While there are no immediate plans to redevelop the Lakewood Shopping Center on Durham’s Chapel Hill Road, the city is pushing to get the community’s vision for the property on paper before developers come calling.
During a June community meeting, senior planner Sarah Long outlined the city’s strategy for the Lakewood, West End and Lyon Park Small Area Plan, a nonbinding tool that will help guide the area’s growth to meet residents’ needs.
Last year, the Durham City Council approved a similar tool, the Walltown Small Area Plan, that called for affordable housing, green space, and a grocery store in redevelopment plans for Northgate Mall.
What is a small area plan?
A small area plan is designed to identify the different needs and priorities of a specific area through community engagement.
The plans exist alongside the city’s Comprehensive Plan, which acts as a big-picture roadmap for all of Durham. Small area plans address specific land use issues and can help residents when discussing neighborhood changes with developers and city leaders…