Controversial Rural Area Plan wins award from Congress for the New Urbanism

This past week, the Town of Davidson Planning Department won an award for something that was highly controversial with the public when it was implemented.  That would be the Rural Area Plan passed by the former Board in the Spring of 2017.

Readers will remember the swirl around implementation of the RAP.  The implementation of that plan involved a mass rezoning of large swaths of land from Rural to other development designations.  That rezoning drew packed meetings with the vast majority of citizens opposing the rezoning until development plans were presented.  Over 700 online petition signatures were collected opposing the move before it was passed by the previous Board.

However, the plan was not without its supporters.  Some of the largest landowners who stood to benefit from the rezoning did speak in favor of it.

The plan also gained supporters in the New Urbanism planning community.  On Friday, the Congress for the New Urbanism bestowed its 2018 Charter Award on the RAP.  In a press release from the Town, the award, which is coveted in planning circles, was described as recognizing:

"exemplary projects by local government, developers, architects, urban designers, and others engaged in revitalizing and creating coherent cities, neighborhoods, and metropolitan regions. Winners are chosen because they not only embody and advance the principles of the Charter of the New Urbanism , but also because they make a difference in people's lives."

It should come as no surprise that Davidson Planning Department efforts are looked upon favorably by those in the New Urbanism community.  New Urbanism is the design philsophy that drives planning decisions in town.  A search of the Congress for the New Urbanism membership list shows local membership representing the Town Planning department and consulting firms used by the Town in its planning efforts.

The often cited CVS on Main Street would be a good example of New Urbanist design.  However, so would the controversial Catalyst Project, the Luminous Project pushed as part of the Beaty Street RFP, the Griffith Street Hotel, and the focus on high density multi-family development - as well as the RAP.

So, while winning awards may be nice for the recipients, another way to look at this one is the Town Planning Department just received an award for promoting an ideology that has been very divisive for the community over the past few years.

That should give Town Hall pause before patting itself on the back.