Walkability, historic preservation, and mature shade trees
To the editor:
As a historic preservationist, landscape architect, and a Steering Committee member for the Town of Wake Forest’s Community Plan several years ago, I agree that walkable communities are necessary for a variety of reasons; however, walkability should not come at the expense of our historic streetscapes and neighborhoods.
The Community Plan is full of references for the identification and preservation of historic buildings, development patterns, streetscapes, and trees, as well as retaining water on-site, and burying utilities (policies ON-4, ON-5, S-15, S-20, ST-4, ST-5, UPW-4, CC-4, CC-5, HSE-4, HSE-5, HSE-7, ACH-5, ACH-6, ACH-7, and LCI-3). It is the accumulation of these features that make our older and historic neighborhoods so desirable and an asset to the Town of Wake Forest. The Community Plan directs developers to create a streetscape (streets of appropriate size with shade trees planted within and adjacent to the right-of-way) when designing and building new communities.
The plan recognizes mature shade trees that shade front porches as a character defining feature to be repeated throughout the town to encourage walkable neighborhoods. Where existing, these historic features should not be extinguished or even diminished to add sidewalks as that is not the purpose of the community plan. It is counter intuitive to alter and destroy the defining character of an older historic neighborhood and road that actually meets current policy to increase its width by more than two-fold strictly to meet another goal (sidewalks) of the Community Plan.
In addition, removing swales that capture road runoff and permit water to slowly percolate back into the ground instead of collecting and shipping the water for off-site disposal does not meet the intent of the Community Plan. Nor does excavating utility work well within the root zone of trees instead of boring utilities to ensure the viability of those trees.
The Town of Wake Forest has always been at the forefront in seeking to improve the quality of life for its residents. This is evidenced in the creation of the Wake Forest Community Plan, the Wake Forest Historic Preservation Plan, listings of properties and districts in the National Register of Historic Places, and designation of the town as a Tree City, USA.
No one person or collaboration of people can develop an ordinance or plan that takes into account every scenario. It is the responsibility of all parties (developers and owners, town staff, and residents) to ensure that the best solution arises from every proposed development project. Some decisions will be easy and some will be difficult, but we must work together to preserve our historic resources and allow for future growth and walkable neighborhoods.
Walkable neighborhoods are more than curb-and-gutter and sidewalks. Walkable streets may include narrowing of street width and permitting parking on the shoulder(s) to provide security to pedestrians. These are commonly accepted practices already employed in Wake Forest as well as other communities. Why not implement them in our historic neighborhoods to preserve our historic streetscapes, and welcome new development?
Jeff Adolphsen, RLA
Wake Forest
One Response
Thank you for such a well-delivered plan. I heartily concur and am hopeful that those with ears to hear will be favorably responsive.