues. Many of our quiet neighborhood streets have turned into thruways due to connectivity and they are no longer safe for children to play. Thank goodness for the moratorium and subsequent ordinance in the 1990's, or this would be a
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 2 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS | Principle 1 different place. Previous staff and boards have allowed developers to do what they want without adequately assessing the impact to existing residents or neighborhoods Out of control high density housing. Total failure to manage traffic flow. Total failure to establish and ensure runner/cyclist safety. Recent development projects definitely do not preserve Davidson's character. And DPO is not written to protect residents' character and sense of community as evidenced by allowing commissioners to vote approval to build a 4-story hotel 130 feet from children's bedroom windows, backyard and play equipment. While the affluent residents and previous commissioners enjoy their sense of community and Davidson's character, the less affluent residents are being denied the same, equal treatment. It is disgustingly discriminatory, especially for "NC's richest town." And the Linden is a complete disgrace to Davidson's character, as well. The West Branch development counters Principle 1 at multiple levels--the Greenway is destroyed--- -not walkable to downtown--no sidewalks were needed--dangerous--open space eliminated by almost no buffeer Davidson is growing way too fast and is way too expensive to promote diversity. The small town feel is no longer. Most of the six bullet points that "enhance" do not exist and never have in Davidson so cannot be preserved. Too much over construction on greenway has taken away from community. Need more public spaces. The West Branch development has ruined the greenway. What was once a beautiful walk through nature, has turned into a muddy slop through construction. A much better job could have been done to preserve the beauty of the greenway while still adding houses. don't cut down trees Kids on the same street don't go to the same schools; we don't promote riding a bike to school; we spend money on plans like this and don't connect fragmented sidewalks that would connect people. Way too much development fueled by former Mayor and Commissioners without having the necessary infrastructure (roads, schools, etc.) in place. Lack of focus on Davidson's historic West Davidson community, particularly the long-standing African-American citizens has resulted in many moving out of Davidson, in addition to cost of living in Davidson concerns. Adding way too many homes way too close together We are not providing enough diversity. Low income housing is diappearing. Too much building; slowing subdivision of properties. I see homogenization happening pretty quickly i.e. the new apartments, housing complexes and developments. There has been challenges with the sidewalks in Davidson. There are specific areas that do not have sidewalks or it is difficult to cross streets due to lack of sidewalks. Hundreds of Identical houses being built of former farmland or woods is not conducive to character or a neighborhood. The Town is becoming less walkable due to more traffic and safety concerns. Quit cutting down trees.
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Traffic, congestion, and a general non-friendly demeanor (honking when someone doesn't drive right away; blocking intersections during red lights) have had a negative impact on Davidson There is a lot of opportunity to keep the character and update the town as needed. The neighborhoods along Concord Rd do not feel like integral parts of the town. Extending the sidewalks on both sides of Concord Rd would help greatly. Maybe also having some parts of the town events take place in the open spaces of some of those neighborhoods could help. Davidson would benefit from having public tennis courts or a public space with some games like Bocce ball, bean toss ... I think of the Main Street bookstore when I think of this principle. I would like to know that it and Summit, places people go to meet, will remain. The traffic on Main Street is an obvious problem that makes walking about near those places difficult. I'm glad it thriving and that there's more night life. But I hope the old relics will remain. There has been too much over development lately which is causing traffic congestion and will eventually overcrowd local public schools More sidewalks needed desperately (Grey Road); Beaty St. Park will help immensely. all is well down but the sidewalks need to be extended much much further out to all parts of Davidson - Gray Rd, Shearers Rd, 115. This would make such a difference transforming away from the fast driving, motor speedway feel the second you get off main st. Too many apartments and the possible building of a hotel. Traffic is already horrible Less development in the area - the roads are becoming too congested The Wade building, the CVS and the Flatiron building are totally out of character with the downtown This town is being taken advantage of by builders who place their own fiscal interests above all else. Davidson has historically been about more than high property values. This is becoming less and less true. There are too many residential developments going up. More people takes away from the sense of character and small town appeal. The harm has coming from previous Boards and planners so to get back to the core beliefs some areas will need to be rolled back Selfish citizen behavior - both individual and groups (like Save Davidson) have threatened our sense of community. fully support There is far too much residential construction in Davidson right now. The town is becoming congested and we no longer know our neighbors. The Town should start to focus on building office buildings or other areas for residents to work. Historical lack of funding for parks and other community amenities I think the implementation to date has been okay but really needs to be the focus moving forward. We also need to require all new developments (at a minimum) to bury power lines to improve the sight lines and attractiveness of our town. Davidson's character is its strongest asset. Although I work in uptown Charlotte, whenever I tell friends I live in Davidson their reply is usually along the lines of, "I love it up there. It's so dreamy." I agree! That said, I think Davidson has a long way to go as it strives to create neighborhoods welcoming to all citizens. The town does a great job of providing affordable housing options to lower income families, but the middle class is being increasingly priced out.
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Given the additional population, Davidson has done well to manage growth. Will continue to present challenges. We're getting back on track from previous years - congrats for allowing resident input continue to focus on walkability Not sure that Summers Walk neighborhood is integral part of town. Allowing developers to buy their way out of the requirement to include a portion of affordable housing in their developments makes Davidson inaccessible to people who would otherwise be assets in our community, such as teachers. We are not being successful at providing affordable housing. It's what makes Davidson special. Many people from other towns will tell you that Davidson is special. Let's keep it that way for future residents. I think Davidson is already wonderful Because of this past year, we are back on track As a person who moved to Davidson for a job, and as a person of color - it appears that "preserve" means - less diversity. I have talked to older African American residents who were born and raised here - and share that Davidson has "changed" - meaning it has become more segregated and unwelcoming to residents of color. Too many (save Davidson types) think this means all change is bad. hard for low/middle class families to now live here This town has been flooded by terrible development that does not reflect the town character. The power line development is full of terribly designed, high density development with little to no architectural value. This is a gateway to our town and the first impression of what Davidson has allowed to happen - this development alone is shameful - I wish it were the last example of poor quality, i attention to detail and mass development, but it is not. Our town is littered by development now that places more emphasis on tax revenue and developer interests than that of the citizens goals and desires for this town. Shame on Davidson for allowing this type of development to be pushed on this quaint, beautiful town. Shame. Agree, but are we being honest about what this means and compromises this objective may require sidewalk and greenway network could be improved; more compact and in-fill development to preserve open space Would like to see a town square in addition to the town green, like some European town design Community is disconnected and disjointed due to a decided lack of awareness and sensitivity We must preserve Davidson's character and sense of community with financial help? GRANT for the Black community (Low income families). Help, financial a grant is needed to preserve hisotry The folks on the west side have been given the shaft by the Town (i.e. Woodies and the hotel) Community seems more fractured than ever before following the 2017 election. Long-time residents vs. newer residents; college town vs. suburb; new urbanism vs. traditional growth, etc. Explosive growth is creating tensions and leading to drawbridge mentality. Check the $1.3million house being planned for 310 Walnut - not remotely like the rest of the block. Davidson will soon be only for the ultra-wealthy. Residents on the West side are ignored and neglected I think the past election did wonders for unifying people around a common voice of save Davidson. I'd like to continue along that vein.
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There are pockets of strong community feelings -- in some neighborhoods (e.g., McConnell), in some organizations (churches and schools), in some public locations (e.g., farmer's market), but not all residents participate in any of those and I fear they do not feel included in "community." The last Board did not govern with the public's input. Divisiveness and mean spirited voices are something new and destructive to the community It would be nice if this applied to surrounding Davidson areas. Depends on how they are interested in accomplishing this. Your answer wording is a bit leading. "How strongly..." must balance economic viability with this too. we have pretty much priced many people out from living here More inclusive sense of community - more initiative and proactive expansion and inclusion of all people who live in Davidson Davidson is growing, but not too much. Davidson's black residents aren't well incorporated into the visible face of Davidson community. The visible face is embarrassingly wh overwhelmingly white. Too much growth/too fast Town assmebly comprising of several developers sold the town out for their own pockets,nallowing muktiple homes now being multiple lots being built on single lots, and allwing big "cookie cutter" developers in ... have cimpletelt ruined the uniqueness of Davidson - for their own benefit Thankfully the new elected officials stopped some of the ridiculous plans. But I'm afraid that we will become even more overcrowded if we continue to have such a big planning dept. we don't need a planning staff the size we have now. We don't have any more rooms in our schools or on our roads. Just pause and take care of the infrastructure we currently have. If we expand the infrastructure, the. Approve more homes. Please keep in mind that today, in addition to the types of in-person interaction to which this principle speaks, much of Davidson's community interaction occurs on social media. Save Davidson, for example, has a Facebook membership equal to about 20 percent of the town's population. The interaction in these virtual spaces remains exceptionally uncivil and nasty, and unfortunately this dynamic directly affects the 'real world' sense of community in Davidson, which as a result in the last couple years has devolved from neighborly and nice toward me-first and mean. Frankly, there's a short list of about a dozen citizens who have driven much of this shift, but they set the tone for a great many others. Perhaps the mayor/board could directly sit down with some of them to try to stop or reduce the destructive behavior. Community meals are a good start, but more direct intervention is needed. I live in the Cottages at Deer Park and have been watching a number of older families being bought out and leaving the area. This is impacting the diversity of Davidson. Development in the downtown Davidson neighborhoods must be better thought out and planned. Too much growth without infrastructure improvements. Excessive growth may inc the tax base but lowers the quality of life for all of us. Too much development; there are ~400 new homes going in across the road from us opposite River Run. How will the roads, circles and parking handle the ~1200 residents living there? Too much politics and old school thinking poses house value problems, constant traffic issues and TOO much building. We are overrun by surrounding communities; no one really knows each other. Traffic has definitely
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 6 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS | Principle 1 changed the character Too much new development With neighborhood like Summer Walk I don't see how they are connected to the town Too many houses being torn down and replaced with McMansions Smart growth without historic preservation is not really smart growth if the goal of our "smart growth" philosophy is to preserve Davidson's character and sense of community. We have to be as intentional in our land use and zoning around historic preservation as we are about "New Urbanism" principles. If we don't focus on historic preservation, and lose site of the forest for the "trees of New Urbanism principles", then we'll get pseudo Craftsman "bungaloids" and other phony historic-looking buildings, which may be "textbook correct" on all the checklist items on the New Urbanism scorecard, but we will have lost all that is authentic about Davidson, and become indistinguishable from new places like Birkdale which try so hard to replicate what we already have that's real. The Davidson of today is very different from the Davidson of 2001. I don't think it's possible to maintain some sense of the community given the present size and far-flung developments. I am hopeful that the current town board will do better at this than the previous one did "Compact developments" seems open to interpretation, and could be construed to mean high density, which I don't think is the essence of this principle. Too much growth and taking away character from mega houses being built in areas that there were not. Th;e alternative transport net remains a work in progress. Future implementation of Principle 1 should conform to change in policy direction explicit in 2017 elections. To many new large developments with houses built closely together. Need new developments to feel like they were original to the town More public input needed on new housing developments. Until this current board, I have not felt like principle 1 was given priority. I felt like a select group of community members were valued and supported but not all. With the current board and mayor I feel that the inclusiveness of everyone's voices is valued. Would love a sidewalk on Potts street where it connects to Main Street OR a sidewalk on Main Street by the bridge near Potts street. It would be great to be able to walk to the YMCA. Preserving Davidson's character, while extremely important, should not mean a halt to all development. Recently elected town leadership has taken positive steps in this direction. Too much uncontrolled growth in outlying areas without consideration for traffic and its impact on existing residents Serious concerns about new neighborhoods which are popping up and will overcrowd schools. I have already seen increased traffic patterns around town. We need a community center. I am hoping that the new South Street building will not only be used for additional town administration offices, but will be used for classes and group get-togethers. The existing Parks and Recreation building is tiny. That really limits what Parks and Rec can offer the people of the town. Not sure that some of the new developments under way fall into the compact category. There is not enough affordable housing so not all neighborhoods are welcoming to all citizens. Stark class/neighborhood separation
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The town has become too congested although save Davidson campaign was successful in preserving rumor mill, sad such a. aggressive campaign had to happen for the proposed development to not happen Segregated neighborhood development has generated neighborhood sense of community, notably in River run and McConnell. As the town grows through annexation, it's tough to so this in outer lying neighborhoods. Davidson East, River Run, etc. really seem like Charlotte suburbs, not Davidson neighborhoods. In the past 10 years our planning has seemed more focused on encouraging new urbanism instead of preserving SMALL TOWN, non-dense community I feel Principle 1 has been most successfully implemented on the commercial and public space side. More could be done to promote and develop neighborhoods that are welcoming to all citizens and that are integral parts of town. The Park at Beaty is, in my opinion, a missed opportunity in this regard. Lately, the Principle 1 has taken a back seat The principle is clearly stated; however, the application is uneven. Some new developments are not compact, there are still streets with no sidewalks, there are dead end roads that could be connected, many neighborhoods are restricted to those with substantial wealth, and some neighborhoods, especially those to the east are not viewed as integral parts of the town. The intention is excellent; the application is weak. I think the town could do a better job of helping newcomers feel a part of the community. There's a strong "old guard" that seems to have a lot of sway over what's going on. Would be good to find ways of helping new folks feel like they have a say. Traffic management and creating housing solutions for an inclusive community are not up to snuff Main Street area has been handled well, but too much development is happening, thus creating excessive traffic and overcrowiding in schools. The Town has done a good job preserving Davidson's character in the Historic district for the most part. Building in the residential areas has gotten out of control. too much new housing leads to too many vehicles on single-lane roads there are way too many new residential neighborhoods building up all around us.. around river run... Yuk and traffic mess Continue to provide opportunities to engage newcomers (e.g. Civics 101, etc.). Davidson sometimes suffers from small town "cliqueshness". streets and sidewalks are not pedestrian, especially biker-safe or efficient. Greenway paths are decimated by poor planning from developers/town and poor oversight from town. Davidson is NOT a biker friendly community right now. Astronomically high property taxes further erode the character and sense of community. Also, there is a serious lack of community rec space. No town basketball courts or public swimming. The new residential project on Davidson Concord road is a pretty big step back for the community. Track housing should be banned at all costs in the future. It makes Davidson look like anytown USA. This coming from someone who only moved here in May 2018 :( Newer developments are not very compact or connected to each other. Public spaces are functional, but not particularly engaging. Too much residential development on lots that are too small
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The sidewalk on Concord road is too close to the road and the speed limit is too high to feel safe with young kids walking or riding their bikes. Bigger or separated sidewalks and a speed limit of 25 all the way from the traffic circle to downtown would be great. Too many school options. Save Davidson group is unhealthy. Growing too fast where roads cannot support growth. People are forced to cut through residential neighborhoods creating a lot of traffic flow We still have divisions in the community. More activities that bring us all together. Davidson's character grows organically from it's sense of community. Preserving "character" as a goal seems too stodgy. Community is more important. Criticism: Griffin St. between the circles off 77 and main street is not as walkable as it should be. Gentrification is obviously an issue re. bullet point 5. I think we should preserve Davidson's character and community, but also strengthen and improve it, particularly in regard to making Davidson a more inclusive, diverse community. I have respect and gratitude for the good work and commitments of the mayor, Town Board and management, but the recent efforts to "save Davidson," in my mind, have undermined rather than supported our town's highest ideals and community values. "compact developments" sounds like high density I think the main issue to address has to be infrastructure and roads as traffic is definitely decreasing Davidson's character asa small town. It's hard to enjoy events like Christmas in Davidson now b/c they are too big. Maybe start earlier in the week or hold for more days to thin out the crowds? Davidson has improved as it has grown, and aside from some growing pains through certain localized pockets of confusion and misinformation, I believe the majority of Davidson is still Davidson in its character and appreciation and sense of community. I feel like the town has done a great job of preserving Davidson's character but recently there seems to be some friction at the community level. always room for improvement Too many vacant shops on Maine street make Davidson appear in peril. If you can get people out of their cars, they will know their community better. No multi-family. No large tract developments Great sense of Community but we may loose the character if growth isn't carefullly controlled. extend greenways, bike and walking path/sidewalk on Grey Road from Concord Road to Fisher Farm/Habersham Davidson is a great place to live. We will lose our character if we allow out of town developers, who do not care about our town at all, pressure the planning department into allowing them to break the ordinances. Some of the SaveDavidson folks need to be reminded about what community means, respectiveful civic engagement. This a great principle, and our planning activity has supported it for decades. I worry that it is in danger now, from a growing focus on protecting "quality of life" as a justification for making the town unaffordable and homogeneous. I've never heard anyone say they moved to Davidson because of what they thought it might become. People m ove here because of all we enjoy today. The key is managing the change and pressures our community faces.
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Pursuit of tenants for empty spaces on Depot St and at Sadler Square would be helpful. Definitely in favor of walking/biking paths that tie town together even better... (i.e. Gray Road, bridge across to Davidson Landing, etc.) Additional greenway extensions and more public spaces would be beneficial. Davidson appears to have done a much better job in my opinion that either Cornelius or Huntersville; the charm of our downtown area is far superior. Keep Davidson a forward-thinking, progressive and ethical destination for the region! We need additional work on street sidewalk, and greenway network. Also, neighborhood layouts are welcoming, but not all citizens are. Davidson has done an excellent job of allowing new development in a manner that fits with its existing buildings. Its Main Street will always be its most special place, but it has evolved both here and in other areas in a way that is healthy and realistic. Even the interstate area looks different (in a good way) from any other interstate exits. This principle's sub-points focus on physical things, but the first paragraph also talks about things like community activities. Should the sub-points mention things like "host community-centered events?" A lot of the programming that the town does helps to build community - Christmas in Davidson, festivals, and other fun events like the cookie trail. The town always does a great job planning and managing these things and they help contribute to our character and sense of community. We could improve intra and inter neighborhood walkability. Extending greenways is helpful, but there are still many "historic" (rather than new) neighborhoods that lack walkability despite proximity to the center of town. We also do not have a lot of mixed-income neighborhoods. For the most part, our neighborhoods separate rather than combine people with different economic circumstances. More book shares and greeways necessary to achieve this principle. Making sure that high traffic parts of town are connected through good quality sidewalks and miulit0use paths would add to the sense of community. Additional, non-walkable housing development "in" Davidson will make principle 1 much more difficult to maintain Davidson has done a great job protecting the Town's character, making it a place that's attractive to current and potential residents. Neighbors lack economic diversity. Need for more greenway and sidewalk connectivity. Please bring standard fast food and other quick food restaurants to Davidson. It feels like we are losing this sense of character and community. Davidson's diversity and welcoming spirit feel like they are declining. In summit this morning when an older gentleman was completely rude & uninviting to Davidson college students. There is a lot of bias in this town towards people and practices different from their own. This is a place where being different sets you apart. Character has changed because you no longer know everyone feeling has disappeared. So much traffic, no parking makes one think twice about participating in any activities in town. Small town feel is gone. The drive for affordable housing is changing the very fabric of Davidson. Davidson does not need more neighborhoods of cookie cutter houses continuing to eat away our green space and over crowd our town.
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It feels like there are two Davidsons: River Run-like subdivisions and the college and town itself. It's not clear that they're really integrated. Please let us live in peace and not let PC people take away our rights to a comprehensive plan to keep our community safe from drugs, prostitution and property crimes. We came here and set a living standard so please do not allow political hustlers and media parasites do destroy our lives. The challenge will be the sub points that define what is meant by character and sense of community. I personally believe that well thought out and intentional design can foster strong sense of community. In short, place matters. Are we building space that caters to the automobile or the pedestrian. Yes we must live with both and use both, but what is our primary design?• I also agree with the word compact. I know others may not, but the idea of compact helps foster walkability. It forces people to rub shoulders. I also believe part of Davidson's character is the small town character. The word compact carries some of these connotations, but not completely. This would move from strategic to tactical in how we setup planning ordinances around building height and use. For example, should planning ordinances lean toward foot height or floor height, or both? (I lean toward both. I.E no more than 4 stories, and no more than so-many feet). Sense of community of Davidson strongly tied to walkability but as town grows fewer and fewer residents have access to walkable routes into town. I would also like to see a sense of community on the westside. The erosion of the rural side of Davidson is changing the face of the community--and not for the better. Track / community housing lacks character surrounding town of Davidson. Too much development. New roads and buildings and companies moving in is impacting sense of community. I think this principle is interpreted in different ways by different constituencies. I view Davidson's character and sense of community as founded upon diversity ("neighborhoods welcoming to all citizens"), small town warmth, support for Davidson College and education in general and good planning principles. Others may view this in more of an exclusionary manner -- let's keep the Town "as is". I think that the sense of community is strong on the East Side of Davidson (although hurt by the split in the Town created by varying support for Save Davidson principles) but not on the West Side. Has been successful in the downtown area - not thrilled with all the development West of town on Davidson Concord Rd. Sidewalks and keeping Davidson's communities in walking distance is critical. Building more subdivisions far our in the farm lands that people have to use cars to get to just causes more environmental destruction. Some planning department choices have damaged the sense of community. Development has not taken roads and infrastructure into account and it feels more congested and stressed than bucolic and relaxed. need more sidewalks. need to be sensitive to what types of development are next to existing neighborhoods and make it complementary Allow low cost housing for only the elderly and handicapped. Lead the way and keep Section 8 criminals and inattentive parents in other communities. the town should not allow two houses to be built on lots designed for one. developers cut all the trees and jam 2 mcmansions on a postage stamp sized lot
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 11 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS | Principle 1 when we built our home we had to position it back from the street to match the other homes. on the new spring- south corner this house is almost to the street. too much house, too small a lot. makes money for the builder Growth needs to be slowed down Some new developments which were allowed to be reasoned such as Narrow Passage and Westmoreland Farm to not exemplify this principal. Great job over the long term, but I'm concerned about a)level of development recently and b)tear down in neighborhods But the outside forces (developers) are certainly not for Principle one. My fear is they have the clout and the town will acquiesce Our planning heritage is something to be proud of. We need to embrace it, not run away from it. I also hope that we limit the number of new housing developments in favor of green space and trees. I am sad about how new developments are encroaching on the Greenways and flooding the walkways with red clay from the removal of trees. Love the small business shops, adds to the sense of community. Sensing a divide between east and west davidson A good job overall but one builder has been exploiting sq footage to acreage ratio in downtown with new construction. This allows oversized homes which destroys character. Fortunately most builders have done a good job with scale with the exception of one. As a resident of Davidson Pointe, I feel we are an often forgotten neighborhood. With some minor exceptions, this has been done well. You only have to look at our neighboring towns to see how it could have gone wrong. Main Street has preserved its charm beautifully but the cookie cutter eye sore homes popping up on the outskirts of town are not preserving the character The downtown has been largely preserved but some of the growth outside the downtown got out of control New residential communities and heavy traffic offer new challenges to Davidson's character I think that the town has done a good job with keeping the Character of Davidson As long as that doesn't imply that we don't welcome newcomers and new ideas. Sometimes people who want to "conserve" a sense of identity really mean that they aren't open to new ideas or new people (especially different races, sexual identity, etc.). We need to be a progressive community which welcomes on. Activities are planned to encourage town use and allow citizens to engage with one another. There have not been inordinately tall building place around the downtown area thereby preserving the charm of Main Street. The buildings there are tasteful and in alignment with the original architecture of the college. I think the town does a great idea promoting its citizens to get out and about to face interactions with people new people old friends and acquaintances. the opportunity is there to go out and be part of the community if you want to. I moved here just a few months ago because of the town's character. We love it, and we support anything that helps preserve it. Davidson Christmas and the Farmer's Market are HUGE events that make this town unique and loved. Great job!
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Sense of community must be inclusive! Mixed income housing to allow more people to experience that community is essentjal Antes fue mas incluso [Before it was more inclusive] No lo se [I don’t know]
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Additional Feedback on Principle 2 The empty storefronts are concerning (lack of progress with Tom Clark/Cairn Studios/Joe Poteat relationship.) The British phone booth sticks out like a bad sore thumb. Until there is adequete parking, market conditions will limit us getting many desired retailers Again traffic is ruining the charm of downtown Davidson. Not safe to walk or bike. Too many cars on narrow roads. Scary. Congestion - downtown used to be unique for the area. Now it looks more and more like just another upscalle mercantile area. Parking is a nightmare are all of the restaurants are terrible More local affordable restaurants and shops Please bring businesses to those stores closed downtown! No enhancement Downtown Davidson is "quaint" the first time visited and for a handful of establishments and events. The lack of economic development and a "no-growth" policy will be its demise. Davidson's downtown is limited in its offerings and provides mostly high-end restaurants that many cannot afford. The vacant storefronts on Main Street contribute to the unwelcoming atmosphere and unsightly nature of Davidson's downtown. I never think about shopping in Davidson, except for the local grocery store and an occasional stop at the downtown drug store. What else is there? You can preserve architectural style with new builds. What is up with all of the vacant store fronts! Many buildings need renovation to reach these goals. Other small towns have undertaken to improve the integrityy of existing structures while preserving the local charm. Additonal parking needs to be added in the future to accomodate these uses. Too many businesses that cater to visitors and too few that provide services for local residents Businesses and commercial building cater to "high end" customers; walkability and likability are becoming limited by traffic and density. It appears that the town is only being made suitable for on group of people andthe wealthy Downtown is no longer very walkable. There is so much traffic and way more focus on parking than walkability. To many people driving SUVs into the middle of the town. Bike lanes (when they exist) are often obstructed. Contrary to what Stantec says, parking for merchant's, employees and customers is a real problem. Need handicapped parking directly on Main Street Downtown and Main street is a traffic nightmare. When 77 backs up or at any type of rushhour or even occurs it is a nightmare. Jaywalkers are chonic. Suggest bypass main road and make pedestrian only zone. How is there so much vacant slum like business fronts? Fix whatever problems exist. the downtown area has become less appealing because of traffic, and there are really only two spaces to congregate (behind Summit and the town green) Until downtown is a pedestrian zone, it will be terrible to be in for 5-6 hours per day. Pedestrians are still at risk. Main and Concord and Main and Chariman Blake need Barnes aka edestrian scramble crosswalks that actually prioritize pedestrian safety. I LOVE the fact that we have almost no chains on Main.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 1 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS | Principle 2
Banks, boutiques, and restaurants do not make a town center, even if you can find parking. Encouraging a mix use in each building doesn't seem possible when the Tom Clark owners won't look at anyone to lease the space but a restaurant. When the previous Board and current staff pushed for projects the Beaty Street RFP and the Catalyst Project in particular, they did great harm to this principle and public trust. Traffic on N. Main St. is a nightmare. We need a more strategic plan to divert rush hour and diverted I-77 traffic around the downtown area. We need a perimter route from 115 to Davidson/Concord Rd. Lack of adequate parking makes it less compelling to go to the shops than 10 yrs ago. See answer in Principle 1. Preserve and enhance. We put downtown in a pickle jar. Nothing has changed since Kindred opened 3 or 4 years ago. Leaving the police and fire departments in the core of downtown will hinder enhancements to downtown. There are a number of vacancies on main st- should be working to bring in new businesses...that are relevant to the community: A charming downtown is only sustainable if it is accessible. Parking is a real problem. It has caused beloved, locally-owned businesses to close. Traffic flow on Main Street, particularly at the intersection of Concord Roadis also an issue. Please explore ways of providing additional parking and possibly re-routing traffic - possibly implementing 1-way streets around the heart of downtown. We need better bike lanes and warning signs and traffic calming. It is dangerous to bicycle. Please don't make it more bikeable. Some biker is going to get killed. Please enforce traffic tickets for cyclist. Economic development downtown has been over-engineered. Way too much promotion of Christmas in Davidson has destroyed what it was originally. The crowds are insufferable. I think some of the bullet have been achieved, but not all. The retail variety is limited and is the mix uses of each building on Main Street. I don't see much encouragement of new businesses downtown..only close to the interstate. Town is great but could be even better. Don't change the historic downtown too much With the exception of the last bullet point, I agree with this principle. Increasing "bikability" is always done at the expense of pedestrians and vehicles. Painting bike lanes on existing roads does not enhance a town's living standard. It merely takes a road that was built for cars and adds bikes to it at the peril of both. This is not Mayberry and we do not all live in biking distance to things we want to do. Bikability schemes create the illusion of safety where it does not exist. All for the purpose of claiming progressive advancements that also are illusory. Traffic from I-77 is ruining downtown--mainly cut-through:( It wasn't long ago that the town prohibited buildings over a couple stores. Now we have the Flatiron and the structure near downhill. The genie left the bottle when those were constructed. Why more bikes? This isn't the Netherlands. Previously too many unused store spaces. Traffic and parking are major issues that need addressing. The busier this town becomes the less bikable it becomes. I used to love to ride the roads outside Davidson but no longer feel safe doing so. Parking deck is extremely needed downtown for business
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It is important to keep human activity on the street level of each building. We've come a long way in that direction but still have some 'dead' spaces/offices that should be upstairs. more work needed on walkability from N Main to S. Main Few people speak of preserving or creating economic success of the businesses that occupy the downtown we want to preserve Preserving and enhancing the downtown shouldn't be (and I'm not an expert so I'm not saying it is) that gentrifies Davidson and protects racial divides Davidson can't be taken over by chains. The stores in davidson are wonderful, but they shouldn't be going out of business. at times the push to maintain historical architectural aspects become onerous for the business looking to use downtown spaces--- i.e. preserve has taken precedence over enhance Downtown seems to be holding strong. It's sad to see all the business turn over at the Circles, HT center. Pretty good job, too traffic takes away from the small town feel. Strike "The presence of our cherished", add "and should remain Davidson's social and civic center". Strike all six bullet points. Enjoy walkability, but need an additonal fine dining or must visit restaurant. Wish we could do something to get the old Tom Clark building occupied. I think that would be a huge boost to downtown. Love concerts on the green, Halloween parade and xmas in Davidson. Need more room for citizen meetings and events. Areas for citizen congregation are too small. Would like to see empty stirres filled. Empty storefronts should not be allowed-it hurts all businesses and presents a bit of an eyesore. Up until the new board of commissions, they have ben very successful in implmented Principle 2. We need to continue the approach and ensure we don't have developement that doesn't fit the character of Davidson (e.g., Improper placement of Hotel, over development of Multi-Family homes, etc.) Thank goodness the Parking Deck didn't get built over the Market area. Traffic is bad, and some of the proposed solutions to help (taking away spaces in front of DCPC) will, in my opinion adversely affect the character of Main Street. Quit cutting down trees, even on the fringes of Downtown. Increased traffic has had a negative impact on walkability and bikability. I don't consider it safe for my kids to ride their bikes into downtown. Unique, yes but many areas look run down...compared to many other quaint areas across the US, we look old and tired and neglected I would like to see businesses come to empty storefronts. (I understand there may be leasing issues with owner). Could more be done to attract new businesses to the empty spaces downtown? Some empty spaces, more affordable food options for students. Maybe one late night restaurant As I said in 1, the traffic is a little dense on Main Street. Retail options downtown have always presented a challenge and certainly seem to be improving. I think the goals of mixed use, retail variety, and encouraging new businesses still require significant attention. Until the stretch of storefront owned by Tom Clark is restored to usable and attractive condition and made available to businesses at a reasonable price , downtown will continue to lag. Lack of parking is also a significant issue.
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Would love to see more local restaurants Main Street traffic is a disaster. Pedestrians remain in danger at some intersections. Parking on Main St creates a problem for pedestrians and traffic flow. Walkability and bikability are threatened. Again, we need more walkability (sidewalks) and bikeability (sidewalks that can be ridden on/shoulders). Also, something about this principle feels exclusive, or even snobby, rather than inclusive. It may not be intended, but I believe it's the word status that drives my reaction to this. Too much traffic downtown makes it feel like big noisy city Please, let's diversify our merchant offerings to more fully reflect the whole town. And let's find a way to fill those empy buildings. There must be some way to win Joe Poteet's hear. Too busy not enough parking Empty storefronts on Main Street not enhancing With increasing traffic, it is hard to enjoy a walk along main street Not enough enforcement of retail guidelines in place The failure to redefine the town hall and related property will always be seen as a missed opportunity. Slowing a realtor to bend the rules with an œart gallery• to justify their using good retail space - another example of selfish behavior- has damaged our ability to strengthen downtown. fully support Some of the buildings are showing their age and are not being maintained. It reflect poorly on the community. There are many empty storefronts and this gives the impression that the town is not flourishing. I wish that we could have more businesses in the downtown e.g. a kids clothing store or a kids shoe store. The town has old and run-down stores even though the restaurants are newer and doing well. I would love to see the stores upgraded and expanded. I think the downtown needs to continue to develop and grow to truly be vibrant and serve the needs of our growing community. We need additional restaurants, bars, and shops to make it viable for the next 100+ years. The downtown retail experience needs to connect to the Fuel Pizza area as well as move Westward one block. One of my favorite things to do is walk to the farmer's market on the weekends and get a cup of coffee from Summit. It's too bad so much traffic flows down Main Street on the weekends, though. Davidson needs to appeal to the state to stop the use of 115 as an alternative to i77. also needs to be a non truck route Unsafe. Walkability and bikability are poor. The various plans i have seen over the years look more like suburbia than the unique small buildings, tenants we have. It was pretty clear the master plans were designed by one firm plopping down larger buildings you find outside of town. continue to encourage appropriate types of new business in the downtown area. Have an empty box where Healthy Home Market was. There should be NO vacant locations. Is this due to excessively high rent? Love the lack of franchises! There are still vacant store fronts. Additional dining and shopping options would be a welcome addition!
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As the wife of the owner of a family business that has existed on Davidson's Main Street since 2010, I don't know what is meant by "strengthen existing businesses." What is the town doing toward this end? Also, as a cycling family, I agree we must increase the bikability of Davidson. There is a lot of storefront space on main street that is under utilized or not utilized at all (especially on the north end near Kindred). It would be great to see more spaces filled with businesses that residents and visitors can visit & enjoy. We dream of having a GREAT quality, quick serve burger joint like Farm Burger in Davidson! Chargrill doesn't cut it! Would like to businesses in the vacant stores. How do we define œenhance•? Probably the most difficult because it takes private funding to keep up the store fronts. How can we encourage owners to join together to develop a plan and funding solution to improving the store fronts? We need to improve the walkability in town. Unfortunately, many crosswalks are hazardous. I feel that development has been slow in the areas of providing more retail and area of congregation, we should also do more to encourage new business The four story Wade insurance building was a huge mistake. There are still some store fronts that appear to be empty. I think additional stores would draw a larger crowd. I would have like to see at least some of the Catalyst project put into place -- connectivity, permanent structures for the Farmer's Market, more parking, better and denser use of the Town Hall and corner land, a boutique hotel that people could have walked to downtown from -- all of these would have enhanced our downtown and set us up for future success. Completely dismissing the project seemed like a mistake. We have a history of carefully adding to our downtown, and this would have fit into that pattern. I think that with the recent history of shops that have opened and closed very quickly it may be a good idea to more heavily vet what is put in Need more mixed use, and even residential, downtown. It's ok to allow taller buildings to achieve a density to support downtown businesses. more access to roads We need to improve the connectivity between North and South Main Street I believe the downtown area can be more culturally diverse with businesses and business owners. The vehicle traffic at times overwhelms bikability and walkability. Finding alternate truck/car pathways will enhance preservation of downtown. Finding alternatives to on street parking would be another way to alleviate car/truck population. Over time, Davidson has been developing eastward, what is to be uniquely Davidson on the east side of town. Need more balance. Don't think downtown needs much more. Not enough space and parking Depends what the definition of œenhance• is... Downtown is nice, but could be better. More interesting restaurants, shops and dare I say neighborhood water holes would be a welcome addition to this town - empty ships do nothing to support a vibrant downtown. It's not really a downtown as that term is usually used but more like the commercial center of a village
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This principle in particular needs a quality of life focus more than an infrastructure focus. The picturesque main street is all well and good but to get maximum functionality and walkability, you will need density of living space downtown. the recurring parking garage need request reflects older automobile centric thinking and should be resisted, get more people living downtown and the retail establishments will have more patronage from people who can walk to their business'. Jackson street frontage could have elevation and density of living space and the sidewalk between jackson and Main becomes the main walking thorough fare. it would mean that business' currently on Main Street need to better configure their rear entrance facades and somewhere, perhaps where the parking lot is behind Summit we could develop a town square in town center allow variations to town principles, ex. 2 story structures I think Davidson unique downtown area has pretty much stay the same except the three new bldgs at the end of town. Of course these are new bldgs. below the Fuel Pizza business. Design standards are very good. Newer buildings like CVS, Flatiron, Mooney's Corner are designed to a high standard, and with a clear understanding of economic impacts. Parking has been addressed judiciously. When I moved here there were 3 grocery stores w/ clerks behind counters adding the tab on the side of a bag. The town was mostly dead. Now it's elite but except for coffee and sandwiches there's little practical to buy. How about expanding downtown to include Sadler Square? Main Street and the surrounding areas are well kept and have a great atmosphere to walk around It's especially important to maintain the walkability of downtown and not let Main Street traffic fleeing I-77 cripple our residents' desire to go through the area. While I appreciate that it's fun to have sidewalk eateries and allow businesses to put merchandise on sidewalks, it does impede walking for families and anyone using mobility scooters or pulling shopping carts. We don't need mixed use in each building. That's overkill. I do not believe we need to focus on "bikability". there are many small towns that are like Davidson, we are not totally unique Make it a place that attracts all people in the community - not just the wealthier white population Would love to see the library green completely bricked since the lawn is in perpetual repair mode. It would enhance its usability for events. I realize there is one landlord that is basically holding several retail spaces hostage (or so I've heard), but I think something needs to be done about this. The downtown is such a unique aspect of the community and to pass by so many vacant store fronts is rather depressing. Keep the big developers out. We are paying higher taxes, and still losing the battle. Shame on you! Please don't wreck it by trying to 'fix' or 'improve' it. DO: continue to support full occupancy with a mix of thriving businesses. DO: continue addressing parking. DON'T: pave and overly 'pretty up' the Farmer's Market area -- it's so successful as is. There could be more diversity in the downtown area. Good job here except for the Postnet on South Main. what happened to no chains in the village So grateful for our vibrant downtown. Why not try to buy out the Tom Clark empty buildings so we can have more shops and service areas and reason to go to town. Generally excellent. I love that there are (almost) no chain stores in town. Please, let's preserve that!
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The best thing to do is leave things alone. Need to address traffic While we've done OK for now, the flirtation with Catalyst by some of the town's leadership a few years ago demonstrated that they were willing to trade the authenticity of our historic downtown for something new and shiny. Certain leaders at the time (including town staff) seemed to believe that "so long as it has the right urban design, it's OK to replace old with new". If that's how we approach preserving and enhancing our unique downtown, then we will lose what's truly authentic and "unique" about it. New construction can work if done selectively and sensitively - not as a wholesale replacement for what's already there. And we should always be aware of the potential unintended consequences of "big projects" downtown, which can suddenly change the economic dynamics of downtown, and like dominos, set the wheels in motion for transforming downtown. We can look just up the road at how Chapel Hill (another quaint and authentic college town until about the 1980s) eventually lost out to neighboring Carrboro as the "place to be" for cool and interesting retail and restaurants, because Chapel Hill started allowing national chains and other "urban big box" establishments, that not only diminished what was authentic about Chapel Hill, but also set the economic tide against locally-owned establishments, as the financing required to support those big "catalyst" projects along Franklin Street priced the rents beyond what anyone but the big chains could afford to pay. So the "hip" element moved to the neighboring old mill town of Carrboro. Let's not make this mistake in Davidson! Maybe maintaining the downtown character is the best can hope to do. At least everyone can feel tied to the downtown if not to each other in spread out communities. As illustrated by the recent and wise decision to expand town government facilities at a small remove from downtown, any further development of downtown must be narrowly targeted and not overly ambitious. In particular I am not totally convinced of the need for further sparking space downtown as there always seems to be some space in the Jackson Street lots. Giving the attractive location, I wonder if more can be done to encourage strong new businesses to take up the vacancies that currently exist. Is it a question of what kind of additional business we need, as such needs would seem more likely to support new businesses configured to address such needs? Lots of empty businesses in downtown Needs help easing traffic congestion on Main Street to limit pollution for patrons eating outside and people walking Love all of the new restaurants and shops!! Would love to see all the store fronts on Main Street filled! The businesses are what make the downtown vibrant! I know the empty store fronts are privately owned, but it wold be nice to see them filled! Preserving is on track. Enhancing needs some work. Would love to see more local restaurants in town. We need safer bike lanes. We also need to continue to work on diverting traffic away from the downtown area. Being able to walk and bike to downtown is a challenge. Sidewalks are not wide enough and the bike land on Concord Road is rutted. People driving in cars are distracted. Great restaurants, diverse choices, nice old town feel. see answer for #1, a better job of this has happened on main street I am concerned about public spaces and how they will be upgraded (farmers market aeea).
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 7 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS | Principle 2
Main Street has come a long way, but there is still too much vacant or under-utilized space. I'd like to see the town collaborate more effectively with property owners to promote even more vibrant commerce on Main Street. It depends on future change proposals Dislike bldg by town hall intensely The Town is doing quite well with this one, although the empty store fronts in the Poteet/Clark building shows a failure to enliven that part of the street. The new restaurants are great and there are some new interesting businesses. Why are some shops empty of tenants? The town has done an excellent job with this - Christmas in Davidson and other town events have gotten too big to attend from my point of view. Very good job south of Concord Rd intersection with Main St. Suggest continuing to look for innovative ways to reenergize the North end of Main St. Great food and shopping additions. The Tom Clark/Poteat buildings need overhauls. Also - the allowance of TSG "Art" gallery is unfortunate. The change of the outdoor noise ordinance should be reconsidered or seasonal - the early noise ordinance negatively impacts the outdoor entertainment options behind Summit - open mic and other performances. The abandoned buildings on the main street where the Escape the Room resides and next door are not appealing to look at These features are present in the core (a couple of blocks on Main), but are lacking in the South Main area, and adjacent/connecting areas Pretty good on this principle. We need to maintain the small town main street feel. We do not want to become a generic, anywhere USA town with big box strip malls It would be great to see a day when there are no more empty/run down store fronts downtown because they've all been filled with thriving businesses. Fewer banks and real estate agents; more restaurants on main street. Extend Main street commercial development south to infill perceived gap between Catawba St. and Carrburritos Downtown keeps getting better but the empty gnome shops and the warehouse area on Jackson St remain eyesores and under used resources. We need more parking down town. Would like to see a concerted effort from the town to work with the landlords (one in particular) to fill empty units as this detracts from the look of the downtown Main Street. I believe downtown can be further enhanced, and I am concerned with those who overlook the œenhance• part of this core value in favor of focusing solely on preserving some notion of what they believe it should be. Downtown is a great place to meet as a community. I feel like downtown is lacking some key businesses that align to Davidson's values and character (ex. a pet store, a running store, etc.) Need to stay on top of bikability, even on Main Street. Would like to see very few to no chain stores, even at outskirts. Should consider a plan that could connect Cornelius and Davidson town centers Need more residential options downtown
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Overall downtown Davidson remains unique and quaint. But the vacant storefronts (Tom Clark?) ruins the flow of town's aesthetic appeal. See above comments. It would be great to relocate some of the 1st floor office uses to building second floors on Main Street. The accountant, insurance offices, etc, create dead spaces in the street front. Plus, I don't think they (proportionately) attract visitors who will stop in other businesses, so they don't contribute strongly to the "retail" critical mass downtown. Continue to focus on local businesses. Continue to make everything walkable. Great job leaving Town Hall where it is and buying the School! Need Main Street traffic bypass. Difficult to balance but absolutely critical. Housing/condos behind Main Street I love our downtown. I do not think we should go beyond the impervious limit. Let's save the watershed. Is there a way for us to make the downtown more inviting for residents on the west side of town? Again, I think the town has done a good job in a very tough environment (look at the downtowns of other NC villages if you want to know how tough), but our success rests on letting downtown change while preserving its character. We need to be open to new things. Downtown has the potential to grow in an incremental way that would preserve our historic core but offer residential development, gathering spaces, office space, and new entertainment venues. I would like to see a safer solution for biking in the traffic circles Need additional parking desparately. Make a turn lane from Main onto Concord Road in front of DCPC. That would eliminate SO MUCH TRAFFIC. I think more retail would be good. It also would be good to somehow link South Main with the downtown area. Need to figure out how to stop the complete gridlock at rush hour. These are not residents or clients of businesses. Just passing through because the GPS told them it was the shortest route and 77 is a disaster. Our downtown is absolutely amazing! I wish we could reduce the number of non-residents who cut through our downtown area to avoid I-77 traffic. One way we might reduce the south-bound congestion on Main Street would be to add a left turn lane for Davidson-Concord Road. (Even better, can we charge non-residents a toll for traveling through Davidson? Lol!) Another suggestion related to downtown: could we have a specialty grocery store in the former Healthy Home Market space? Roundabouts=GREAT. English phone booths=Not so great. More public art is good for the community. Fill empty storefronts between Meztizo and Kindred.
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I love Main Street! The town and its residents, including may of its business owners, have been wonderful stewards of this special place. Its neat that there's a mix of stores and restaurants, and it's important that there's useful/everyday places, too “ like the library, CVS, barber shop, coffee shop. I think the town has done well to recruit a variety of services in this area, and there are a few great places to spend time “ like the town green, behind Summit Coffee. It would be nice to see the area between town hall, Pickled Peach, and Summit Coffee become a much nicer space. I didn't love everything about the catalyst and town hall projects, but they were going to create some nicer spaces than the parking lots we have currently in and around town hall and Summit Coffee. It's a shame that we have not been able to move forward in improving these areas to create nice public spaces. The parking lot in front of town hall really needs to be remade into a nicer civic space, maybe with a building and no parking. The improvements to the children's playground this past year are excellent. The Town Green is a fabulous asset for the community. More priority on locally-owned, locally-operated businesses needed. And, more support to extend opportunities for new business models in the historic downtown. Also, can we set up self-serve bicycle service stations downtown? Need to preserve and extend main street further south to Whits/Fuel Pizza I think it can be preserved but still grow! Seeing more vacant store-fronts filled would be a wonderful change. There are some buildings that do nothing but detract from the unique downtown We really need a walkable downtown shop for groceries (something a bit smaller than a Trader Joe's Great job on preserving, however not always open to new businesses that wish to open here. Anecdotally, i've heard you have to know someone to be considered for available space. A reputation of being provincial. Excellent efforts have been made here and there has been much improvement. However, the Town must create several large areas, lots, garages or decks to get cars off of many streets. On street parking on Jackson, Chairman Blake, Concord Road, South and other streets chokes off the flow of traffic and endangers pedestrians. Just like Davidson College has two large parking lots around the Baker Sports Complex, our downtown needs larger parking areas. These can create revenue, allow for better auto, pedestrian and bike flow. Ultimately this will increase the desirability of coming downtown. This should be an absolute TOP priority for the Town of Davidson. The old mill on Jackson Street is a perfect location. The Alexander Trucking parcel would be another. Not always the towns fault when business owners leave buildings vacant If the person that owns the empty storefronts downtown was more willing to lease or rent them, to help bring in more business on Main Street. We need to focus on bringing in better businesses. Provide incentives if that is what it takes. Too many empty retailers Please keep working on making the empty storefronts accessible. Kindred and Mestizo have made progress but there are still other eyesores. I know the Town can't compel private owners to lease or sell their properties for productive use, but there are a number of properties on the Kindred end of Main Street and around the corner from the Davidson College store that are vacant and could be utilized by local businesses. Perhaps there's a way to incentive the owners to put the properties to productive use. Negatively impacted by traffic/congestion
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Walkabilitiy and bike lanes need enhancement Downtown is a traffic nightmare. Is there a way to let traffic flow faster on Main St? We need Joe Poteat to lease out those empty storefronts on Main Street. They are eyesores and missed opportunities for additional retail. Growth may dictate some changes to downtown By 'enhance' do you mean 'develop' because I'm unlcear. I feel like our small downtown has been preserved, it's the rest of the town that needs to be preserved. so Far so good. Just too crowded to drive through and very scary. All most always a pede will walk against pedestrian lights or jaywalk. Also, many drivers ignore the pedestrian lights too. This one is pretty straightforward and a great principle. I wonder though about the idea of other nodes having a similar feel? Does this principle influence how surrounding buildings are designed and look? My personal opinion is new buildings in the area should match the 2-3 story height and look. This has been done effectively in other places, IE Savannah. Keep it feeling small. Best little downtown! I think the Town has done a nice job with filling in empty spaces downtown, although there's still some work to do. I do think that dealing with the old asbestos plant (or whatever it was) on Jackson Street would be very helpful to downtown (although I understand the economic realities of dealing with that). Main Street is thriving. Isn't it sad that it's considered unique? A bustling Main St. is what all towns once had. let's have a parking deck so we can have better access to downtown While the downtown is great, we need greater connectivity between all parts of town The existing stock of buildings have been restored and are in use near the intersection of Main Street and Depot Street. Newer buildings such as CVS, Flat Iron, and Mooney's Corner respect the relationship to the street and architectural character of the existing buildings while successfully balancing the need to make these projects financially feasible. The tremendous influx of traffic on Main St over the past 5 years or so has taken away from the Downtown environment envisioned in 2001. Some of this may be related to overflow traffic looking to bypass the construction-related delays on I-77, but much is related to the high rate of new housing and population growth in Davidson which has been allowed. This has actually improved over the last decade. We have respect for our older buildings. The new ones have thoughtfully blended in. Downtown is a gem. We need more ares to congregate This has been done well, given the complexities of balancing the traffic on NC 115. This is a huge drawing card for Davidson and must be maintained. Totally agree that this must be done, Traffic is causing issues with its walkability and its bikability. We also seem to have more restaurants than other business in downtown. We have open space that could house more diverse businesses See feedback on 1
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I'm very happy that most of the old buildings are well-maintained and thriving, newer development downtown was.done well. I'm looking forward to how new development Will Change Main Street and hopefully beatty potts sloan connector will help those who are concerned with traffic. No one likes traffic, so continuing to require Downtown Development to be fairly dense should help in my opinion as it will encourage more foot traffic. vehicles and pedestrians don't always mix too well though so maybe there's hope for self-driving cars being better at that. Those red kiosks were a miss in my opinion...but maybe someone without a phone or Superman likes them. Would be great to have more shops and dinning! It's very important to maintain our special oasis in order to keep it from becoming just another part of the suburbs of Charlotte. Enjoy the campus atmosphere and unique shops. I am for preserving all the way. Let's encourage small businesses to stay, or locate here, possibly with tax or rent offsets. No lo se [I don’t know]
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Additional Feedback on Principle 3 The past 20 plus years the Town leadership has not walked the talk on this. Randy Kincaid in particular championed tiny roads (less asphalt) and shot us all in the foot. Tiny roads left zero room for walkers and bicyclists or scooters. Unfortunately it seems that past leaders have interpreted this to mean that we don't acknowledge the need for better roads-Davidson has sought the "alternative means" to the dritirment of those who need to get around by car Again - putting paint on the street for a bike lane does not make it safe. Over developing housing without adequate roads is biggest threat to safety and community Encouraging should not mean using tax payer money. We do not want light rail it would ruin the town Trolleys aren't enough we need mass transport to Charlotte including a light rail We should have LONG and CONNECTED bike paths For a town that claims it is bicycle and pedestrian friendly, it is quite unsafe for non-vehicular traffic in many areas. For a town that asserts it is pedestrian and bicycle friendly, there is much room for improvement in safety, accessibility and connectivity. It is not only transportation but managed growth with higher density "town like" walkable development. the burden of incresing alternative development seems to fall on some neighborhoods while the benefits appear to accrue to select other neigghborhoods. What alternative transportation is available for residents who live too far away or cannot walk or bike from home to church or town Old sidewalks are in poor condition; little evidence of this principle being implemented; how will this work???? Traffic continues to increase especially on South Street. It is no longer very friendly to walkers, joggers and bikers. Some bike lanes and shared use spaces in the middle of town but new roads are added all the time without bike lanes. The elderly and frail depend on personal modes of transportation. As a community, we must provide for "everyone" who lives and Pat taxes in Davidson Once again -- Dump financial support of Continum (formerly MI connections) money much better spent on Principle 1/3 support and funding. these things have not been accomplished, but many of the traffic woes are attributable to I-77. How about routing that traffic around the historic downtown, or closing that area off to traffic once per month on a Friday (creative solutions needed) Prohibit single-kid dropoffs at CSD and Davdison Elem. Busses and walking or biking only. So much idling traffic, so many big SUVs with one mom and one kid, so many trips from the ETJ into town. JUST SAY NO to driving to school. Dedicated bike lanes are sill a dream. Eliminate parking and make bike lanes. Make it very painful to drive into town. Provide a TOWN shuttle bus service for schools and in-town shoppers and workers and prioiritize that over cars. Sidewalks NOW on Gray to the bottom of the hill; bigger sidewalks on Concord all the way out and one the north side of Concord all the way out. Etc. We can be much more forceful in making people choose walking,
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 1 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS | Principle 3 biking, and the Davidson Shuttle (dreaming) over driving. WE CAN LEAD nationally on this. Just do it.
Public transportation is not visible, frequent, or reliable. And, it takes weekends off. I like greenways as much as anyone and walk on them almost daily. However, greenways and Big Fat Sidewalks (aka multiuse paths) are for recreation not transportation. As, such they should have a lower priority than actual improvement to transportation facilities, meaning roads. A lot of streets are narrow or the roads have no center line marking, so cars drive past middle of lane. Biking is unsafe in theses areas, which is a lot of town. Again we missed an opportunity in downtown and Beaty Street to enhance a walkable, mixed-use area. The same is true in the development on the Westmoreland farm where the area plan called for some commercial uses to serve the neighborhood. This development did improve the greenway and sidepath in the area. Pedestrian improvements are going in. Walking down davidson concord is terrifying. Need alternative transportation or safer sidewalks The bikers mantra of "share the road" sometimes needs to be heeded by the bikers themselves. When there are bike lanes, it is only fair that bicyclers use them. Often roads are clogged to motor traffic because bikers travel outside of bike lanes or in packs, may bikers wide. Connecting roads is a giveaway to developers. Connections can backfire when they just bring more cars and people cutting through. Our town should focus on greenway connection, but not car connections. Bikes and cars should not mix - spells disaster. Please work on a light rail line. People drive cars. That is a fact, like it or not. Biking already highly celebrated and active. I suppose as construction continues something must happen. Better and more roadways The congestion on the streets is terrible and folks are still driving to Charlotte to work. Trying to force a population to stop using cars is silly and totalitarian. Your job in managing my town does not include increasing my physical health. Your job is limited. Your primary function is to provide public protection and safety. I do not want you to do more than that. This principle is another example of your efforts to micro manage our lives to fulfill your own sense of utopian society. We have spent tons of money on studies and we still don't have sidewalks in many areas of town, and sidewalks that exist are inadequate--an example would be on Davidson Concord Road--where there are telephone poles in the middle of the sidewalk, overgrown shrubs, poor view of intersections etc. Again with the bicycles... How about we embrace the automobile too? Currently biking lanes are parked in, people put trash there, etc. Connected neighborhoods sounds like a great idea and it is in theory. Cars use this connectivity to avoid the conjestion of the main roads, which makes it less and less safe for pedestrians and bikers. If we want this to be a truly bikable community, ensure all roads have a shoulder wide enough for a bike to access. Bikes have no where to go on some of these roads and people are no longer patient and respectful, or paying attention due to phone use. I have some concerns about how the wording on this description could be used to justify projects that will detract from the downtown area.
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Public transport is a must! We will be enveloped by urban Charlotte some day. This is fundamental to surviving that. Otherwise, we will be Springfield Virginia. We don't need the entrance to I-77 to be under construction all the time More sidewalks should be built near schools. Need light rail to uptown. Bike connectivity seems very slow. Lived here for 13+ years, still cannot safely ride to many areas in town. Greenway destroyed--biking and walking no more Other than walking and biking the trolley is nice, but we need something for everyday. Health cannot be increased, make streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists NOT "give preference". Love a runnable , walkable neighborhood, must continue to improve. more bikes and foot traffic By asking this question it seems you're trying to trick people into encouraging re-development. I support golf carts. Sidewalks are haphazard and not ubiquitous; roads too narrow, thus dangerous; streets and drivers do NOT give preference to cyclists and pedestrians. No public transit options. An Expensive TOLL Road and no Light Rail is the Opposite of "Encouraging Active Transport". As stated, walking isn't always safe in this town, even if you walk defensively. For a driver, to deal with walkers and cyclists is a real challenge. Dangerous. I would love for my kids to be able to bike around town more, but it's just not safe. Encouraging alternative transportation (not just bikes, but electric vehicles such as skateboards or scooters) would do a lot to relieve congestion It would be good to divert non-Davidson traffic away from main street Concord Rd needs sidewalks on both sides of the road. Bike riders frequently use the sidewalk instead of the bike lane. Measures should be taken to improve the safety of the bike lane such as: extending the area of the speed limit of 25 mph (which would also improve safety for pedestrians at crosswalks), establishing a barrier between cars and the bike lane or widening the bike lane. Also the intersection of Grey Rd and Concord Rd would benefit from a safe crosswalk (maybe a stop sign, or a traffic circle). The greenways should be better connected. Davidson does this very well. As a daily pedestrian, I appreciate my ability to walk and run in Davidson on well maintained sidewalks, roads, and greenways. However, public transit in town and from town to neighboring communities is not easily available or convenient. Too much congestion and poor planning of traffic flow before new developments began construction See #2 comments. Same apply. We must also deal with the number of schools and driving parents that use Concord Griffith and Main Street. Schools needs school buses and parents need to be encouraged (incentivized) to have their children use the buses. WOULD be so lovely if we had a town bus running a looped route for Davidson College employees and other downtown employees. Find a way to make that the cool thing to do. Lots of work to do to get here! Need sidewalks on both sides of the road and to Davidson pointe neighborhood too!! It is hard for people that do not live within walking or riding distance
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I don't think it is local government's role to do anything with alternative transportation. I think walking and biking are highly encouraged in Davidson. Biking lanes could be better. Need more public options that connect LKN and Charlotte besides a busing system. Perhaps a van carpool. we must also look at conventional means of movement There is no political will among our existing elected officials to continue the push for public transit. We need leaders in elected office, not fat egos. fully support Our greenways are cobbbled together. You need a map to understand where they are and how to access. It is hard to live in NC without a car. Bikes are great but there are not many sidewalks that go the entire course of a journey, so biking with children is difficult. Riding bikes is not as friendly as it could be and there are no longer length connected trails for exercise Bird and Lime scooters seem particularly popular in Uptown Charlotte. Although they come with some challenges in terms of safety and regulation, I think scooters are worth exploring as an alternative to driving. Some parts of town are very walkable but others make me nervous as a pedestrian. It would also be great to see light rail into Charlotte as an option in the future. We need proximal parking alternatives to on street in down town. Especially on weekends. Residents are trapped. Also, where is the train? We do not want a train! We are a driving society - adequate parking in downtown should be a priority. Parking allows residents for other areas to visit Davidson and enjoy all it has to offer Too many cars, too many large trucks, not enough public transportation, people don't adhere to the "don't drive" No mixed use for east Davidson yet. Must fix the car traffic first Need more such as a bike sharing program. Cyclists need to be reigned in. Having bikes three abreast at 10 mph blocking traffic is moronic. Light rail to Charlotte. Pedestrian safety concerns -- addition of traffic circles or lights around the Glasgow St. and Concord Road entrances to the college. Bike lanes and pedestrian options. As a resident of the town for 15 months, I LOVE being able to walk into town and do so on a regular basis! However, I'd love to be able to cycle safely but cannot confidently do so out of our driveway. We enjoyed the trolley that ran in the summer but understand that it was probably under-utilized. Improve public transit. We also need light rail for transportation to and from Charlotte and adjacent towns. Again, need to develop commercial centers within walking distance, in addition to just the "quaint" village store type - sporting goods, shared office spaces, etc. We had to shame the town board into approving the Grey Road sidewalk. Send they don't read their own documents. Davidson has done a good job with bike lanes and multi-use lanes. It's hard to take on something likek this without help from the state and county.
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Davidson has no readily accessible public transport The more we approve dense development outside downtown, the more cars we get in town. One answer is more neighborhood shops and businesses in designated zones near new development few more bus routes within Davidson We need to improve all roads with bike path lanes to enable safer alternative travel options (Rocky River Rd, Shearer Rd, etc...) Davidson needs to drastically improve in this area. Transportation opportunities need to cater to Davidson students and residents who may not have access to cars or bikes. I would like to see new greenway/bike connections be a priority along with the development of new traffic patterns that remove big trucks from downtown. Walkable and connected neighborhoods are important and prioritized. You mean in the town or to Charlotte? Transportation to Charlotte needs improvement , not in and around Davidson We should welcome tail, transit and anything to remove cars with open arms. Traffic in the town is dreadful. We also need wider pedestrian walkways down Concord road and SLOW traffic through traffic calming measures such as speed table. This can all be done but unfortunately we like to blame DOT for lack of innovation rather than pushing them. The town staff excuse for the lack of speed tables because it will negatively impact emergency vehicles is rubbish. As Davidson grows and more spread out with pressures from surrounding communities there are limits to what this principle can achieve streets with preference to cyclists and pedestrians needs to be improved Bicycling still not used enough nor accepted enough by town residents. Would like to feel safer as a cyclist. Now it is only the greenway that seems safe from motor vehicles. again you need density and elevation to generate the people who will walk, few people have the time and willingness to walk their errands if the walk takes more than 15 minutes need golf cart accessibility- either on the road or pathways TOD needs to paint crosswalks, pour sidewalks, make pedestrian safety a priority stop talking and take action don't pay for mobility plans when all you need to do is paint and maintain safe crossings for pedestrians and cyclists. I think traffic calming measures could be better. I think the police do a great job of discouraging speeding. We are getting overwhelmed from local and regional traffic. We are playing catchup on providing infrastructure for pedestrians and bicycles. Pedestrian and bike access is a problem that can be solved without jeopardizing our character, but the leadership needs to commit to a bolder approach. I support walking - make parking less convenient and farther from downtown - maybe the old elementary lot could be a lot - a block walk won't hurt most folks. Two angles on the Lorimer side of the green would also help Transportation to where? Haven't seen visible signs supporting this You can't make people walk and ride bikes. Finish sidewalks to at least make neighborhoods more walkable. I just heard there is going to be a better path between McConnell and Downtown and we are so excited for that. It feels unsafe to bring my young children to town on current paths.
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We would get more bus ridership if there were benches and shelters at all stops and if buses were more frequent. More sidewalk connectivity should be a higher priority. Make street crossing at South/Main/Chairman Blake safer by instituting an all-way car stop; all pedistrians go (including diagnoally) signalling. I feel that the Beaty "bypass" needs to be completed to take through traffic away from Main St. Not for Red-Line! Connecting and routes safe from the horribly congested Main Street with impossible visibility for cars to see around other cars, driving and parked. I strongly disagree with the need to focus on bike developments. in town walks and rolls is good but Grey Road and Rocky River Rd very dangerous for walking or biking bike lanes are around, but they are not well connected to all parts of town, neighboring towns When the College had the bike program, many citizens from a certain group were very negative towards that. As a recent college graduate from another school, we LOVED having a bike rental program. They were so easy and fun to use. bike friendliness is good, could be better to connect outer areas (e.g. Fisher Farms) which are virtually impossible to reach safely other than by car/motorcycle. Light rail to Charlotte please! Train? Tracks run rightnthru town - NEW tracks! Use them! I-77 Tolls are a complete sell out! We don't have legitimate bike lanes. I won't even allow my children to ride in the road. I make them ride on the sidewalks. We have had too many injuries with careless drivers. Biking / walking in Davidson is a high-risk activity. The combination of skimpy bike lanes, pedestrian crossings where pedestrians expect drivers to stop but drivers often don't, and many non-Davidson drivers who don't 'know the rules' puts folks in harm's way. Assume drivers won't get more attentive or courteous and will get more numerous, and then design bike and pedestrian accommodations accordingly please. It is dangerous to bike around town. There are not many alternatives here. I get my answer to #1 might conflict with #3 (you are thinking "how can we make the town walkable if we don't increase density?") but let's get creative and come up with a "win/win." Davidson is neither bike friendly nor pedestrian friendly Roads are too dangerous to bike. Cars do not give bikers any room on the road. trolly throughout the year would be nice Bike lanes are few. There should be a safe pathway all the way from town to the circle east of town along Davidson Concord Road. Right now that requires peddling on unmarked roads east of Kimberly. Ideally tere would be a safe bikeway from town, through River Run/Narrow Passage and all the way up to Fisher Farm Park. Also, let's put EV charging stations in town. Works if everyone is under 35. I strongly support people riding bikes for transportation. The is that the vast majority of those on our roads are simply riding for recreation. They rarely uses the "bike paths' built specifically for them. Let's just put some nets down the centerline and have tennis matches as well. More bike lanes bike lanes are very few, public transportation is inexistent outside 115
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Bikers should be welcome, but they should have to follow traffic laws. I regularly see bikers make dangerous moves that aren't legal for vehicles. This puts them in even more danger. Density may have merit, but NOT if there's no corresponding transit network to make it work. Otherwise, it just becomes a denser version of sprawl, with all of its characteristic downsides (traffic congestion, etc.) . Stop waiting on the train (although I do hope it one day comes), and start insisting on a better bus system both within Davidson, and as a commuter option to Charlotte (bus rapid transit). If we're going to keep paying for the 1/2 cent sales tax to fund CATS (as we have for some 15 years already), then our leadership needs to start insisting of CATS we get something better out of the deal. Yes, continue to plan for the possibility of passenger rail coming to Davidson some day so that it's viable, but recognize that either we have to put the breaks on growth as much as possible until it comes, or start looking for alternative public transit options. This is a work in progress and needs to be continued. Sidewalks are coming but cars are still too prevalent. Speeding cars and heavy school traffic in an issue for Beaty Street and the neighborhood adjacent to CSD High School. I walk a lot but I know not everyone can do this and as I age I may not be able to either Until quite recently the emphasis seems to have been more on development than connecting the development. On a different transportation matter, the badly executed remediation of I-77 ensures that it will soon be, if it is not already, impracticable to commute from Davidson to any part of Charlotte other than its northernmost reaches. We have, of course, the existing and unused rail line that would, if used, facilitate commuting between Davidson and downtown Charlotte. The threshold question is whether such commuting is part of our collective vision for Davidson's future. Assuming, strictly for argument's sake, that it is, then the only practicable way of doing it on a scale larger than the existing low capacity bus service, is the rail line. I understand that NCDOT is dead set against opening the rail line, but depending on the shape of our collective vision, it may be necessary to fight and win this battle. I liked the idea of the trolley that serviced the local davidson developments Davidson is already bike and pedestrian friendly. Please enforce people not using sidewalks downtown. Dangerous for everyone. People are being lazy. Need higher fines and greater enforcement for jay walkers Don't feel safe riding bikes on the roads. Love all of the new greenway options, however. I think shutting down Main Street (from Jackson Street to Griffith) to car traffic all the time would make this town perfect. Jackson street would be a much better funnel for traffic and it has better access to parking. Walking on Main Street surrounded by traffic is no fun, and driving to downtown is even worse knowing the traffic will be backed up. The businesses could make their back doors just as appealing as the front and maybe they'd get even more business if the traffic on Main was primarily pedestrian. More greenway and protected bike lines if possible. Alternative means of transportation is great but is this a Davidson focus...shouldn't this be regional with Cornelius and Mooresville? The timing of the crosswalk signs and the stoplights is ATROCIOUS! Pedestrians should get a green walk signal while ALL the lights a red. Then once they've had sufficient time to cross, the crosswalk signals can turn red, then there should still be a delay before ANY of the traffic lights turn green. We've had two pedestrians killed and one recently hit, if things don't change we will see more of these accidents. Time to be proactive and not reactive.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 7 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS | Principle 3 more bike lanes on secondary roads We need more Greenways and bike lanes!!! More traffic circles are needed at key intersections where traffic is most heavy especially during rush hour. The greenway from the town to Plum Creek park has to be connected (safely) to the front of RR. People are riding bikes on D/C road (!) to get to the entrance of RR. They are trying to get to the greenway off of River Ford. Also, need some greenway/sidewalk to connect Summers Walk, etc. Need to add grocery and other types of stores to keep eastern area residents from needing to go into downtown. Davidson is walkable. As long as there is adequate/discrete parking, then we are fine. The most important thing related to transportation we need is additional roads that by-pass downtown and offer options. Currently we have only a single north/south throughput road and a single east/west throughput road. That means the intersection of Main and Concord will get worse and worse. The college MUST be part of the solution as they create much of the problem. Great paths and bicycle friendly approach more bike lanes have been added, need better lighting at some crosswalks for night time more sidewalks and bike facilities, and slower speeds on residential speeds is needed to improve safety for all Effort to establish bike lanes is positive. Focus on pedestrian cross walks is excellent. Still heavy dependency on cars. I think Davdson and all 3 N. Meck. towns need to be much more vocal about rail to Charlotte. Additionally, more needs to be done to enhance sidewalks. Because of the lack of local jobs, its not feasible to expect this community to walk everywhere. However more effort can be given towards making the center 2 square miles of town fully walkable and ADA compliant for recreation Davidson is better than most local communities in this regard, but I feel there is still much progress to be made. I'd like to see the town work to improve pedestrian visibility and pedestrian access in all areas of the town. Depends on what type of alternative transportation The missing link here is that there is essentially no real public transit system. There are a lot of cyclists but riding on streets with no protected separation from cars seems to me to be a very dangerous proposition. I walk a lot but I don't really feel safe riding my bicycle on the streets. Light rail, please Red lane rail is needed. More connecting bike and walking trails. To cornelius and from all davidson neighborhoods to the current network of trails. how about making use of the rail lines to get from town to town and to charlotte Need express bus service into Charlotte at least until the Red Line idea is revived. Davidson is a through-way with 115 and Davidson-Concord. Most of these areas only have sidewalks on one side and can be hazardous crossing. Would love to bike more often with my family however shared biking lanes are not usable as it is too dangerous due to speeds and congestion. Greenways are destroyed by construction runoff. Sidewalks are dangerous and in need of updating.
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I would be hesitant to add bike and scooter shares. They are ugly and are a mess. People in Davidson can afford their own bike or scooter if they wish to have one. Don't get caugh up in the recent craze in this direction It is completely unsafe to bike on Concord Rd, from the end of the bike path to town. I walk to work on a street near downtown (College) that still does not have a sidewalk. I walk to church on a street (Lorimer) that still does not have a sidewalk. It does not feel very encouraging to me! Public transport does not meet citizen's (or student) needs. support a train/light rail to charlotte I'd love to walk or ride bikes most times we head downtown, but the aforementioned sidewalks and speed limits on D/C road make me apprehensive about doing that with kids. More encouragement of biking and walking...many key roads are not safe enough for pedestrians and bicyclists. More greenways and sidewalk connections needed. I hear a lot of complaints about the lack of parking around main street. I think the lack of parking is a good thing with regard to principle 3 and should be maintained. Continue to work on crosswalks and sidewalks. It is odd that there is no sidewalk on the street that leads from the library to Concord Rd, given how many parents and small children use this route to get to preschool and the library. We actually need fewer bikers - they're a menace. Davidson likes to promote itself as a biking town when in fact the roads around here are really dangerous for bikers and drivers who are trying to get around them. This town has already been over-developed and essentially ruined which are why the roads are so clogged. As I stated in principle one if we are not proactive in our approach to traffic congestion our character suffers. Main Street is dangerous (2 recent deaths is unacceptable). Remove parking on Main Street as it blocks the view of drivers and figure out nearby parking elsewhere. Multimodal connectivity is slowly progressing and as its growth continues so will the benefits. It is important we keep an emphasis on expanding non-vehicle transportation and driver's awareness of same.P Greenways should be built by developers and not forced on owners of private property. Great if you live close to downtown or your neighborhood has access to a green way although many Davidson neighborhoods feel more isolated from the rest of Davidson and could be connected to the rest of town better via green ways or the trolley system (ex. Davidson Pointe, Summers Walk neighborhods). Would very much like to see this improved! Better than most towns in area, but need to invest more. Cornelius is outpacing us in per capita spending on infrastructure and greenways I gave this a 4 because I think we're slowly getting there. Again, the biggest hurdle maybe convincing people to try getting out of their car and cultivating a willingness to walk 1000'-2000' for services. Prefer train to buses for transportation to Charlotte. Local community should be walkable/bikeable vs buses. We need more sidewalks, starting witn making the walk fro Downtown to McConnell safe. It needs to be wider and moved away from Concord Rd. A few feet in some places. Lots of young children walk along or ride bikes down it. It would be fabulous if it could be on both sides of the street. As it is, the walkways is an accident waiting to happen. We've done well overall, but handicapped or elderly people still have a hard time.
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A great principle but Im not seeing much beyond down town. Connection of all Davidson neighborhoods by trail to town- Page's Pond, Woodlands, homes along Concord Road toward 73; bike and walking trail along 73 to Summer's Walk, Bradford Park, Bradford Store The town does a great job of œencouraging• alternative transportation. However, I do not feel that the town has implemented ways to keep us safe. We need bike lanes to bike safely. Catawba Avenue repeatedly gets denied sidewalks. Crossing Potts Street is very dangerous. Davidson needs a safe way for cyclists and pedestrians to get to the YMCA. Use the bonds voters approved to build more greenways, bike & sidewalk connections. The town has done a lot; its residents don't take advantage of these options as they might. Not familiar with what is available- local bus? local taxi? etc. Transit use, like the 77 Express bus for commuters, should be encouraged or incentivized. Need to plan for autonomous vehicles. Separated bike lanes throughout town would encourage citizens to use alternative transportation. Need safe connections between all neighborhoods and areas of town. Build streets for people rather than cars. We need to put our greenway development and connectivity into hyper-drive - now it is a side line that gets little attention. Large trucks on Main Street should be prohibited! Some of the backroads in neighborhoods don't have sidewalks. I would love to see more greenway! It seems like the downtown area is becoming more car-centric. People have an aversion to walking more than a short distance. Great but can be greater... emphasis on ability to get from one side of town to other without having to divert to dangerous or impassable areas for walking/biking. Can't wait for the sidewalk on Grey Road to be completed! Not a lot of options Support and encourage E-bikes. Sidewalks and viable bikelanes are the only way. How about a Davidson E-bike club? We need the Red Line, greenways, more sidewalks, connected streets I moved to Davidson and chose to live close to downtown in large part because it is a walkable town. I walk lots of places and really enjoy it. Davidson is better than a lot of towns in providing walking and bicycle facilities, but it could do much better. Main corridors like Concord Rd., Beaty, and Potts Sts. need spacious sidewalks at a minimum. I would love to be able to safely ride my bike from town to Allison/Fisher Farm on Grey Rd. A safe connection to Cornelius on ND 115 or Potts is also needed. Way too many people are driving when they could be walking! Greenways need to connect and have parking available. The fire station on Davidson Concord Road needs a cross walk so people can park and walk to the greenway. Complete and well maintained sidewalks could be improved. While there have been additions the fact is that Davidson remains on a major artery particularly when I77 is taxed. It will be hard to do anything as long as HWY115 is a major North South route These are solid goals, yet most likely unattainable in an auto driven society. Bike lanes, connectivity & greenways have been huge successes. However, Davidson does not have dense enough population to allow buses, cabs/Uber or bikes to be the main source of transportation. We should try to improve traffic flow and encourage these alternative means of
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Could use shuttle from key points on weekends and holidays with more stops We need better access for Davidson elementary.... from the back end of davidson. That would help with all the traffic in Old Davidson. Pretty good bike lanes, but there can always be more, including further down Concord Road. There are areas where sidewalks can be made wider and safer, perhaps with planting strips (e.g., the property on Main Street that the shuttered car wash sits on across from Restaurant X et al); similarly pedestrian crossings can be improved with the cones/markers in the sidewalks signaling drivers to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalks Still gives priority to cars. See above.... No streets have pedestrian/bike priority. Many people like to use motor vehicles for their travel needs. Consider developing additional space for outdoor recreation that does not slow traffic. We need the transit to stay. Love the idea, the reality is that I drive the 3 blocks to CVS or Flat Iron almost every time. :( Great at pedestrian access. Bike lanes need work. Bus and/or rail line needs A LOT of work. Are we doing everything we can to get light rail? Connect the greenways. We need a trainline from Statesville to Downtown and to CLT I'm fine with the toll lanes, no gripes here. But I would love to see the red line or some other faster option to uptown/south end come to fruition! I think you must offer but don't have to encourage. People will do what they do with time, health and other restrictions. Our village isn't self sufficient enough (nor will it ever be) to encourage active transportation--presuming 'active trasportation' means walking or biking. Neuither is safe right now and in the 11+ years I've lived here I've waited for a safe route to downtown Davidson from my house. They key on this one is giving preference to cyclists and pedestrians. I understand the frustration traffic can cause, I have to drive out of Davidson everyday for work, through the main street corridor. I am perfectly okay with the traffic because it forces us to slow down. I am perfectly okay with the narrow streets. My biggest fear is the potts-sloan corridor becoming a bypass that will fill itself with trucks and lots of cars. I do wonder if title 6 would affect that? But that is a digression. I do think encouraging alternative means of active transportation will require more funding for other public means but also development that fosters nodes for bikes and pedestrians. Need more sidewalks or pathways ensuring bike or walking access to downtown. In our community which is less than 1/2 mile from downtown we have to drive because no safe connectivity by bike or foot to town (despite that being a selling point when we bought 10 years ago!) I would also like to see commercial centers close to the westside. Need more bike and walking paths that are connected. We live 3 miles from the main shopping area of downtown Davidson. We are never going to routinely walk to downtown. Parking is an issue to us. Cars circling downtown looking for places to park create congestion. It has made me not want to go to lunch in Davidson for fear of no parking. A parking deck several blocks off Main Street would be a good goal in our opinion. Then changes could also be made to congested intersections without losing parking places.
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I think Davidson has done what it can, but we're stymied by the lack of support/feasability of light rail. I support added 77X routes both to and from Charlotte and hope the toll roads will encourage more bus use. Inadequate roads make biking hazardous. The plan to connect Shearer has failed and the traffic and congestion that has resulted on June Washsm & Davidson-Concord is horrific. added to that us the Town's approval to build 80+ more homes on JW (do the math on the. No. Of cars/trips daily) and there us no accountability on the road bc it is a State Rd and in the ETJ. BRUTAL for those if us who bought in to the original Town plan of 'low impact' neighborhoods!! What alternatives to the car are there? We walk and bike for pleasure in and around Davidson but as soon as you need to leave town you are required to get in your car. The CATS 77x has a limited schedule and no service on the weekends. In this sense, Davidson is like any other suburb: we're stuck in our cars. I'd like to see shuttles offered for events and farmers market on a regular basis. people are going to drive. I strongly support walking, but not so much biking or a train. I support bus routes instead. Sidewalks seem to randomly end, leading runners to struggle to share space with speeding vehicles that often have distracted drivers Need to review both the new and the old neighborhoods to make sure there are sidewalks which allow town residents to safely walk to downtown as well as area restaurants. I support continued connection of greenways and sidewalks For the most part, I feel the town has done a good job by building sidewalks, bike lanes, improving safety at cross walks etc. On the other hand, not requiring sidewalks in the Narrow Passage project works in the exact opposite direction from this principle. This should never be allowed. Outside of the greenway, I do not think dependency on cars in Davidson has been lessened. Some of that has to do with the aforementioned high rate of new housing and population growth which brings more cars, but also lack of viable alternatives (i.e. shuttle buses and trolleys to/from Downtown). Maybe have scooters and pedicabs, instead of accommodating more cars? The light rail was an incredible idea but involved too many components, i.e. cooperation along the route Unfortunately, most folks are wedded to their cars. We need a paradigm shift to thing differently about active transportation. I work in Davidson and commute from Charlotte so I need to drive myself. More parking would be helpful. Not at the expense of town character. Suggest extra traffic reroute through surrounding towns that encourage industrial growth and high traffic flow. In the works but greenway expansion and connection is important. We must consider senior transportation and regional cooperation. You can't convince everybody to give up traditional means, but still worth trying. The green-ways are a great and safe way to both bike and walk around our town but as housing seems to be accelerating new viable roads and traffic patterns do not. Traffic is a huge issue to our town and can certainly create a situation where people will avoid getting caught up in traffic and looking for a parking spot
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I thought the shuttle from Davidson Landing to Fuel Pizza for Xmas Davidson was excellent! I wish we had more transporation options that gave crosstown access. Yes, would love to have bike trails and at least some type of pedestrian/bike walkway to clear the roundabouts at 77. Would love to be able to walk from Davidson Landing to Jetton St area without fear for my life. Sidewalk construction has seemed slow. I don't believe there are any streets that give preference to cyclists and pedestrians Greenways have been slow to connect downtown with the outskirts of Davidson. Would like to see them completed sooner than later. I happened to be for throwing boatloads of money at all types of trails but I understand that there are limited resources. We're never going to have a monorail and that's fine but I think we're heading in the right direction with all the green ways which are sweet. Keep thinking about connecting abersham to the remainder of the Town by Greenway that would be very very nice The main streets into and out of town are not wide enough for the amount of cyclists we have. We do not need new mixed-use neighborhoods if you want residents to "walk/ride" to town. Great vision for connecting streets. Discouraging developments with toll lanes and no progress on rail. Need bike lanes in ETJ area.....i.e. Grey Rd, Shearer, E. Rocky River.....and connector to Fisher Farm area from the town. I'm very supportive of anything that reduces congestion in the downtown area. It's a wonderful place, and taking steps to provide alternate transportation or reroute through traffic are critical to keeping our pedestrian areas worth walking to. We need a lot more bicycle network The road construction is unacceptable at exit 30. The round-about is a great idea, however, it shouldn't take such a long amount of time to fix. Not entirely sure what this means. It isn't Davidson's fault that the proposed commuter rail fell through, but it would have been nice to have. We need to ensure that ALL new developments must provide sidewalk and greenway connections. We should also try to make sure existing developments are as pedestrian/bike-friendly as possible. Beaty Street comes to mind as a place that could be improved. We need more connection to CATS Transportation methods are very important to some of us who don't own a car. Fue muy dificil user el autobus cuando no habia un bus stop en Beaty St. Yo uso el autobus y una bicicleta cuando mi esposo no puede llevarme en coche. [It was very difficult to use the bus when there was no bus stop on Beaty Street. I use the bus and a bicycle when my husband cannot bring me by car.] No lo se. [I don’t know.]
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 13 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS | Principle 4
Additional Feedback on Principle 4 Define scarce land resources please. Too vague. These apple pie goals are of course nice but acheiving Principle 4's goals come with a price. Individual property rights cannot be violated. Requiring taller buildings is not desireable to existing neighbors or future owner Davidson has enough afforadable housing. Why are we looking at taking public space to build more. Pfff. A bunch of those are being ready for development. In a few years, more chaotic traffic No utility extensions until current areas are built out or densified I fully support "managed growth" such as what the Rural Area Plan endeavors to implement. However, even that is being threatened by current proponents of "no-growth." Vocal special-interest groups promoting a œno-growth• policy is limiting all development, including building up, which severely restricts economic development opportunities for this town. There is a snobbish attitude in Save Davidson movement about going backwards not inclusively forward. there have been substantial residential developments which negatively impact these goals in some areas of town but not in others. Very tired of providing for new developments How is this principle being pursued?? Fisher Farms; residential development?? Filling ever space with housing?? I feel that by developing up and not will cause congestion, like up north Seems the town allows development on every scrap o land...even 0.1 acre lots are up for sale now. Gobbling up large parcels of land for high density housing does not foster this principal Focus should be on light industrial/business... not residential.. have enough residents. Get business to help share costs and add to community with parks and recreaton support. The newest single family housing developments in Davidson do not reflect this principle at all. Decreasing setbacks has encourages massive loss of big trees in town by the Orcs (scrape off, split the lot builders--Keener, Marshall Homes, Simonini, Plattner...) These guys kill trees for rich people to live in house completel out of character with the town. Just one example. Narrow Passage-- another example of private use of green space. See answers to Principle 1. Look forward to seeing how the Beatty St property and park are developed. No significant lakefront access, park or amenities on Lakes Davidson or Cornelius. This is a huge missed opportunity The developments along June Washam are not good examples and the new development near the intersection of Rocky River and Shearer roads is not either. We should use all our resources wisely. The urban/rural mix of Davidson past has been its most unique and compelling characteristic We need to preserve views and open space in the Village Infill as well. We are destroying the Village Infill views by allowing lot subdivision and not having adequate setbacks to preserve trees. We are allowing too high density in the Village Infill. Too much emphasis on growth and development is destroying our quality of life. Losing farmland rapidly in North Mecklenburg. Not sure much "space" will be preserved.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 1 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS | Principle 4
More multi use space including development of a location for our church LFC-D I would hope the ratio of land usage that made Davidson great would be scaled as we grow. A second outlet of œtown• to the East would help. More trails Violates private property rights Who scarce land resources? Town owned? Private property? What does this mean? The town's talk is not backed up by its walk. Davidson East is a prime example. The town talks of preserving tree canopies yet allows for the wholesale destruction of 80+ year old hardwood forests. 2 more development bullets. How about a freeze on development? Allowing all of our trees to be taken down for infill. Not enough green space which reduces stress and helps with pollution. Would anyone say, "Do not use our resources wisely."? Again, it's about how this principle is implemented. Does "preserving rural views" mean ensuring that someone who bought a big house with a property line next to some trees is entitled to keep "his" view? too many developers are raping the land to build mega mansions with total disregard to trees etc. The town should address this problem with developers and provide strict and enforceable guidelines. Also the town should take the initiative in caring for trees, etc that are being consumed either by kudzu or unhealth vegetations. There are several small streams near existing housing areas that are overrun with vegetation, that are mosquito havens, and are used by landscapers as a place to sweep old leaves, yard debris, etc. Building high density tract housing. Extremely disappointing that ALL the focus is on impervious development. We need more parks and active rec amenities than just Bailey Springs!!! Time to plan ahead for parks, before all the land is built out. Passive parks and active rec is a HUGE asset to community life and property values. West Branch development not wise is an understatement Horrible! The town is putting money over greenspace. Look at Westbranch, yikes I can't even begin to imagine the traffic! Also, all these mega mansions popping up close to town. How can anyone with a service job afford those? All woods areas get torn down for the sake of extra tax $$$!! Building up does not prevent building out, it encourages it This has not been done recently. Town being overrun. Greenway destroyed. We need to make more parks This needs to be preserved close to downtown as many people can't get to the other side of town to enjoy. 1 acre is not equal in all areas. The former Mayor and Town Commissioners paid lip service to this planning principle while in reality were working their hardests to line their pockets through developments that effectively raped the land. Again too many homes crammed into an area We are allowing for elimination of green space in the city limits. Houses are being built that obliterate all of the trees and build lot line to lot line. To much home building and subdividing.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 2 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS | Principle 4
Allowing housing development on every parcel will not improve quality of life for all. Preserving Beaty Park land was wonderful. Sometimes using resources too wisely create clutter between houses. There needs to be a line between just enough and too much. Mega-McMansions and Development is taking over all available space. Bye Bye TREES. The best thing this Town has done in all my years here is to nix the Luminous project on the Beaty Property. Talk about adding to the traffic and pollution woes if that had gone through. Thank goodness we're moving toward a park on that property. Quit cutting down trees! Stop residential development. Davidson still has many trees and some nice green spaces, but the increased development has been disappointing. The loss of farmland/woods by River Run and down Pine rd was sad, and I don't look forward to when Barger sells off the rest of his land. We need more space like Fisher Farm. I number 1 reason we moved to Davidson is for the trees - big, old trees, farms, and open space. Please keep those trees! I support this principle and think it has been implemented well, keeping in mind the need to balance it with other needs of the town. Those who say this should be the highest principle and all others should fall below essentially desire the town to freeze in time. Too much overdevelopment lately causing congestion and future overcrowding New development near new fire station is WAY too close to greenway. Davidson Hall is stripping away any buffer. We have done a good with Abersham & Fisher Farm. The emerging plan for Beaty St. Park is helpful. I'm cautiously optimistic as I've seen constraint in this area and planning on how to use our resources wisely. I hope this continues. On the other hand, i continue to see a lot of growth and development on 115 (still in Davidson) that is concerning. No more apartments and certainly no hotels Less development needed Some areas are good. Davidson Bay Area not so much All of the forested areas are disappearing Too much residential development! Davidson's building rate and new real estate growth is already outpacing its infrastructure. If we consider resources to be facilities like our city streets we are becoming very overcrowded. Too many housing developments taking away from the rural and nature feel of the town. Again see #1 we should make the preamble to our planning ordinance the first development hurdle to cross We are not using the 5+ acres of town hall / parking property to best use. Again, the selfish interests of a few -close neighbors- is leading to a complete mess with the Beaty Street property which should be developed with complementary to neighbors tax base and a small park- as was originally proposed in 1996. fully support Far too much residential building is happening right now. Again, we border three lakes, and only have two small parks for access. Gets back to funding. Building up should only be true to a point. We don't want to turn Davidson into a mid-rise office
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 3 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS | Principle 4 center. I agree that protecting the environment is important, but I think sometimes the town and the "Save Davidson" movement hide behind this principle as a reason to stymie development. There has to be a balance. Also, I don't believe the town actually has a desire to build up, and not out. Doing so would dramatically changing the sight lines of the town, and probably erode a bit of character. Developers and real estate brokers have historically held the reign of power and made decisions that often benefit their interest. We are over populated with additional housing overwhelming the infrastructure. I'm not sure if townnofficials really have our best interest in mind Too many trees have been cut for development! Not sure how much control we have over this legally... All land resources are not just meant to be left to preservation as forests and farm land. The key term to clarify is Wisely. keep a reasonable balance between rural open space and sensible development Huge new residential project on Davdison-Concord and Robert Walker does not fulfill this Development was out of control during the last administration--it is already better under Mayor Knox. I don't more strongly support this principle because the "Save Davidson" zealots interpret it in accordance with the BANANA philosophy: Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything We voted in 2017 in response to some of the abuses of this principle, including the lack of a buffer along the greenway our family had walked for years prior to moving into town. I have seen development "up" completely halted in the last two years....there is available land on S. Main and behind Depot that could be better utilized Refer to comments about Catalyst ... denser use of that land would have fit within our principles and allowed for a more vibrant downtown. I fear that construction of neighborhood conglomerates could really damage our natural surroundings in the future Failure to approve more dense development downtown threatens its future and economic viability. We can't keep it exactly as it was 20 years ago. less houses and more affordable housing Too many homes being built and zero space in schools . Seriously stop adding homes without dealing with public school problem Where are the parks? Active and passive gathering places? Preservation of indeveloped land? We can do much better. We're trying to be all things to all constituencies I do not think that green design, energy conservation and flexible spaces should be included in principle 4. It should be part of principle 7 as these are design choices. The town can only do so much with development pressure on private property owners. Encouraging use of open space is important. Having to drive to usable park space is unfortunate Small town Davidson can delete the word small if it means high rise high density development high traffic density and more gridlock thanks Too late.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 4 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS | Principle 4
We have preserved almost 600 acres in our rural area, a great achievement for a town our size. The Rural Area Plan was a good example of a collaborative effort that resulted in a balanced approach creating a lot of open space, and recognizing property owners' rights. They're available for the right dollar. Have not seen this supported Too much dense development So much development in the last few years. WE have considered moving because of this. But, are staying because we believe the right leadership is in place to slow it down and be more wise about future decisions. I'm particularly pleased that the old elementary school can be re-used and new land is not required for a new town hall. This principle is too vague. You are building too many subdivisions outside of Davidson downtown and you already do not support the ones you have there. Lots of room for improvement, like the greenway entrance at Davidson Elem. that's getting bulldozed. Wisely means alot of things including economic implications for the town's future, not just open space and parks Not happy with a lot of the development happening in some of my most favorite "rural" views in the town. Letting the social media volume drive the Beatty property development was a mistake. Don't let "Occupy Davidson" style tactics drive City Hall. Integrate affordable housing throughout neighborhoods. Davidson Woods is an economically diverse desert. MCConnough is a gem. I think there is so much angst against development that could be beneficial to the town, that instead of focusing on things that could preserve and benefit the future, the current residents have only worried about how their experience would change. Fisher Farm and Abersham Park are nice resources for the community. Would like to see additional preservation parks incorporated in our area. Can we say Ryan Homes ? And even better, with no infrastructure to support it - BEFROE it is built. The ONLY place Imhabe ever lived where the town allows the building, BEFORE the infrastructure is built - it is absurd! Town administration needs to hold their meeting on 73 and Rmah Church at 8:30 am and 5:00 pm, BEFORE it is allowed to approve one more "afforadable housing," exploiting big developer even close to this town. Tha is to save Davidson, Beatty Park was saved, but more unneeded overcrowded homes going up off of Robert walker was disappointing Please move faster to curtail all the mature tree lopping and crammed in mcmansion construction. I know there's much the Town has no jurisdiction to address, but we're also not moving as aggressively as we could within the areas we can affect. We allow developments that are too dense without supporting infrastructure. Again, I live in an area that has seen a lot of new construction over the past few years. Very positive that the Potts Road project with discontinued Fisher Farm was a great purchase/partnership. We need more open space/parks.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 5 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS | Principle 4 too many farms turning into townhouse communities without thought to the roads that service the areas See response to P1 - too much new housing. Seriously? 340 units across from Beaver Dam on top of everything else? Don't use land resources for low cost housing Davidson hall, Westbranch Narrow passage. Davidson has become just another sprawling charmless suburb. We need to top thinking that we've saved green space as part of our land use ordinance when all we really get are the wetlands and ravines that developers can't build on anyway. The same for the recreation developers "donate" under the power lines that no one is willing to live under anyway (i.e. Bailey Springs). I think the developers are laughing at us for being so proud of our open space set-asides, when they're really not making much of a sacrifice, and are able to get "credit" for setting aside what they couldn't build on anyway. And the effort to develop the town-owned Beaty Street property was a clear indication of a town not using its land resources wisely. If we're so confident that we're growing, and growing more densely due to the private sector's efforts, then we should have had the wisdom to know that the Beaty land should have been set aside for those future generations that the private sector is so aggressively building for as it is. Finally, setting aside open space as merely an "aesthetic" for nice view sheds along our roads was nice 20 years ago when people like Randall Arendt were proposing it. But the most cutting-edge urban open space preservation work today is more intentional about how that open space functions - as set aside land for potential urban agriculture, as meaningful and interconnected wildlife habitat, and as a "system of open space" that encourages other important environmental goals such as water quality, the mitigation of the impacts of climate change, etc. We need to be more intelligent and sophisticated about our open space preservation work - and stop letting the planners and developers argue that its just about aesthetics, as wonderful as that might be. The conservation field today has moved on beyond Randall Arendt, even as it gives him credit for moving us forward 25 years ago. But if Davidson wants to continue to be thought of as progressive in its planning (as it was in 2000), then it has to evolve and can't continue to be stuck in a 1995 mindset about open space preservation. I wish even more care could be taken to preserve land resources even if its at the expense of developers. Again, I hope the current town board will do better on this one. The recent change in planning direction embodied in the election of the current Commissioners is more consistent with this principle. To the extent consistent with the best legal advice, we may need a new principle, or a reformulation of Principle 6, specifically addressing the need for restrained development, particularly in view of the school/public services & facilities situation, etc. The amount of construction and development of our beautiful rural spaces is downright tragic to many housing developments going up in open fields Way too much development and not enough infrastructure Continue saving Land to put towards natural areas and not high density housing. I feel that the new board and mayor are valuing the principal. I felt like the old government gave priority to development over land preservation
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 6 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS | Principle 4
The amount of clearcutting in Davidson in recent years has been troubling. Would strongly suggest that builders must be required to keep X% of old growth trees on any lot - not just beyond the "tree line." We cannot develop for the sake of development...it needs to be done correctly and be smart about which projects are benefical. see question 1 Serious concerns about newer neighborhoods which are popping up overcrowding schools and increased traffic patterns. Part of what keeps Davidson unique is the "small-town" feel. The development of multiple housing developments and plans for even more (rural area plan) are taking away from that uniqueness. I know that Davidson has a lot of open park, i.e. Fisher Farm. It is a great space, but most people feel unsafe riding or walking to the park. As far as the other land, I know that a lot of it is owned privately. We need to balance the town's need for rural land and the owner's right to sell. You cannot recover "green space" so go overboard to protect as much as we can. It is very hard to get developers on board, but we should continue to try. I'm wary of new residential development - Beatty Street is getting a bit crowded with very dense neighborhoods Stop developing the farms people want more starter homes in less than 300K range not these half a million dollar huge homes like on depot st preservation of more open space and more park space should be a priority Loss of trees in development of land along the Greenway is disappointing. Weighting private property rights with land restrictions is tough. However, no community survives rapid, unmitigated development. I feel like this is one of the most complex Principles to implement, the details of which are going to be difficult for average citizens to grasp. Depends on what area of town and the proposed plans My view is that the Town is in the place-making business and not necessarily in the land preservation business. There is little farmland left. However, the town (and county) has preserved a huge assemblage of land - Fisher Farm and the old Abersham development area. We have a lot of passive recreational area but very little active recreational areas. I am not sure that we do much to encourage developments to be green nor do I think we are doing much to build up and not out. This is a tough one. As the are grows it becomes more impossible. West side needs a reidentbled/based revitalization. Density will help resident home value. Again...too many cookie cutter neighborhoods being packed in on the outskirts of town. Residential building has gotten too big. People splitting land in the historic district to sell it off and then huge mansions are built on them - this doesn't help with preserving the character of Davidson. again, too many new neighborhoods that are taking away from the charm around davidson and river run Great work to turni Abersham into a park! Must ensure roads can support additional traffic before adding subdivisions RAP was contrary to this principle in my opinion. Starting to turn the corner on preservation with new leadership managing development vs developers managing the town.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 7 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS | Principle 4
Develop Beaty into a beautiful, useful natural space. Preserve historic old-oaks. Regulate obtuse and obtrusive lot-filler homes, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE DEVELOPER OWNED. The home that was build at the corner of Pine and Spring is so big that it narrowed the width of the street so much that it is no longer wide enough for two lanes. On top of that, It just sits there on the market developer owned. What a reckless waste. COME ON!!!!!! Regulate size of lot-fillers so that the streets and trees are preserved and limit access to greedy developers. As a result, Spring St between Walnut and South St is no longer a two lane road. Need more scrutiny of development. See above note on track housing All the building going on by the greenway looks like stereotypical suburban sprawl to me. Housing and commercial development too fast Need to maintain more natural habitat. Too many housing neighborhoods going up and not enough park space being preserved. I'm not anti-growth...we just need more balance. This principle seems to have come to mean "no growth". I absolutely agree with "building up and not out" -- filling in pockets of underdeveloped land along Griffith, near 77, and the blocks west of Main between Eden and Delburg would be great. I think we are too fixate on single family, 2-story homes, which are not the essence of Davidson's character. We've had many one story ranches and bungalows, some of which have traditionally been occupied by multiple generations. To preserve and foster diversity, we need more attractive, affordable, multifamily units like the Bungalows. We need more parks, tennis courts, playgrounds, etc. We must develop our commercial designated areas more wisely (ie. No schools, churches, etc.) in these areas as well as keeping in mind how the development fits in and affects infrastructure. TIS seem to be a waste as they always seem to show little or no impact when we all know that's not true. Too much development takes away from the charm of the town. We are already doing so. Continued deliberate planning and management of our lands in accordance with the RAP will be important. I believe this is very important to Davidson and Davidson implements this fairly well. Too much housing development without planning for educational and transportation impact Good planning for open space preservation "Building up" to a degree, by complementing existing buildings. The Linden with 4 stories should have been 3 and MSC's elevation is extremely too high. limit housing/apartment development which can detract from the unique character of the town. Too many subdivisions with near zero lot lines are being approved. Very important to guard against sprawl; not allow us to turn into exit 28-Cornelius or exit 35-36 Mooresville. The current tract developments are disappointing. No additional large developments. Have serious concerns about new neighborhood development w/o infrastructure to support it Many so called undeveloped land in current neighborhoods are really drainages areas Infrastructure (roads/schools) need to keep up with development. The Beaty St area will be a real test. Why not just leave it alone? Too much development
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 8 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS | Principle 4
You dont have to drive far from downtown to see cleared land that was once natural forest. Allowing land that cant be develeloped count as natural space shold be limited. More development in downtown Davidson; more green designed homes, less poorly planned neighborhoods- Antiquity is a better model than some of the less thought out new neighborhoods We have done a great job protecting the East Side with Fisher Farm. I wish we could protect more land on the West Side. Viewshed protection is dead; extending water & sewer to Narrow Passage will extend sprawl. We have failed to protect the rural area, which is sad because previous town leaders made herculean efforts to do so, and paid a high price. Diversifying our tax base will help us become economically sustainable and can be done - if well- planned - without losing our open space. We must do more to preserve our natural landscapes and natural resources and amentities. We can do this through the DLC and rigorous land use controls and planning. We shouold put equal effort and capital into conservation as we do economic development, What does "development builds up" mean in terms of number of stories? There are a lot of new developments still being built. Too many "mixed use" developments being developed. Too many lots being subdivided houises being torn down. Whay are we trying to build another hotel right next to a school in one of the busiest traffic patterns in the town? Let's have a moratorium and not move so quickly to fill in every square inch of land. Question purchase of land near The Pines Love the improvements to Fisher Farm Park! Quite a few new housing developments being built thatvthe roads can not support Not much has been completed over the past 4 years in this area. Stay focused on small-scale infill. Large projects like Narrow Passage are great for tax base, but not so good for long-term infrastructure. See question 6. This is more of a wish than a principle that the town controls. Rephrased as "We must promote the use of our scarce land resources wisely" would be a more realistic phrasing of the principle. Our rural area is very special and the plan we did a few years ago for this area was a big step in making sure it would stay special by balancing conservation and development in a sensible manner. I support all these sub-points but would like to see much more progress on the green design. I moved from an area where there were a lot of green buildings, and that doesn't seem to be something that people talk about here. Other residents I talk to are interested in this and the college builds green buildings, why isn't the town doing more to lead in this area or require developers to build these buildings? The town should lead by example by having all its buildings be green and we should require developers to meet a minimum standard, too. I also agree with the last point that buildings should go up and not out. The town's approach to mixed-use nodes is appropriate. The scale and character of buildings should be sensitive to surrounding houses and things already there but 2-4 story buildings that are well-designed are not a bad thing. There are some loud voices that don't seem to like anything over 1-2 stories but I don't feel like they represent everyone in town. Development has certainly encroached on our natural preserved spaces. I am not sure of the planning ordinances and principles, however, it would be nice to be able for the Town to preserve natural habitat--and make those open spaces equitably accessible to all.
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Too much development as of late. I think we need to do more to study and preserve wildlife habitats and wooded areas, particularly where residents would like it to be preserved and are willing to purchase land and otherwise support the preservation. The Town's current Planning Zones do a wonderful job of protecting these principles. The Rural plan which provides for 50-70% open spaces is a dream come true. Most communities would KILL for this. Yet many on our current Town Board do not want to provide water & sewer to these areas. This makes no sense. Growth in and around Davidson can not be stopped, nor should it. We are blessed to live in a town with a top ten US college, a beautiful lake and only a 20 mile commute to a large, growing city. The Rural area plan is a great way to grow, while protecting 50% or more open spaces. This will allow for parks, neighborhoods, connectivity, etc. The days of cow pastures all around Davidson is unsustainable. "Ensuring development builds up, not out" worries me. We could have high rise buildings within 2 or 3 blocks of Main Street, but what would that accomplish. Huge apartment complexes aren't the answer either IMO. Neighborhoods like St. Albans provide great opportunities for a variety of living styles. They should be replicated. Agree with this, but keep in mind when restricting new construction. Tear downs are sometimes necessary and not always bad. No blanket policy should restrict this fully. LOVE the greenways and use them every day. Little support for "up"...Good on habitat in ETJ I like our traffic circles as well as mixed use communities. Davidson is rapidly losing farm land/open land. Trees have no protection from land owners/builders. This is a huge opportunity area for us. Of course I think we must use our scarce land resources wisely. Who would say we should not??. Circles at 30 (including The Linden) is an example of how we have wasted our land resources. If the question is being asked so that we can say high-density buildings are a way to maximize our land resource, then I am against that because it taxes our infrastructure and schools and obliterates the small town. This question seems too fluffy. The town has done a good job with existing space like fisher farm. But the rest of our open space seems to be moving rapidly toward residential development that we simply don't need. Maybe fewer single family sub divisions and more multi family units I agree with this one and believe most people will as well. But perhaps not the œup not out• concept. There might be fear that this means density. I also like figuring out ways to foster greener designs and energy conservation. Seems as if large scale subdivisions now transforming rural character of east Davidson into typical sprawling suburbs. Housing fine and needed but better design with integrated facilities and services accessible preferred. Would also like to see construction somewhere central of some public tennis courts - now that courts at LKN have closed there is nowhere public to play except at Jetton Park. Tennis or pickle ball on public courts good sport for all ages and incomes! In the 4 years we have lived here we have seen SO MUCH beautiful land over developed. Please preserve our beautiful land! A lot to be desired here. Development seems to be taking over which is disappointing. I feel this is where the confusion with trying to build up the community by adding more hotels is great, but not when it interferes with children saftety ( eg. Community School of Davidson). It's okay, that we build up but need to overlook every aspect and consider safety and the level impact
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I support good planning principles, but we obviously need to balance open land conservation with the need for affordable housing. Tight zoning principles (including an increased focus on watershed regulations) have made it almost impossible for the Davidson Housing Coalition to build affordable housing on the West Side, and that concerns me. I think the Save Davidson movement has helped in this area. I think the Save Davidson movement has been counter productive to this. It makes me angry. The Beatty street development would have adhered to this. Developers have been allowed to clear cut entire tracts instead of leaving existing trees and plants as substitutes buffers between new construction and existing structures and greenways. This has caused erosion of land. The permission for the retirement development on the lake us a perfect example of disaster. There is NO public access to one if the loveliest areas of the Town AND the development was permitted to tear down 98% of the trees/ leaving no buffer that is required from the water view. Simply awful. Simply put, I'm disheartened by the lack of care for our tree canopy mostly at the hands of developers. (Pesky trees getting in the way of building more 5000 sq. foot home. Even the original greenway is getting marred by the recent Pines development adjacent to it.) What's the point of green design in home building if the houses are enormous monstrosities? Around the country towns have adopted the idea that small is beautiful. Not here in Davidson. Also giant homes being built "up not out". So what? Now you've dwarfed the next door neighbor's house and blocked all of her sunlight. I think land use in the future will be more guarded than ever before. We are going to grow, but with the help of TOD and DLC will will hopefully optimize the amount of land that is preserved. we need to preserve open space in the downtown area. We need to limit trees being cut down and replant when they are cut down. We need more town resources spent on trees. While this is always true, I feel that we should be in favor of smart development Need to consider if there is a way to preserve more trees in large developments. The developing eyesore on Robert walker is an example of what perhaps could have been prevented. Could some of that land been preserved as open space? Need more parks I would like to see fast food on Griffin St. In recent years, Davidson has pro-actively encouraged development that violates this Principle. Developers have taken advantage of the situation which has led to the aforementioned high rate of new housing and population growth. Many suspect that the active PUSH for growth is related to the horrible situation related to MI-Connection/Continuum that prior Davidson Town Manager, Mayor and Board committed the Town to without a vote. Can we really AFFORD the loss of land to one more "mow the trees down" developer paradise? Suburban sprawls developments like Davidson East contradict Principle 4 Land is a finite resources. Density is not a four-letter word. See answer to number 1 - I also hope that we limit the number of new housing developments in favor of green space and trees. I am sad about how new developments are encroaching on the Greenways and flooding the walkways with red clay from the removal of trees. Would love to see more of these initiatives.
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If non residential uses are needed, they must have adequate screening to preserve small town and rural design. Heavy aesthetics zoning requirements! We have lived in the community for only a few years but the volume and rate at which new developments and subdivisions that seem to be popping up are alarming. It takes away from the scenery but many of these developments are "cookie cutter" homes that all look alike, increasing the supply of houses and devaluing existing homes in the area. Please plan for parks. A town with Davidson's values and resources should have more parks. All development requires more consideration of infrastructure matters. I still believe that some of the Beaty property should include affordable housing. We can still have a large park, while dedicating a portion of the town-owned acreage to much-needed affordable housing. The cookie cutter home developments are an eyesore Too much development has been allowed. I liked having more open space but it is now all being developed. We seem to be building more and preserving less. The look of our once small town has changed dramatically over the past 25 years There is a lot of new home development that will take up and and make traffic worse The tree canopy along the greenway was clearcut by the developer and we no longer see birds on our morning walks. I'm of the opinion that if a developer wants to take some vacant land make half of it open to the public as a park and build some nice buildings on the remainder that is a good thing. Much better than leaving things as Woods. Woods are great I love birds but I can walk to behind davidson day for that. Or go to mini of the other places to walk in the woods. I'm all for democracy and understand I'm the minority here, but I'm very heavily in favor of dense development near the downtown while keeping the Suburban neighborhoods and rural areas as they are being preserved. It doesn't seem that ANY of the scarce land is being preserved, it is continually being built upon. It doesn't seem that Davidson's thoroughfares can support more capacity - traffic in/out of town is already awful. Once a natural feature has been bulldozed, it can never be recovered. We have something truly special here, and protecting it should be our top priority. Parks and space between our houses are unique and fit our community/culture. Large houses on modest lots need to be kept in check for environmental reasons, especially given our proximity to Lake Norman. Also, it would be awesome to have a public space similar to Jetton Park--perhaps on the Beaty St. propoerty or by reimagining the nature preserve. Again, an opportunity for mixed income housing. Keep it up! Stop allowing development in undeveloped areas, such as the forest on Potts St. Allow re- development or replacement of existing strcutures within zoning and acceptable-use guidelines. No lo se [I don’t know]
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Additional Feedback on Principle 5 Compared to Durham...we are still very œ white•.... Emphasize unity and commonality. Not diversity. Define "diversity". All people who are Caucasian (insert any skin color) are not alike for example. Stop judging and stereotyping people based upon their skin color. As Martin Luther King said: "I yearn for the day that people are judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." The diversity training ideas and model of the 1990s is not current and we need to have a less divisive and more intelligent progressive approach to what is fostering diversity. Awesome ideal but not realistic and in many regards. Implementing many of the principles ofter leads to over regulation and that leads to making Davidson a placce that's not affordable for many people. If you mean diversity of ideas and equal opportunity for everyone regardless of color, gender, etc. and providing an equal playing field for everyone judged by your qualifications. We have enough diversity if people want more they can move to Charlotte Need more casual places not so expensive We are welcoming to different people, but I don't think there's a mixture of different houses at neighborhoods. Everything is expensive. No utility extensions. Build out areas with current service The Town is woefully segregated and non-diverse -- much talk about supporting diversity, but actions are weak in this area.. Davidson does a good job of preserving its cultural heritage of segregation which I find shameful. Jobs and affordable housing are sorely lacking and there are limited economic opportunities at lower income levels. Citizens who wish to age in place will be best served by accessibility to housing that is suitable for their life style. Service, labor, elderly and minority citizens have been overlooked by not planning more affordable "town like" denser and walkable communities. See little evidence (.e.g. affordable hopusing opportunities) of this happening. West Davidson residents concerns with gentrification threat and other matters too little affordable housing Lack of affordable housing; buying out homes in West Davidson and building expensive housing? lack of work opportunities for young persons/families in Davidson and lack of affordable housing do not create diversity; I feel that you all are attempting to move out the low income people and replace with the wealthy. Are you willing to place low income housing and all types of housing and prices on the other side of the tracks or just on the westside. Davidson is far to expensive now to truly foster diversity More mid-range restaurants downtown Ravaging the westside community does not follow this principal Diversity cannot be forced, it must be organic, but must be supported and encouraged. most people are priced out of Davidson; I applaud efforts to offer affordable housing, but segregation remains an issue and there are not enough affordable housing units to truly help make this a diverse community
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So much whiteness, so much development that squeezes out the working class, so much deaf and blind to the needs of workers. Davidson Free Shuttle! Affordable housing ordinances with teeth that can't be bought out by the starter-castle builders. We need more young families. In addition to affordability, they need good, local schools. Davidson is expensive. This is a nice ideal, but difficult to influence in a meaningful way at the municipal level. That's why it only rates a 3. The most effective way to influence this is to not proactively harm diversity. The previous Board and current staff who have agressively pursued the Griffith Street Hotel project did a great disservice to this principle by actively pursuing a project that they know will increase gentrification pressure on the Westside neighborhood. We are still a community where diversity exists "on the other side of the tracks." It is very obvious the two different sides of the tracks still persist. Developers seek to shift affordable housing requirements out of certain projects and away and into others. This is shameful. There is a lot of effort but this is a difficult task given legislation and developer and community resistance. It sounds good on paper Our town planners have said density will bring affordability. This is not the case. The building rules are too prissy, so we have ever more expensive housing. Only professional architects and big builders can figure out how to build or add on a garage in our town; this is a disgrace and needs to be corrected. Let things play out as they may. Back off the social engineering. Some developers are trying, but there is still a clear divide in the town between one side of the tracks and the other. I'm not familiar with attempts to foster diversity. Silly, folks with money move here and will continue despite these so called goals. I think create should be replaced with maintain an environment that fosters diversity--the taxes and poor planning practices that are gentrifying the Westside are not conducive to keeping the diversity that exists there now and include the tear down practice on Depot Street area as well and we are destroying housing that was affordable. In my opinion, "Davidson" is really for those that immediately surround the college and the downtown district. It is wealthy and white...always has been and I think always be. We have a mix now. Quit building and it will be preserved. Most people that work in Davidson (police, teachers, etc) would have trouble affording somewhere to live. I could be wrong but there appear to be two very distinct groups in Davidson...the haves and the have nots. Some of the lower income areas are not getting renovated for the people who live there. Houses are being built that the people who lived there before could not obviously afford, which drives the property values of the lower income houses around it. Pretty soon, our heritage will be gone. The lack of diversity and affordable housing in this town is appalling. Look at the cost of homes built here in the last ten years. Soon we'll see more of the tear-down build over mentality that is happening in Myers Park. I don't know the answer, but we have to be honest about it being a concern. How does Davidson keep or grow a middle class?
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We need to establish ways that diverser groups can create their own voice, rather than other groups presuming to speak for diverse groups, etc. Such pretension suggests that people of diversity cannot speak for themselves.. Needs to start with preserving and championing the diversity we have. The town is somewhat divided racially/economically We hear a lot of talk from Town Hall about affordable housing, but in the meantime, completely stripping the quality of life of our residents who currently live in the Affordable housing that has been a big part of Davidson's history for years. Gives the impression that Town is only interested in "new and improved" affordable housing and diversity. With complete disregard to our long standing affordable and diverse community. not in my backyard seems to be the guiding principle rather than fosters diversity---let's see some more affordable housing in downtown and McConnel What is your definition of diversity? The affordable home act is great, but when builders can just pay a fee to opt out, then what is the point? Also, Bailey Springs affordable houses don't even have garages. So they stand out as a cheaper product. I think that diversity is a lost cause, and you need to figure out how to foster what we have left in this town to make is it great. The Pines is a nice area for our elderly. We need to come to grips with this as a town given the cost of living in Davidson. If one believes that this is important, which I do, we need the funds to make it happen through tax increases, given the MI-Connection/Continuum disaster financial burden. Getting whiter and whiter, richer and richer. Let's be honest, diversity is a pipe dream in Davidson. Until you can truly address the rising cost of home values and the increase tax burden, the Town of Davidson will not be a diverse community. One option is to have Davidson College donate some land for affordable housing. How do you define diversity? This is an elitist town, economics wise. Diversity in Davidson? Really? I truly wish. More needs to be done to provide affordable housing. The influx of money has had a major impact on the character of the neighborhoods and real estate prices. I've seen several houses on Woodland sold and razed only to have a humongous (somewhat hideous, but that's subjective) house built in its place. The town would benefit from a wider mix of housing prices especially in the new developments. To preserve our history and cultural heritage, it might be nice to have a day dedicated to celebrating our heritage (storytelling, photo and art exhibits, concerts, theater presentation). Having a space also that is dedicated to telling the history of Davidson would be very beneficial. I think this comes naturally and is not a "government" principle. Cost of living in Davidson is so high that I don't know how anyone could argue this has successfully been implemented. "Preserve our cultural heritage" reeks of dog whistle policies. Worried what this will do to property values if not implemented properly Don't know how much we can do about this given that housing in Davidson is very expensive and that charter and private schools in town seem to be predominately majority. Perhaps the town of Davidson and Davidson College could coordinate around an international festival. The college has a terrific one and a community wide festival might bring our diverse neighbors into the fore. Perhaps Town Day should have a reason for our diverse neighbors to join us on the Green.
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We have significant opportunities here. Just walking down the main st on any given day shows a lack of diversity in our community. Sadly we miss so much learning and growth when we are only surrounded by those who are very similar to us. Encouraging all to be welcome and to live in the community is so important, but won't be easy, given the white affluence that is so prevalent. Lots of lip service, but little direct action with regard to fully engaging neighbors east and west. I don't know what is meant by "diversity." Individuals on the west side of Davidson are getting their land encroached upon more and more everyday. There are fewer and fewer middle class families who can live in Davidson. TSG is taking over once affordable properties and making them un-affordable to everyday families. Families who have been in the town for years are feeling afraid that they will no longer be able to live where their family has already lived for years. Love the diversity. Have to be careful with what affordable housing is and trying to mix that with $1 mil houses. all market factors determine diversity. I do not believe in forced diversity The current elected officials- in theirignorantce of planning wisdom - have banned multifamily Housing from village infill- making Davidson a more expensive place to live and making the development of real affordable housing even more difficult. fully support Affordable housing ordinance is great. We need to continue even in the face of developer pressure. Not enough programs for seniors. Village Network is a great start. Need a senior center. That space was cut from the North Mech Rec Center Plan. Not everyone can afford or wants to go to The Pines. Davidson should offer apartments throughout the entire town to help with affordability. I believe the single family housing market should be more market driven. There is not as much diversity in housing prices in Davidson as there should be and areas that are less expensive are being gentrified. There is no affordable housing in Davidson. Apartments rent for $2k a month. "normal" income families can't afford to live here. The Westside needs protection and encouragement to participate in all discussions concerning this area of town. I feel the mayor and commissioners need to have townhall type meetings to listen to the concerns of this area. Perhaps at the Ada Jenkins center to make it easier for residents to attend. I Davidson has become too expensive--and that has happened because the people moving here have built monster homes, send their kids to charters or private schools, and don't seem to really appreciate what it means to be diverse. as is typical everywhere, housing afforability is a challenge. be mindful of the impacts to afforability when making design and regulatory decisions Some evidence of mixed housing types, but not job opportunities for this population, Housing is not affordable, town is segregated in many ways, this is not a place that I would move if I were a person of color. We need to grapple with the town's history, and make this community more accessible. I was dismayed by the public outcry in fall of 2017 against the requirement for multiple-unit housing. I agree with the town that this can and must be done well and will actually serve to protect the values of existing homes as younger buyers are choosing smaller, more affordable
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We need to develop plans that allow for gentrification of the older neighborhoods, yet provide new housing in all the neighborhoods for the people being displaced by the up-scale building. We must be careful to keep a diverse economic mix. One of the most important principles. I fear we are losing our diversity. Davidson is only partially walkable, a lot of streets don't have sidewalks on both sides, and there is a clear economic divide in town, to use the "side of the tracks" expression quite literally. Long term residents are being pushed out by new Living in downtown Davidson I have no POC neighbors nor do we offer many resources for minorities. As a minority myself I feel very alone Promoting a residential, mainly expensive single family development pattern drives those with lower incomes away. Wish we could mandate even affordable housing, especially close to downtown and jobs. The lack of affordable housing is a major contributor to this. Based on the current prices of land, I'm not sure we will be able to make meaningful improvements here. Best case scenario we keep the housing we have and get a few incremental ones. I am an African American woman. I do not often see people that look like me in Davidson. In regards to socio-economic status - Davidson appears to be so expensive that even middle class families would not consider living here. Racial/ethic diversity appears to be not a priority. More affordable housing options need to be made available. 10% of new building at an affordable cost is not enough if this is truly a goal. When the average new home in Davidson is 4500 square feet, things are really out of whack. Lower paid families can't afford living here anymore Davidson has become a bedroom community to Charlotte. Thee is very little diversity here, but diversity and inclusion is challenging when the main job center is so far away and there are little to no public transit options. Diversity and inclusion should be included in the town plans, but without sacrificing town character and making the town more dense. It can be done with innovative policy that encourages diversity but does not sacrifice quality. We are at risk of over emphasizing this principle when other principles tend to limit some forms of diversity there appears to be very little diversity in Davidson and the current housing stock seems to have priced many people out of being able to live and work in Davidson. Health and well-being could be added to this principle in a more explicit way. Please, please, please lets not become a wealthy bedroom suburb of Charlotte. We are tipping that direction. This principle is the only opportunity to advocate for a community that is just and caring. I think we need to figure out how to be welcoming to outsiders, how to engage and address the needs of all citizens regardless of socioeconomic and demographic identifiers
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If this Principle was truly followed, the new McMansions that loom over the streets of 'downtown Davidson' have replaced reasonably sized/priced homes should never have been allowed. There are some exceptions. The home that was completed in the past couple of years on Lorimer fits the neighborhood. They new owners didn't tear the old home down and split the lot, which may have allowed for TWO giant tall homes to be built. The St. Alban's neighborhood is lovely and was nicely designed. What is happening to 'downtown Davidson' is really a shame. Diversity seems to only apply to new developments as the lower priced properties are being sold to the highest bidder for demolition and profit. (Although I didn't quite support Davidson College owning so many properties, I now am full support of this. It's helping to keep nice smaller homes in the downtown area. I support infill, but with more boundaries. When we moved to Davidson, we first bought a home in River Run. It was a lovely spacious home in a beautiful development. But, we missed living within walking distance of town as we moved here from a similar community. Ok - that's enough. Sorry this is rambling. Typing on a sliding line is not the best format for me and this was not a good representation of my writing, but thanks for the opportunity. This sounds like lip service and has not been implemented. Actions speak louder than words, i.e. The payment in lieu. Most developers would not even consider doing affordable housing, it's all about the bottom line. Yes i support diversity but please remember the diversity that is already in Davidson. Don't forget the Black community. As I walked past the red telehone booths with pictures/videos. There are very little Black people on the video. Other communities outside of Davidson think there are no Blacks in Davidson NC. Again, the folks on the west side have been dispoportionately impacted by development. We are very challenged in this area. Our historic African-American community is aging out, and few or no new families are moving to town. The work done to provide affordable housing and multiple housing options is as good or better than anywhere else in our state, a great achievement for a town our size. Almost no new residents have connections. This morning at the Farmer's Market I heard a couple getting out of a snazzy car say "downtown is cute. Let's look into moving here". In June a woman walked up to my front porch where I was sitting and asked to buy my house for $250,000. Davidson is not diverse based on casual observance from its residents and those that spend time. I haven't seen efforts to encourage increased visibility or presence for multicultural or religious activities. It's hard to be diverse in a town as expensive as Davidson The diversity I see here is in where people are from, but not socioeconomic or cultural. We need to make more affordable housing and opportunities for those that don't make high salaries to survive here. Housing is not affordable for many people to live in Davidson. Then neighbors complain when affordable housing is offered. I believe one developer received an exemption to build affordable housing a few years ago. The economic wealth of many town residents and the limited affordable housing will continue to plague diversity efforts. Habitat and Davidson Housing Coalition are trying hard, but more support like that is needed. You say you want varied pricing for homes, but then increase taxes/bonds so that only the wealthy can afford to live here. Lots of talk about this, but only cursory action so everyone can feel virtuous. affordable housing is woefully lacking
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Davidson is pretty heavily segregated, dominant upper-middle class white culture "Fosters" diversity?! Not sure I understand what steps could be taken in this regard that would not already be in a principle that encourages basic decency. Davidson is very segregated racially and moving that way in housing. Regulate diverse housing sizes especially close in. Hate seeing the teardowns with million dollar homes replacing them. Affirmative action is obsolete, representation by national percentage average, is fine - don't spend my taxes looking to fill quotas. The greater Charlotte region, as a whole, offers superb diversity of housing, economic opportunity, etc. Davidson's role should not be to try to engineer the same in our own smaller-scale microcosm. To do so is unrealistic and not government's role. Anyone of any socioeconomic status already can find excellent housing and employment in our region - at a lever far superior to that of most of the rest of the US. Our affordable housing program needs a complete revamping. We need a new coordinator who has expertise and has implemented a successful program in the past. The $1 million home will do little to help this but HDH is not the answer either. Diversity should include all age groups, acknowledging the specific needs of such groups Look at the town staff. Is the town staff diverse? when developers can pay off the town and not build affordable housing as it was intended something is wrong. There was a reason we had a mandate for affordable housing and money talks all the time even in Davidson Life is indeed a team sport. Inclusiveness is critical in 2019. Diversity of ideas is a positive thing. Diversity for its own sake, like so many other concepts, is not necessarily good. MOst of the new housing is for very rich people. Davidson Hall is the prime example. Neighborhoods around Griffith st are losing their diversity. Minorities are being pushed away from Davidson I don't know how to do it, but I wish we could have more affordable housing and keep black residents and make them feel more comfortable.
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Fostering diversity is an important core value that I hope we don't lose as part of this process. But I am skeptical of those who seem to believe that encouraging high-end housing is a way to increase the "supply" of low-income housing (in the hope, I assume, that the older housing will "trickle down" to lower income families. Whether it's in the form of 150 units of condos selling for $700,000+ as was the case with the Luminous project, or tear-downs of modest single-family housing to make way for $750,000 bungaloids, those who argue that these "density" and "infill" projects are encouraging more affordable housing seem to be confusing "macro housing arguments" for the larger metro area as a reasonable strategy for a unique, high-end market like Davidson. Even if we get 20 units of affordable housing provided as part of a deal like Luminous (or the corresponding "payment in lieu", the upward pressure those 150 units of luxury condos will place on the property values of the remaining stock of naturally-occurring affordable housing (such as old mill houses, brick ranches, etc.) is likely to mean that over time, there will be no net gain in affordable housing as those units are lost as teardowns for other new luxury projects (either multi- family or single-family). It just seems misguided that we have bought into the argument that increasing density at the high-end of the market will somehow result in a greater supply of affordable housing because the overall supply of housing has increased. That may be the case in the larger macro Charlotte market, but in a land-constrained micro-market like Davidson, you're merely reinforcing the market as "high end", and for every unit of affordable housing that we might get out of the development community as it's building those high-end units, will likely be offset by the rising values (and eventual conversion) of the remaining, naturally-occurring affordable housing. So if we're really serious about affordable housing as a way to foster diversity, let's stop following the arguments of the development community, and actually get serious about building subsidized affordable housing through partnerships with state and federal agencies. The current developer-driven affordable housing is, in my opinion, not working. Keep working hard to get affordable housing for a boarder group of lower wage earners As Davidson is not exempt from national demographic trends, going forward Principle 5 may involve some greater emphasis on facilitating aging in place I want to see more emphasis given to preserving and supporting our current diverse community members and their neighborhoods. I'm all for new affordable housing but not to the detriment of current low income neighborhoods. Please please please! I can see and appreciate the intentional efforts that have been made to make Davidson more accessible and welcoming, but living here it feels very racially segregated. More community activities that appeal to more races would be good. Maybe more block parties so neighbors can mingle in a welcoming environment. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DAVIDSON! not sure how you've done this? I am concerned how this could affect property values in our area if not executed properly. I would the town to encourage people of different income levels to live in the town. I would also like to see to town encourage artists (who may have lower income levels) to live and thrive here. It would be nice to have a vibrant artistic community here in Davidson. When teachers, police officers and librarians make $30K - $50K a year - where can they live in town???? What does this even mean? "Diversity" is an overused worn out vague term. Be specific!!! If you mean more low income housing...say that!
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There is no need to foster diversity, Davidson is safe and secure, do not encourage the wrong type of people to want to live in Davidson making it more dangerous and inviting the wrong type of person. Families and students is good! see answer #4 prices many ppl out of the market a more diverse mix of housing types and prices is needed in town As housing becomes more expensive, it precludes diversity and encourages economic segregation. I have no idea how to do this, but affordable housing as defined by the town is not true affordable housing. Lower income people are being forced from Davidson because of economic factors. I do not think the 5 square miles that comprise Davidson has to be all things for all people. Its more important for the broader Lake Norman area to be a diverse environment. I don't have data for this, but it feels like this Principle often gets sacrificed on the altar of good intentions. Again, see the Park at Beaty as a huge missed opportunity to implement this principle. Davidson can and should do more to foster diversity. what does Diversity mean, Income? Race? Sex? Let's not go over board and be too too diverse to loose our identity The Town should be commended for having an affordable housing policy that has produced some housing and support for those needing subsidized housing. However, market rate housing costs are going up exponentially, which is making Davidson a place where only the rich and wealthy can afford to live. I think the fact that we have such a high level of income and highly educated population makes this difficult. I think it is as good as it can be under the circumstances. "Affordable" is the operative word here. How affordable is anything in Davidson??? Affordable housing. Diverse schools The cost of living alone prohibits this. The Davidson environment is that of wealthy people - there isn't muych room for fostering diversity here. Davidson is highly segregated, economically as wella as racially Housing costs are growing. Gentrification is and going to continue to be a challenge Home prices are insane. Reduce property taxes and take the burden of the MI mistake off the shoulders of the public. We will probably move to Huntersville or Cornlius because you can get significantly more for your money and their towns don't buy failing cable companies at a time when cable is becoming obsolete. And then make their citizens pay for the mistake. Efforts have been made, but so much more needs to be done. E.g., we build apartments, but no one can really afford them. It's not clear to me whether this refers to only new builds or modifying existing, fully built neighborhoods. We're not even close on a mixture of housing types and prices. Gentrification is forcing out many of our african-american neighbors. Police, Fire, Teachers, retail workers can't live in Davidson unless their spouse has a much better paying job. better street lighting for older walkers. More affordable housing is needed. Davidson is increasingly white and affluent, with one of the largest per capita incomes in the area, and Davidson Elementary School is the whitest school in CMS. While the Town cannot control all the economic factors, we need to do much more to foster diversity.
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We need to be honest about this, are we serious or are we just applying lip service to as the gentrification of the west side continues. We need to ask our selves what is truly affordable housing, what can be done so that those that work in Davidson can also live here. Is this just a pipe dream or can/will we do something to make this a reality? Affordable housing remains a need and demands continued focus and energy to improve and expand. Davidson feels very economically segmented. Davidson could be more diverse than it currently is. We have a unique opportunity given proximity to the college to gain more diversity in town. I believe this is extremely important to implement this correctly and to promote an inclusive community. I don't like seeing 4-plexes where houses used to be. Market-driven is the way to go, the other alternatives backfire despite best intentions. Affordable housing ordinance is the weakest that it has ever been; people of color and moderate income people are being pushed out by housing costs; restrictions on multi family options are driving up costs and options A strong affordable housing program, distributed through the community (yet tied to the circulation plan) is critical in achieving this. This principle is fundamentally at odds with all the other principles. It is naive to expect to implement all the other principles and provide housing at a wide variety of price ranges. We can do one or the other, not both. Keep working to save the West Side lower house cost area intact and not allow destruction and buildind large houses We should welcome all, exclude none but it is not governments role to "foster" diversity based on contrived targets. More mixed neighborhoods like Antiquity, less gigantic, exclusive neighborhoods like River Run Davidson is not diverse. Davidson Elementary has the largest percentage of white children in CMS. I wish we could have affordable housing built into our taxes. Bend, Oregon has good ideas on this. It seems like affordable housing is getting harder and harder to find in Davidson. After decades of fighting for this, we are going in the wrong direction now. For example, the proposal to require buildings in the infill area to have exactly two stories is a thinly-veiled attempt to shut out affordable housing and the people who need it. Apartments and multi-family buildings could bring the cost of entry into Davidson down. Need facilities and housing to attract a younger demographic. Housing affordability will continue to be an ever growing problem unti we have the political will to solve it. Teh community and its political leaders have shown litlle interest in really solving this problem. Raleigh restricts inclusionary zoning, and therefore, major capital is required. Without it we are accomplishing little. I suggest a transfer tax on real estate, Lots of people cannot afford to move here or even stay here because of costs. The town has become increasingly white and upper class. Affordable housing and race relations have decreased noticeably over the past few years. Need more affordable housing. I believe the Davidson Village Network and Davidson Learns are excellent resources for the elderly in our community. The Davidson Housing Coalition definitely helps our community accomplish this principle.
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Getting better at fostering socio-economic diversity. Not so improved on supporting racial and ethnic diversity. Let market forces dictate This principle is really important “ I'm glad the town takes this issue seriously. We may not ever be as racially or economically diverse as a city but we should absolutely work to make Davidson a place where people of all incomes, backgrounds, and abilities can reside. I'm really proud of our affordable housing requirements “ we need to provide a mix of homes in every neighborhood, on every street. It's important that people that work in town, especially in lower-income trades, can also afford to live in town if they choose. Our board of commissioners recent decision to do away with apartments in some areas and lower the height on non single-family buildings was disappointing “ it seemed to be driven by loud voices and a misunderstanding of the entire affordable housing situation. Buildings should absolutely be designed to be at a scale appropriate to their surroundings, but just because a building is not a single-family home does not make it bad. We need more living options for people that don't want a single-family home and we need them all throughout town. I would also like to see the town require a minimum number of units in each development be built to a universal/handicap design standard. We do this with affordable units, why not this, too? This can make it so that people can live in their house longer, which is less disruptive to their lives and more affordable in the long run for them. See my note on earlier principle. I am not sure how many homes are built with the design and architectural features needed for graceful aging-in-place. More needs to be done to support local nonprofits that support our town residents. $50,000 is just not enough. We don't live in a bubble, but too many people want us to. It feels like affordable housing is getting more and more rare and what there is is often separated from other parts of town. I would like to see greater price accessibility and integration. Diversity is an excellent goal but we should not force it to happen ahead of our other principles. We are very very white in Davidson Philosophically, i believe townspeople support affordable housing, but not if it's too close to their own neighborhoods. I think Davidson does a great job of fostering diversity. However, economic diversity is hard to attain in a town where the college tuition is $70,000 annually and acreage around downtown is creeping towards $1,000,000 per acre. Short of what is already being done, this will be hard to accomplish, primarily because of the minimal amount of land available. Davidson by its very nature will be a small town in land size. There is diversity in age with the College, the Pines and several new developments are more affordable. I think we should encourage all income levels to enjoy Davidson, but it will be difficult to manufacture this diversity unless some very generous financial entities work to make this happen. Affordable housing in every neighborhood isn't something I fully support. Like the thought behind it, but seems the practice would logistically prohibit, or at the least limit, small scale neighborhood development. This is tough. Our real estate is very high which limits diversity. Think about what else the town can do to be welcoming to people of color outside of the Davidson College community. I do not see a lot of racial or socio-economic diversity in Davidson. I think there are lower-income, workforce housing type communities, but it seems these communities do not participate in Town events (concerts on the Green, Christmas in Davidson, etc), and I worry this is due to feeling not integrated into the community.
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Top marks; prices high- keep out poorer people; need each others to get along Very little affordable housing, none on most streets. Mid-range and affordable housing in town is disappearing fast. A diversity of housing types should be a priority. Our affordable housing situation is atrocious. People that work in Davidson cannot afford to live here. I know a number of people that have been priced out of Davidson. Diversity should happen naturally and not be forced by by self anointed SJWs (Save Davidson) We are a admittedly expensive community. Affordable housing is needed. The segregated schools and white flight have added to lack of diversity. I'm not sure what this question means. Do we mean actively recruiting a diverse population to move here? Does it mean welcoming diversity at town events? Does it mean make food options more accessible for a more diverse population? I'd also make protecting our historic African- American neighborhood on the west side a priority. This is a town lacking in diversity except for the small bubble of Davidson college. In no way shape or form do I want to block diversity. However, let it occur organically and not in a forced or contrived fashion We need more low and middle income housing. I support public housing for the elderly and handicapped but that's all. I completely agree with this one. The problem is the majority seem to not agree with it. Or at least it seems that there is agreement in the principle of diversity, but in practice do not want to create the systems that will actually foster diversity. If the answer is not diversity through density then what is it? I wonder about a voucher program for us? Is that an allowable and feasible method of fostering diversity? Does Davidson actually want to be a diverse place or only claim to be a people that support diversity...over there? Diversity will not happen if we do not figure out a way to control rent, control property value, or some other avenue. There is a lot of push for aging in place, valuable and important. But I do not think that this fits under the diversity heading. Perhaps that sub-value is better under quality of life. Seems we are losing diversity and becoming even more wealthy and more white. Even condos and townhouses in town exceeding $300,000. How do teachers, police officers, young singles and couples etc ... afford to live here? You don't see much diversity in downtown Davidson, and the spike in housing prices threatens to cause Davidson to evolve into a wealthy, white, enclave. I think there's strong support for diversity and the efforts of the Ada Jenkins Center and the Davidson Housing Coalition have been helpful to preserving the West Side and providing necessary services, but we really need to focus on the West Side to see if there are other community building efforts that can benefit those neighborhoods and the Town in general. Affordable housing! Again the Save Davidson movement, which is all NIMB, has been detrimental to this goal. I think this pertains to economic diversity - which is important and has not happened in the way it could have. Not sure that affordable means the same in Davdison. As far as I can see, all new houses in my neighborhood are pushing the million dollar mark!! Say goodbye to diversity for sure. You think a teacher , physical therapist, graphic designer, restaurant manager, artist, or nurse could ever hope to live in this rarified place?
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We talk the talk and are actually ahead of most communities when we talk about diversity, but we can do so much more. Diversity in housing must also provide affordability in housing, MUST. I want to revisit the Affordable Housing requirement in our ordinance and see if there's a way to genuinely inforce it. If we are going to support affordable housing, it should be paid for by all the taxpayers, not people who are buying newly built housing. need more affordable housing and public transportation Hard to do without ability to force developers' hands and deal with lawsuits Diversity has been proven to foster greater community strength Need to do a better job of explaining what affordable housing is and is not. Many folks fear affordable housing. They think it will bring down the value of their property. Diversity is fine but not at the expense of moral standards for our citizens. If one earns their way here through hard work, dedication to integrity and involvement in our community future, then and only than do I feel comfortable with the process and success of our town. We earned being here so let like minds and hearts feel safe. The town has slid backwards on this issue, starting with allowing developers to make payment in lieu for 100% of affordable housing instead of requiring a certain percentage of affordable to be built. This was further eroded when the town board set the amount of the payment in lieu so low as to be ineffective. A certain amount of the diversity issue is also an economic issue. Our real estate market has priced out less fortunate folks, who are often folks of color. Moreover, as I newcomer, I have already detected the lingering apparently age old discomfort in this town between white and black folks. I see white people! Principle sounds good, but from a practical point of view - very hard to manage as public policy. Especially without raising taxes and making the Town even more expensive to live in. I am not familiar with any current endeavors Given land costs, affordability is an uphill climb for many. The Affordable Housing program is something to be proud of. We need more ways to connect various subsections of Davidson We must allow but not necessarily foster diversity There needs to be a better system for creating affordable housing and integrating economic groups within all neighborhoods. We have to keep up the work, and expand the notion of what is diversity. It is beyond race and income, and should include religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, and others. Not sure this is a realistic goal. Davidson is a higher end town and I don't want too much low income housing to be developed. My Daughter recently moved back to the area from Savannah. She wanted to live in Davidson Unfortunately the options for her were few so she ended up buying in Mooresville. In many cases we have priced ourselves out of the market for many groups. Why and what's this look like in 20 years? This should always be a top priority. America is diverse. If you want to have a first class American city, it needs to reflect that diversity. Developers were allowed to buy out option to provide affordable housing and that is NOT RIGHT
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Housing is not affordable for the lower middle class at least not as single family. There are apartments but there do not seem to be affordable single family homes in close proximity to walking downtown I understand folks don't want additional development.especially if that's not going to be a single family home on a minimum quarter-acre lot. I also understand that the town is not actively dissuading dense, relatively lower-cost Construction. So I think the town is doing a good job in not actively making it more difficult for lower cost housing in Davidson. I feel like lower-cost housing is a big part of what it would take to increase a mix of incomes/backgrounds. of course the problem is that new construction is very expensive and we don't have a lot of low priced older construction, so I really don't see this ever happening.....unless we start building trailer parks on the east side of town where land is cheaper. That would surely be a crowd-pleaser. I don't believe a low income housing tax credit or some other affordable housing development would be feasible in downtown where it would likely score pretty high on the state's criteria to be approved, as the cost of land is too high. If Davidson values are so strongly into diversity then perhaps they could consider donating that Beatty Road property as a low income housing site. Pitential for pitchforks Affordable housing? Difficult to achieve in a market-driven economy Nice to see affordable housing at Baily Springs, housing prices have created barriers for diversity This planning principle is the only one that encourages changing the character of the community. I moved here because I like it the way it is. We need a lot more workforce housing The mean family income is no where near being labeled "diverse". To me, diversity looks like a balanced scale economically and socially. , , I think that Davidson is generally a welcoming place, however our lack of affordable housing options is forcing many people to look elsewhere for places to live. It is extremely important to have diversity in housing prices and types to attract people from all income levels, ages, ethnicity, etc. to live in town. We must have diversity in housing types (i.e. apartments; condos; detached homes; town homes; etc.) because everyone has different preferences for housing at different stages of life. Apartments/multifamily units are a crucial component of our housing stock! new developments should lean more towards affordable housing and less on luxury high end homes I'm not sure what else Davidson can do to further this goal. Davidson seems like a tolerant and open place to me. The payment in lieu of affordable housing option for developers needs to be revisited. I know that we can't legally make developers provide affordable housing, but the payment in lieu requires only a fraction of the cost of affordable housing. If we truly value this, we should require developers to provide much more payment in lieu. I strongly support the idea of "work force housing" for the "missing middle" in Davidson. The people who staff our schools, police station, restaurants, and shops should be able to live in our community. We need to make sure there are housing options for them, such as duplexes in developments with single-family homes. Transit and housing Yes, for all ages and cultures and/or ethnicities I feel that Davidson has done well with diversity issues. Continue to support programs that allow lower-income families to live here. Antes, las persona fueron muy amables. Ahora los americanos no son tan amables a nosotros. Le
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 14 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS | Principle 5 gente sin documentos todavia estan pagando taxes al gobierno. [Before, people were very kind. Now Americans are not as kind to us. Undocumented people are still paying taxes to the government.] No lo se [I don’t know]
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Additional Feedback on Principle 6 Managning our growth doesn't change the region around us. Trying to acheive this in a vaccum doesn't work. Our public facilities are being overrun by folks who don't live or pay taxes in Davidson. Lofty words, but in application we're missing the point. BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE FIRST! The development is ahead of the infrastructure. TOO MANY CARS ON TOO FEW AND NARROW ROADS. ITS EVERYWHERE. GET YOUR HEADS WRAPPED AROUND THIS. Too late, look at the housing near Harris Teeter and the many older homes that have been replaced with densely packed poorly constructed housing. More water fountains and parks bathrooms around town I think we need to bring more businesses. People are visiting our town to see closed stores! Should not extend utilities. Build and redevelop in areas with service. There is little investment in economic development to provide a better balance in tax revenues to support public facilities and services. We are left with a restrictive budget that will never improve without business growth. I am concerned that a œno-growth• policy will further deteriorate our commercial tax base and our property taxes will continue to increase or our services will decline both in quantity and quality. Little or no-growth policies affect job opportunities and an adequate commercial tax base. Our community cannot be vibrant or successful without economic development. Davidson still does not realize that more affordable and walkable "town like" development benefits all. There has been little additonal commercial growth nor adequate facilities to house in town. Some residents have been able to stop commercial growth in or near their areas. More commercial development will help sustain the future needs of the community. See above No more development untill our schools, roads and utilities can keep up Once again -- Focuse on light industrial and clean businesses instead of homes/condos and more residents. Get business to fund an share in community growth. It's been unclear how infrastructure would be maintained in tandem with recent growth (how are commercial tax dollars being used?), so I'm left with my perception, which is that Davidson now feels crowded Moratorium on signle family buildings that do not comply with a new green building code. Upper size limit for new houses of 3000 sq ft. Moratorium on any ETJ deveklopment unless anything new out there provides a dedicated separate off-road bike lane Gray-Shearer-E Rocky River-Davidson- Concord-Conord-Bailey complex....and sharrows and pike lanes on all the west side streets. NO TO THE PARKWAY to the east. All of the high density projects and other moves mentioned in previous comments show how this has not been managed as well as it could be. Economic growth is beginning to affecti the sense of community here. There has been shortsightedness in terms of the pursuit of short term gains versus long term impact. It would be great to see additional commercial use, but in the proper designated & approved areas.
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Again we missed opportunities downtown, on the Beaty street property and at Westmoreland to increase tax base and increase walkability. To be clear, managing growth does not mean restricting it. The past decisions to publicly fund infrastructure (MI Connections), was ill advised. The town should focus on basic infrastructure needs (police, fire, rescue, waste management, etc.). These services are readily available from a number of services providers, where competition delivers bother better quality and service. ingress and egress via roadways should be addressed before anymore residential development Our town is overbuilt already. The rural area planning guidelines should be implemented everywhere to stop the overbuilding and destruction of trees and open space and to lower density. We have been failing at this for quite some time. Jenest, Woods & Company were culpable, among others. This principle needs the most work I think. I don't feel there is a clear consensus about what this means. Seems like residential is far outpacing all others. Tax base is important, don't need anymore 501c3 This principle repeats several of the offensive points made in prior principles The genie is out of the bottle on this principle. The land plan of 2000 was to preserve 50% of open space...now the town seems to sell its soul for another development. This seems to be a rehash of prior points. These questions are SO loaded. Does anyone say, "I want an inadequate tax base." or "I want to jeopardize our sense of community." It doesn't seem like you're really looking for input as much as a justification when you finally do something. stricter and enforceable guidelines, our infrastructure does not currently support the overload of development Our public facilities and services are not apace with our current state. If I could give this a minus 100, I would. Town staff member stated the Post Office said they need 10,000 additional square feet NOW. And that was over a year ago! Traffic has such a negative impact on the air, noise, light pollution. Town hall needs expanded, public works needs new space, and where's the money and the plan? Not to mention the library and post office! We need more pubic parks and green space. The new fire station is great! Strike from "It is our intent . . ." and all bullet points This concept works against itself. It is not one coherent idea, but two conflicting ones. Doesn't make sense. Growth has far exceed infrastructure. We will easily spend the next decade trying to catch up and it will only keep growing. 40 minute traffic jams are the norm during busy times. It's been all about development, development, development, with ZERO planning and provision for public facilities, services and infrastructure. The citizens have said "ENOUGH!!!" Need to address traffic density issues. Traffic is outrageous due to over building w/out infrastructure Davidson is the highest town for taxes in the region. It isn't the lack of a commerical tax base, it is the irrresponsibilites of owning a Cable Company. There needs to be a solution to address MI- Continuum. Also, reevaluate the need for Town Staff (e.g., the large planning department) Over-crowded Schools due to over growth...Not so nice a quality.
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Growth is not inherently good. We need to dramatically slow growth in Davidson. We also need a north/south road (other than 115). I don't believe in ruining the character of our town with more development that adds to our traffic woes. I'm not against all development but it must be considered carefully. Perhaps the developers need to shoulder some issues such as helping provide adequate parking and proper landscaping. Quit cutting down trees! Traffic is overwhelming the roads; the schools are over capacity Public facilities are not as high a priority for me. I understand economic growth is needed but I'm in Davidson for the trees more than anything else. I recognize this is a balance of allowing development but preventing it from becoming overwhelming. Within the town, I think this has been done well. Areas just outside the town, such as Summer's Walk and the new developments near the Barger Farm, not to mention the incessant creep of River Run have created a balloon in population without the ability to support it. Alternative transportation options and diversity are not being achieved. Too much over development recently with densely populated neighborhoods Roads, intersections, traffic, walkability, green space - all troubling given the impact that so many more people are going to have on our town. It is hard to manage or tamper growth down to the level of traditional infrastructure growth rates. No more room for growth without taking away all of the small town feel. Parking for town employees is an issue. Traffic on Main & Beatty am issue. Davidson is quickly becoming overcrowded. The greenway is going to have 300 Lennar homes built on it? There isn't space for that sort of development. we need to learn we can say no. And that our no is legitimate under the PO if used correctly We are affected by growth in town and even more affected by growth in the region around us. We must play an active role in regional issues. The town is becoming congested and resources strained. Schools are a perfect example. Why are my kids in trailers out behind the school? A commercial center has been discussed for years on North Main. Looks like that will not happen now. If we are not going to support large commercial development, lets raise taxes for the community ammenities. It does not seem that changes have been made to reflect increased traffic through town and the strain on available parking. My sense is we were forced to increase the tax base due to the MI connections purchase that hamstrung our finances. Once the flood gates open, hard to put the genie back in the bottle. managing growth doesn't mean no growth. it just needs to be well designed and implemented. property rights need to be respected without municipal overreach. Alternative transportation to east Davidson? Apartments in new development does not promote tax base. Pretty good. I don't think we need a lot of additional parking space or larger town halls though. Again, Save Davidson zealots have hijacked this principle as an excuse to (try and) stop any/all development. Stop developing!!
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I believe that the requirement to manage growth with the goal of providing public facilities and services is only one aspect of providing services, so I'm hesitant to voice full support of this principle. See other comments. Need more scattered retail and commercial, in or near neighborhoods Because of this past year, we are back on track More parks, basketball courts, fields, open space, especially on poorer side of town. Only one park with giant pond , so no alternative for older age kids to play sports, etc. new park built so far from poorer side of town. upper middle class don't just want open space and parks and basketball courts. Wish there was more of that closer to Teeter or highway . We must continue with the planning process, establish standards but not push growth. The growth here has been of poor quality, high density and out of control. Growth is good so long as it reflects the towns values and goals - not uncontrolled development with little to no controls or standards! I am not sure what bullet # 4 means. Smart growth not no growth There has been total disregard for infrastructure and "keeping up" with rampant development. What are you going to use for alternate transportation, transporters and hovercraft? No one can move through town now. Davidson is moving quickly with new Big houses and not reserving historical houses in Davidson. It's pretty clear that Davidson is open for business/development. A major source of concern is that we are experiencing explosive growth, while the legislature works to tie our hands on management. We should continue to work to get the most amenities possible from new development. Would love to see more town parks or rec center. Perhaps the old IB school could be used for rec activities since it has a gym. I also feel the town shows very little interested in Davidson Elementary, which will soon become a k-8. I wish the town would partner to build a gym. CMS is not building an adequate facility, but I'm afraid this town does not speak up for public education. Compared to our neighboring towns, I think Davidson has done a superb job. We have restricted growth but not done a good job on infrastructure to handle what we have Ryan Homes, Davidson East ... you people really are pathetic I'm afraid of the next comprehensive design. Planners will plan. We don't need that many planners So far we've seen all talk but zero improvement -- in fact, unsustainable growth has accelerated -- in this Board's first year tenure. Please put talk into action where possible. Developments are too dense. so far, so good Need more open space and less development. Growth is out of control. Concord Rd backs up one mile heading West toward Main St on a schooldays at 5 pm. This is wrong. See P1. Love the manage growth part... add responsibly... DO NOT ASK for Increased taxes or bonds. Hahahahahaha Wake up Rusty
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The town is creating a tax base but at what price. COmpact neighborhoods are very far from the center town and no other option than using cars to get to your destination. Traffic is a nightmare in this town Infrastructure limitations have been a serious and ongoing problem. No imminent plan has been expressed to help rectify these big problems. Utility access, roads have NOT kept up with growth. The new fire station is a good start. Why a town that's already growing rapidly wanted to throw fuel on the fire with projects like Catalyst and Luminous, I'll never understand. In observing those efforts, Davidson certainly didn't feel like a town that "wanted to manage growth so the town can provide public facilities and services apace with development". The town should have taken the approach of "do no more harm" while we catch up with the growth that the private sector was already generating. The town seemed to have forgotten this core value. I'm willing to slow development so town can do a better job of being ahead with public facilities. The only reason this is scored at 2 and not 1 is the direction taken by the new Commissioners. Apart from restraining growth to the point that public facilities and services, especially schools, can keep up, Principle 6 should be amended to add explicit acknowledgement of the recognition, embodied in the 2017 election results, that the pace of development maintained in 2017-17 can no longer be sustained consistent with all six other principles. Moreover, in light of these changed circumstances and inasmuch as it is now clear, as it could not have been in 2010, that residential valuations in Davidson are likely to remain at a perhaps increasing secular premium quite apart from cyclical fluctuation, is it now time to revisit both the priority accorded to, and the feasibility of, substantially growing Davidson's commercial tax base? Residential tax revenues are going to rise, most of the time, of their own accord and, the Mayor notwithstanding, I am not aware of a significant town lobby in favor of residential tax relief. We are growing as a population way faster than our schools can accommodate students - as a physician - trailers should not be a permanent solution for the spaces to develop young minds!!!! Too many houses and cars. Not enough roads and schools. Please stop the new high density housing until we have the infrastructure. Please. Last board and mayor seemed to be in œhurry up and develop• mode. They made decisions without considering traffic and infrastructure. New development is going to happen but it should happen in a well thought out manner and should be done in places that make sense. I appreciate the new board and mayor making better decisions I can feel the emphasis on this through town activities and communications. Thus far, Davidson is a veritable model of managed growth as compared to our neighoring towns and cities (and many others nationwide). Growth needs to be beneficial for the overall community based on resources etc... We are starting to grow too quickly with all of these large and densely populated new developments. Traffic flow was NOT addressed properly before construction began on these new developments. We need more public spaces! Road infrastructure throughout town cannot support the population boom, overcrowiding is becoming an issue need more focus on shared public spaces like parks and parking not more shops there are enough shops in Davidson Positive addition of new fire station but road and sidewalk improvement in existing neighborhoods
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 5 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS | Principle 6 needs to improve. The last bullet is the most important. This strikes me as a chicken-and-egg problem which will always prove difficult to implement. In my experience (in and out of Davidson), public facilities and services ALWAYS lag behind demand. What can be done to accelerate public facilities and services to meet existing demand, let alone accounting for growth? Each proposal brings it's opportunities The transportation problem is the big issue with this one. At certain times of the day, traffic congestion prevents citizens of the town from being able to get their daily needs met. It is "ready, fire, aim and the miss or too late". Roads? We violated that principle for many years. I do think the Town has doen a good job of growing while still maintaining character and adding public facilities that fit within the standards of old town Davidson. More development/traffic on two lane roads is frustrating Great job adding Frirestaion #2. Also, good dialogue in recent years re. townhall property and fantastic job purchasing the school building on South St. Second fire station is a success of previous elected leadership. We don't seem to plan as carefully for growth as we once did. Much of this feels to vague to properly provide feedback on without concrete examples of what it is referring to. I know growth is necessary. Developers must be held accountable to ensure our utilities and services (including town services, county services, and Schools) can support growth BEFORE the growth is approved. In my opinion, commercial growth has been stunted too much. It is hard to square River Run with Principle 6 (or 4, 5, or 7) Tax base is important but not always popular. We already pay the highest taxes of any of the surrounding communities, without the proper tax base we only continue to force people out and discourage diversity. In terms of town-provided facilities and services, I believe we have mostly kept space through the managed growth approach employed. There seems to be a real fear in Davidson that allowing economic growth will destroy our character. We must be smart about this and be careful not to turn away all economic growth opportunities. Hoping for very little development. Huge neighborhoods still coming in, with no attention to how it will impact our schools or transport Better than most with available tools; more development where we have infra would be best I scored this a 4 becauze of past work on it. Growing the commercial tax base is critical, but needs to be carefully done (not like Cornelius or Mooresville). Alternative transportation options are critical because they help support getting people out of their cars (see previous comments). We need another Elementary School. More through streets See #4 Walking is good, but other than that there really is no "alternative transportation". This still needs a lot of work, traffic and parking downtown are terrible.
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Manage but not stop growth - yes - but also remember to manage the growth of what the town does as opposed to what the people and business can do. more trolley and bus service from neighborhoods to downtown, Harris Teeter, Bradford Park, Summer's Walk Hough is 25% over capacity. My kids are in classes with 35 students. Please keep searching for ways to slow growth. The traffic is getting worse. I'd like to see the town put some of the utilities along Main St. underground as a start. We continue to convert taxable property to tax-exempt (mainly schools, but also churches) at an unsustainable rate. However, the development near I-77 has helped a lot in building the commercial tax base. Too much present development for this principle to be fullfilled... alternative transportation options do not exist. The commercial base should be expanded. A hotel in town would be great. Development along Jackson Street would be great. Not Davidson's fault due to restrictions from NC state government I am apprehensive about the impact of the large number of new homes in the east part of town. I don't believe our current road infrastructure can support the large influx of new families. If developers drive the conversation, residents lose. Developers should pay a higher percentage of infrastructure cost reflecting 10 years of maintenance. The main/bold text part of this principle makes you think it's going to be about economic development, but it goes on to address a lot of other worthy topics. It seems like the list contains topics related to transportation, non-profits, and neighborhood design “ this principle should be cleaned up and/or split into different principles. Should economic development have its own principle? I think it should. It might also be a good idea for a œcommunity organizations• principle, too, because we have so many wonderful non-profit institutions in this town. It's interesting that the principle acknowledges spiritual life (I like that it does so) and I wonder what the town is doing to facilitate these institutions participation in this town's life. I know we have a rule that limits where schools and churches can go and I understand why it's there because of our somewhat unique situation with having a lot of non-taxable institutions on prime real estate. However, I know of two churches that are really community-driven and do lots to support various aspects of our town's life but they can't find a space to build a building because of the separation rule. It doesn't seem consistent with this principle's discussion of supporting spiritual life to have this rule, at least applied how it is today. It seems to favor big, already-established congregations (unintentionally, but that seems to be the outcome). Is that fair? Would we treat big and small or old and new businesses in a similar manner? Also, I hear lots of residents talk about our lack of infrastructure and how fast we're growing. I understand a little of why we can't require developers to build everything. But, I think it would be helpful for the town to actively identify its big projects for the coming years so it can plan for the needed facilities and work with other entities to make it happen (CMS, NCDOT) “ I hope this plan gets us moving in that direction. I think the Town is doing a fabulous job of being intentional about the choices made, and the planning for town staff and facilities to grow with population growth. We need more signaled crosswalks, or pedestrian bridges to allow for walking safely. Work on roads and traffic! Schools and transportation are already stressed from increased development.
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I believe growth has been managed well. It is inevitable here. We have a solid business base with Davidson College, Ingersoll Rand, MSC Industrial, and the Pines Retirement facility. Most small towns would kill for this type of base. We also have a vibrant Downtown, with a growing restaurant and art scene. There is simply not enough land to grow much further. Unless we grow upwards, where can new businesses and industry go? Davidson can't be all things to all people. By its very nature, it can't have the diversity of Charlotte. And hopefully we won't try. Not everyone can live or work in Davidson. The town is on the right path, keep it up! Good livability. Sidewalks in neighborhoods are a big plus. issues at Oakhill- not good management A lot of anti business talk... again lack of significant alt. transportation Business growth would provide tax revenue so these services could be funded. We have too many school options - leading to the fraying of community. Growth has been so restricted that services are beginning to be affected. Can we encourage ATT to hook the whole town up to fiber? Our elementary schools are in trailers, our FD and PD cannot keep up, we need to slow down. Not sure exactly what this question is driving at. Compact is important. Compact is also potentially cheaper and greener. A garbage truck having to make multiple stops over a mile distance versus one stop in a compact environment. If this doesn't occur Davidson will loose much of what makes it distinctive and different Too much growth, too fast. Parking, see feedback above. I feel this is going to be a long working process but headed in the correct direction. Over development of land, without adequate roads and school resources. Davidson is big enough. I agree with this principle to a point, but I think that the Save Davidson movement is leading the Town to restrict development so much that it may harm diversity. The new firehouse and the potential purchase of the IB school are great for the Town, and I'm not sure what else we need in terms of public facilities to support the growth in the community. Davidson elementary is expanding, we have a police force that seems much larger than the force for an average Town our size, and Doug Wright has done an excellent job on the public works side of things. So I think we're in decent shape assuming that the IB school purchase goes through. Not only too many McMansion subdivisions, but buying of small homes in town and tearing them down to build mansions. Ugh. This is my biggest beef with Davidson. Development has strangled us. We are damaging our environment, felling trees at record pace, and contributing to car culture. We need to work to increase our commercial tax base with not only employment entities like Davidson College, MSC and IR but offer things that keep our residents money in town. Retail is not the answer since more and more retail shopping is done online, I'd like to look towards more entertainment focus (ie: Our Towns Cinema, Davidson Community Players etc) the traffic flow is bad. We need more north south alternatives and a way to get around the bottleneck of Davidson College. Well, really not sure. Does River Run tax base support all the resources it use? I have no clue. We should focus on picturing a series of potential future states and then act on those infrastructure improvements to ease growing pains
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 8 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS | Principle 6 many streets need resurfacing. leaf collection is horrible. the town should vacuum leaves in the street like other towns do Slow down development and preserve open space. I understand it's easier said thN done I think the town has done a pretty good job on this topic. Development pressures are a natural result of having a wonderful community like Davidson. I feel the town has managed growth quite well. road improvements ALWAYS lag behind development. We WILL see this along Concord road and the West Branch development. Picking up Recycling every Other week is crazy. We create more recyclable waste than trash. Hauling to Huntersville is painful Development (and activities by developers) has far outpaced the Town's ability to accomodate associated growth. Because of MI-Connection/Continuum debt, growth has been seen as a necessity. In particular, the part of this Principle that has been violated is: "Encouragement of economic growth without jeopardizing our sense of community". No one can seriously say this part of the idea has been adhered to. STOP with the big hotel plans!!! Please. This is our town and deserves to be heard. Reducing open space requirements on existing and new developments attacks the peaceful beauty of Davidson Are schools are critically important and have lost their distinction. Once sought after Davidson Elementary is now toward the bottom of local resident's selection list. We must find a way to reverse this trend. The new K8 expansion is an opportunity and chance for town collaboration but town and school officials have not yet prioritized this opportunity. Please try. Schools are the long term foundation to a vibrant community. It's tough to keep up, and even harder to plan ahead - but we have to keep planning. I think we need to focus more on developing a commercial tax base to manage our increasing taxes. We need to accelerate our road construction and alternative transportation options. The traffic turning onto 73 from Davidson/Concord road is getting terrible one way to help this would be a long right turn lane but it seems that this can't happen. Too many dense developments!! There is not enough commercial development to support the residential development that has already happened. Add more walkable food options and grocery options. We've got nice facilities out there. But why do people want to lock the bathroom at places like Roosevelt Wilson, River Run ball fields, after hours. Some of us have to go when we're out and about using these nice facilities that are available to us residents.Kudos on keeping the parks and rec building on lot sometimes though I frequent that one. Additional houses of worship? Would be wonderful to have a community swimming pool, and rec center, playground in center of town. Infrastructure and services must be aligned with permitting This is very important, and I think the town has done a very good job implementing in the downtown area. Outside downtown, it may be tempting to deviate from this plan in favor of short term wins, so please be careful and patient. We are building too many villages that do not support jobs, shopping, and transportation in Davidson e.g. Bailey Springs, Zack Hill
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 9 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS | Principle 6 i don't know enough to comment Not in favor of any mass developments that would directly negate principles 1&2. Growth should be encouraged in areas with infrastructure already in place. The Rural Area Plan did a great job at limiting development in the more rural areas of town by limiting development density and requiring a minimum 50% PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE open space. I think the limit on churches not being able to build within 1/4 mile of another church should be revisited. I know the rule is meant to ensure our tax base, but I think it inhibits the spiritual life of certain faith communities in town. retaining virgin or undeveloped lands will restrict the need to expand infrastructure. No lo se [I don’t know]
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Additional Feedback on Principle 7 It does not enhance our quality of life. It rather makes a statement about our Town architecture and design being pleasing to the eye, the soul, etc. The battle has already been lost., Our past planning department failed us entirely. Hopefully, current and future town administrators will, at least, try to minimize an additional distraction of what's left of uniqueness. However, there is too much emphasis on the historic preservation aspect, as there is really not that much history here (except for the College) ... it keeps Davidson "small" while other neighboring towns are much more progressive, and thus able to provide more to its citizens. There is too much focus on preserving historical assets mostly for the tax benefit of only a few. More focus could be placed on public spaces, such as a community center, so that more citizens can enjoy the benefits of a public facility. The expensive renovation of a frankly "ugly" school (once segregated by the way) is nowhere near any design insight for the town. Successful in the past.....but we need to look forward. Not all buildings are worth preserving at the cost of other needed alternatives. Love the public art; very few spaces for public gatherings; None of the historic houses on South Street that have been sold have been preserved. Sadly, it's all about money for the developers and all about the increased tax base for the town. Yes, more (walkable / bikeable) parks! Architectural design has nothing to do with quality of life. Quality of life is about getting where you need to be in a timely manner. Having sufficient parking for local businesses and their employees. A town staff that listens to the citizens and not the developers N/A It would take far more space than has been allotted to create a "dynamic public realm" Starter castles are ridiculous. Good architecture and good design must be AFFORDABLE and GREEN. Then we can talk about aesthetics. This principle really works against the Town achieving several of the others where as it should be managed by the market place. The Town's pursuit of this kind of control wastes political capital. Some of the recent built structures are at odds with the surrounding areas, think the Wade insurance building, Linden apartments, etc. They stand out and detract. The mix of inconsistent parking space types around town is a mess and a challenge for visitors too. We are losing the smaller more affordable homes in some neighborhoods. Some lose is acceptable but the replacement homes are not in character with Davidson. They are very large and pretentious. Once again, this planning department has prissy and unreasonable building standards, when it should have larger setbacks and simple height restrictions. No public art. Take down that rusty art in front of the post office. The downtown area is doing pretty well in this regard. Not seeing a lot of renovation/ construction of town buildings. The town has gone overboard on this, a lot of the housing stock is ugly 50's ranch houses.
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Preservation should include areas that are left "as is"...open space for the sake of open space. Not every inch needs to be developed. Green space much more important than buildings. If public art is the sculpture in front of the post office then please no more. Keeping the architectural integrity of the town buildings and homes is important to me. I don't know if I agree with what you've provided on the right, because some people believe that the community is "enhanced" by "design" and "public art" that I find self-aggrandizing and out of character with the traditions of the town of Davidson. some seminars on the purpose of public art. It is not necessarily to make one feel good. Public art can provoke dialogue, create indentity, and give voice. we have a reputation of difficulty amongst designers that is not a bad thing I'm not sure exactly what this refers to but I don't think zoning codes should prevent new buildings like churches from developing The Liden and the town home type building behind Fuel Pizza are a complete disgrace. Makes me afraid of what is going to be approved next! Play Pete Seeger's Ticky Tacky houses Uniformity of our traditional styles would be great. Don't waste money on "art". There are other ways to enhance quality of life. "dynamic", "seamless connections", "work together to . . . build community character" are jargon at best, mumbo-jumbo at worst. I love the idea of architectural design to separate our community. My wife is a designer, but if this has been a goal, mission not accomplished. I see no uniqueness in architecture in Davidsion and this is a college town, so it should be experimental. I think we try way too hard. I think most of the things people love the most are 100+ years old. The Linden is a complete eyesore; we have not preserved our historical African-American community; while we have some public spaces and public art, until very recently we have not aded a park or other recreational facilities to the town. Allowing too much house per lot. Not perserving tree canopy. How in the heck did the Linden happen? This may be petty but those back-in spaces at the storefronts to Linden are annoying. On a positive note, thanks for not allowing fast food drive throughs at Exit 30! ART! YES! For the love of Pete, we need art in our lives! I'm glad the Main Street still has historical looking buildings. Davidson is charming. Keep design minimal but if you're going to do it, do it well. Regarding public spaces, I think this has been done fairly well and can be more reasonably implemented than in private sectors. I do not support the town over-regulating the design of private residences. Very important in helping to maintain character and charm in our community New energy in pursuing historic designations and expansion of that project are important. I don't know what this means Our Design Review Board must be supported and we must actively strive to hold on to this principle in the face of selfish individual interests and weak political strength.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 2 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS | Principle 7
By and large the Planning Board and the BoC has stuck by the architectural design rules in the face of pressure. Hat's off to them. The proposed hotel on Griffith was the exception to this. Rainer homes are not top notch architecture and design, so it's sad to see so much land going to them especially during this development phase. I love the red brick commercial business buildings on south main that tie in with the university. It would be great to see consistency in architecture and design as new developments are built. I also believe strongly we should be implementing codes that require power lines to be buried. Nothing makes views more unattractive than seeing the mish-mash of twisting wires clutter up the skyline and city streets. I believe architecture and design are two keys to preserving the town's character, which, again, should be preserved. HOWEVER, I think the Town and separately the Save Davidson movement lean on this as a crutch to prevent town development and growth. I think the town should loosen up on this a bit. ? I would rather Davidson be smart and eco friendly than attractive. If we can do both, great. continue to foster good design and implementation in new developments and public spaces More public art needed- maybe some created by Davidson College students One of the best parts of Davidson! Davidson is beautiful, and beauty matters. Thank you for not allowing chain fast food restaurants and stores to build their stock plans in Davidson. Ugly architecture ruins any town. The college has worked hard to preserve the campus environment; we need to work as hard in the town. Feel that there is a confusion between "old" and "historic". We should focus preservation on buildings/homes that are truly unique or that contain a great deal of historical significance and are mostly original materials. I would rather see building codes that promote the building of appropriately sized and styled buildings rather than keeping old, dilapidated structures up for its own sake Refer to Catalyst comments The architectural design in downtown Davidson is truly unique and very beautifully preserved. Town leaders are afraid to approve new modes of design. hard to travel The Linden? Please avoid future buildings like this in the future. The developments approved recent offer zero architectural value. green, sustainable design should be added here. Old well designed structures should be preserved not old ugly ones See 5 - my response crossed over to this Principle a bit. too much restriction We don't need any more buildings like the Linden that look like Post WWII East Berlin what an eyesore thanks We have excelled in this area, given the legal constraints our legislature has implemented. Look at Walnut Street. or South Street. or Catawba Street. We have room to grow here, although I do think Davidson does a good job with signage and new buildings like the new fire department. I think the more effort into good looking spaces, the better.
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What is architecturally pleasing to one person is another person's nightmare. I don't have any ideas here. Again it depends on how this is done. Stop permitting tear-down of homes near town in order to erect "Mansions on a postage stamp." This is not the Davidson way. Not a huge fan of public art. i think this is an expense the town can do without funding. The way Delburg Street has been re-developed and gentrified is a disaster This seems like the least important item on this list Nice jib thus far maintaining the archetecture Nice to have if we have cash to support it Davidson has great character but visually it may benefit from a variety or architectural formats. same as above No comment Generally great. Not at the taxpayer expense. Dump the cable company. That is a nebulous question. It sounds to me like an open invitation for agendas of limited support. Quit splitting in town lots Is there no other material of construction other than brick? I believe that "maintaining" quality of life through architecture and design would be a better way of saying this than "enhancing" quality of life. Unfortunately, I feel that the use of the language "enhance our quality of life through architecture and design" tends to encourage a pro- development mindset. It seems to suggest that we have to continue design our way to a better quality of life - and in the process, end up turning our planners into developers themselves (note Beaty and Luminous, where so many of our planners seemed to think that we could only "enhance" through architecture and design on that site, with it never seeming to occur to them that you might "maintain" quality of life through something else (open space)). Instead, using the term "maintain" instead of "enhance" acknowledges that historically we have done things well, that yes, we should have good ordinances in place to guide developers when they're seeking permission to build in our town limits. But while we're using those ordinances to "keep the developers in check" with good design requirements, let's spend as much of our limited staff resources (if not more) creating historic preservation districts, meaningful tree canopy ordinances, and building quality parks (not just the dog parks and tot lots that we tend to get on the dregs of land developers offer up on the margins of their properties to meet their open space requirements). In other words, let's put our planners to work enhancing our quality of life through maintenance of what we've already gotten right, and stop them from "enhancing" by proactively encouraging new developments. We can't stop the development, so yes, let's have good architecture and design guidelines to control it and create the kinds of communities we want. But let that be our defensive stance, and let's save our offensive/proactive efforts for creating the amenities the development community will never do on their own - preserving our historic neighborhoods and tree canopies, and building meaningful parks and recreation spaces. I'm not for any higher buildings. Indeed I don't care for the four stories that are now acceptable with more around than I think there should be. We have to follow our planning documents and not give developers exceptions
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None of the three development projects, (Beatty Street, Potts Street and the Griffith Street hotel), that were at the core of the civic unease that precipitated the Save Davidson movement would be consistent with this principle. In addition, the Linden's size and extra story seem defensible only inasmuch as the building is relatively well hidden on all sides except Griffith Street. But Davidson is more closely adhering to this principle than it was 18 months ago. Properties like the linden are a big fail in my opinion Love the way this is implemented in downtown. The character is highlighted and the common spaces are great. More parks, playgrounds and public spaces distributed throughout the town would be appreciated. This is very important in helping to enhance and continue the charm found throughout Davidson. We need more community spaces and buildings for the people of the town to gather and use. Yes to more public art! We should encourage developers of communities and high density commercial or residential buildings to provide designs that have award winning aesthetics. Be a town that is visually stunning. World class. Landmark buildings. Most of the buildings we have are typical traditional "milk toast" found anywhere in the South. Let's have some guts. Let's push developers to give us their best!!! Keep it simple, nice conservative down to earth construction with great landscaping over eclectic construction the aesthic of the newer development has blended well w older designs, pro using more eco friendly and locally sourced building materials Our text descriptions of building matching the scale and design are too loosely enforced allowing buildings that do not truly match surroundings I'm all for better living through design. Would love to see more public art. Let's not loose out to function in some cases; ie in Davidson Points street curves are too small for moving trucks; not well thought out I think the Town has done a pretty good job with this principle. Poor decision to allow an additional "1/2 story" on the Wade Insurance bldg. Also, it's disappointing that the first floor is not a retail shop of some kind. Character of the town is one of the most important things to me, as someone who has been here for almost 20 years -- and I worry about losing it. some home in town are too big for lots, especially with detached garages that are as big at the homes - focus on scale I think we do a decent job of preserving and attempting to preserve our architecture and historical assets. More work is needed on ensuring older buildings (residential and commercial) are repurposed/renovated instead of torn down. Most new buildings lack character or presence. Unified landscape and streetscape standards would help fill in the gaps. Much of this is not in the Town's control, because developers have a strong say. I know the Town Board is doing their best, but as I said above I'm worried about the lack of attention to using architecture and design to create affordable housing and inclusive, diverse neighborhoods, schools, and community. Yes to a point but shouldn't be the only factor.
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It's likely easy to overlook the impact this has on the town, but it is important and will continue to need to be realized as the town grows. I believe Davidson executes this principle very well. Very good. see response #4. In addition, the "central business district" has become too polluted with vechicle fumes and hazardous traffic congestion. Again, the implementation score is for past success. CVS building architecture, really? I understand and agree with most of this but what exactly does "build community character" mean. Lets not tarnish the wonderfull character of this town built over the decades by over engineering the concepts that make it great. Better access to/use of Fisher Farm I think the town is lively. The Linden is not. Please do not allow builders to break our ordinances and build ugly, low-quality, flat-roof buildings behind historic homes. Inside the village center, design is really good -- CVS, Flatiron Building and J. Wade building are great examples of how new buildings can be designed to enhance a historic downtown. In the residential neighborhoods, the gigantification of the housing stock makes me sick. The destruction of older construction and trees for McMansions is a real shame. Outside town building should have opportunity to choose architecture and design Every new building doesn't have to look like it was built in the 18th century or mimic a building on the college campus. I would love to see the town spend more on public art and enhance the already decent public art. I like the new Hub. That seems like an area that can develop well. I would like to see more public art in the downtown area. Also, limiting approvals of complete tear downs of existing homes in the downtown area would be beneficial. Keep Davidson forward thinking in design solutions. Supporting contemporary design, green/renewable technologies will attract younger wealth, not just retirees. Would like to see "park & ride" concept brought to Davidson, where you can park your car and hop on a "free" trolley that moves about town from SOMA to commercial business off of exit 30. Our zoning is superior to that of our regional neighbors and we appreciate Davidson's eye for design.
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This principle addresses really sets Davidson apart from other communities “ I'm really glad we pay attention to things like this and it's important that it has its own principle. I like traditional architecture but I don't want all buildings to look the same “ I like the variety we have throughout town. Some of the office buildings out by the interstate are nice for what they are but a little too corporate in their appearance. I think the Harris Teeter shopping center and the Linden apartment building do a better job of providing new buildings that are architecturally interesting but still built in a way that fits with Davidson. Those buildings work well for where they are located, and I love the shops that line Jetton Street “ I would like the interstate area to continue to develop with more buildings like the Linden that have food and services and shops on the street and a nice sidewalk out front. It's really cool to see how that area is evolving. That said, I think it's ok if we have more strict design controls for what buildings can look like in our downtown/south main street area. I like that the newer buildings “ Flatiron, Carrburrittos, Oak Ridge Dental Arts “ are all brick and that makes sense in our downtown. I would like to see a more collaborative public input process for planning and design that gets people's feedback earlier in the process. We used to do charrettes and that was something that made us different. Something like that would be nice to have again, but it should be managed in a realistic manner “ that means used as a tool to help achieve high- quality development (where it makes sense) and not as a means to stop it or give what are usually a minority of loud voices a disproportionate influence. I think some of the frustration recently has been people upset with not having their voice heard, and it's really sad and upsetting “ even maddening “ how individuals and even groups have chosen to express themselves. They've done so in ways that aren't civil and have really hurt our community dialogue. Is there a way to get more urban/public art in the public spaces? Like wraps around utility boxes? Art at bus stops? Murals downtown? Sculpture? Need to be more strict around what the town's code of architecture and theme is. Well done with new development These are all desirable principles to aspire to - and I think have been done well in the last 20-30 years. However, once again, these all cost money and I don't know where those funds will come from. It seems to me that we should take one bite at a time. All of these areas can not be solved/implemented quickly. This principle is very esoteric to me. Davidson College, downtown and a few other areas are all that should be maintained for posterity. Buildings that are decrepit and unkempt should be torn down for new construction. Although I am a biased alumnus, the town is all about the College. Davidson College will take great care of its heritage and facilities. The Town of Davidson should continue what we have been doing for years - managing growth, welcoming all newcomers, being friendly and taking great care of what we have. Otherwise, we will turn into Tryon Street in Charlotte. This is all helpful, but some of this can not be created - it has to be lived. Davidson is a much better place in 2018 than when I started college here in 1976. Much of this has to be organic and happen over time. The postcard picturesque downtown looks great. Just wondering if there is a possibility of funding for burying power lines. While the streetscape is nice, the hanging power lines are a visual nuisance. Perhaps too big a project, but worth considering if it hasn't been already. Thank you Public art projects are scarce, and I haven't seen any new ones in the 2 1/2 years I've lived here. Priority of "historical" over diversity and affordability. Barriers are formed. This is a personal choice and something I would rather not pay with tax dollars. Design Review Board is committed to doing the right thing. I appreciate their efforts. The town is beautiful. We also need a framework for growth.
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The building look great! 'Must?' No. 'Should?' probably. If that means designs that are properly scaled for the town. No. Firm zoning and construction codes are the answer. While quality of life can be found through many different avenues, I understand the push through architecture and design. I do agree aesthetically pleasing environments can and do enhance quality of life. I also believe design to be key to improving quality of life. Especially along the lines of the human scale. However I see a downside to emphasizing architecture and design. If we build beautiful buildings and homes, we already have priced out a large portion of lower socioeconomic families. This will become greater challenge as if development continues at current pace and form. More outdoor art would be desirable. Not fully familiar with how are all this has been implemented I feel that the design of our town is already adequate and change would not benefit Davidson's character and beauty. I think the design planning principles and implementation have gone very well. This is less relevant, in my opinion. Most of our new residential construction has kept with that Davidson influence. Our newer commercial construction has not. Stowe's Corner, Mooneys Corner and even the CVS are good examples, Valspar, MSC and The Linden are not Functional design can help quality of life, but needs to match current aesthetic to meet the other principles Again, I feel the town has done a good job on this issue. I am more than a little disappointed, however, that the NC Legislature has systematically taken away our ability to regulate design for single family dwellings. Aside from fighting this at the state level, this is largely out of Davidson's control. Davidson has done a good overall job at keeping the look/feel of the Town consistent with strict zoning and appearance rules. Fine job! The Design Review Board is an asset. Not as important as some of the others Example: multi story apartment buildings on Jetton is not in keeping with architectural and aesthetics of Town Again, with a few exceptions - this has been done well. A great deal of credit goes to the college. The reused, and repurposed all buildings before it was the "in" thing to do. If older buildings had been torn down on a routine basis, I think it would have set a different tone for the whole town. Cookie cutter housing developments on outskirts of town are not attractive. Need to build more high quality homes like those around Main Street Overall I think we have done well in this area. It's part of my job I have to check out the zoning ordinances for towns all over the region. I see why Davidson wins award for their planning. It is the best in the region. I don't understand how some folks just like what the planning department is done. But folks got to complain about something. Giving an tax break to people who own historical homes as an incentive to preserve them.
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I support the architecture pieces completely. I don't care nearly as much about public art, as I think resources devoted to it benefit very few. I saw how much the city of Charlotte spent on art along the rail lines, and it was generally regarded as an eyesore and waste of capital. We should invest in a very appealing town and let that be artistic enough. I like all the cute town homes and communities in Davidson. It makes it feel homey and a place your proud to live at! I'm not really sure what this means. I am in favor of quality of life and nice architecture and design. Restoration of existing structures, or replacement of same within acceptable guidelines, will keep the neighbourhood vital. Allow existing homeowners to make improvements. No lo se [I don’t know]
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 9 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What do you love most about Davidson? What do you love most about Davidson? Walking community, downtown Davidson basketball. River Run. It is a great place to live and play. Nice place to walk and ride bikes. I avoid Davidson because of Town traffic. Too many preschool and school traffic jams. Having the college here Quaint small town feel, sense of community, wish there was slow growth that was thoughtful. Wish all of downtown looked like the historic part (not wade bldg or flat iron bldg). Love the closeness and warm feel of the church communities (dcpc, Dumc, St. Albans, temple, etc) Love the diversity that is organic through programs and places like DCCDC and ADA Jenkins. When traffic isn't choking every road, this place is one of the most lovely places on earth. I used to love the small-town feel. Now I can't get through the town. I still feel safe walking the streets at night. The lake and access to 77 The activities and small town feel. Like the people Ability to walk and run but we need connecting sidewalks to Cornelius and more water fountains & bathrooms. Enforce speed limits because people who don't live here fly through !!! The "backyard of the town", the area behind Summit where families bring their children to play. Lovely. I love the fact we grow but keep small town character by building close to downtown and not spreading out as others have. Must continue to develop in built areas. Location, location, location -- for me, it is close to a large city, a big lake, my relatives, and an international airport that offers non-stop flights to Europe. small town atmospher I love the neighborhood that I live in. My townhouse suits my lifestyle and there's a small park (with trees) right across the street. I can take a daily walk all around town and see familiar faces. My neighborhood in Davidson Bay, regarded by west side resident as the "poor" side of town. We choose to live in a lovely townhouse community for its low maintenance and walk-able areas. Frankly, we have money but choose to live more modestly in order to give back. neighborhood feel and access to the college (often through the work of nonprofits and not the town.) Safety The people and community the "non suburban" nature of a small town; walkability; the concept of being a small town "where everyone knows your name," do not want to live in a "bedroom community"; the public library; small shops-not chain stores/restaurants; access to sports and cultural opportunities at the college; quiet and peaceable The people Davidson College keeps this town interesting. The combination of a little village center with residential homes and rural land at its outter edges. The little mill homes by the park and lake.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 1 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What do you love most about Davidson? The ability to spend a quiet afternoon (in between the roar of tractor trailers and dump trucks) sipping coffee and chatting with my neighbors. The ability to live, work and shop in my own community, without getting on severly neglected I-77 What I love most about Davidson is the slower pace and the friendly faces you see in town. This slower pace seems to be eroding and my fear is that Davidson won't be a small town anymore but just another suburb with chains and strip malls. Small college town. Ability to walk and ride bikes. Vicinity to Charlotte, the mountains and the coast. Restaurants. it is walkable for me because I live close to the downtown, so I do not drive very much. It is a relatively safe place to raise a child (traffic has become an issue), and I know my neighbors. The college is a wonderful asset, and the beautiful trees stand out (next to Cornelius and Mooresville especially). There are people here committed to making it a great community. people, students, colleagues The trees and green areas; the traffic control design of residential streets; and the public library. The small town feel. The historic buildings and old houses. The beautiful campus. The people and the small town atmosphere. The community and family feel of living in a small, College town. Ability to walk to movies, restaurants, library etc. Its safe The small town charm still exists, but it has changed significantly in the past few years. Love that there are no drive throughs allowed, etc. Also, love the tress, but many have been allowed to be cut down in favor of recent developments. Small town feel, sense of community and family, safety, education The fact that we have grown slow enough to learn about what works and what does not work to build a good community. We will continue to learn and hopefully the citizenry will learn and stop fighting the very things that can make Davidson a better place. Sense of community, walkability (ideally if davidson concord wasn't terrifying to walk down with cars flying) , farmers mkt, college town feel, great restaurants, close to highway Davidson is safe, quaint, and attractive. There are great activities available. It is close enough to Charlotte and the airport to get there relatively quickly/easily, but far enough away to feel like a completely different world. Davidson 10 years ago!!! Walkable spaces with trees. The connections and community that I have built through school and church I've lived her all my life and it is a great place, but I would like to see it stay a small town with a small town vibe. I used to love the quaintness and slow pace of life, but that's all changed. Small town feel. Our downtown area. Its tradition of a small, cohesive community. Wonderful small college town with plenty to do. Neighbors that support others. I love the community feel, the familiar faces, the way we make people a priority. I also love my church LFC-D!
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 2 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What do you love most about Davidson? Small town, familiarity. High quality lifestyle. Small town feeling and the downtown lifestyle. We moved here in 2012 when Davidson was a mecca of peaceful, small town life in an unhurried environment. Since then we have seen a disturbing encroachment on our liberties by this town. These principles are a case in point. You are losing the essence of small town life by trying to micro manage "livability." Focus your efforts on what your role is supposed to be. Establish a principle that says "Davidson adheres to the undeniable fact that smaller government is better government." Stop trying to force people into your concept of a utopian environment. Manage the considerable resources you have to provide for our safety and protection. Establish a principle that says "We recognize the taxpayers as a finite resource and we as town leaders recognize our responsibility to be good stewards of those resources. Therefore we will reduce taxes by 2% every year until we reach an irreducible tax base that provides for the safety and protection of our citizens". Just try to add one element to your plan that requires you to be accountable to the taxpayer and see how it plays among the citizens. I love the small town footprint. I love my neighbors and the town itself. Most of what I have loved about Davidson has already been destroyed. This not only includes the downtown area, traffic and the ETJ but any concept of trust between citizens and the town officials (with officials meaning both elected officials and staff). This trust was violated when the town attorney was also the attorney for a developer and when developers sat on the town board. Other potential conflicts of interest have also resided on the town board...Jenrest comes to mind. I like it just the way it is. An oasis of calm surrounded by over-development and traffic to the north and south. The downtown area. Sense of community - neighbors knowing each other, concerts on the green, etc. Ties with the college Small size Small town with a strong sense of community and civic engagement. Smalltown feel with a nice drive out into the country to get home. The history It's green; the fountains and the pace of life Home feeling Community Our family has considered relocating closer to Charlotte to avoid the traffic and purchase a less expensive home. the numbers always add up, but one Sunday afternoon walk always tips the scales in favor of staying put. "Where would we walk? around a subdivision?"From the time our oldest was in middle school, our children enjoyed spending a Saturday afternoon in December buying their own Christmas gifts for family and friends. I love that young people can have some independence in their hometown. sense of community walking to downtown Bike and pedestrian friendly area. College Town propagates citizenry of education and involvement. Davidson College It is a quaint town - easy to love and feel at home there!
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 3 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What do you love most about Davidson? I love how authentic it is. Whenever I go on vacation, I come back and think how I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. Small town atmosphere, proximity of Davidson College, Relatively clean and safe. Most of town staff are very responsive and helpful. Most people seem well-intentioned. Some developments seem well thought out. Others, a complete disgrace. We seem 'too desperate' at times. Willing to sell out on our principles for short-term gain. The small town college feel What I "loved" about Davdson was that it used to feel like a small town. Now it just feels like any other town. We have lost the quaintness. I do love driving the back roads and seeing cows/horses. It feels rural, but yet you are close to the interstate. I used to love that we had natural green space in various places. Soon the only green space will be those that are forced upon us by the Town of Davidson government. Davidson is now no different than the city of Charlotte. It's just an extension of the city. The quaint homes. I love my beautiful property and my beautiful neighborhood on South Main Street Walkability and accesss to downtown without drive through fast food. The community, small town feel. The unique neighborhoods. The fun community activities. The college. kindness - When the geese cross grifith and cars yield - Going to Harris Teeter on a friday and seeing college students w/ carts full of cheep beer - The occasional big orange moon - The history behind the railroad and old farmer land owners like Arthur Armour - Older homes including mill houses that are the few remaining relics of the past The small college town vibe and resources; the wonderful people who are dedicated to preserving our beloved town. Small town feel with good restaurants Small town feel Walking community with some access to greenways. That it is trying to be diverse. It is a charming town but needs to grow with the times without limiting who feels welcome here. The small town feel, my neighborhood, the college influence, being able to socialize and shop on Main Street, the people. The Board of Commission and Mayor have been phenomenal. I really believe Davidson is headed on a right path and making the right decisions. Additionally, they are providing that necessary leadership and guidance for Town Staff. Keep it up! I love the small local community and the beauty of a college town. I love small events like the farmer's market and Christmas in Davidson and we can't lose those things.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 4 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What do you love most about Davidson? What it used to be: Quiet and quaint. An OASIS within the hectic, commercialized, car-cultured communities of everywhere else America. (And now, I am afraid, we are like everywhere else.) With everyday Traffic Jams, Noise-Pollution, and the constant construction of Big-Big Houses on Little-Little land and/or Hundreds of Small houses on NO Land. Not to mention the constant Everyday Eye-Sores of construction vehicles, Orange traffic barrels, Black and Orange mesh Wildlife Barrier Construction Fencing. (We want to keep Wildlife out? Why?) And why do I want to live in a town where I see the word TYVEK, or John Deere way more than I see real deer, children outside playing and the stars. The size of Davidson and our sense of community. It's a lovely town, but I've seen the quality of life diminish in recent years with too much growth. Love Davidson College campus. Love Lake Davidson. Love the fact that people rose up and fought to keep the Beaty Street Property as a park, thanks to all the volunteers with Save Davidson. I like the character and undeveloped areas. small town feel, welcoming downtown, safe and friendly community It's still (barely?) a small town. Friendly, intellectual atmosphere. Small town atmosphere with vibrant downtown activity 7 days a week. Small town close to a larger city. The fact that the downtown still functions as a town center with businesses, public facilities, and restaurants. The walkability of the town due to its compact size and sidewalks and greenways. The availability of green spaces and nature. I love the walkability and small town character. I think there are a few places that can be developed. I also think the Colleg is very important to the town, so keeping college students in mind when businesses are moving in is important. It would be nice for there to be another restaraunt in town catered more to a college student's budget and hours (i.e. late night food). Trees! Open space. I nice combination of stores, businesses and houses making a self-contained community. I hope Davidson gets a new, small grocery store back - then we'd have everything. Small, college town, Main Street and close-knit community atmosphere, open/green/P&R amenities, and traditional aesthetics reflecting age/history of Town I love that, historically, our town has come together to intelligently and thoughtfully solve problems, create proactive plans, and maintain a strong sense of community and purpose. I love that I can walk or run anywhere at any time and feel safe. I love our ties to the college and our liberal values. Sense of community and overall beautiful setting in and out of town. Love all of the trees, common areas and parks. Love the greenways. College in the center of town; charm; relationships; aspirations The beauty, small yet vibrant feel. Small town charm, main st The stores and location Small safe town. I wish people would stop trying to change it. Leave it alone! That's what makes it Davidson!!! Too much change will bring crime and an unsafe town. The sense of security that comes with a fully engaged community that holds fast to the principles above.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 5 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What do you love most about Davidson? I love the small sense of community and living in a college town. My biggest concern is that development is going to take over. River Run is adding townhomes, Bailey Springs is a development of SMALL homes that are cookie cutter. There is no character. I am happy to pay more taxes if we can preserve the integrity of our small town environment. Love the community and how people look out for each other. Walkability Places to gather Small business Open space in town Small town environment. Sense of community The people. It's small town character. The fact that we actually have a downtown area. The presence of Davidson College is a great asset. Easy access to Rt 77. I've enjoyed the small town aspect of Davidson and the efforts that it has made to make a small town with outdoor spaces for all. small town setting small town charmgreenfriendly peoplecollege towneducated peoplemain streetRural houses outside of town center I love our uniqueness and historical willingness to go our own way, eschewing cookie-cutter decisions and willingness to play a positive leadership role in regional issues. Nice + clean + quiet Its quaintness. Its safety. Smaller community that is less congested than surrounding communities. The people and their level of engagement. Small town feel. Seeing friendly and familiar faces all around time. Interacting with people who care about the quality of their food as well as their desire to spend time outdoors and be active. Being a kid- friendly environment. The friendly people and sense of community. I also love our growing downtown,and its walkability. I do think that we need more restaurants, bars, shops, and public spaces that are centered and connected to downtown to really move the city forward. I would also love to see the live music or entertainment options on the Green on Friday or Saturday nights rather than Sundays to encourage more participation and community gathering. It's sense of character, low-crime rate, proximity to the lake. I like the it has a big-time restaurant in Kindred, and the small-town charm of the farmer's market and Christmas in Davidson. I love the small-town feel of Davidson and the warmth that I often feel when in downtown Davidson. This is a place where people are invested in the community and truly want local businesses to succeed. I raised my children here. I chose this town for its safety, which still exists today. However, it is completely different from the town I moved to. I have been here 17 years. A lot has changed. BUT! I get it. it is just an unfortunate reality that more people want the lifestyle of Davidson and more people changes the lifestyle in Davidson. Not sure if I love it like I did. Politics and BS have made living here challenging.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 6 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What do you love most about Davidson? It's small town feeling The people. small town vibe should be preserved, but new development is not necessarily a bad thing. reasonableness, practicality and market realities need to be kept in mind when making decisions. Farmers Market; creative vibe through downtown music, art venues and college; the library; residents concern for each other; strong church congregations here; good elementary school that is expanding to K-8; beauty and peacefulness of greenways. The safety of the town along with the family friendly feel. I love going on a business trip and coming back and just experiencing the town. I love going running and then having a drink at Summit Coffee. I love the fact we have controlled growth and not a ton of generic franchises. I love that I can get around almost the entire town day or night-- unlike neighboring towns. I like the sense of community and the upscale lifestyle Davidson has. I also like being on the lake and being very close to I-77. Great place to be. Small town old time feel. The downtown. And, that it's not Huntersville or Cornelius. people- active shopping area, walking accessability, trees Charm, small town feel Downtown small town feel Community feel. Summit Coffee. Relationship with the college. I love the SMALL town. It's simply an enjoyable place to be, whether I'm in my house listening to children play behind us in The Green School, or walking to town for exercise or to run errands. It's my favorite of the places I've lived as an adult! Small town feel. Walkable. Vibrant. I feel connected to others even as a new resident and not knowing a lot of people. There is truly a sense of community pride and commitment to a quality of life in Davidson. The small town feel & connected community. Community events. Incredibly family friendly. A wonderful place to live! The sense of community. Small town, historic, friendly and safe place to live. Small home town feeling with very friendly people enjoying their neighborhoods and sharing the town with the college students. At the same time, we have access to good healthcare, roads (soon when 77 opens ... we hope), and accessible shopping. My neighbors, the college, walking to town, the arts The sense of community and neighborhood, pride in the town, reasonable walkability in the center of town, being part of a college town and the people it brings together. Civic spirit Restaurants and shops. Small town feel. No fast food joints. College. The small town feel. Its quaint downtown, college activities Nice, clean and the people are friendly I truly love the sense of community.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 7 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What do you love most about Davidson? Walkable downtown, community events, farmers market, restaurants The size, attitude toward others of all backgrounds and color, love and support of neighbors, a gratefulness of where they get to live the people and the local activities Small college town charm Small town feel - close to Charlotte. Community feel and opportunities for engagement. The small town feel and sense of character. Walkability, rural character (but that doesn't mean anti-development) Small town feel; the college ;l Small community feel and the rural feel and open spaces that still exist and make it unique. Scale, walk ability (for the most part) activities, neighborhoods and sense of place. Small college town environment surrounded by a sea of growing congestion. I love the quality of life: seeing people I know where ever I go; the ability to walk and bike into town; the diversity of restaurants and shops in town; the cultural events at the college; the greenways for running; the playgrounds for my kids; the library and the green. The people who live here, the sense of community, shared values I love the new businesses and restaurants in Davidson. We enjoy walking to dinner, to the shops, library, etc. The walkability is great. We enjoy living in a walkable older town with beautiful older homes - big AND small. The Brick House, the College and the Library. It would be great to have a park at Beaty St. The small, historical small town feel I most love that the Davidson community (residents, churches, non-profits, businesses, and government) works on difficult challenges that other communities do not even address, and that in the past we have managed disagreement respectfully. So much so that this is known as œthe Davidson way.• The wide and disappearing diversity. The fact that most people lived AND worked in town - there were few commuters until about 10 years ago. Well kept and maintained. Small town feel. Small town feel and college town events and resources It feels like a small town and people for the most part love living here. Walkability; people desiring to "do to the right things" to make the community vibrant; great non- profit institutions (Housing, Land Conservancy, Habitat for Humanity, religious institutions, town library, Ada Jenkins, DavidsonLearns, etc.) I love the small town feel. I enjoy knowing my neighbors. My neighborhood on the west side of town Town?College gives a sense of diverse community with access to a youthful environment. Heart and soul of the people WalkableLivable New options for dining FARMERS MARKET Community, small town feel, walk-able The downtown area restaurants and pubs Small town feel, wonderful downtown spaces, sense of community in and between neighborhoods, nice architecture in neighborhoods, great people.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 8 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What do you love most about Davidson? Sense of community and opportunity to know neighbors. Walking in downtown Davidson, fun events (Christmas in Davidson), friendly people, and playing behind Summit. Small town feel, Walkability, greenways, parks, the camaraderie of Main Street in everyday life and through our special events, the locally owned and operated small businesses. That there are no chain restaurants, stores and, no drive-throughs. That the settings are lovely and real instead of slick and snooty. The college, the library, the post office, and the people. The small town atmosphere where people care for one another small town feel with all the resources local Sense of Community and people. I love the farmer's market, summit, and the library. I also love NY bagels, Sabor, and Sabi. The community. Being able to walk down the street and have people smile at you and know your name. Main street businesses. Davidsonians Being able to live within a mile of pedestrian accessible and friendly retail, recreational and restaurants. Need to plan for retail on the east parts of Davidson. It is a very livable and friendly town with close access to entertainment, groceries, doctors, sporting activities and other day to day essentials for quality life. That is is a family friendly college town Its a wonderful town that reminds me of where i grew up in MA. I love the diversity of the town and how close knit the community is! The small town community feel. The walkable downtown area. The community and the people. The people that choose to live in Davidson are what make it great! What is left of the uniquiness and old charm - the old way. Main Street, the people and sense of community. Lake Forrest church in Davidson's. Pickled peach and the authentic and organic spaces where people gather I love(d) the sense of community, neighborliness, and general 'niceness' that has always been a hallmark of the Davidson community, even as we rapidly grew from 3,000 to 8,000 to 12,000+ residents. Sadly, we have lost much of this dynamic in just the last couple years, but I think that, if we call it out and aggressively address it, it may be possible to restore and perpetuate this positive community sense even as we grow to 25,000 or more. The people. I love the size and character of the town. The Green, the Farmers Market, Main Street are all great assets of a town this size. I'm grateful for the amenities and opportunities like having a Library and cultural choices at the college. Small town character and community the community- both in our neighborhood and more broadly size, small The community is the town's greatest asset. Small town atmosphere and walking in the town. Neighbors who care about each other. ( been here 30 yrs) now suffering from explosive expansion without planning for the future
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 9 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What do you love most about Davidson? Small-town feel. Sense of a common goal and pride in town. Nice downtown. That, in spite of everything, it still isn't Charlotte. Downtown, College I love my house, my street (for now) and the culture life that the College brings to the town. The small town atmosphere and sense of community Downtown The Library The Post Office Davidson Learns Programs at the college Sidewalks Small town character and college-town attitude. The ability to walk through much of "old" Davidson, The character of the center of town. The efforts to (??) the town together with its citizens. Not for them from the top. I love that I live within walking distance from my job. Beautiful people, small town that takes its history seriously but open to innovation. Walkability in downtown. A number of restaurants, library, drug store, professional services, and farmer's market that can be walked to, by people living in town. Friendly people. Being able to walk. But lately safety is a concern due to too much traffic and drivers not yielding to walkers. We love the walkability, unique restaurants and shops, parks, and community events At some price in originality, I must observe that a small college town right out of Central Casting is perfect for me in this phase of my life. Davidson has recently begun to lay the foundation for carrying into the future its past success in preserving that identity, which is what I love most about Davidson. I really appreciate the small town nature of Davidson. I enjoy the farmers market. I enjoy access to shops and supporting local. The library has cultivated a love of reading in our family and Concerts on the Green are memorable times. Downtown. The restaurants and shops. The festivals. Farm land, quaint country feel, Main Street The small town community. The access to trails, parks and greenways. The people! People. Quaint downtown. Low crime. Peacefull. Davidson College. Coach Bob Mckillop. The walkability and charm. Loving walking through the quaint downtown and the fact that people actually participate in the town activities. Davidson seems so lively and community-oriented compared to some other small towns in the south. Love that although this is a small town it has great amenities - first class restaurants like Mezito and Kindred but also small-town diners like Egg Cafe (and even healthy options like Ice House!). Love walking and driving by Roosevelt Wilson Park. Love that there are bustling local businesses like the lumber yard. Small town appeal. Walkability. Strong, safe community. I have lived here for 20+ years and while the town has grown significantly in that time we have managed to maintain a wonderful small town feel/charm. Neighborly, friendly, small town Small town and community feel even though close to major metropolitan area
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 10 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What do you love most about Davidson? I love all of the community events and the wonderful downtown. I love the opportunity abersham park gives us to crate more hiking trails/natural space. The charm and sense of community. The "small town" feel. Main Street. The enormous benefits the community receives from the College. The small-town feel and sense of community The small town character, cultural life availability of activities, the sense of community, I love that people in town really care about managing growth and fixing the traffic problems. The downtown area is really a joy to walk around. It is a great town to raise a family. Before 2016, I would have said "the sense of community". With the intense, politically charged atmosphere since then, there is a much greater sense of division. I love that Davidson has kept its "small town" feel and has not torn down many buildings. Personally, I love that I can live and work here. Safe, small The small town feel of downtown and the safe environment that exists on our paths, parks, shopping venues etc. small town walkable feel The strong sense of community. Integrated and diverse neighborhoods, citizens, housing. Historic, small town feel with larger yards and mature trees. shops and restaurants in walking distance Architectural uniformity, historic downtown, expanded dining options, no fast food, limited chain/gas stationsliving among like-minded peopleexpanded park- Fisher Farm, Abersham. Would like to see greater variety of facilities offered at public parks. Living in Davidson provides me and my family with tremendous opportunities for a healthy and balanced lifestyle. The close proximity of our home to the vibrant downtown makes it possible to live most of our life within town limits and to conduct many activities without the use of a car. Historic Character, College Town It has a strong sense of self, knows who it is and doesn't try to be something else. The community feel College town - with a College that makes a lot of its programming available to the citizens Good restaurants, the Farmers' Market Citizen engagement Downtown Davidson Neighborhoods The people, the connection with the college and all that it has to offer. The small town feel. People know each other. Walking, biking and shopping is easy although limited. Side walks need to be wider and more of them. More walking trails. I fear that the greenway will be diminished with a road going along side of it. Maybe you could get those people on I-77 to come build a wall or perhaps Donald Trump! (Just kidding) Historic Main Street and walkability and activities in the area. Small town charm and feeling of safety. The small town feel, the community, the historic buildings and home, and walkability.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 11 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What do you love most about Davidson? I grew up in Davidson - it was a quaint, small town where everyone knew everyone. This isn't the case anymore. The downtown area is still very charming - which I love. The small-community vibe and active downtown. Unique downtown charm. Community spirit and involvement. The small quaint town atmosphere, the slower pace. quaint and unique Safety, feels like a closer knit community. Small town feel, "walkability", and a lot of interesting things to do for such a small town. Relationships have been easy to develop due to the size of the town and seems to be specific locations that serve as "gathering" space to help foster those relationships. The downtown area has more offerings for eating and shopping. Love Our Towns - miss Home Economist. The college and the intellectual assets it brings to the town are a plus. A small town oasis nestled in suburbia. Great community and small town charm. Feel of true community. Good opportunities for citizen involvement in town government. Closeness of greenways and natural areas. A clean and safe downtown. The people, the churches, the walkability of downtown Davidson, the various restaurants, the sidewalks, the back streets allowing me to avoid the main streets, the schools, the communication (such as this survey), the police and fire departments. Quaint town feel, walkability. Mixture of architectural designs, trees, pedestrian friendliness for much of town. The people here are remarkable, at least those who appreciate our community. The small population size. This is key to long term success. I grew up in a town near Boston that was 18,000 people. Things change dramatically after you pass 12,000 residents. The historical downtown that has a vibrant updated feel due to the nice restaurants. People are genuinely nice to each other. The down to earth nature of the residents. I saw many affluent towns near Boston where people held financial and social prestige above common courtesy. Character and livability, and the sense of community that sustains these aspects. small town feel/community The greenway, downtown and all it offers, what a welcoming, family friendly community it is. I love the small-town feel and that it seems as if everyone knows each other. I like that we rally to support each other during hard times and exciting times. Small town charm, college campus and open space not cluttered with housing/business development favorite things are college centered nature of the town and events held there. Also a college town tends to attract interesting people. Community Greenways, unique downtown, community, safety
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 12 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What do you love most about Davidson? The neighborly feel and that I can walk around town and see and talk with my neighbors. I like that our community organizations are alive and collaborative. I like the when we are positive and focused on supporting each other...no matter what the challenge that faces us as a community. I like that we have engaged citizens who care to show up and get involved. That the town and college relationship is so professional and positive. That the college is so much a art of our community. The professionalism and training of our PD and FD...these are great, well run organizations, that we MUST keep trained, equipped, and ready. Downtown and Davidson college area Walkability. Town sponsored activities and fairs. Sense of community and small town inclusiveness. The lack of run-away development, traffic and congestion that is apparent at exits 25 and 36. Cornelius is working hard to be the same. Davidson is a refuge. An oasis if you will. In the middle of out-of-control high-density commercial and residential development. The development around the circles was heading in that direction. Especially the monster apartment building. If it stops at the second circle, we may still have a chance to save the "small-town" character that was the reason most people moved to Davidson to begin with. A small town that is walkable and bike-able; has great green spaces ranging from small parks to Fisher Farm; hosts public events on the green, road races, art crawls, and other gatherings; has great restaurants, a farmers' market, and places to hang out and hear live music; has a friendly, open, and fun-filled atmosphere; cares about the environment and green space and public art; is a College town that values education and learning and is full of smart, thoughtful people; has a Town Board and staff that cares enough about its citizens to publish this survey and stand out in the cold and rain passing out cards and reminders. Seriously, as much as I'm concerned about lack of diversity and soaring real estate costs, I'm so grateful for the work of all the public servants who run this town. THANK YOU ALL! Walkability I like that the downtown is thriving with good restaurant options. Love going into the library and to events on the green. I like seeing familiar faces around town. Small town feel with valuable amenities It's small town atmosphere and for me the walkability to all needed services. Has been easy to engulf myself into the community as a whole. The College, Main Street, and the parks. Unique downtown, community feel, and community events Everything, simply put. Davidson is special. My favorite aspect is the quality of the growth that has occurred in the past 10- 15 years to make a great town an even better place to live and raise a family. I love the small town atmosphere, the walking/biking paths. Everyone is friendly. It is also pet friendly. Like being able to say, "Hello", to so many people that I know. Walk ability, lots of trees, sense community The sense of community, the walk-ability and the small business, not big box business feel of downtown. Davidson feels like a town, not a suburb. I can get to most things I need on a bike. Historic character and a vibrant community.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 13 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What do you love most about Davidson? Davidson is small but mighty. Our local businesses are top notch and our small town community feel is very unique and special. I love going into a restaurant or business and being on a first name basis with the owners and workers of the establishment. I enjoy living in a highly educated community with people who value health, wellness, nature, art, shopping local, and being a good neighbor. Our unique downtown area Downtown atmosphere is really nice. Very nice small town "collegial" feel. Lots of green, land preserved; smaller and older houses,; historic buildings preserved; town is safe and small; streets not too busy; children can run free basically. My homeschooling kids can get themselves to the store, movies and to classes without me worrying. Community feel. Sense of community: volunteerism, strong community groups/orgs Walkable center of town Strong planning principles and commitment to same, esp affordable housing and environment Sense of community, connection to College, commitment to retaining and enhancing the small town character and heritage. I appreciate and embrace Davidson's relatively small population, creating family-like community and close relationship with Town government .
The challenge of growth whether population or development will always be an issue. In addition, working closely with neighboring towns of Cornelius/Mooresville and their developments and how they impact Davidson. the small town feel! The town's beautiful look with all of the trees and historic houses. walkability, sense of community, small town feel College town vibe that embraces family and education vibrant downtown, living close to downtown, residential and commercial safety Walkablity; vital downtown and commercial nodes (Circles at 30); an approach to development and street facades that values historic buildings without saying everything has to be "phony colony". Walkable downtown, local businesses, green spaces, undeveloped land. Small town, college town atmosphere; friendly, hospitable people; safe environment to live small town charm, accessibility The people, the trees, the college, the willingness to try to make it livable. the people low speed limits; downtown; college activities Small town atmosphere. Farmers market, Christmas in Davidson, small town atmosphere, Davidson College, restaurant options. Village atmosphere Trees Bike awareness Cultural events Downtown, all of the community functions and the strong sense of community. The town's character, the beautiful neighborhoods and the natural areas that are still here.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 14 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What do you love most about Davidson? Walkability Walkability, bikability I love living in a small, quaint college town town where my kids are safe. I love living in town and walking everywhere. Our sense of community and village atmosphere. Things are changing all around us; at the college, in the adjacent towns, in the make up of our citizenry, and I worry that we are becoming more like an exclusive suburb than a village that welcomes and values people from all walks of life. Walkability, friendliness, interesting variety of neighborhoods and architectures. Almost every day, I walk about 2.5 miles through Davidson, sometimes a "Harris Teeter" loop (including Griffith and Jetton), sometimes on the greenway. Both walks feel safe and comfortable, and take me past interesting sights. Both are tree-lined -- even in the new neighborhoods near exit 30, where the trees are smaller, but they're there. I also love it that Davidson invites newcomers to participate in civic life. I know there are subcommunities that really struggle, including low income people, but I'm thankful that they are still here, and that we have well-supported institutions such as the Ada Jenkins Center, the Housing Coalition, and the Davidson-Cornelius Child Development Center that make it a little easier for them to remain in Davidson. friendliness, caring, character, cultural opportunities friendly residents Our independent retailers. Walkability. Public art. The built environment, i.e. parking lots in the back, buildings framing the street, neighborhoods that include small homes and townhomes, pedestrian-friendly storefront windows in commercial areas, etc. Village character, walkability of the Village and access to its offerings, the College and all its offerings, tree canopy, rural east side of town. Small town living The atmosphere. The home town feel of Davidson is what I love most about this town. I wish Cornelius would consider conserving more land and maintaining t's character over "over- population and excessive growth" Kudos to Davidson for trying to save their town. Small town feel without feeling limited Contained downtown area with vibrant shops and restaurants The small town community and vibe, and the way downtown is a gathering center with unique businesses. Population size and diversity from age, economic background, location of residents and home prices The home town feel and friendliness of the people. Presence of the college. Diversity of people, from old to young. Diversity of socio-economic groups. Walkability. Walkability and friendliness. I love the fact that people who live here love it passionately. It has an identity. People who visit us say "what a unique town, you live in paradise." We get out and do stuff and feel safe for the whole family. I love that the police and fire department and even the mayor are out and about. I like seeing people I recognize at the post office and at the stores. Davidson College games. Coffee shop. Concert on the green. Bike rides at Fisher Farm. This town allows us to live with true freedom as a family.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 15 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What do you love most about Davidson? I love that Davidson is a college town with friendly folks, plenty of pathways for walking and biking, and a quaint downtown area. The new restaurants added in recent years combined with long- standing retail establishments like Summit, Village Store, and Main Street Books make Davidson a place that encourages residents to stay local. The careful planning and managed growth of prior years is commendable. I also enjoy the many opportunities for entertainment and education provided by Davidson College to local residents. I'd be remiss if I didn't also mention events like Concert on the Green, Christmas in Davidson, and the Art Crawl as other favorite activities in our town. Walkability, mix of residents, small town atmosphere, college campus, trees, existing historic architecture and homes. It is a small town sandwiched between 2 larger towns. There is a sense of community but it is diminishing with all the growth. If is a beautiful area. Small, friendly town. The lovely downtown area; the friendly people that I meet on the streets and in the shops/restaurants Davidson College. Farmers Market. CVS. Summit. Pickled Peach. Davidson needs to stay progressive and forward thinking in comparison to Cornelius, Huntersville, Mooresville. Davidson College sets the tone for the entire town. Our Main Street business provide for a wonderful gathering place for our residents and friends. Civics 101 educates both new and old residents of Davidson on what makes Davidson such a unique and wonderful place to live. Managing growth and traffic are major challenges. We have a wonderful Village Green . We need to be sure we always preserve it. Downtown scene, the college, The old historic homes , lots and trees. Fun mix of people from many walks of life. People's passion for the town People, greenways, walkability Lake nice small town I have been here all my life, and it's a great town, and I have seen growth The friendliness and openness of the community members Deeply appreciative of Town's previous thoughful planning and managed growth; preservation of open spaces. Great location and well run suburb of a major city. I love that Davidson is walkable and that it has a distinct downtown. I like that I can do most of what I need in Davidson, from grocery shopping to church to school to exercise to entertainment with movies and shows at the college. I like its beautiful places like the college, greenways, and Fisher Farm. It's historic nature, the restaurants. It's a prestigious place to live, yet it is inviting and family oriented. Everything is in walking distance for my wife and I. Our family enjoys the walkability of the Town of Davidson--and wishes that more people were walkers! We also enjoy the community garden on Jetton St. and Potts St. and wish that it could be expanded. (Could the Town purchase that small parcel of land on the other side of the tracks where the drive-up Wells Fargo is)?
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 16 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What do you love most about Davidson? It is beautiful with all the trees and kept nice and clean. I love all the historical places and the campus is also inviting. I love being able to walk to shops and nice restaurants. An easy, nice and safe place to live. There are so many things to love about Davidson that it's hard to pick just one. Those many things, however, have the combined effect of making me feel like I get to live, work, and raise my family as part of a neighborhood. Not just a town, and more than just a œcommunity.• the charm, small town feel Unique and quaint town The community and potential for the greenways to fully connect. The college and opportunities to be on the college campus. Small town feel. I love the supportive community and the pride everyone takes in the town. The charm of downtown and the classic architecture found throughout. The walkability of Davidson is unique and a true asset to the community. The tight-knit community. The ability to run errands on foot (trip to CVS, the post office). The ability to go to so many things at the college or in the town - The Farmer's Market, Christmas in Davidson, Art in the park, etc. We also love the college activities, sports and arts related. Many things we can do without leaving town. The restaurant scene in Davidson is much stronger than when we first moved to town. And the cinema is a very welcomed addition to our entertainment scene. Thriving downtown, small town feel We love the friendliness of the community and college town atmosphere. The walkability and the sense of community The community Walkability Access to playgrounds and kids facilities Surrounding nature and parks The people, the brick sidewalks, the charming stores & restaurants - the community that we create because of the opportunity to cross paths with others I love living in a well-planned community that is walkable, bikeable, and a place you run into people you meet wherever you go. There is a true feeling of community in Davidson, and we have found it to be a welcoming community as relatively new residents. About everything. Small town feel with good resources Small town feel, sense of community, variety of small businesses to support, Davidson college interaction (Athletes/Students participating at Elementary school events), and the sense of pride from living here. small town atmosphere, convenience, friendliness of people, attractiveness, proximity to college Downtown. Safety. Small town feel. Community, downtown, the general feel. You feel like you part of a community. quality of life, walkability, cleanliness, good schools, community events, responsible development, a good selection of restaurants, eateries, and shops (all of a local, non-chain variety), the Farmer's Market, Summit Coffee, caring and friendly neighbors
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 17 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What do you love most about Davidson? the overall community, safe and walkable town, diversity of activities and dining the people Small town feel, friendliness, progressiveness + offerings of college It feels like home. I've grown up in Davidson and though everything else has been rapidly evolving (I've lived in 6 houses, for example), Davidson has remained my home. From the 5th graders on Friday afternoons to Christmas in Davidson, I love being able to walk through downtown and see people I know and places I want to visit. I love the variety of foods available, Farmer's markets on Saturdays, and that all of the friends I've grown up with can also call this home. It's a beautiful place and I feel lucky to have had the chance to grow up here.
Walking Biking
Ability to walk, eat, and some shopping in a small town atmosphere with the positive asset of Davidson College activities and local theater. Davidson College I love the boutique restaurants like New York Bagels and Prodigal :) Farmers Market- so fun! but so early! Main Street is so cute but there's not much else besides it Christmas at Davidson! Its quaintness Small town charm that (was) surrounded by country farm roads. Small size, walkability, tree canopy, Davidson College, smart and enthusiastic citizens. Small town feeling It's pedestrian-friendly. It's community oriented. Parks and green space are a priority. Walk ability. No drive thrus. Very few chains. The people. The parks. The trees. the environment and community- small and simple The campus, downtown, growing list of eateries, etc the people, the events, gathering spaces, walkability The walk ability and small town feel. Walkability, community feeling, now have more services and retail (the gnomes are gone!) Walking My friends. I love the small town feel. Used to love the small town feel and knowing so many here. Loved going to events in town. Now they do not feel special anymore. Too big and too much trouble parking. The safety and security that has been preserved along with small town charm. The college and all it has to offer. Civility
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 18 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What do you love most about Davidson? The history. Capturing and remembering the history of the town is something I love dearly. Both in the architecture and stories of families who lived here. I also love the neighborliness and walkability. Traffic is completely bearable if fosters more walkability. I commute out of Davidson everyday, down Davidson Concord and back. I do not mind the traffic at all. Narrow streets and traffic keep cars moving slow and that helps foster walkability. There are plenty of studies that show widening roads does not reduce congestion. It might immediately after the road is opened, but "If you build it, they will come." Small town feel and sense of community. Downtown. Proximity to lake I love the community feel of Davidson. Even during growth, it continues to have the community feel. I would love to see more commercial (coffee, resturant) come closer to the westside of Davidson (near River Run) My husband and I love the rural side of Davidson with its farms and open land. We also love the small but vibrant downtown with its mix of restaurants and stores. The quaint feel of the downtown area. The fact that it resists big box and fast food mentality. Old town American feel. Quaint. Very community oriented. The small but large in number town feeling. The fact that I can literally go out for entertainment and don't have to use transportation. I love Davidson for being a small town with tree/land preservation and quality schools. It's charm comes from the people that live here and the community feel from the shops, farmer's market and special events throughout the year. Please keep it special. The uniqueness and sense of community that our town provides. How yoi can walk everywhere and the college town. It's effort to retain a small-town, safe, friendly atmosphere. Small town atmosphere I love the warmth of the people, the support for greenways and active lifestyles, the good planning principles, the availability of College entertainment events, Summit Coffee, the Farmer's Market, and the general good will. Small town character -- and experience. The feeling of community in downtown. Its character and small-town feeling. I also appreciate the actions of citizens that part of Save Davidson to preserve natural areas and work toward responsible development. The people. Davidson is rich in people from all walks of life. Locals are embraced for their knowledge and acceptance of newbies that move here. New residents realize that they can jump in and make a difference. That people can walk to places. And there are interesting places to walk to. People, sense of community, intent to be open and diverse The safety, intellectual community, besuty, caring and involved citizens, neighborliness The small town atmosphere, though I realize it is no longer a small town. Downtown / Main Street Everyone knows each other Safe Davidson is safe. I live in walking distance to the public library and the college and these are
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 19 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What do you love most about Davidson? tremendous assets. Davidson is still a small college town with historic significance and heritage. The residents are engaged and genuinely care about the future of our town. Town leadership, not just elected officials, but community leaders hold Davidson up and protect what we have. I believe Davidson is unique, I believe Davidson is different and I believe Davidson is special. Davidson College, walkability, small town friendliness, farmer's market, the downtown where everything is accessible, the traditions of Christmas in Davidson, Town green events, the historic houses diversity, walkability, community, charm, history Community feel The community itself is open and welcoming with a diverse group of businesses and restaurants Davidson has changed over the twenty years I have lived in town. However, I have always been able to walk downtown to go to shop, pick up my mail, have a meal, go to town events, or go to the farmer's market. I recently retired and people asked me if I was going to move. Why, I asked. Where else would I be able to walk to so many places and enjoy so many different events? The physical make-up of the town, in particular the town center, has the feel of a little town (rather than an amorphous suburb), with historic roots that show, and a college that provides some sophistication. That creates a common community spirit, identification with the community and pride in the community. I earned my way here and I am much less considerate of political correctness than I am keeping my home and freedom from violence, drugs and burglary that accompany letting people not earn their way and respect their neighbors. small college town. walkability. bike lanes. greenways community and walkability Downtown, open spaces, the college, the people Very nice college campus, downtown is nice, Nice elementary school It is a true community that balances density with open space and the financial realities of building with affordable housing. I love that on any given day, you can see people walking, running, riding their bikes throughout town. I love our parks, including Fisher Farm, Abersham, and Allison Farm. I love that focus on local businesses rather than national chains. I love that we do not have any drive-through's (with one exception). Finally, I love the feel of returning home after being away. Small town feel, Main St. and Davidson College. I love the smalltown and homey feel. Everyone is always kind and hospitable. I also love how active the community is and how safe I feel in this town. Small town feel.. Walkability. Citizens can use and enjoy Davidson College. Mayor and council seek citizens input and keep public informed. Great small town main street. Pretty town with nice parks. The small town feel, the friendliness. Beatiful College Campus, small town feel, walking paths and space. I like all the trees we have to climb. That is my very favorite part about Davidson. Small town feel and safety. People are nice. Preservation of natural areas, greenways, walkability, unique and historic architecture, numerous community activities, and friendly people.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 20 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What do you love most about Davidson? The "small town feel" (at lease for now) and ability to move around easily. The ability to have many of the conveniences of modern life without ever having to leave Town (recreation, cultural opportunities, shopping, religious and social outlets etc.). location, small town focus, level of civic engagement The reality that it is in many ways a separate world from the rampant development of Meck and Cabarrus and even S. Iredell The ownderful people, the approachable law enforcement, and "mayberry" atmosphere. Like the small town atmosphere. Need to make sure we don't get over run with development that does not support that small town atmosphere. The sense of community. I believe we need to restate and emphasize the vision of living in a diverse community. If you want to live in a "fenced" enclave, Davidson is not that place. People need to understand that a strong sense of, and respect for, a diverse community is key to this special place. Character and sense of community Sense of community. Commitment to good planning. People. Main Street. Greenways. The old school, small town appeal. The proximity to the college and it's students. The ability to walk to wonderful Restaurants, my kids' school, the grocery store, movies etc. The feeling of safety. Lake Davidson. Walkabilty - need sidewalks on Delburg! Not overcommercialized Good balance of growth and character Very happy living in a community with such passionate leadership and neighbors. The downtown area, the fact that it is a college town with beautiful Davidson College at it's heart, the sense of community and the warmth of its people, the variety of housing options, the Town Library. The small town environment. I love the farmers Market. It is a weekly community gathering for the old and the young. The character and sense of community. The unique nature of this small town with the added benefit of a college in its midst to provide cultural experiences. Christmas in Davidson is my favorite town event, but I love that 5th graders walk to the Green on Fridays and that we use the green for arts festivals and music. The small town vibe The small town ambiance and the town's board to mantain. Small Town Rural Intimate Community. Opportunity to raise families in a safe, healthy, beautiful, community. The neighborhoods close to downtown and the preservation of the historic homes and downtown area. It sets it apart from many towns around Charlotte and many towns we have visited around the country. The family friendly, community environment is also a huge draw for the area. The activities and events scheduled throughout the year support the community, make it fun for families and really provide a great atmosphere for all residents to live. Small town feel, but a lot of culture, restaurants, shopping, greenspace at the moment, multi- generations enjoying all the amenities and walkability. Having a college in the town is a huge
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 21 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What do you love most about Davidson? bonus.
The sense of community. It's strong connection to Davidson College and small town environment. Too many things to list. . . I love the city The community, charm, Southern hospitality, walkability that fosters active lifestyles Quaint downtown, college town, small town feel and character, Christmas in Davidson, Safe and secure town thanks to our police and fire departments and town management. Outdoor recreation, quality of daily living, friendly faces, diverse shopping and dining opportunities and individual and family growth opportunities through parks and rec programs.
Strong belief that our town leaders want what's best for Davidson, even when opinions on how that occurs is diverse. It is a beautiful safe town that I feel comfortable letting my grandchildren walk around a play in. We have plenty to do with restaurants, concerts on the green, festivals and college sports. The connection with the college and the sense of community The small town feeling Small town feel. Walkability. It's wholesomeness. The community as a whole is great. I love living here and feel very safe. Walkable. Proximity to College cultural and speaker events. Small town design (no garish commercial area). Farmers market. Accessible Charlotte evening restaurants and cultural events. Easy access to shopping at exits 25, 28, and 36: we don't need to include that as part of Davidson land usage. I love the small town feel, living near the lake. I just moved here last month. So far, we love it! The people and community spirit. The downtown area also. Clean, small town appearance of downtown. Walkabilty downtown - would love to see that extended out Rocky River Road to connect River Run or create an alternative downtown near West Branch or the shearer/rocky river intersection. Love the Sunday concerts and other outdoor festivals on the greeen. Farmers market is a great community builder. The residents. Folks are nice. More opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy yourself than the average town of this size in this geographic region. Safety and the sense of community People, sense of community, consistent character over the eras Vibrant Main St. People who value community, togetherness and shared experience. Trees. We just moved here from California. We appreciate the well thought out plans for this town and how much people truly care about preserving it's small town charm. As a mom of young kids we also love the sense of community/safety and would like to see more community events geared towards families.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 22 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What do you love most about Davidson? Quality lifestyle Bike and pedestrian friendly. Small town character and charm. The friendly residents. Kindness in residents; value community spirit Small town feel, walkability, restaurants, shopping, the college, town events, proximity to the lake, parks...the planning has paid off. The small town feel Small town, charm, walking distance, shops and dining, close to lake Downtown vibrancy and college green space in front of library. Many varied events. The character, the walkability, and the safe, friendly feeling throughout the community. We love that our kids can enjoy the downtown area as much as we do, and I'm proud of the reaction I get when I tell people I live in Davidson. It's a special place, and it's up to us to keep it this way. The downtown, the campus and the walkability of the town Downtown family feel. Activity like farmers market. Music on the green. Such a great feeling downtown. I love everything about it except the 77 spill over traffic. I love the unique small town culture it has. It's an old quant town feel with a-lot of character, while maintaining prestige. I love the small town feel and Christmas in Davidson. Street maintenance is excellent. Parking at the present time is adequate. I'd like to see more out door cultural events, or music and art festivals. I love Davidson Township and the pedestrian-friendly areas. The support of the main street shops and their continued growth is great. It's unique history and the family feel that you get with all your neighbors and friends. size and intimacy, college and town are close size and intimacy sense of community Sense of community. The small town feel but access to so much in the Lake Norman area. I love all of the community events and when the location of the events are in diverse communities. It's quaint, walkable, has good stores and events (art festivals and market), good restaurants Our comfortable small town feel, which also features quality restaurant and retail offerings. Character, community, collective additive. small town feel with local shops & resturants Calm and serenity The people of the community. That is why I chose to attend Davidson college and that is why I have continued to love the area so much more throughout my time here. I love the community feel that Davidson provides. As a college student it is nice to feel welcomed and loved by those in the community. I love how whenever I go places in Davidson, I know people. As a Davidson student, I feel just as much a part of the town as the people who live here. It seems that everyone in the town abides by the Davidson College Honor Code, which is amazing and something you can't find in many places anymore. Everyone is so friendly and it just feels like one big community.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 23 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What do you love most about Davidson? pretty much everything I love going to small shops in downtown. The passionate citizens who live here; our focus on walkability/alternative transportation options; our unique main street; restaurants; the circles at exit 30. love the old fashioned character and charm and that there are many small businesses, restaurants, entertainment and cultural offerings within a walkable area, as well as green space and the lake. The community activities on the green give residents a chance to meet and get to know neighbors so that we can help each other small town feel The homey feeling. Great, smart people from all over the country; the college adds a terrific element; downtown is very nice looking; the shops and restaurants are great; town government is very effective and professional. The charm of the town and the community/family atmosphere The best of both worlds--the close-knit feel of a small town with the walkability of a big city. I love that I can meet nearly all of my daily needs within walking distance of my home. The feeling of Community and safety Downtown + College The people and peace; great small town with a huge heart The quaintness and the old town feel small town The small-town atmosphere and the 'neighbourly-ness' feeling. The convenience of having everything in walking distance, and the availability of parks, bike trails, and other public spaces and facilities.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 24 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
What do you think are the major challenges and opportunities facing Davidson today and over the next 10-20 years? Parking ....new town hall space.....traffic on 115 Our restaurants are good, but with one exception being the Famous Toastery, are often overpriced. We need parking decks in Town and not pave over more green space. We need the College to not use Town parking and require students, faculty, staff, visitors to use campus parking, not Town spaces. We must use our Town tax revenues more efficiently and wisely. We need to be undeterred by older leaders from the past who try to bully, browbeat current leaders and who constantly say: "Well, your father or my father would turn over in his grave if you do such and such (fill in the blank.) " Who thinks that a man from the 1970s or 1990s should rule from the grave? A major challenge is to get those leaders in the Town who have lead or volunteered for 20-30 plus years to let go and let others have a place at the table. Again it is 2018 and not 1985 or 1995 or 2005. We must overhaul our affordable housing program. Restructure it to actually be more efficient, more impactful and current for 2018....not the 1990s. Avoid overbuilding and density such that our small town is not one big traffic jam. Divert traffic from 115 and reclaim a more peaceful Main Street. Living in Davidson should be peaceful and not a hassle. we are losing that trait. Catching up on road building/traffic infrastructure after a couple of decades of leaders not being willing to deal with keeping our roads up to accommodate growth in the region is a very big task ahead of us. Until are able to move external (passing through) traffic around us we will continue to fail at achieving many of the planning principles discussed above. Traffic, trying to grow smart and slow, a failing elementary school Traffic. Development of open land - both commercial and residential - without the road infrastructure to support it. It's everywhere in this town. Can't drive it anymore. Not safe anymore. The character of the town we cherish is being destroyed in front of our eyes. Don't hear this wrong... I'm not saying "don't grow." I'm saying put the infrastructure in first - and if you can't, then don't grow. To do different, which is what's happening now, is to destroy the character that we love. A major challenge will be controlling the increasing crime. We are already getting constant warnings about not leaving mail in your mailbox, keeping cars locked, increasing litter on our residential streets. The roads are too narrow for these huge SUVs that everyone drives. The area with Davidson Day and Community School is an absolute nightmare with their carlines. Both of those schools should be moved to another location within the town and the buildings should be turned into office space. The children running around town all day like animals in our neighborhood and in the restaurants and stores during lunch without supervision is another problem. Stopping developers getting their way and ruining the ambience of our community. Encouraging more business in downtown to attract shopping. Work to get something like a Trader Joe's or comparable grocery store. Encourage business downtown rather than along interstate.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 1 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Traffic and lack of police enforcing speed limits I'm OK with development, but not OK with uncontrolled development. I don't think we should re- purpose former farm land to development land anymore. Let's develop what we already have! Concord traffic is chaotic, fast. Over coming those who think the answer to small town character is to stop development. Density in built areas which reduces car trips and adds character is key. Build for people not cars. Any new development must allow mixed use to avoid driving to everything. Challenges: The constant use of the MI-Connection issue as an excuse for budgetary constraints; and special interest groups that overpower the conversation. Also, the current "no-growth" policy under the direction of the current Town Board obstructs many opportunities for Davidson to move forward. Opportunities: Davidson has the room to offer a regional destination at Fisher Farm, at least some density and definitely more economic development to attract young people to live and work here. Together these can help tremendously to achieve its citizens' high standards in mobility, community, and quality of life expectations. Affordable housing & rental- there really is no affordable housing in Davidson, rental or otherwise Major challenges include: The commercial tax base needs to be seriously increased. Access to affordable housing for people who work in Davidson and also for the aging population who want to stay in Davidson. Instead of complaining about the MI-Connection debt, encourage use of the service and find creative ways to generate revenue to pay off the debt. I'd like to see policies enacted that move Davidson forward.Opportunities: Utilize Davidson's parks for cultural events and festivals to shed light on diversity in our community. Use Davidson's other assets to attract tourists, such as Fisher Farm, not just Main Street or Farmers Market. Focus on filling up all the commercial space available in Davidson with retail businesses or restaurants so that residents who walk around in this "pedestrian-friendly" town can do some shopping and have more variety. The lack of seeing that both sides of growth and no growth have their points and with compromise to include the best of both elevates us all. Too much development. Divisions created in this community especially through the use of social media. growth and exclusion of the African Americans homestead -- historic values Traffic from interstate coming through town, volume on other roads is a daily challenge Challenges: Auto traffic; increasing density and expense of upscale residential housing; diminishing minority population; increased cost of living; changing value system; loss of commitment to "small town living" by inhabitants; conducting a survey that is not anonymous Opportunities: educational level of inhabitants-use it; size of the community-slow down growth; safety; police department; the opportunity to participate in this survey I think a lot of the wonderful people that have lived in Davidson for a long time are considering leaving because of the rampant uncontrolled development. Traffic from SUVs. We must discourage driving and build more family and recreation-friendly bike lanes, greenways, and non-paved paths. The path in Cornelius along the lake for example is amazing. It would be great to have more shared-use natural spaces like that for commuting and recreation away from cars. Someone was just hit on 115 recently.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 2 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Challenges: Keeping the towns village character and its tempo. Keeping and preserving the rural land that helps to clean the air and water. Helping the elderly, disabled and the children of Davidson. Opportunities are to to reach for some common sense and do the few things that towns are required to do for its citizens and do them exceptionally well. Scale back, gather up your tools, hone your skills and be fair and transparent in your labors. Represent all citizens of Davidson and everyones best interests. Stop letting special interest projects work their way into our ordinances becuase they make a group œfeel good.• Impove your zoning processes, improve opportunities for citizens to be on committeess that have been dominated by the same people for years. Be as non partisian and ethical as possible in policy and decision making becuase impartiality is healthy for everyone. Highly paid consultants the town hires to push an utopian urban vision for our community. Town staff members who used to work for said highly paid consultants. To me this is a blatant conflict of interest Population growth. The huge increase in building and the encroachment into our few remaining rural areas. Supporting a company we have no business funding -- Continum (formerly MI Connections). I HATE paying almost $100 buck a month in property taxes for this business I get no benefit from. Failure of all levels to fix I-77 properly. Acting as the secondary route to failed I-77 -- traffic is terrible! traffic, population growth (keeping up infrastructure to support it, and maintaining the character of the town in the face of it), maintaining natural spaces and public spaces Challenge --development making us into Wellesley or Main Line community with no diversity Opportunity --take the lead on green codes, free local transporation shuttle --ban dirt blowers (aka leaf blowers) in order to have quiet, pleasant streets and healthy air--some towns have gone elec only, most of Europe uses the rake. Do it. Parking in the town center, and through traffic pressures will continue to choke all other efforts. Davidson College must be drawn back into the town center and the town integrated into the College's daily life. parking and retail. There are shopping centers that just look outdated and there are sections that should be developed like by the towing company. The challenge is how to balance the small town feeling, with updated and modern opportunities. Automobile congestion made worse by Town decisions. Higher density growth made worse by Town decisions. Resolving Mi-Connection. Growth both inside and outside the town limits is adversely affecting life in Davidson. There is more traffic through town as there is no alternative route from I-77 in either direction. There is also no diversion of traffic from the downtown area where the Main St./Concord Rd intersection stacks traffic up. We need a way for folks to get from 115 north of Davidson to River Run and Davidson Concord Rd without having to travel through downtown. Public transit, and commute Public infrastructure, i.e., roads & parking, as well as preserving the natural infrastructure, i.e., trees & parks. Also, that properties are being bought and torn down to subdivide the parcels to allow for more, bigger homes.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 3 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Maintain small town feeling and manage growth, and equally important address traffic and transportation plaguing this area Electing officials who will take the time to learn what makes Davidson great and educate the public on those things. Less growth is not better. New growth must comply with the planning principles if we want to preserve Davidson's character. Average citizens do not understand the principles. Most citizens believe less growth is better. Until we have elected officials who understand can educate the public and show them that form of development is more important to building a community than amount of growth we will continue to allow sprawling communities like Westmoreland, Bailey Springs, Bradford and Narrow Passage which increase traffic and reduce walkability. The never ending fight against density and commercial near residential development is what will kill Davidson's character. Over development...and traffic Thank you for asking. Davidson will be challenged to keep and grow businesses in downtown, if the parking problem is not solved. The town should also not be using taxes to fund an internet provider (MI Connections). The town should focus on basic infrastructure needs (police, fire, rescue, waste management, etc.). These services are readily available from a number of services providers, where competition delivers bother better quality and service.
The infrastructure, specifically the roads, have not kept up with the population (traffic) growth. With the addition of all the new housing, schools will be next. How/when do you stop downtown Davidson from becoming the I-77 alternate? (don't count on the new toll lanes to accomplish that). Over development for the sake of diversity or otherwise is undesirable. Too much growth is the challenge. There is an opportunity to stop the overbuilding by instituting large setbacks, height restrictions and to lower densities. The town should allow some commercial development along highway 73; this makes sense since this area has lots of people and is on a major NC highway. This area needs grocery stores, offices, etc. Growth, parking, I-77 You better do everything you can to slow growth, protect trees and deter tear downs in town. We are under assault. Downtown needs more options of things to do. Community needs more ways to meet people. Make sure we don't build super fast and loss the character. Make sure we have more communitiy activities that young families can participate in. Trying to develop too much of the available land in and around Davidson without clear goals or directions. I hope we don't develop in the same ways that our neighbors to the south (Cornelius or Huntersville) have developed. Traffic and congestion ! Too much building and not enough infrastructure to support it. I think the more populous the surrounding areas become the harder it will be to control traffic/keep Davidson feeling tight knit.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 4 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Challenge: managing growth - what will traffic, town day, concerts on the green, summit live music, Christmas in Davidson, etc all look like with 2x the people? Figuring out town areas, refine downtown, add more elsewhere. Opportunity: build off a great tradition, with great people. People want to live here, continue to deliver an extremely high quality of life. Study the best towns across America, strive to match their standards, incorporate what is working for them, learn from their mistakes. I think roadways are too cramped with the up tick in residents Sadly, the major challenge is going to be controlling the apparently irresistible urge by the town leaders to micro manage my life in order to create their vision of utopia. I think our planning practices have severely been skewed by the idea of Urban Planning. Density does not equal affordable or diversity and that narrative needs to stop. There are areas that density makes sense, but we must first address infrastructure in our town--roads, sidewalks, schools etc. The decisions behind I-77 was a disaster for us and coupled with the financial impact of the MI-Connection decision, Davidson has been financially held hostage. Being able to call Davidson as a community with a sense of place. it is rapidly becoming just another town USA. Traffic on Main Street and adequate parking to support the businesses are two big challenges. Getting out of Continuum is another big one. Finally, I find it crazy that an ugly rack and stack development like the Lindens was approved. We need to stop planning to be a light rail stop. That Mayor is gone. Controlling growth. Steps must be taken to consider and control the impact of development, particularly the impact on onfrastructure. Preserving small town Keeping parks and green space Parking and traffic Debt with Mi-connection Spaces for smaller homes - current land cost make this totally prohibitive. Balancing housing needs with interests of citizens and developers. Avoiding increasing traffic congestion and losing so many green areas and trees. Avoiding losing the essence of Davidson that makes it so charming - allowing developers to switch out single family houses with multiple family units will change Davidson and create many problems of overcrowding. Another challenge is increasing Davidson's diversity. Trying to grow and still filter traffic thru downtown while attempting to maintain a biking and pedestrian friendly atmosphere. We need to work with Statesville, Mooresville, Cornelius and Huntersville to add connectivity via north sound connector. Extremely important for future quality of life for downtown. Affordable housing This town has become nothing more than a mega expensive, quaint suburb of Charlotte. High end boutiques and restaurants. Little to no diversity or affordable housing. Very few inexpensive ethnic restaurants. Traffic throughout town. Pedestrian and child safety around streets throughout town. We need better crosswalks, signals and traffic/noise ordinances.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 5 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Traffic flow
Maintain the small
Town feel yet avoid exclusivety or elitist attitude There are big things, for sure; but among the more subtle challenges, I would put the town's character right at the top. This last election had me hanging my head. It was shameful to hear and read the things that people said and wrote about their fellow citizens. The cynicism and accusations of corruption lobbied against people I know, people I see at the grocery store and at the library as if they were wheeling and dealing miscreants was like nothing I've seen in a Davidson election. It's not how we behave. We can do better! infrastructure of roads and other facilities to support development of residential areas more emphasis on caring for the environment whether it be a large open space or a small stream. Traffic management. Green space preservation. Charlotte is coming, like it or not. We have a chance to embrace that. Future generations want urbanity. Letting growth happen while still maintaining Davidson's small college town identity and ensuring that gentrification and racial divide doesn't continue Making sure there is enough space and being able to manage the town well with a growing population in davidson. Developing and adhering to a comprehensive plan that enhances livability for all citizens and all neighborhoods. The previous comprehensive plan--- specifically the plans for the Circles@30--- were ignored or lost in the push for any development that would bring in tax dollars. Managing growth. Obviously. We have the opportunity to actually preserve open space, with intention and value placed on it. Creating BALANCE with our growth and development. Recognize that people desire this balance and that is what attracted many residents to Davidson years ago. Yes, more people will move here as we continue to build, but we do not need to go overboard with density! Nor should we be so desperate for residential tax revenue that we build out every inch and neglect meaningful passive and active parks. You have created 2 Davidsons Growth, traffic patterns and home prices. Also, public green space as land becomes more expensive. We need to find our uniqueness again. It is a hard balance. People moved to Davidson in the past because it had a different feel than Charlotte or even Huntersville or Cornelius. However, because of that maybe too many people moved to Davidson too fast so the town has become no different than those places. Overbuilding and traffic Regional transportation infrastructure (new roads) and the sprawling development that will follow. Continued creation of green space through expanded development with Charlotte growing outwards (including I-77 potential issues). Must find a way to keep Davidson unique in the Charlotte Metro. We need to continue to take advantage of our cooperation with Davidson College (coming from an Appalachian State Graduate). This remains a unique advantage/ moat maker. Must continue to build out the foodie/art scene to match. This makes us feel like a family option to the NODA art scene for millenials.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 6 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Growth, growth, growth and how we move these people in, around and through town. more houses being built/more people moving in/traffic/pollution - Getting out of constant planning mode, spending money on these efforts and not on real projects - Coming to grips with the size and limitations of our town Major challenges: 1. MI-Connection debt/burden prevents town from investing in TOWN, including infrasctucture, parks, facilities, etc. 2. How and where we develop the town further, given the watershed issues, desire to preserve green space/tree canopy, and, importantly infrasctucture needs NOW before any more development. 3. Transportation/roads/alternate routes -- must have viable alternatives to Rt. 115 and I-77. Balancing small town feel with development to attract new restaurants, business that enhance our small town feel. Growing too big and traffic nightmares due to our and other areas development. Prevent loss of diversity and becoming a Charlotte bedroom community for the rich. Growth. Money Continuum Growth, road infrastructure to alleviate traffic and better transportation to Charlotte and Mooresville. Over-development without proper infrastructure. Design homogenization of new shopping centers and housing complexes which will invariably age poorly. Environmental hazards from Lake Norman/Duke Power (thyroid cancer epidemic and eye cancer cluster.) Opportunities are for the town to be a leader in truly thoughtful growth and historic preservation. Increase tax burdens for citizens of Davidson. There needs to be blunt conversations about the future of MI-Continuum and the Town of Davidson. Instead of kicking the can down the road, how will you address this burden? Overcrowding and traffic/ parking has already been an issue and I see it only increasing through the years. Saving the Trees! Having a Tree-Canopy. Seeing Stars by reducing Ground-Light. Hearing crickets at night. And not allowing the town to become just another Exit off I-77 in the Giant Sprawl that is Charlotte that is getting just like L.A. or Dallas, or Phoenix or Atlanta. Excess growth and traffic that spoil the feel of our town. Traffic. Only the wealthy can live here. Pushing out the African-American community. Development will occur but keeping Davidson's infrastructure practical and intact is critical. rapid growth Problems: Destruction of green space; traffic and congestion; Infrastructure (above ground wires and roads are not aging well); schools over capacity and not keeping up (even with the expansion of Davidson Elementary) Opportunities: To lead the area as an environmentally forward thinking town with a focus on smart development
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 7 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
The biggest issue is the amount of traffic using Main Street on a daily basis to get from areas South and North.The number of cars traveling through Downtown is staggering and many are only using it as a way to get from Point A to Point B. If there was an additional option to get drivers from Huntersville, etc. to Mooresville, etc. it would help maintain our downtown as a pedestrian friendly area. I live .5 miles from the heart of downtown and do not care to go downtown bc of the number of cars. Additionally, many of the drivers on "our" streets do not follow no-texting laws. This makes our supposedly pedestrian friendly town a very dangerous area. This is the most important issue to me. More than anything it is infuriating that my children cannot go downtown without me being concerned about the number of cars they are coming up against...please help! Traffic passing through town and not adding value to merchants; traffic tie-ups on Main Street and Concord Road are already becoming real drags on quality of life, and I suspect will become much more so in the next 2-3 years. This is not a future issue. It is a today issue. The corollary to this is housing growth in what has been rural areas, with the growth in local population taxing every aspect of community life. Managing growth. Jobs and affordable housing: to promote living and working in Davidson. Infrastructure: I think Davidson could benefit from improvements to its infrastructure (sidewalks, traffic circles, greenway connections, bike lanes, tree management near electrical grid ...) Attracting sustainable businesses to the empty downtown commercial spaces. As Charlotte expands, Davidson needs to maintain its character and not edge into the suburban, strip-mall aesthetic. Keeping small, controlling growth, avoiding sprawl and development. Preserving walkability of community. I have noticed that the tone has changed in recent years in terms of politics and a vision for the town. It's happened in small ways (cutesy things like calling it a "village", which seems like an attempt to bestow upon it a quaint and precious aura -- an action that ultimately allows people to make arguments about preserving things that never were) and in larger, disturbing ways (an inability to listen to each other, lies and fear mongering in elections, a heightened sense of us against them and NIMBYism). I think the challenge for the town is to attempt to return to a more thoughtful, intelligent, civil discourse which weighs the goals of the town with the realities of life in the 21st century. It's unrealistic and undesirable to cease all construction and change. However, new growth should clearly meet certain standards. It would be fantastic to examine ways we have attempted to implement goals (mixed income housing, for example), see how those ways have failed or fallen short, and create new ideas to carry them forward. I'm concerned that the antagonistic, zero-sum tone I've heard recently will preclude that type of thoughtful progress. Overdevelopment and overcrowding of our local public schools, especially Davidson Elementary. We need to protect the wonderful local schools we have in this community. Quality of life declining due to overpopulation, traffic, and all the concerns articulated above. We seem to attract people bc it is a cute town but not everyone who moves here wants to help Davidson achieve the aspirations outlined in the guiding principles. They want Davidson to be the cute town they envision for Themselves and not the community we have been and aspire to be. If we aren't careful, we will soon be swallowed by Charlotte's growth and we will lose our distinctiveness.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 8 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Adding sidewalks and bike lanes within a 5 miles radius of Davidson is critical for usability, safety, sense of connected community, and our ability ti improve diversity, as Davidson continues to expand. A key medium term challenge is how to manage infrastructure (sidewalks, roads, shoulders, traffic lights, congestion, etc) and community feel when growth will outpace our ability to keep up with these basics. 1-Davidson officials do not hold CMS accountable to improve. 2-inadequate roads/mobility. 3-lack of commercial tax base. 4-lack of retail amenities on east side. It's ok to develop retail instead of residential. Improves tax base and reduces traffic. 800 homes in Riv Run and we all drive 5 miles for milk, bread and gas. Traffic, too many people in such a small area Trying to hard to make Davidson something it isn't. Quit building and quit changing who lives here. It is what it is. Not every type of person has to live in Davidson. It will be ruined by all the changes everyone wants to make. Quit building and please no apartments for crying out loud! That is what brings a town and city down and adds more Crime. That we are quickly filling up with those who value the quality of life the Principles have created, but who do not want to commit to those principles themselves. Key to me is making sure current residents who could benefit from access to new affordable housing options are made aware and have "first dibs" on those options. We should have better transportation options. We should have already had light rail by now. Instead, I had to beg to work from home after several tire damages due to the work on I-77. Development is another issue but if you are looking out 10-20 years, we won't have any land left to develop based on what has been approved and built in the last 10 years. That challenge will not be existent at that point. Challenge 3 is a big issue for me. Cyclists do not follow the rules of the road. They should not be riding side by side when traffic is present and they ride around like their presence is superior to cars. I agree with getting out and being active but not in a passive aggressive way like riding three- wide down Grey Road or Concord Road and not changing to single file as they should according to use of road rules. We paid to have bike lanes painted on our main streets but the groups don't adhere to that designation. If someone gets hurt - whose fault is it? The threat of over development and how to manage those impact in regards particularly to space, housing, schools and roads. And also how to maintain the Davidson values and keep kind and giving people in our community rather than attracting entitled people that do not show Davidson the respect it deserves. Traffic is becoming a serious problem Safety for walkers Limited parking Limiting growth and enhancing transportation options. Managing growth, maintain character, and being FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE Having infrastructures to support visitors while maintaining Davidson's safety and walk ability. Maintenance of noise buffers- trees.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 9 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
The challenges: Preserving the character of the downtown historic area. Keeping growth at a pace that will not overwhelm public facilities or staff. Maintaining the forested areas so we don't lose the green space, the developers don't care about that. Keeping knowledgeable, talented staff while not letting the size of the town staff get out of hand. Having a Board of Commissioners that knows what they are doing and keeps the town in mind at all times rather than trying to please the developers. Getting rid of MI-Connection, it should have been sold a long time ago. Keeping the role of town government contained to those activities that are best fulfilled by government and not better offered by the private sector. It seems that in today's world, all governments think they need to be involved in every aspect of life. The opportunities: The opportunities are how well the town government will meet and manage the challenges. Traffic and residential development go hand in hand. We are not doing a very good job of this! I'm scared to see how much worse driving will be around and in and out of Davidson with the additional homes already slated to be built, much less those just in the planning stages. No more houses, please! TSG. When you get a builder who is also a realtor like this group is, there are no checks and balances. Most townies suspect that this group does not make a true effort to sell homes with a lot of property to families. This group sells homes to builders with whom they have a relationship. It's crook-ery. help vets better overpopulation over development traffic patterns As always controlling growth. We have a very unique geographical location which makes in-town development difficult. We should recognize that any development must first be a fit for what is there. If it is not, it doesn't even get to planning criteria Our greatest challenge may be to elect leaders who have the strength, will, knowledge and courage to standup to selfish pressures to pickle our town, refusing / failing to understand the values and strengths of our planning concepts (which have helped make us such an attractive community). Far too much residential construction has made the town congested and put a strain on resources. It is important to also build places for all of these new residents to work - today, a commute into Charlotte can take 4-hours from our day. Let's build work areas here too. Campus' can be built to be beautiful additions to towns. Connectivity and community amenities and their associated funding. We worry way too much about raising taxes. I would rather have higher taxes if we had the amenities. The amenities would lead to high property values for everyone. Personally, I believe the recent bonds were a drop in the bucket compared to what we need to truly have this community reach its potential. When we do town planning and 10 years later when the plan is refreshed we are still talking about the same things that need to be done, there is a problem. That's what frustrates people. If we are truly a walking, biking community, why don't we have the greenways, parks and connectivity to support it? Our public art is one off with no theme. Why don't we focus our public art on Davidson's history and characteristics? You should be able to walk around Davidson and be able to learn about Davidson, it's history and its character. It would create a sense of community cohesiveness.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 10 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Growing and diversifying while also not segregating. Ensuring that downtown businesses can stay open and that the downtown doesn't just become a place to eat and go to the farmer's market. The stores in downtown need to continue to grow. I have sometimes heard people that recently moved to Davidson talk about how much they love it, but laugh as they say they don't want to see any other development or others move in after them. I think this is selfish and not realistic. If we are open and inclusive we have to realize that this includes welcoming growth, and of course planning for it and enabling it in a responsible and congruent way. If we stick are head in the sand, take a NIMBY approach, or one that says there should never been any additional projects built we will have done our community a great disservice long-term. I want to share Davidson with others that want to join our community and also hopefully have a way for our children be able to move back to an affordable, vibrant, and evolving Davidson 10-20 years from now. If you look at population trends, those from 22-35ish are leaving the town at an increasingly high rate. I believe this is for three reasons. 1) They are being priced out. 2) The town is slow and seemingly afraid to develop. 3) There isn't enough balance between small-town charm and big city restaurant+retail attractions. I worry a lot about diversity in housing today and traffic/transportation. Increasing public transportation options in Davidson would hopefully be a great way to cut down on the amount of congestion on Main Street. Population growth and infrastructure. I already can't get a cup of coffee or find a parking place on week ends. I would encourage Davidson to avoid trying to widen roads to absorb more traffic and leave the streets as they are. People will eventually take alternative routes versus driving through town to get to highway. We should probably consider a "loop" or byway to route traffic around town center for commuters. And/or parking infrastructure and shuttles into and out of down town for larger neighborhoods. Like River Run. Bailey Springs, etc. Traffic!!!!!! Parking - as mentioned, we are a driving society. With economic growth in mind, we want people to visit Davidson and enjoy this Town but additional parking is a must. Davidson has lost its sense of community because of the divisive attitudes of the Save Davidson group. Davidson is about people and relationships, college and town--not about lack of trust, creating angry constituents, spreading mean and malicious gossip, and not supporting the elected leaders. Growth to the N, E, S is going to happen and we cannot control it. But maybe we can manage the impact is has to town. Davidson must also grow to accommodate businesses and services it provides. Most people than live here don't work here. managing the balance between protecting the heritage of the town without taking a "stop the development" stance. new development and redevelopment can be done tastefully and appropriately with good planning and thoughtful consideration by elected officials. Affordability of downtown housing; Cut through traffic through town between I-77 and I-85; traffic challenges of I-77 to downtown (don't think added lanes will completely alleviate); need to get Linx line into downtown Charlotte; car traffic on 115 during morning and evening rush (yikes!) Traffic and population. We shouldn't build more residences without the infrastructure of the roads and parking first.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 11 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Keep the growth DOWN. Keep the character of the town. More eco-friendly as well--we have made good strides here, but we need to do more. Ensure governmental corruption does not occur. And don't forget about us on Davidson Landing--we are part of Davidson too!! Keeping it small and not overgown. Continue to abide by the tenets of the existing Planning Ordinance and implement the well developed Rural Area Plan over the continuing BANANA objections of the Save Davidson zealots. ability to keep the current atmosphere as we grow Growth and pressure to make Davidson bigger. If we do that, Davidson will no longer be Davidson. The charm and history of the town is what makes this place special. traffic Crowdedness. Diversity. Amenities and expansion. Lack of affordable housing. Traffic and accessibility of the city. Traffic and over-development. Challenges: managing traffic. Both a challenge and an opportunity: providing affordable, attractive housing for purchase. Traffic on Main Street. Managing parking downtown. Allowing for controlled growth balanced against the people who want to live in Davidson. Contuniuing to meet the diverse needs of our residents, particularly with affordable housing. Protecting the integrity of the town's small town culture despite its growth. Very hard to find affordable housing. Overcrowding. Managing growth. Managing growth within Davidson and the impact of growth on Davidson of the surrounding towns (traffic, crime, etc). Clearly the pressure from developers to build large housing developments and commercial projects will be the biggest challenge, if we want to maintain the current œDavidson feel•. We need a plan that allows for controlled growth that has reasonable limits on size and function. Auto travel will continually grow, and we need plans to manage it to allow flow without destroying our small town atmosphere. Major Challenges: A shared vision among residents to support the 7 principles outlined above. To continue to be a diverse community. To grow as a community in a smart and productive way. Major Opportunities: To grow as a community in a smart and productive way. To continue to implement and support the principles listed as a guide for our future. To continue to grow and keep its personality while providing opportunities for new businesses and living spaces to come into the center of town, to bring in a greater economic diversity. I also feel that the local police is, in general, unfriendly, which I would not have expected. Top three items; 1. Traffic. 2. Traffic. 3. Traffic. Traffic is the main problem. Need a left turn lane at Main St. & Davidson Concord Rd. It seems that development is approved and then traffic issues are looked at. Should be the other way around. New development at Robert Walker and Davidson Concord Rd is awful. To many units for the space which will make traffic more of a problem in that area. I think population growth is the major challenge.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 12 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Transportation through the downtown area; overcrowding I think the major challenge Davidson faces in the coming years is the battle between protecting, preserving, and enhancing our community without falling into the temptation of rushing forward in the sake of capitalism. Providing housing for all, not just wealthy newcomers. My own kids will not be able to live here. That's wrong. Transportation, parking, relevant draw to downtown, accessible roads and additional travel space Effectively balancing the growth with our incremental infrastructure capabilities. Not diverse enough - appears to be an "all white, rich, town". No transportation for students and residents. Housing and taxes for some are unattainable - leaving on room for the upper class to move to Davidson. Not enough cultural and diverse events sponsored by the town of Davidson. Resisting the pull to increase profits for a few at the expense of the community. Telling the truth even when people don't want to hear it....Saying one thing and doing another. Growth. We aren't far from becoming Cornelius and Huntersville. Balanced growth. By balanced I mean for all types of households, not just 4500 square foot McMansions. Where are our policemen and teachers going to raise their families? Too expensive for those of different class. Even restaurants are so fancy now. Missing diversity ; only one public elementary school seems a bit insane given growth. Roads are clogged a lot. Parks are all one side of town; very little interaction between affluent and middle class or poor. Poorer side of town seems to be getting squeezed out; very sad to see. Too many houses being built with schools, and roads remaining the same in town. All around just seems just cluttered in this town. Overpopulation without an infa structure to support it. Growth, traffic and lack of traffic calming measures (they just don't exist here). Managing growth so as to achive the vision the principles expouse while resisting growth pressures and problems they will bring from surrounding communities. The major challenges I see are the lack of diversity that will seemingly get worse as the cost of living goes up. Additionally the development pressure from the surrounding area will continue to present a challenge. I think it is the biggest challenge and opportunity. Davidson has become, because of good, thoughtful planning, a very desirable place to live. That brings many opportunities for growth and controlling and directing the growth in the best areas for the community will continue to be a major challenge. As the town grows there will be more pressures on the natural environment. Because of the desire to develop in and around Davidson there is a big opportunity to push for green infrastructure, green building and sustainable design to ensure our natural resources are preserved. We need more diversity and economic opportunity. I want my kids going to a good school that's also diverse. And I want to be able to live and work in Davidson, which means attracting more white collar jobs to the Lake Norman area
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 13 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Challenges-gentrification, managing growth pressure, managing automobile centric US culture, progressive community in a municipality that has state limited authority to make decisions that reflect local community values, resistance to change Opportunities-increasing civic engagement, figure out how to become increasingly self-sustaining and less dependent on the Charlotte economy, lets figure out how to be a municipality that is environmentally responsible(less wasteful, more self-sufficient, less driving, more green energy) 1). TRAFFIC - what is taking so long? There needs to be another route for people traveling up and down Iredell/Mecklenburg counties. While I love Davidson, we also enjoy Charlotte. 2). DIVERSITY - already stated -- very little affordable housing. 3) Empty downtown storefronts. I understand there is some history as to why the ugly storefronts still exist between Kindred, the bike shop and Mestizo, but the owner should not be allowed to leave these buildings appear to be abandoned. parking, especially handicap parking The biggest threat to Davidson is the lack of honesty and transparency in town. Previous leadership was hand-in-glove with developers and pushed a self-serving agenda. The challenges are too keep the Black community in Davidson, stop developers with small payments for the historical homes. Stop developers .P ay a great amount for our wonderful valuable properties. Do not forget that Black community -- we are humans, too. The Master above. GOD put us on this earth for a reason too. LOVE US, too support us too. Help and support this community with financial + educational assistant. The town motto will soon be "A Highway Runs Through It." The Beaty-Sloan corridor will only make traffic worse. Challenges: preserving civil dialogue, preserving historic African-American community, preserving bike and pedestrian mobility. Opportunities: connect greenways to create network between parks and destinations; encourage responsible well-designed commercial tax base. Living for average people - find a teacher or police officer or firefighter or non-faculty college staff who can afford to live here unless they're old timers or have other wealth. Traffic- hard to get to Charlotte due to traffic Acceptance of the inevitability of dense development and permitting development like hotels but not holding to the town's requirements for parking, etc. It would be a mess to have a hotel property on the site by CSD without making special arrangements for ingress and egress, which appeared to be absent. Planners are too cozy with developers. And town staff are too closely tied to a single external planning group - we need new and better ideas. growth and space. It's hard to move around the area now with so much traffic. Feels busy and congested instead of free and spacious. Overdevelopment and traffic - how to balance it, improve safety and mobilityDavidson Elementary and k-8- I feel the town needs to become more involved in supporting the school. There's an opportunity to make this something great, but my concern is the townspeople take little interest in the school. Perhaps that is due to the infiltration of charters in our community and having so many residents who can afford private school.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 14 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Challenge: not letting national political ill-will and lack of compromise spill over into local politics and governance; continued growth, even though slower than surrounding towns' growth, is still an immense pressure. Infrastructure. Roads. Private property rights. Development. Homogenization of the community. The challenge is older people on the west side of town are being taxed out of their homes Managing the goal of walkable and usable space downtown and the very dense traffic pattern flowing through the central part of town. Traffic Civility among residents Lack of diversity Cost of real est Growth, development, losing small town charm, need for public transportation that is easily accessible Supporting outlying communities as much as you do the downtown area. We pay the same taxes yet we have no benefits or amenities. I think the worst problem we have is traffic. Not sure how to fix that. If Main Street were widened that would be awful to the aesthetics of the town. A bypass would take too much land and deter people from visiting our lovely downtown. It's a problem without an answer. Infrastructure growth commensurate with population growth. Traffic from 77 clogging our streets. Very long term, I'm not sure. Shorter term, the popularity of our town, which drives up demand, then home prices, and the temptation to overbuild or crush homes and condos and apartments on top of one another. There should be no building in the immediate town area more than 3 stories high. How to control growth. We need more businesses and less housing in the future. transportation healing the rift that the "Save Davidson" movement created 25 mph speed limit on Griffith St., gentrification, segregation, affordable housing, community building/integration, traffic going through main street at rush hour Charlotte will continue to grow and more development will spread to Davidson. I think it is important for Davidson to keep its small town charm. Affordable or work force housing for all income brackets. Increase diversity in all factors, housing, income and education levels. Focus on being part of a growing region offering opportunities and inclusion for all. Challenges: Traffic increase, urban sprawl spreading from Charlotte northward, general population increase. Opportunities: ideal town for a medium-size company HQ. We expect taxes in a great place to live to exceed those elsewhere - use that expectation to manage growth with generous provisions for open space / greenways / etc. in every development. the crowded housing on Robert Walker/Concord Rd is what NOT to allow in the future.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 15 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Avoiding pricing people out of affordable housing. Fostering racial integration into the visible active community. Moving traffic through Davidson proper and on its far eastern boundaries without succumbing to barrier 4 lane median non pedestrian friendly roads. The fight against development, I understand change is hard and preservation of the current town is a priority, but we also must grow to allow for the town to be enjoyed by many generations to come. The major challenge in Davidson and the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction is managing and improving traffic flow through town. Rapid transit to Charlotte and parking spaces.!!!! Connecting all the neighborhoods and including them all in town decisions. I think we should try to keep Davidson the small town, diverse town it is and not add too much development unless it is for a good cause! And maybe a Thai restaurant might be good :)!!! Growth, traffic through town. I think the growth that is happeneing is too fast. Our schools will be over populated and the traffic will only get worse. - Town assembly selling out to develpoers.- K-8 school, with the highest taxes in the county and proposed a "middle school with the least amount of opportunity in the county. We are losing good families in droves as the K-8 approaches.- Lack of infrastructure precedimg huge developmemts - it is absolute insanity. Underground and utilities, traffic management go in B E F O R E development - NOT AFTER everyone has moved in, and then mismanage traffic to then go in and back add the infrastructure!! Planners want to plan. Govt wants more houses to get tax money. Builders want $. I'm afraid of more people,More homes, more traffic. Just stop and take care of what we have. Main challenge: the loss of civility, kindness, and neighborliness which for years has defined Davidson's community. Main opportunity: restoring it. How to create opportunities for Davidson natives to return, cost of housing, infrastructure. Moving forward without obliterating the past. Becoming inclusive for all people in the area. Public transit between our local communities and into Charlotte. Both becoming too much of a bubble and losing the bubble. Its a fine balance for sure. Increased growth and traffic development and growth Growth andTraffic management Economic development that does not sacrifice quality of life for residential areas nor the small town attributes Growth Roads and excessive cut through traffic as Mooresville continues to boom. Too much development. Not enough bike lanes. Again, dump the cable company and stop the infighting and red tape within the town board. Traffic is horrible. All day, most any day. Keep tractor-trailers off of Main Street. Adding FOUR roundabouts in less than a mile, off of 30 is typical Davidson overkill. Overwhelming dilution...Davidson will be swallowed up. I fear that train left the station some years
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 16 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ? back. Traffic, growth are major challenges Keeping Davidson charm is biggest opportunity City government seems to be to much talk, not enough action, and to accommodating Gentrification with the destruction of minority neighborhoods. The constant destruction of old houses to build another Mcmansion, which is destroying Davidson unique charm. Traffic is horrible and the public transportation options are really limited. Constant destruction of farmland for more subdivision making Davidson just another unmitigated sprawling suburb which put even more stress on the tiny roads. There is nothing original about this town anymore. The major problem of this town is that developers do whatever they want and they have destroyed it. I still live here because my spouse works at the College otherwise i would have moved 8 years ago when the town gave developers carte blanche to destroyed it to make money. And I know how developers do not respect anything. I saw them destroyed the forest behind my house even trees that were marked not to be cut and yet they cut the trees. The workers come before 7 am on the weekends Saturdays and sometimes on Sundays and nothing happens, because the town let them do everything they want. Infrastructure growth that is woefully mishandled. Growth and particularly the influx of wealthy residents that drive out people with average and below income. Maintaining the historic nature of downtown. We are part of a larger metro area, and probably need to stop thinking of ourselves as a separate town operating in a bubble, and instead think of ourselves more like a large neighborhood within a larger metro area. If we can do that, then we'll start to understand that we're not a bubble - that we do things like encouraging growth and density without a corresponding improvement in transit options to make the higher population and density work. Otherwise, we will have just choked all the neighborhood streets - and its naive and impractical to think that everyone will live close to where they work keeping a lid on development Providing more parks and common meeting places around town. Resisting what I'm sure will be continued pressure for new development. I feel like Davidson is quickly becoming a north-south corridor. Infrastructure is not keeping with the pace of development. Also, the Town should take more extensive measures to discourage and penalize speeding. Transportation, managing growth, helping newcomers feel a part of the community There is ever increasing pressure to build more housing within the town's borders. The infrastructure in place barely accommodates existing traffic. There are no apparent projects planned to handle the extra people. Space and lack of it. Definitely diversity... as residents of the œwest side of davidson, we do see a great variety of diversity in our neighborhood, but unfortunately that doesn't reach past our suburb. Affordable housing is going to be increasingly important to encourage and sustain diversity in davidson!
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 17 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Apart from the perceived challenges and opportunities evident in the foregoing responses, Davidson may well face an immediate, serious challenge with respect to its investment in Mi- Connection. This I hope we will begin to discuss in earnest in connection with Mr. Auger's presentation to the Commissioners on November 13th. Looking more to the future, Davidson's opportunity lies in preserving what Davidson is. The trend in Davidson real estate valuations demonstrates the truth in that observation. I believe Davidson's challenges will come in the shapes of the impact of the automation/AI revolution on infrastructure and residential life and, perhaps more seriously, the long term challenge presented by the continuing growth of the Charlotte metropolitan area. DEVELOPMENT!!! We need to be very deliberate on what is being planned in this area. For example, Ryan homes is planning a development in the $400s off June Washam Road. There is NO WAY that our two lane roads can support this sort of development - the traffic on June Washam making a left onto Davidson Concord Road is a NIGHTMARE especially at peak times of day. I think all development should be tied to accountability to develop roads and make sure developers are not clogging already congested roads without providing financial resources and solutions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The major challenge is population growth, new neighborhoods, and transportation. The traffic is a mess and getting worse. More homes should not be built without adequate roads to support the increase in traffic. Keeping our small town charm against the push towards high density development. Please keep fighting. Managing growth in a way that maintains our small town charm and takes into account traffic, infrastructure and public facilities. I think that affordable housing is so important but it should not be tied to density and development. I'm tired of hearing certain citizens insinuate that those of us who support a more managed approach to growth are against diversity and affordable housing. That's just plain false. Let's #1: support the diverse community that currently lives here and support them in their ability to afford to stay in Davidson. Let's make sure that they feel valued and included by our town #2: Make sure that our affordable housing program isn't dependent on dense development to make it successful. #3 Find ways to attract more diversity to our community Home building. Lack of roads As a young professional, I think having more young people in Davidson is a big challenge. We're being priced out of buying homes - even the houses originally built to be lower priced have really shot up recently, especially compared to other areas of Charlotte. Obviously, Davidson has more to offer than other areas (I think) but cost is a real variable. Would also be nice to have some social events geared towards young professionals, so we feel like there are others like us in town. Managing growth while also increasing amenities and available options (cultural, commercial, restaurants, nightlife, etc.). Accommodating an influx of new residents and expanding/improving/developing the infrastructure to support them (roads, schools, etc.) Overall growth and the resources to support that growth will continue to be an issue in my mind. Also, something HAS to be done about traffic. You literally cannot move in town on the weekends, and daily in the morning, mid day and afternoon. Some alternate means of traffic control needs to be developed. Managing the inevitable growth while still keeping the small town charm for which Davidson is known. DIVERSITY. Traffic control. Control of housing expansion.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 18 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ? growth, growth, growth and how we provide infrastructure growth commensurate with this growth. Keeping pace with explosive neighborhood growth and planning for schools, public services, parks, and Greenways. Overcrowding in the public schools, especially Davidson Elementary. We need to preserve the quality of public education found in our town. Traffic flow and congestion will continue to be an issue if its not addressed soon especially with all of the new development taking place in Davidson and surrounding communities. Diverting pass-through traffic off of Main Street. Overdevelopment and outpacing roads and infrastructure. Davidson-Concord road already backs up every day and West Branch is just getting started. I am not looking forward to how it will be in the future. Dealing with the growth of the town. Keeping the right balance between increase of population and adding necessary business. Continue to manage growth. Continue to work on connecting the town with greenways and sidewalks. Continue to work on diverting traffic from the downtown area. Continue to work on solving the traffic problem at D/C Rd and Sam Furr Rd. Encourage artistic people and communities to move to Davidson. We have a number of good restaurants and businesses, but we need to help bring more artists to live in the town. I am not sure how you would accomplish that, but possibly encourage artists to apply for affordable housing. We also need more space for community classes and groups interested in a certain activity (i.e. playing bridge, attending lectures, watching films, etc...) There is no more land. Parking is a major challenge downtown and I see that frustration every day. There is currently no viable alternative transportation. People who bought their homes a while back and may want to downsize, have no other place to go that is affordable. We are losing our diversity both racially and economically. We have outgrown our library. I would love to see a larger library built - still on the village green. Inter-connectivity due to lack of road networks. Poor sidewalks in many areas. The RR bridge on Hwy. 115 has got to be replaced and Concord Road needs to be widened to allow safe travel for cars PLUS bicycles and pedestrians. Its FAR TOO crowded and the sidewalks east of Pine is entirely non-ADA compliant and dangerously close to the road The traffic coming through downtown, not people who live in Davidson or are even visiting but commuting through it is becoming an issue, there have need several pedestrian incidents in the past few years. The open flow concept is completely opposite of a small town feel. It's becoming scary to try and cross streets in Davidson even at marked cross walks in neighborhoods and especially near the college. affordability bc newer houses being built are huge and price out many 1st time home buyers and not everyone wants a 3K sq foot home, parking, we were lucky to get a new job built under 200K on west side of town which needs more updates on sidewalks and lighting to keep up to pace w east side of town Managing growth is a major challenge. I think more emphasis needs to be given to making walking and biking safer so people people have choices and don't feel like they have to drive just for safety's sake. And I'd like to see more compact growth to help preserve open space and farms.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 19 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Maintenance to Principles of the landplan. Managing transportation demands. Impacts of adjacent development in North meck towns. Impacts of transportation development on I77. Inevitable development and all the issues that come with it. Land use, transportation, lack of affordable housing, stressed services. Our challenge is to manage excess growth further clogging our already overloaded streets. Poor vehicular transportation options. Our opportunity is to be very picky abut what development allow in order to protect the small scale, low density, and historical feel of our town which is what makes Davidson unique in the region traffic control- adding more traffic circles isn't going to do it. limiting growth of all kinds, like the Robert Walker project (should never have happened) The opportunities that I've described above shouldn't be limited to people who can afford to spend $400k+ on a single family residence. It's in the interest of the town and all citizens to promote socioeconomic diversity as broadly as possible. More cars and people Growth from around. Just the odd shape of town makes it difficult for operations I would think. Transportation Affordable housing What will happen to the historic African-American community in West Davidson Tying the new, large developments to the east into the Davidson fabric One- or two- issue interest groups Managing growth. Where will all the children who live in all the new houses go to school? How will we be able to go anywhere with all the traffic? Transportation Over population Proximity to the power plant Toll road Too many people. Too little resources.
Affordable housing and protecting the interests of those citizens on the west side. Limiting growth with the liberal zoning changes of the last town board and mayor. We cannot as easily limit growth and maintain infrastructure ahead of that growth. That is why they are out now. New board needs to fix that. There are several approaches. The continued growth and traffic. Rapid growth which could lead to over building, congestion, horrible traffic, and loss of quaint feel of downtown Davidson. Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic TrafficTraffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 20 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic Traffic
Need to limit further growth. At minimum, infrastructure must match pace of development. NOT TO OVER DEVELOP THE AREA...... There is no need for major retail/mall atmosphere. Shop small "slogan" too much growth and becoming too vanilla with the bland style of neighborhoods and traffic Becoming inclusive, while still having a high price tag. Growth and transportation. I no longer recommend Davidson as a place to live for anyone commuting to a job in Charlotte. It is a daily disaster and I don't expect the I-77 "improvements" to improve that experience much at all. Davidson needs modern express buses and/or light rail into and out of Charlotte. Since those options don't currently exist, I currently advise folks to consider living in Cabarrus county (lower taxes, good schools and plenty of taxpayer funded interstate lanes into Charlotte). We are also at risk of too many subdivisions being added without the local transportation infrastructure to support it. Local roads are often congested yet we continue to build, build, build. Growth and traffic - and managing these with the college. Roads and accessibility as the area grows and as more people ditch and divert 77 and come through Davidson . The infrastructure is poorly set up to handle the growth, especially the amount of large trucks. The roads are not big enough to handle them. Property taxes need to be adjusted to reflect the surrounding towns and make homes more affordable. Need more public recreation space like basketball and swimming. We need to prohibit developers from coming in and buying lots to tear down and build obtuse and intrusive lot fillers that go to market overpriced, impact the streets and environment and then sit without any owners such as the one at 621 Spring St. Preserving natural areas and land use in general. Traffic issues will worsen when I-77 locks down. Rural Area Plan is crucial. More and more are people moving to this county and needing a place to live. Keep business in downtown to avoid empty storefronts. Pay attention to what, where, how new developments occur, and whether or not they bring the property values down of current owners. Affordable housing. Transportation. Preservation. Building to scale rather than profit. Preserving the land. There is SO much of it available and developers are always going to want to make more and more money. Eventually that will ruin the small town feel. I don't know how to slow or stop that but it will, in the end, determine the fate of the town long term. Everything else is a detail. Growing in ways that maintain the character of the town, while attaining economic stability and environmental sustainability. loss of character due to development, loss of community due to development, traffic concerns, The major challenges are those that come with growth: traffic, smart growth vs. sprawl etc. The increase in population seems to be the biggest concern. Davidson is too small to accommodate so many people, and the town has already started to feel overcrowded. Fast growth and roads not able to sustain thereby creating too much traffic. traffic will be the biggest challenge.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 21 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Traffic Pedestrian and cyclist safety Challenge: Overcrowded!! Opportunity: Connectedness of active transportation Getting out of the financial burden that is Continuum. Preserving more natural space. Keeping our hometown feel and culture of positivity and being neighborly. Ensuring that folks of all walks of life and income levels are welcome and can live and work here. Ensuring civic organizations can continue to thrive with support from and engagement with the Town government and staff. Road Infrastructure has not kept pace with residential development. All retail and commercial concentrated in one area resulting in bottlenecks and overcrowding. Too much clear cutting of vegetation to support development needs to be curbed. If growth is anathema, How do you slow growth without stifling dynamism and vitality? Growth without the explosion of McMansion neighborhoods. Maintaining a sense of community and meeting spaces in the downtown area. Retaining the architectural integrity and historic nature of Davidson. Preserving our "small-town" character in the face of big-money developers that have ZERO concern about the residents desires. Also, some residents that feel we are in some sort of development race with our neighboring towns. This is a race that I would gladly and enthusiastically conceed to preserve the town we all love. If people want to live and work in congested, high-density developments, our neighbors give them plenty of options. We are the only town left that can offer them an alternative. We need to think boldly and creatively about how to preserve core values like connectivity, walk- ability, and green space (including our tree canopy), while also creating affordable housing options to attract a wider range of people to live in the town. Partnerships with the College to build housing for staff, teachers, firefighters, etc., partnerships with the Pines to build affordable housing for older adults--or better yet, investment in multi-generational cooperative housing/neighborhoods, where older adults can babysit the children of working parents, and teenagers can help older adults with yard work and other chores. Other communities in the US and abroad have addressed these challenges, and we have the brain power and creativity to do so here as well. Balancing growth and tradition - not only physically, but in social dynamics and being welcoming for newer residents; aging population and lack of amenities that attract young professionals and families; growth pressures from north and south; lack of socio-economic and racial diversity The town has grown too fast. It's overdeveloped and several of the new neighborhoods going up are cheap homes being crammed together. That's not why we moved to Davidson over 12 years ago. The traffic is a nightmare and parking downtown is terrible. We've lost our small-town feel. Too much growth in population will diminish its attractiveness Growth is coming at an even faster clip whether we like it or not, Charlotte is not going away. We must direct this growth in a manner that best fits into the above principles lest become another no name suburb. This will be our biggest challenge. Development and safety. Traffic, keeping the downtown area unique and fresh, walkabilIty. Many areas need improved sidewalks or sidewalks in general (grey rd)
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 22 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Traffic, parking, resisting development unless done very thoughtfully in support of the town's strategic plan. Keeping green space. External pressures and impacts from Mooresville/Iredell, Kannapolis/Cabarrus, and Concord/Huntersville are likely the most critical challenges we face, as their continued growth, our own growth, and our unique geographical setting with inherent limitations will create friction and command diligence and patience. A key opportunity we have is to build a more engaged, better informed, and less divisive citizenry with a recognition of shared love of the community and desires to be Davidsonians. Transportation. Growth. Parking. Environmental concerns. To me public transportation, ie. the train, is imperative. It is nice that CATS has terminals now in North Mecklenberg, but light rail would be so much better. I think there need to be more trash cans all over the place and more doggy litter bags and disposal containers. Had to stay in Huntersville for about 3 months and they have you beat 10-1 in that aspect. More parks and bigger family outing places. Better located schools. The one on Armour Street is pretty ridiculous.Perhaps some one-way streets??? Managed growth, traffic, overcrowding Growth without pricing diverse communities out of Davidson. Growth that encourages walking and biking, instead of prioritizing cars and traffic. Growth that's done in a way that does not economically segment different sections of town. Growth. Adding more residences without the roads needed to handle the traffic. Traffic. Marketing how to maneuver through connecting streets when in traffic. The growth of Charlotte and the Lake Norman are are definitely challenges for Davidson. We want to make sure we continue to grow at a sustainable rate but not lose our sense of character and community. Transportation is a huge issue for Davidson not only for current residents but for future generations who are looking to potentially move to Davidson. Access to good paying jobs also comes into play here. If Davidson citizens are not able to commute into uptown Charlotte or surrounding areas easily for work they need access to equally top notch jobs within Davidson or the Lake Norman area. Diversity could very much be improved upon. Davidson is a very active community and currently some sidewalks or green ways are not accessible to every Davidson citizen. Traffic and that more people will always want to live in Davidson than we can accommodate. Explosive High concentration of "cookie cutter" housing developments such as the one under construction near Beaver Dam Park. Isolated, drop in track development. Does not fit the community vision and will continue to exaggerate the traffic issues. We need better/bigger bike lanes. No more housing developments. Skybrook and that new one off Davidson-concord across from the soccer field are AWFUL looking. Even River Run is pretty cheesy. They basically just cleared the land. Our roads can NOT handle it and it's so destructive. I know people who considered moving out of Davidson when the gorgeous green behind their house was cleared. Sell land to independent buyers who plan to preserve the green space and build single- family homes. There will be plenty of buyers!
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 23 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Education. Class sizes are getting too large (>20 students in elementary school). Schools are getting too large. No Spanish in elementary school. Much better STEM programs needed. No funding for additional schools for at least the next decade in our area. Local town is not involved with schools. Education is at the heart of many town residents, yet not covered in this survey or listed as a principle. Affordable housing Housing for emerging demographic types: seniors, families without children, singles, single parents Aging in place Balanced tax base with more commercial development Managing transportation demand and providing transport options Transportation and managing growth. My concern, as homeowner in the "central business district" is over-development of businesses, schools, homes/condos. As I mentioned in response 4, this part of town has become too polluted with vehicle gas fumes and hazardous congestion - at the circles as well as side streets. The gas fumes from Davidson Day School pickup line is extremely unhealthy, plus cars queuing for blocks; and the added traffic from CSD compounds the congestion at the circles. In addition, MSC and IR causes more repeated traffic congestion where cars cannot even enter the circle. Being adjacent to I-77 should not dictate such commercial development at œcentral business district•, my back door. The impact of unhealthy air pollution should seriously be considered. With all of the new growth, I think it faces growing pains especially in our school system. I think Davidson Elementary is almost overcrowded and it leaves people searching for private school and charter school options. Would be nice if there was another alternative. Building out and losing the compact community and quaint, small town feel Overgrowth broadening downtown business in light of big box stores everywhere, managing traffic increase brought on by increasing population around us a) maintaining a civil discourse about key issues; this seems to have been difficult to maintain over the last two years. People are quick to demonize anyone with a different view. b) dealing with the NIMBY attitude; people who want development to occur so they can move in, but after they're here, want development to stop. c) getting people out of their cars and willing to walk (see preceding comment on 1000'-2000' distance). d) allaying peoples apparently inherent fear of density. Unless people want Davidson to (again) end up looking like exit 28 and exit 35-36, we need to take a more nuanced approach to planning. e) attracting millennials. Unless we want Davidson's value to diminish with our passing, identifying how millennials approach life differently from us, and creating an attractive Davidson environment for them is an worthwhile exercise. There will be a strong push to sacrifice many of the guiding principles on the altar of affordable housing. I encourage us to first find somewhere this strategy worked before we attempt to implement it.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 24 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Challenges and opportunities: encroachment and other pressures from external regional players; maintaining strong local leadership to actually implement plan's planning principles; getting out from onerous debt and burden related to Contiuum; maintaining and implementing required and assured infrastructure upgrades to handle projected growth (e.g., roads, underground power and telecommunications lines); and managing limited resources (e.g., people, money, physical plant and infrastructure). too much growth w/o infrastructure we need to stop putting up quick-built neighborhoods and keep the town small Slowing and controlling growth. Providing a better way to drive through town. It is a nightmare at times. Could the police direct traffic more often? I-77 Expansion Need more practical shopping: bakery, men's clothing, shoe store, optician. Would like more ethnic restaurants: Chinese, Thai, Indian. Need to develop extremely valuable land on west side of tracks (old cotton mill) into mixed use buildings with ties to main street. Maintaining small town atmosphere vs. population growth and its demands. Traffic and parking. Growth especially of housing development Traffic Affordable West side development needed Need to deal with coyote population Better control of growth. It needs to be managed and supported by the infrastructure without losing our small-town feel. Managing growth in Davidson in a strategic and patient way is very difficult, especially with the economic pressures of the existing government obligations and the high desirability of the location. Vehicular traffic Access to Charlotte via light rail, growing trail network and public parks, keeping trees and rural roads on the outskirts rural in nature instead of eaten up by subdivision development, encouraging green and sustainable practices I think Davidson's biggest challenge is handling growth. The town commissioners and planners need to follow the ordinances. We need to continue to engage one of the best parts of our Town, Davidson College, so that the students and faculty feel like they are an active part of our community. As the faculty has become more diverse I think less and less of them are choosing to live in town. We need to find more ways to involve the college students in the life of our town. Traffic/congestion issues should be at the top of list. How can we encourage citizens to start downsizing their vehicles and get out and walk & ride? Not sure we want electric scooters :) How can we support our public schools that used to help bring us together as a community. What role can we play at a local level to address climate change? The College has carbon neutral goals, what about the Town? If we want more small independent businesses in our downtown we may have to find ways to make it more affordable for the those types of merchants. What can we do about Continuum? It seems to be
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 25 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ? this chain around our necks that limits our ability to move forward on multiple fronts.
The biggest challenge is to avoid becoming an ultra-expensive bedroom community, emptied of diversity and hollowed out economically by the need to provide services on a residential tax base. There has always been resistance to diversity and to commercial development in Davidson, but the Save Davidson movement has elevated both of those to new levels. But without commercial development, Davidson will not be able to support decent services, and without diversity, it will lose its soul. Save Davidson has silenced a large number of people in this town, making us afraid to participate in civic life. So social media is a huge challenge, too, because in the hands of people who are willing to do anything to win, it is a very effective tool for shutting down discussion. A big opportunity for Davidson is the renewed interest among young people in living in walkable environments with a strong sense of community. If we are willing to allow housing types than are affordable, I really think we could attract many young singles and families. Not everyone who wants to live in a community like ours wants or needs a 5,000 square foot house. In other words, affordable housing can't just be "subsidized housing" -- it needs to include developments that are priced within reach of all income levels. This is why I support multifamily housing (including multi- story) in the village infill. Single-family McMansions squeezed onto clear-cut teardown lots are far more degrading to my quality of life than a well-designed apartment building would be. And even if the apartment building covered the same square footage and required the same number of trees to be cut, I would feel better knowing that the building was housing several families efficiently. It is important to me to stress that there is nothing sacred about single-family or owner-occupied -- people who live in multifamily and rental housing are just as welcome in my neighborhood. In fact, Davidson has a much higher proportion of rental housing than most people realize, given the college's many rental properties. I've never heard anyone complain about that. controlling growth, traffic, keeping trees Challenges: Housing, economic, and age diversity. Walkability and bikability. Opportunities: Downtown is predominantly a blank canvas and can become a thriving town center with venues for all interests, ages, races, and economic levels.
Challenges: growth management, congestion, housing affordability, socio-economic and racial monoculture, getting out of Continuum cash flow drain so we can move forward. Opportunities: treasure and protect what we have, densify land development where appropriate, develop the political will to make affordable housing a priority and fund it with substantial $, hyperactivate greenway development and conservation. We need to stop building more roads which simply lead to more cars, congestion, and need for more roads. The best way to encourage walking and alternative transportation is to stop creating parking and roads.
Traffic! Build a bypass so that thru traffic on main st will not become an issue. Think out of the box. Perhaps in downtown, create a huge circle using existing roads ... a one way south bound on Jackson from Delburg to Main and then one way on Main Northbound from Jackson to Delburg. (keep traffic flowing) also help the train option for those who need to go to Charlotte. If traffic isn't solved, we will have serious issues in our community. 77 tolls will impact our community.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 26 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Traffic. Traffic is terrible! Controlling traffic on Main Street. Slow growth down. Conserve the character of the town. I think heavy traffic in the downtown is a major challenge to several the principles outlined here. Development that is too big and fast for the current infrastructure. Economic Development is needed to help with our tax base and to have residents shop locally. Keeping the small town feel. The development off of 30 is beginning to look urban. The infill is happening too rapidly. Please slow down and really address the problems that could occur. Once land is developed it cannot return to what is used to be. Overcrowding could become a big issue. More jobs are needed in town, especially lower paying jobs. And affordable housing for people in those jobs are needed. We cannot become a bedroom community with people living here, but working in Charlotte. We cannot become an enclave for rich, white people. Managing growth and maintaining housing affordability.
TRAFFIC. Especially traffic that is not actually related to the people who live here since our main street has become an I77 detour for the masses.Schools.
Of course, the major challenge facing Davidson is growth - both within our town's boundaries as well as in the surrounding communities of Mooresville, Huntersville, and Cornelius. We need to avoid the temptation of haphazardly increasing our town's financial base by growing too quickly and not providing the needed commensurate infrastructure (roads, commerce, water, electricity). We also don't want to dilute our unique culture and architectural style with a flood of new housing developments. Another area of concern to me is that our town doesn't currently have a guiding principle involving our connection with Davidson College. I believe being a college town is a central tenet of our who we are. As the town grows, I don't ever want us to lose our connection to the heart and soul of our community - Davidson College. Finally, I believe it is critical to our future to have more local jobs as well as additional alternative modes of transportation to Charlotte (commuter buses and rail transportation). We need an economically robust community in order to maintain our current financial base. Managing residential growth and preserving the current character of the town. Minimizing tear down houses and sub dividing lots in older residential areas. Regulating architecture of new construction to blend with established Davidson styles. Managing traffic and pedestrian safety. Keeping it true to itself and not overrun by development. Not every area needs to have low income housing and apartments. The infrastructure can't support many more people. It is too crowded as it is. Diversity. Managing growth. Traffic issue remains of paramount importance plus development of our remaining green areas. Housing density and ever increasing number of neighborhoods are a concern
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 27 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
We need to attract younger residents [28-42] to live in Davidson. Keep the community moving toward a live/work environment. Anything that makes folks drive less and bike or walk more. E- bike initiatives. Make the new town hall project bold and thoughtfully attending the future of community centers, not just the current needs. https://www.socialworkdegreecenter.com/30-beautiful-modern-community-centers-world/ Two major concerns. First, I'm very concerned about the loss of civility that occurred during the last town election. Next, growth will come to Davidson no matter how many barriers we attempt to erect. We need to work with the counties, state, and federal governments to find alternative transportation routes to ease the flow of traffic using 77 and 115. Managing growth and traffic are major challenges. Challenges: Mooresville development on 115 and it's effect on the town. Town finances related to lack of revenue and debt affecting the ability of the town to fund the amenities it desires. Rampant development in open spaces, like we see now in Huntersville. Opportunity: Optimize smart growth/expansion of town in and around the downtown area. Highlight/spotlight successful local businesses. Promote Increase in "Arts" scene. Leverage the highly educated student body to support the town and vice versa. Increase commercial base in town for more revenue. Land another corporate headquarters akin to IR. Explore uses for Lake Davidson that benefit the community at large. Partner with Cornelius and Mooresville on planning activity. population growth, traffic congestion, over-development preserving land Managing the growing interest in living in Davidson while also maintaining the features that make Davidson appealing and desirable in the first place Diversity of community, traffic/transportation, thoughtful growth, tax base Managing growth appropriately and not saturating the area which would subsequently decrease the desirability and livability of the area. - I think one immediate challenge is to make sure that all voices are represented in our town decisions and not just the loudest voices. Changing the current state of our dialogue “ including how our elected officials talk “ is very important. This also relates to how decisions are made “ it really seems like the loudest voices have sway and that's who our elected officials listen to. We need to restore our collective sense of civility and community. Most people I talk to in Davidson are really grateful to be here and like it, including ways in which it has changed. For a lot of reasons but in part because they're grateful and content, they often don't attend meetings or give feedback.- Affordable workforce housing is now and will continue to be our biggest challenge in the future. It's also important to provide a variety of housing options for people, esp. younger people 20-35 and even in other age brackets that do not want a single-family house. This is one of our greatest opportunities moving forward. - Connectivity throughout all parts of town “ including walking and biking “ will be important as our town and region grow.- Balancing our tax base is important. With all the non-taxable land we have we must make sure to deliberately set aside areas for mixed-use commercial development. The rule about separating schools and churches is making it tough for key community stakeholders to remain in this town, and this rule is a result of not having a balanced tax base. These entities shouldn't be asked to bear the burden of this imbalance's effects. Overgrowth, especially if apartment buildings are built instead of neighborhoods.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 28 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Increasing traffic due to more population growth in Davidson and in Mooresville. What do we do with 115? Can we complete the Potts-Sloan connector? How might we improve traffic flow where Potts St meets 115? Rising rental rates and homeownership costs "pricing out" long-time residents and families and making Davidson a town that lacks true economic diversity. Getting youth excited and invested in the town. I haven't seen a young person (even below 30, it seems) at a council meeting or listed as a participant on a town board or citizen commission. Aging population and growth of retirees moving to Davidson. There's an opportunity to design effectively for folks that want to live out their years in our town.
Traffic, population explosion, and pedestrian safety. (Pedestrians still think they have no rules to follow!) Business opportunities Historical Preservation will lead to more prestige and visitation to the town We have plenty of challenges, to be sure: managing transportion needs; channeling development and land use in ways that foster economic growth while protecting the small college town character of Davidson; figuring out how to meaningfully foster socioeconomic diversity; protecting and preserving open spaces and the rural components of the Town and its ETJ. Our opportunities will, I believe, be rooted in the assets we have as a town to meet these challenges - a civic-minded citizenry with a broad array of talents and abilities, and a network of established institutions and organizations (e.g., town government, locally-focused charities and non-profits, active church bodies, Davidson College and local primary / secondary schools and related organizations) that have a proven history of focusing attention and resources on meeting a wide variety of needs. In my view, the key to bringing these assets to bear successfully on our challenges over the next 10-20 years will be the extent to which we can maintain - and improve upon - the sense of neighborliness that has marked how those who live and work here have treated each other for generations. Davidson feels œmeaner• and more divided in some ways now than it did when my family and I moved here 10 years ago. Some - though not all - of that likely is a reflection of the larger culture around us. We need to be able disagree without being disagreeable, to trust and forgive each other, to laugh with each other (and ourselves), and to sincerely listen to each other with the aim of understanding - and appreciating - one another. There's still plenty of those things going around here, just maybe not as much as before. so much housing being built which means losing so much green space/trees and nowhere to put all the additional traffic. Managing growth - town does need to grow and maintain integrity of the small town feel. Too much growth. Property value loss due to massive developments. Traffic!!! Also the housing costs are ridiculous. Transportation. Road improvements to direct traffic around downtown Davidson. Beaty Street bypass. Shearer Road improvements from Mooresville to Hwy 73 and beyond and/or the eastern boulevard or what ever you call it. Using that community support and provide to continue to make Davidson a great place to live
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 29 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Traffic is certainly a major concern. I think it is fine to have reduced speed limits which promote safety and remind people that they are in a town that is unique to the area. Additionally, it would be helpful to develop thoroughfares to complement the existing roads so that drivers have multiple ways to navigate town. Currently there is a significant amount of traffic which is moving south out to Highway 73 and it all goes through downtown. A scenic bypass that carries that traffic around downtown might be a welcome addition.
I think a shrinking diversity due to gentrification is a threat to a well-balanced community. I do not with to see Davidson become insular and monocultural. I think a sense of community unity is difficult when there are warring factions. Communication from town government needs to frequent, thorough, and accessible so that people can feel that they know what is happening. Growth - with growth comes challenges on things like traffic, parking, town infrastructure. Also with spread comes the loss of connection - walk-ability. I believe it is inevitable, it will come how the town plans for it will be critical. Growth of dense neighborhoods, poor road capacity to support traffic growth, land development just north of town in Iredell farm fields on 115 Davidson must balance growth and development with impacts on the existing community, as well as loss of rural land and natural beauty. Many of us still commute to downtown Charlotte for work, and without light rail or a better transportation alternative, many of us will need to move closer to the city and away from Davidson. Growth. I worry that people who live "in" Davidson without living IN Davidson will outnumber those of us who moved here for the walkability, community, and intellectual life. Helping small businesses stay in town Helping more diverse population Reducing the number of cars going through town Getting more people to walk Huge growth - I fear the volume of people moving to the area is not something we can manage. The fact that Davidson expanding rapidly towards its borders presents a challenge with development overall and the ability to ensure there are simple services, like gas stations and grocery stores, accessible to all parts of town. In addition, as land is used, prices on available properties are skyrocketing, making it next to impossible to acquire land for affordable/workforce housing. Transportation challenges/congestion threaten to upset the charm of the downtown area--with traffic tie ups on Main Street--impacting outdoor dining and the pedestrian experience. Handle traffic and have experienced people on the Town Board. Davidson has a wealth of talent and understanding. We don't need people trying to fix what is not broken. Finally, Davidson and the area will grow - no one can stop that. We need to trust our Town employees, staff who know far more than our current elected officials. parking, school safety, overdevelopment
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 30 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
A vocal few should not speak for the majority. Attending the town meetings, there is often consistent citizen feedback from the usual microphone holders. Squeaky wheels don't always need grease. The town board and staff have been accessible, friendly, and open to input. Keep it up, but please don't bow to the angry mob that sometimes is the most vocal. As far as challenges, growth and neighborhood development should use common sense and be transparent. I think this board is on the right track. The Lennar development was a miss by someone in the past. Doesn't fit and appears to have been pushed through without full consideration. Revitalization or improving of aging homes in town should be welcomed, not prohibited. When considering a "tear down" policy, consider the years of neglect some of these homes endure. It becomes cost prohibitive to renovate to an acceptable level, that our town's price point warrants. Tearing down an unsightly home, to build one or sometimes two new homes, with thoughtful architectural attention, will improve the streetscape. To limit this puts the a buyer at an unfair disadvantage in my opinion.Commercial growth should continue to be small business friendly. The exit 30 area is fine for larger companies, but keep Davidson small by continuing to promote small business.Mobility and transportation is obviously a challenge. The connectivity plans for potts/sloan/beaty sound great. Also, liked the idea to promote accessibility to the CATS buses for toll lane use. Increasing ridership on those could potentially justify the profitability of the light rail extension. Hoping at least...All in all, very happy to live and be a part of Davidson. Thanks to the mayor, board, and staff for being open to, and seeking, community input. Appreciate all that you do! losing green space due to development, overcrowding and traffic, losing diversity of citizens Growth towards back of Davidson. We deserve the same care & attention as old Davidson because we pay the same in taxes & long term you need all of davidson to feel charming. Not just Main street. Cost of housing and lack of racial and ethnic diversity. It is not seen as a welcoming community for many people of color. the ability to maintain the community and preserve historical characteristics with a large influx of people and development overbuilding, traffic The biggest problem I see is that Davidson is growing so quickly that it seems its commercial areas can't keep up. It seems there is a new subdivision going in every year and that's a lot of growth which is difficult to manage Traffic Affordable housing and economic diversity. People who work in our town can't afford to live here...ergo more traffic and more "elite". Also, a heathy environment that encourages and develops safe alternative transportation - dedicated bike roads, etc. - and greenways that interconnect and expand walking. Roads have not kept up with traffic demands. Consider rerouting or creating alternatives to traveling on 115. Lots of businesses are moving to Charlotte. Let's encourage many to locate in Davidson. -segregation -transportation -gentrification diversity, equal housing opportunities
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 31 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Preserving actual small town. Price and availability of housing, fraying of community due to too many school choices, TRAFFIC, anger over inevitable growth, rebuilding trust in town leadership, MI-Connection financial albatross, uncontrolled growth of our neighboring towns severely impacting our town (traffic is a big concern as is the potential environmental impact on the lakes). Traffic is terrible on Concord Road. Need to build turn lanes. Growth is going to happen. The town tax base needs to grow to continue to support the things I love so much. But, we don't want to become Huntersville, either. We must get comfortable with some change - particularly in support of diversity and affordable housing - but also work to protect our community feel. Getting rid of miconnection. Making sure when the TOD contracts work on developing that the TOD has more oversight to make sure thing happen as on the plans. Ex. When the plans say 10 feet wide rip rap, it's not 15 feet wide. That heavy equipment operators don't just decide to take down old growth trees on their own. Holding developers to our principles for affordable housing. Develop new neighborhoods with out clear cutting trees. Growth and gentrification. Housing prices are astronomical and that is changing the character of the town. too many houses; need more trees or help the wildlife and finances Too many self important groups forcing their philosophies on the general populous (Save Davidson is a perfect example) treating each other with respect, realizing that you can't please everyone, you can't poll 13,000 people every time you need to make a decision, need to listen to various voices in town not just a few loud mouths that say the same thing over and over again and only complain Growth from Charlotte and Mecklenburg County in general. Managed growth as opposed to no growth. TRANSPORTATION!! North Mecklenburg needs to wake up. Development is coming and new people and their traffic comes with it. It cannot be avoided but must be managed. That will cost money. Affluence. Lack of diversity. Segregation in charter schools and private schools. Challenges: Quality of life for tax dollars spent... is it worth it? Pressures to grow and conform. Infrastructure (inside town and getting to Davidson from Charlotte) and schools. Opportunities: To make (or preserve) a small town that is different from nearby towns. The lack of diversity. TRAFFIC, schools, erosion, polluting creeks with run off from scalping the green areas to build house close together, loss of any trees left behind because wind barriers have been compromised by plowing down natural areas. Overgrowth and overpopulation. While we can't prohibit land owners from whom they can sell their property, the massive growth of affordable neighborhoods is a tremendous concern. They are a tremendous threat to Davidson in terms of overcrowding and changing the basic fiber of the community. Distrustful politicians, unscrupulous developers and outsiders who are jealous of the pride we share in our wonderful community.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 32 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
I believe the major challenge ahead of us is deciding who we want to be and who we want to welcome. Do we want diversity? Then how are we taking steps now to allow for families that make less than the county median income? Or even our specific median income? And how are we integrating the diversity in the town rather than a low income pocket? I also believe another challenge is a matter of priorities. Do we give priority to the car or the pedestrian? While I do not think it is an either/or scenario, I do believe that primary design will matter. Loss of pedestrian focus where access comes at a cost affordable to only super rich. Development of ubiquitous and uniform subdivisions and services. Because of its beauty (and the price of land) people are selling off huge chunks of land and they are being overly developed. Soon we will have to expand or build new roads, put in lights etc... It will be the end of what makes our community unique. Keeping the quaintness as the area surrounding Davidson continues to grow at alarming rates! Keeping the ideals and charm of Davidson as it currently is while balancing need to grow prudently. A big challenge will be balancing growth of Davidson with lack of two lane roads. Traffic could become a big issue. The need for some officials to want companies and or buildings to bring more financial opportunities but overlooking the impact it will have to the schools and natural land areas that were meant for parks and or other neighborhood related things. Over development. big developers and companies coming in and constructing big apartment complexes are negative challenges coming to davidson. The biggest challenge, as I see it, is to convince newcomers that we don't want to be just another suburb, another hub to a large city. It's not too late to retain the quality of life enjoyed by the town in previous decades, but there are many people who are straining to create a pulsing metropolitan ambience, when that has never been what has made Davidson a special place. The primary challenges tie to our success in creating an attractive and sought after community. We seem more and more like an exclusive, white enclave, and I fear that we are going to lose diversity and that the West Side will gentrify so much that it becomes unrecognizable. I also think that we're threatened by a negative public discourse that feeds upon anger and resentment. I think this relates to our national environment generally, but people aren't as willing to give others the benefit of the doubt, and belittling comments become commonplace in our public discourse. We need to find middle of the road solutions that support what has made Davidson such a wonderful place to live while continuing to enable a diverse community to move into and stay in Davidson Challenge: saving open space in town itself so that people can experience nature without having to get in their cars. Opportunities: Create pocket parks. Also support DLC so it can help people place their land in conservation easements. Challenge: affordable housing. Opportunity: Subsidize cost of renting apartment or purchasing home, especially for public servants (firemen, police, teachers).Challenge: Traffic. Opportunity: Support a N-S road to relieve traffic pressure on Main Street and Griffith Street. Growth and traffic. Obliteration of diversity through gentrification. Development, traffic and parking in the downtown area. Growth, Affordable Housing, Historic Preservaion and Land Use
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 33 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Racism, NIMB and anti-development forces that reduce diversity and only allow big expensive homes to be built in the town, and less expensive homes far out in the farm lands, which are expensive in terms of supporting infrastructure and use up far more land than in town developments. Please build round-abouts at Beatty/115 and at Beatty/Griffith. They will help immensely with traffic flow. Also, I totally support the Beatty/Potts extension to ease traffic on Main Street.
Inadequate infrastructure Residential developers building on every inch of available land Inadequate commercial tax base, although we have much empty commercial space Massive debt from mi-connection Traffic, safety, schools, public facilities & parks neef Too much development. I have been very upset at what has happened to the greenway at the end of Kimberly Lane. And the new development around Robert Walker Drive is an eyesore. Too fast of growth Davidson is already falling under its own weight. There is far too much development of homes. Our roads can't handle the additional cars I-77 is a mess and our only public transportation out of Davidson is limited to 9 to 5 commuters, no weekend service. Trees, our beloved trees, are being cut down for every housing project both big and small. And speaking of small, are there any developers in Davidson who know the meaning of the word? Every new house in town is enormous. It's as if we are single handedly bucking the national trend of building homes with smaller footprints. Money, money, money. People seem to have a lot of it and they are flocking to Davidson. And that will be the end of our sweet, little town. Transportation is the most important challenge over not just the next 20 years but right now. We have choked ourselves out by not thinking far enough ahead years ago to provide for the growth we've experienced. Our connectivity that has been enforced in our ordinance allows for some relief but finding a way around Davidson has to be addressed. Growth is a concern. Fortunately there really is only one parcel that could change the dynamic of our town if it were to ever develop and that is Barger Farm. With the requirements and zoning we have in place today, there are really no more opporutinites for 300+ home subdivisions in town and that's a good thing. We wil grow, but now be truly can scrutinize every project and make sure that our town gets everything from the developer we want while helping that developer to deliver a product that is superior to what most are accustomed to, this is not a price thing but a total package thing that delivers things way beyond rooftops such as amenities, open space and that continued œfeel• of hometown. growing at a reasonable pace. increasing the tax base with more commercial properties. getting out of Continuum as soon as possible, even if we take a loss. traffic is a major challenge. Traffic is going to be a huge issue as land becomes developed, especially because single family 1/2 acre lots are not what people will want in generations to come Traffic that will be coming off of I-77 because of accidents (and traffic in general), waste system connectivity, and community connectivity to have access to town without the use of motor vehicles
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 34 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Davidson has several very vocal groups which all say they are looking out for what is best for Davidson. The challenge will be some of the changes which may be best for Davidson, may not meet everyone's idea of what Davidson should be. There are no easy answers. We need to find a way to have open and honest discussions so we can work together to keep Davidson the special place to live that it is. We need to be able to plan for short term and long term growth, understand that what worked 20, 30 or even 40 years ago, may not work for the next generation of residents. Find ways to effectively increase our tax base without destroying all of our green space, etc. Biggest challenges: 1) Minimizing gentrification, 2) keep growing traffic volume moving, without 4 lane highways between I77 and Route 73. Opportunity: The enthusiasm and involvement of many in the community will give the support for the new Comprehensive Plan and other community projects. Over developing and political oppression are my main concerns. œSave Davidson œ was organized, developed and still exists because of a studied lack of oversight and common sense. I don't need a box store or fast food garbage depot. They are close enough now! traffic. out of control growth the need for affordable housing, overwhelming growth, diverse population, need for public art like Carrborro, NC Rapid growth and infrastructure not keeping pace. Traffic issues, too much development, not enough connectivity with Charlotte We will continue to experience development pressure as more people want to experience this wonderful community. The challenge will be to continue to maintain a sense of place in Davidson even as it grows. My greatest concern is that new residents, including newly elected officials, do not understand how the town came to be such a great community. And as a result, they turn away from the policies principles that have so effectly guided us to be the town we all love. Land Conservation and use. Diversity. Davidson is not very diverse although it tries to be. I also believe that it will be challenging to keep Davidson small as well with new families moving in and new ideas coming with them. Keeping Davidson œsmall town•. Transportation for citizens who need a way to get around. Keeping growth in check. real estate growth. Growth. Is both challenge and opportunity The town is cutting down too many trees! In 10-20 years we might have any to climb! Infrastructure not keeping up. Rising home prices will only attract the wealthy. Balancing development and the preservation of natural areas. Would love to see more nature preserves and greenways but also greater shopping opportunities. A Trader Joes. To see the light rail extend into Davidson. GROWTH of housing and population that cannot be accommodated by a small town and a reasonable Town budget. Aggressive and uncontrolled development - especially with designs and structures of questionable quality and aesthetics that can forever change the persona of the Town. transportation, infrastructure development and maintenance, balance of tax load between residential and commercial, maintaining high quality educational programs for elementary and secondary students
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 35 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Improving trail connections for hikers, bikers, thinking small- meaning: resisting the temptation to do large-scale projects Using foresight and not letting growth go to the Iredell border. Why do we allow builders to bulldoze everything? We may as well throw a grenade at it and call it a day. Keeping the charm that Davidson has as a great place to live and raise a family. Growth. People who like the small town feel, but want an upscale suburban and protected existence rather than a real community. Resisting the the urge to grow (new construction/development) beyond what makes the town unique - the small town feel, intimate sense of community, reasonable traffic, etc. Growth. Understanding who we are and how we hot here. It's not practical to pull up the drawbridge and stop growth, so we need to make sure growth is representative of Davidson values. I think the feeling of an œus against them• mentality is damaging. Living in a town that is largely segregated is a challenge and when the opportunity arises to build different types of housing that lends itself to potential diversity, people don't want it. Maybe over planning, surveying, debating, etc. I would like to see us move forward on any of the big projects, i.e. the Beaty Park, connector, new town hall, etc. Traffic, lack of parking in the Downtown area, pressure of development and lack of parks and recreation areas, the need for more retail shopping. Maintaining the infrastructure to match development. Encourage new developments to use Continuum services. Traffic, Traffic, Traffic- Provide better public transportation. Continue to work on development of the rail line into Charlotte. Growth, growth and more growth! The desirability of the town means that more and more housing is being put up and it is encroaching on our green space and on our infrastructure. Our roads cannot support the growing number of cars. We need a bypass for when 77 backs up and people come through town in bumper to bumper traffic on main street. I also wish that the town would work more closely with the college - allowing the college to put up signs on the street welcoming new students and announcing Homecoming and Reunion. For me, the traffic getting to and from Davidson is difficult. Traffic around Main Street Keeping small town rural feel. Rerouting extra traffic growth through surrounding communities whose principles differ from Davidson. Requiring new development to preserve open space and properly screen the impact of unwanted non residential development. Providing safety resources to East side of Davidson...perhaps staff Fire Station 2 with Police Officers as well. The two biggest challenges facing Davidson are preserving the culture and community during rapid growth of residents and the education system to continue to make it a draw for young families. While the education is not unique to Davidson but is an issue for much of North Mecklenburg, specifically Huntersville, Cornelius and Davidson; the lotteries at Charter schools and high costs of private schools make it difficult to choose anything other than Davidson Elementary which is challenges with a large student population putting stress on staff and administration to maintain a good quality education for the students. It will be important for Davidson and nearby towns to at least explore a separate school district to improve the education provided to our youth over the
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 36 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ? next 5-10 years.
Too much growth without infrastructure to handle it. Loss of diversity of housing is too costly. Nearly complete lack of visible diversity. Entire populations are marginalized and/or kept invisible. That needs to change. 1 - Schools. Our future leaders are receiving a poor and overcrowded education through the public schools. We'll continue to strain this system with planned growth and we need to put local resources and attention to them. 2 - Transportation - A vibrant suburban town needs good public transportation to be closely connected to its urban center. If we want the benefits of Charlotte association, we need to invest in transportation. Growth and keeping the sense of connection to the community. Developers need to adjust to Davidson and not vice versa. How do you keep the small town sensibility when the town is no longer small? Growth- keeping our schools strong and not overcrowded and infrastructure issues Balancing property-owner rights with a desire to ensure we don't over-develop, over-build like what we have seen around us on all sides. Our transportation concerns are regional, and with the explosive growth around us - we will continue to feel the impacts on our streets and in our neighborhoods. not a place for low income people Managing growth Managing growth and maintaining the lure of Davidson Vehicle, bike and pedestrian interactions downtown and bike and vehicle interactions on the outskirts of town. Difficult to see pedestrians crossing the street at night, most do not use orange flags at cross-walks. Please add right turn lane at Davidson-Concord Road and Hwy 73. Redesign June Washam, hwy 73 and Davidson-Concord. Traffic and parking we need to get these two things sorted out and fixed. We also need to determine how to create a more diverse town without changing the overall quality and value of the current residence. Traffic! Too much building of new homes takes away from the character of a small town TRAFFIC A planning board forcing diversity. Please study this carefully to see how this has affected othrr communities. It sounds theoretically utopian but is this founded on empirical evidence it can happen. I don't think you can sustain diversity because it will transition to diversity then meet a tipping point where it transitions to adversity. Extricating from MI-Connection financial obligations. Preserving open space including tree canopy. Managing automobile traffic, especially Main Street, as Mooresville develops land just north of Davidson. Maintain quality public schools for residents as CMS increasingly faces challenges. Consider buying development rights from farmers in exchange for continued agricultural land use. Adapt mobility planning to a world of œautomobile as a service• and to a less centralized, more distributed commuting model. Increasing knowledge worker employment in Davidson to enable reduced commuting distance.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 37 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
The lake - safety and health due to environmental factors. With cancer lusters to our north and south, we should be very concerned. Traffic/growth are another concern. Affordable housing and holding off over-development Biggest opportunity is to create another downtown area that rivals Main Street and offers a similar community feel and walkabilty to citizens in the extended pet of East Davidson (River Run, soccer field area, West Branch neighborhoods). Capture the folks in East Davidson who go to Huntersville by providing more options for commercial activity in Davidson. Biggest challenge is to communicate the value of that development to the people who do not want more commercial growth in our green space. Also huge challenge to maintain a pleaseig green space mixed in with the commercial development. Davidson's increase in traffic is already a challenge, and it will become worse in the near future with our growing community. For example, an opportunity to alleviate traffic would be putting a paved right turn lane at the light where Davidson-Concord Rd. meets Rte 73. There is a dirt lane there now, but police officers have ticketed drivers if they use it, which is ridiculous since using this lane is not only safe, but essential for alleviating traffic there. There are also areas where traffic lights are needed due to the increase in the population driving and walking. Affordable housing, making room for new nonprofit entities Economic and cultural diversity. Transportation. Local employment so people can continue to both live and work in Davidson. Lack of housing, congestion. Keeping the small town charm. managing traffic big problem Growth. Transportation options are limited to overcrowding and too many cars. Could result in losing today's bike safety. The biggest challenge is M/I Connection / Continuum and how to unwind / unburden ourselves from this decision, debt and the macro pivot away from cable TV. Ongoing housing affordability is a big challenge as well. Biggest opportunity? There's still a lot of undeveloped property in town. Continued discipline and smart development represents a big opportunity (and challenge). Traffic Space for new small business
Need to re-route some of Main Street traffic, connector planned using Beatty should help. Controlling growth without limiting access to this wonderful place. Urban sprawl and irresponsible development outside of our town limits will put pressure on our leaders to make design choices that could alter the character of the town. Changes outside of our purview can easily add traffic, crime, and other distractions that will impact us with no way to stop them. It'll be tempting to sell out our precious resources for short term gains then, since the character will have slid into something less desirable. Auto oriented low density development in the rural area without a coherent street network. Increasing our tax base. Providing more density around the downtown to support business growth. Getting a true rapid transit system to Charlotte.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 38 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Traffic. Managing growth correctly Alternative transportation options Infustructure improvements- roads Affordable housing is being mismanaged and is misguided Maintaining community feel Need to think about the population growing in the area and that affecting the traffic on roads. Mangling growth is always a prime concern. Being proactive is important. Making sure schools, police, fire department is able to handle growth in population. I think the growth we are experiencing without the transportation and shopping integration is hurting us. I would like to freeze new development of villages until this can be solved. I would like to see existing villages integrated better to the main township. keeping the above to keep the small town atmosphere; keep the trucks out, look into bypass. keep parking by the church, particularly handicapped development in the ETJ Meeting community needs with affordable taxation and allowing controlled commercial development...a great case study was CVS and the establishment of its regional HQ above its Davidson store. I think the mean family income has been rising quickly. If it continues to do so, I'm concerned that it'll push out the lower income families. I think we have an opportunity for the community to unify the families in this supportive town. R77 traffic Growth while maintaining green space, adequate school space, traffic flow that does not disrupt existing neighborhoods. Influx of individuals who are not in favor of the principles as currently layer out. Sprawl! convincing folks that we need to have a means to generate revenue and promote growth Keeping the small town feel of Davidson with Charlotte growing so much. I think an interesting idea would be to make the area right off of exit 30 the business/non-Davidson like area (including some chain restaurants, apartments, office buildings, etc.) but making sure once you pass Harris Teeter that it keeps the feeling of Davidson and not allowing big companies to make it past this œboundary.• As the college has major plans, especially in athletics, to grow, I think it is important that the town continue to grow. However, the growth must be well thought out, as the small town feel is a crucial part of what makes Davidson the town that it is. Managing growth is a challenge. I personally don't want Davidson to get too crowded because it messes up the small town/community feel. i love Davidson the way it is now.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 39 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
Population growth in the Charlotte region will continue to be both a major challenge and opportunity for the town. Even if the Town of Davidson chooses to limit growth, we cannot avoid the impacts of a growing region. Traffic will continue to build and housing prices will continue to rise. A growing town presents an opportunity in that we can ask developers to pay for infrastructure on site as they develop, including street and greenway connectivity, sidewalks, affordable housing, etc. In a growing town and region, we can choose how we grow into the future. to keep development in check and not become a series of parking lots. Would like to see more use of trolley to alleviate congestion downtown growth Too many people! And way too much traffic on a daily basis. We're at a very nice size right now, so population growth and traffic will be complicated over the next 10-20 years. I think it would be very helpful to make Davidson more attractive to people who are between college and having their first children, which means more jobs and entertainment options for young adults. Housing is also getting very expensive and I'm not sure what can be done about that. Population Diversity: Making sure that people from different walks of life can afford to live in Davidson. That community and safety is exclusive Traffic in Town on 115 Housing for low income families Traffic DK Maintaining development without sacrificing greenspace; continuing to promote community- centered activites and functions; dealing with traffic issues(hopefully, I-77 will be done in the next 20 years, so there won't be the constant re-routing of through traffic into the town). Is there really a need to continually 'grow' the town, or is maintaining what we have, with allowable upgrading where needed, enough? It's important to keep in mind the things that make Davidson what it is, and work to maintain that. There is no shame in building smaller housing on smaller parcels of land; closer proximity promotes good neighbours, and reduces extended car travel, when store, etc., are within walking or biking distance. What about electric-powered minivans, or some other minimally invasive transport system, to transport the elderly and handicapped to the store and such within Davidson? Or possibly a rebaate of some type for residents to purchase bicycles or tricycles with battery booster systems to assist in moving around town? Efforts need to be made to control speeding on our streets. Drivers who ignore speed limits and crosswalks discourage residents from walking or biking.
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 40 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ?
The opportunities facing Davidson are endless, including to establish and practice a high level of best practices/sophistication in ideation and management thru joint efforts of Town Hall and citizens that allows the Town to set a highest standard in area for "Group IQ" and being innovative in how it maintains and embellishes its core values/traits while mitigating most effectively its challenges from both within and beyond its jurisdiction. The Town must be much more proactive in engaging effectively with its municipal neighbors on various key regional matters and move beyond the "Davidson bubble" perception many outside Davidson have, because otherwise it simply lacks the depth/size to absorb or resolve challenges alone.Ordinances and development in recent years have often strayed on projects to various degrees, both in Village/Westside and large track communities in East, from the traits that most citizens prioritize as making Davidson unique/special and why they moved here. And in many cases, ordinance amendments/additions have largely been inconsistent in both adherence to public input/consensus of prior Town studies/plans, definitions and implementation. Consistent Process and Protocol has been a repetitive problem in Davidson Town Hall in recent years.The Town needs to both be more sophisticated concurrently in its level/depth of detail AND macro evaluation of matters more "holistically" - i.e., the forest AND the trees. TIAs and related process for new density development projects are a great example - they tend to look myopically at the individual project/impact itself, but not effectively capture the mean impact of multiple similar projects in a small area within jurisdiction, or even direct impacts that technically are beyond TOD jurisdiction. The methodology formulas implemented/applied seem often arbitrary, dubious or simply lack pragmatic real world correlation. Balancing budgets and public resource needs with tax impacts will remain a significant challenge in Davidson, despite or in some cases perhaps in part because of its relatively small size.Transportation - the roadways in Davidson are essentially same as they have been for past 50- 100 years, and today particularly in the Westside/Downtown area, now those same legacy 2-lane, 25mph roads are continuously strained accommodating "transient" (Ie, people who don't live/work in Davidson) traffic from surrounding areas of even higher population density/growth. This places an extraordinary burden on quality of life for residents whose mobility even locally is then often restricted due to traffic/density that has nothing to do with Davidson, and worse provides limited to no mean impact of positive value to the town, but rather simply more roadway wear/tear, pollution, etc. And the same legacy roadway infrastructure exists thru-out East Davidson, where a vast majority of the major new development will be focused in next 10-20 years due to Westside/Village area land being nearly exhausted and then limited primarily to spot infill redevelopment. The Town and other municipalities/organizations have repeatedly "studied" transportation issues over past 20+ years - often the same topics/notions repeatedly, yet failed to accomplish significant progress or results. Development/density/related manifestations North and East of TOD jurisdiction. There are over 3,000 acres of largely undeveloped land lying immediately to the North/East of Davidson within the Mooresville/ETJ area, land which legally Davidson has ZERO purview or control over - yet will inevitably create widespread and significant impacts directly upon Davidson and its residents. What is the Town doing to proactively review, monitor and control such impacts? Connectivity - the Town touts mobility, connectivity, etc., yet the reality is that "connectivity" for non-vehicular even thru-out Westside/Village area with the best "walkability" of entire Town is average to poor in many areas and virtually non-existent in Eastern part of Town. Davidson lacks effective connectivity that many other comparable small to mid-cap towns feature, and that is due to poor prior vision/leadership, dubious planning/development ordinances, and arguably most
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 41 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ? notably budgetary limitations due to uneven tax base matrix AND extraordinary financial losses due to Mi-Connection over past decade. For example, as I noted in the P&R related discussion recently with the consultants for this Comp Plan, we can discuss the wants/needs all we want as a community for mitigating inadequate connectivity for sidewalks/greenways... but where is the $20- 50M+ in budget required to build out those additional sidewalks, greenways, etc. going to come from? A concept plan without actionable resources to realize will simply remain an idea collecting dust on a shelf, as has happened with so many other prior studies/plans the Town has undertaken in past to date. The Town is fiscally stable but organically challenged budget-wise due to legacy Mi- Connection debt liabilities and lack of more dynamic business/economic development thru-out TOD jurisdiction. This is particularly an issue/problem in East Davidson, where there is virtually NO commercial or mixed-use development or amenities whatsoever! And in future, once the inventory of readily available land parcels in East Davidson are developed (because most are at/near the acquisition and target stage already), due to its very small size and bordering municipalities, effectively Davidson will then have NO further capacity to grow/expand/alter its complexion, tax base, etc... Lack of socio-economic diversity in Davidson east of Main Street/RR tracks. Unfortunately this is a legacy problem in the Town/College's history, but practically speaking today there is little change - virtually all of the Town's diversity in terms of race, income, housing, etc. remains concentrated in the Village/Westside area and is virtually non-existent once you pass thru the College East of Main/RR tracks, with a handful of isolated AH projects representing many of the exceptions. This was all affirmed independently by the 2017 UNCC study. The Town and its leadership have largely failed to capture/ideate how to integrate various development elements of what has helped organically create such diversity in the Village/Westside area into rest of Town jurisdiction, hence why virtually all of the new development in East is comprised of single family, upper income subdivision housing with little diversity in socio-economic factors, housing and commercial/mixed use. Even in pocket areas like South/Walnut/Woodland today, there is no diversity despite significant infill redevelopment there in recent years. Public Schools. Despite the new pending K-8 expansion at DES (and there are obviously pros/cons to that format), the current system between Davidson and CMS is inadequate to service and properly plan/accommodate future growth in the Town and area. The middle and high schools (Bailey and Hough) are only approx. a decade old, yet already at/above intended capacity. CMS works on 10+ year cycles for bond funding, planning and then construction, none of which is currently set in North Meck area for next 10+ years. Thus any significant new development in Davidson is going to simply exceed the existing public school system capacity, and that doesn't even factor that Bailey/Hough pull from other even more populous areas including Cornelius and Huntersville that will further strain existing public school resources in area. This in turn forces more pressure and student volume into charter or private schools options in area, which reciprocally then exacerbates the socio-economic divide and lack of diversity in Davidson further. There is already an issue in Davidson where a significantly high % of household (above the median) have the financial mobility/resources to simply opt out of public school at will and place their children in private institutions that average $20-25k+/annually per student. Lack of plan/budget to capture public open space and P&R land and related infrastructure/resources. The ONLY major open space land conservation/preservation that has occurred in Davidson in past decade such as Abersham or Fisher Farm has been significantly or entirely funded by 3rd parties such as Meck County - in fact, the last time the Town of Davidson autonomously targeted/purchased any land specifically for open space/preservation purposes...
Exploring Our Planning Principles | Public Engagement Report 42 of 153 APPENDIX 3: EXPLORATION SURVEY PUBLIC COMMENTS What are the challenges/opportunities facing Davidson ? was 30+ years ago when it solicited the Clontz family for what is now the Beaty Street park property - and the Town did everything it could to sell/develop that entire property just 2 years ago, only failing thanks to public/citizen protest! Otherwise, ALL other more recent open space/P&R land has derived from one source - development! Arguably the Rural Area Plan was an alternative strategy implemented to shift some burden for that deficiency upon those land owners in East Davidson to also attempt to help mitigate such concerns. This is another flawed ideology - i.e., the notion that in order to capture/preserve open space, one must first develop significantly in scope/density. That is NOT how other forward- thinking progressive small/mid cap towns preserve/conserve land. In fact, to that point, nearly EVERY major topic discussed above that is relevant to a Comp Plan (diversity/housing, connectivity, transportation, open space/P&R, etc.) under prior regime has been DIRECTLY predicated on an ideology that in order to secure/fund such amenities/resources, they are derived directly from ordinance requirements from new density DEVELOPMENT. Want open space or land for a park? Build a large tract development like Westbranch, which is where Plum Creek Park was derived from. Want more sidewalks built, even amongst existing development? Build new development. Want more diversity in affordable/mixed housing? Build new development. But unfortunately, even setting aside the semantic debates about such an ideology, the fact is that the Town neglected such factors to varying degrees and now has fallen behind in many respects even amongst the existing/prior development in Town. Thus this ideology establishes a fallacy - rather than even maintain/advance on such issues to keep pace as further new growth/development pressures penetrate and surround Davidson and risk it's character/traits, the ideology to date is essentially largely still trying to "make up" for those prior/existing shortcomings by fostering/adding even MORE such development/density - which is obviously a perpetual negative cycle that logically can never achieve the desired outcome - balancing amenities/infrastructure IN-STEP with development... ** Ultimately, a successful Comp Plan must equitably capture/balance the subjective concepts, core values and vision of the community AND the objective practical/functional plans necessary to actually realize/accomplish those by accountable metrics - AND the Comp Plan must further be implemented thru follow-on SAP (small area plans) because legally per ordinances, no zoning/ordinance changes that actually dictate specific land uses can be effected without an approved small area plan in greater detail than a Comp Plan.
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