Commercial Development

The character of commercial areas forms the overall image of a community. Commercial areas function as focal points of activity and are often what visitors see first and most often. Higher quality, attractive commercial areas can foster greater economic development by drawing new businesses and customers. During public engagement, community members stressed the desire to improve the character of the Wake Forest’s commercial areas, avoiding “cookie cutter” development and strip malls that were monotonous in design. Instead, citizens aspired to see shopping areas that were memorable and unique to Wake Forest. The Town should consider the following to further improve the character, accessibility, and sense of place within its commercial areas:

Key Recommendations

| Enhance established commercial areas by incentivizing redevelopment and/or renovation of existing businesses over new greenfield commercial development. | Support small, local businesses over franchises within commercial centers to support unique shopping options within

Wake Forest. | Establish architectural design standards for commercial building facades that promote quality design while allowing for flexibility. | Promote multi-story structures within

Commercial Corridor and Neighborhood

Commercial areas at appropriate scales that offer residential or office above ground-floor commercial. | Encourage pedestrian-oriented shopping environments with sidewalks, attractive storefronts, and buildings facing each other to create a desirable sense of enclosure. | Encourage the incorporation of pedestrian/bicyclist/transit-oriented areas in large-scale shopping centers that provide outdoor seating areas, bicycle parking stations, and access to transit services. | Promote cross-access and pedestrian pathways between adjacent parking lots and leading to buildings to promote well-connected, cohesive shopping areas. | Encourage the consolidation of commercial driveways onto major streets to reduce traffic conflicts. | Require “360 degree architecture” (high quality architecture on all sides of the building as opposed to just the front-facing façade) of highly visible commercial uses, including well-designed or screened service areas. | Encourage businesses to replace existing, non-conforming signage with attractive signage that meets Town standards. | Promote outparcel development to improve the character along primary roadways and break up views of large parking lots. | Review and update the UDO, including the US 1 Special Highway Overlay (SH1-O) and Dr Calvin Jones Highway

Overlay (SH2-O) districts, to align with commercial development recommendations within this

Community Plan. | Support accessory commercial units (ACUs) that allow the ground floor of residential properties or an accessory structure facing the street to contain a commercial use beneficial to the surrounding neighborhood.

Promote Better Commercial Development