Hickory by Choice 2030 Comprehensive Plan City of Hickory, North Carolina Hickory by Choice 2030 Comprehensive Plan City of Hickory, North Carolina Prepared by: Studio Cascade, Inc. 117 W. Pacific, Suite 200 Spokane, WA 99201 and The City of Hickory Acknowledgements Mayor and City Council Members Mack McLeod, Parks and Recreation Mayor Rudy Wright Mandy Pitts, Communications Brad Lail Mary Sizemore, Library Bruce Meisner Danny Seaver Hickory Regional Planning Hank Guess Commission Sally Fox Robert Allen Jill Patton Chip Blackwelder Hickory by Choice 2030 Advisory Barbara Clemons John Eldridge Committee Junior Hedrick L.D Austin Sam Hunt Charles Dixon Wallace Johnson Gene Glaze Bill McBrayer Peter Kendall Randall Mays Lynn Loehr Jim Noggle David Moore Jim Rogers Clay Neil Don Norwood Planning and Development Staff Dean Proctor Brian Frazier, Director Ernie Sills Cal Overby, Principal Planner Rev. T. Anthony Spearman Todd Hefner, Economic and Michael Talbert Community Development Manager Terry Taylor David Leonetti, Senior Planner Andy Wells Gene Frye, Development Assistance Anne Williams Center Manager Jason Yates Jerry Sherwood, Zoning Enforcement Officer City of Hickory Department Heads Clara Coulbourne, Planning Mick Berry, City Manager Technician Andrea Surratt, Assistant City Teresa Hamby, Planning Technician Manager Heidi Hedrick, Administrative Warren Wood, Assistant City Assistant Manager Tom Adkins, Police Western Piedmont Council of Tom Alexander, Fire Governments Mike Bennett, Administrative John Tippett, Director of Planning, Services Community Development, and Data Terry Clark, Airport Services Arnita Dula, Legal John Marshall, Planning Director Chuck Hansen, Public Services Taylor Dellinger, Data Analyst Brian Frazier, Planning and Daniel Ezell, GIS Analyst Development Contents Introduction Purpose ...........................................................................................................................................................................1•1 Topics Covered.........................................................................................................................................................1•1 Enabling Legislation...................................................................................................................................................1•2 Hickory’s Historical Context .............................................................................................................................1•2 Study Area ....................................................................................................................................................................1•3 Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) ......................................................................................................................1•3 Recent Planning Efforts .........................................................................................................................................1•4 Public Participation Program...............................................................................................................................1•5 Workshops ...................................................................................................................................................................1•6 Using this document ...............................................................................................................................................1•7 Vision & Community Design Conditions and Issues.............................................................................................................................................2•1 Planning Vision ..........................................................................................................................................................2•3 Design directives.......................................................................................................................................................2•8 Community Design Goals ...................................................................................................................................2•9 Land Use Issues & Conditions..................................................................................................................................................3•1 Plan Concept...............................................................................................................................................................3•3 Land Use Goals..........................................................................................................................................................3•6 Future Land Use.........................................................................................................................................................3•7 Land Use Map ............................................................................................................................................................3•13 Housing Conditions......................................................................................................................................................................4•1 Needs...............................................................................................................................................................................4•6 Plan Concept...............................................................................................................................................................4•6 Housing Goals.............................................................................................................................................................4•7 Transportation Introduction...................................................................................................................................................................5•1 Existing Conditions....................................................................................................................................................5•1 Issues and Needs.......................................................................................................................................................5•10 Plan Concept...............................................................................................................................................................5•11 Transportation Goals..............................................................................................................................................5•13 Economic Development Introduction...................................................................................................................................................................6•1 Existing Conditions....................................................................................................................................................6•1 Economic Successes...............................................................................................................................................6•7 Need.................................................................................................................................................................................6•7 Economic Development Programs................................................................................................................6•8 Plan Concept...............................................................................................................................................................6•10 Economic Development Goals........................................................................................................................6•11 Public Facilities Introduction...................................................................................................................................................................7•1 Existing Conditions....................................................................................................................................................7•1 Plan Concept...............................................................................................................................................................7•8 Public Facilities Goals ..............................................................................................................................................7•9 Environment Existing Conditions....................................................................................................................................................8•1 Plan Concept .............................................................................................................................................................8•5 Environmental Goals ...............................................................................................................................................8•8 Recreation & Parks Introduction...................................................................................................................................................................9•1 Existing Conditions....................................................................................................................................................9•1 Needs...............................................................................................................................................................................9•2