The New Bern Station Area Plan is taking a close look at how best to take advantage of our investment in bus rapid transit (BRT). The plan will look at what makes for great, lively, walkable places. It will also focus on ensuring that affordable housing options exist within walking distance of BRT stations. Click here for a map of planned stations.

This brief survey lists primary goals identified by the public, and then asks whether proposed actions will adequately address those goals. Click below to take the survey, and thanks!

Question title

A primary goal is to ensure housing options are available for households at all income levels and to address displacement of current residents. To achieve this goal, recommendations include:
• Creating a new funding source to expand funding to support low-income homeowners with repairs property taxes, and other homeownership costs.
• Creating new funding sources and using funds from existing sources to create affordable rental units for households at incomes ranging from below 80 percent to below 30 percent of the area median income.
• Prioritizing current and former residents for spaces in new affordable developments.
• Creating a height bonus for buildings that include housing units available to households making less than 60 percent of the area median income.
• Creating a center for information and assistance with housing needs on the corridor.

How well do these recommendations address the goal?

Very well
52%
Somewhat well
26%
Neutral
13%
Not well
7%
Very poorly
2%
Closed to responses | 94 Responses

Question title

A primary goal is to support existing businesses and potential entrepreneurs. To achieve this goal, recommendations include:
• Creating a New Bern small business assistance fund.
• Creating and supporting a "Black Main Street" of businesses roughly between Tarboro Street and Raleigh Boulevard.
• Acquiring the former DMV site for use for community-serving employment, new business support, affordable housing and more.
• Working with St. Augustine's University and other area institutions on economic development efforts.
• Creating a height bonus for new buildings that include employment-generating uses.
How well do those recommendations achieve that goal?

Very well
46%
Somewhat well
30%
Neutral
13%
Not well
8%
Very poorly
4%
Closed to responses | 79 Responses

Question title

A primary goal is to sustain and celebrate the history and culture of the area through art, history, and cultural projects. To achieve this goal, recommendations include:
• Creating public art that tells the history of Black neighborhoods and residents along the corridor.
• Creating a museum space, potentially within an existing community center or library, that serves as a repository of historic artifacts and tells the story of the corridor.
• Creating and maintaining wayfinding signs and markers that tell the story of the corridor.
See the attached image for specific concepts.
How well do these recommendations achieve the goal?

A primary goal is to sustain and celebrate the history and culture of the area through art history and cultural projects. To achieve this goal recommendations include: Creating public art that tells the history of Black neighborhoods and residents along the corridor. Creating a museum space potentially within an existing community center or library that serves as a repository of historic artifacts and tells the story of the corridor. Creating and maintaining wayfinding signs and markers that tell the story of the corridor. See the attached image for specific concepts. How well do these recommendations achieve the goal?
Very well
49%
Somewhat well
32%
Neutral
17%
Not well
3%
Very poorly
0%
Closed to responses | 72 Responses

Question title

A primary goal is to improve access to BRT stations and generally improve safety and comfort for pedestrians. To achieve this goal, recommendations include:
• Install sidewalks where significant gaps exist needed to connect to BRT stations.
• Improve pedestrian facilities at intersections.
• Expand the network of greenways and bicycle lanes.
• Calm traffic speeds.
• Create a pedestrian/bicycle connection across Beltline.
See the map for more detail.
How well do these recommendations achieve that goal?

A primary goal is to improve access to BRT stations and generally improve safety and comfort for pedestrians. To achieve this goal recommendations include: Install sidewalks where significant gaps exist needed to connect to BRT stations. Improve pedestrian facilities at intersections. Expand the network of greenways and bicycle lanes. Calm traffic speeds. Create a pedestrian/bicycle connection across Beltline. See the map for more detail. How well do these recommendations achieve that goal?
Very well
56%
Somewhat well
31%
Neutral
8%
Not well
3%
Very poorly
3%
Closed to responses | 78 Responses

Question title

A primary goal is to "grow around transit." This means allowing more people to live and work near BRT stations. This reduces carbon emissions and improves affordability and housing choice.
To achieve this goal, recommendations include:
• Change zoning allow additional building height for places to live and work.
• Change zoning to improve walkability be requiring a pedestrian-friendly building form, with wide sidewalks and parking behind the building.
How well do these recommendations meet the goal?

Very well
57%
Somewhat well
28%
Neutral
8%
Not well
4%
Very poorly
3%
Closed to responses | 75 Responses

Question title

To achieve the goals of growing around transit and improving affordability, a recommendation is to apply a new zoning type called the TOD overlay. That would allow additional height beyond three stories if a building includes employment-generating uses or, for residential buildings, units that are affordable to households that make 60 percent or less of area median income. This zone would also prohibit new drive-thrus and other new auto-oriented buildings.
See the map for where this zoning district is proposed to be applied. How well does this map achieve the goal above?

To achieve the goals of growing around transit and improving affordability a recommendation is to apply a new zoning type called the TOD overlay. That would allow additional height beyond three stories if a building includes employment-generating uses or for residential buildings units that are affordable to households that make 60 percent or less of area median income. This zone would also prohibit new drive-thrus and other new auto-oriented buildings. See the map for where this zoning district is proposed to be applied. How well does this map achieve the goal above?
Very well
45%
Well
30%
Neutral
13%
Not well
8%
Very poorly
4%
Closed to responses | 71 Responses

Question title

To achieve the goals of growing around transit, a recommendation is to allow additional building height. The map shows generalized areas where additional height would be allowed, with heights above five stories stepping down toward lower-scale neighborhoods.
How well does this map achieve the goal above?

To achieve the goals of growing around transit a recommendation is to allow additional building height. The map shows generalized areas where additional height would be allowed with heights above five stories stepping down toward lower-scale neighborhoods. How well does this map achieve the goal above?
Very well
40%
Well
34%
Neutral
13%
Very poorly
7%
Not well
6%
Closed to responses | 70 Responses

Question title

To achieve the goals of growing around transit and of ensuring that the portion of New Bern Avenue between Raleigh Boulevard and WakeMed continues to have a "green" appearance and robust tree canopy, a recommendation is to change the zoning in this section of the corridor. The Residential Mixed Use (RX) category would allow more housing choice and small scale retail at intersections along New Bern. The "Green Plus" frontage would require that new trees be planted, and encourage retention of existing trees, along New Bern, as well as requiring a 30-foot setback from the street.
See the map for where this zoning district is proposed to be applied. How well does this map achieve the goal above?

To achieve the goals of growing around transit and of ensuring that the portion of New Bern Avenue between Raleigh Boulevard and WakeMed continues to have a green appearance and robust tree canopy a recommendation is to change the zoning in this section of the corridor. The Residential Mixed Use (RX) category would allow more housing choice and small scale retail at intersections along New Bern. The Green Plus frontage would require that new trees be planted and encourage retention of existing trees along New Bern as well as requiring a 30-foot setback from the street. See the map for where this zoning district is proposed to be applied. How well does this map achieve the goal above?
Well
42%
Very well
31%
Neutral
21%
Not well
3%
Very poorly
3%
Closed to responses | 62 Responses

Question title

Where do you live or work?

Elsewhere
45%
On or near New Bern Avenue between downtown and Raleigh Boulevard
35%
On or new New Bern Avenue between Raleigh Boulevard and the Beltline
12%
On or near New Bern Avenue between the Beltline and New Hope Road
8%
Closed to responses | 66 Responses

Question title

What is your age?

30-44
43%
18-29
22%
45-64
22%
65 or older
13%
Younger than 18
0%
Closed to responses | 68 Responses

Question title

Do you own or rent your home?

Own
81%
Rent
19%
Closed to responses | 68 Responses

Question title

What is the primary language spoken in your home?

English
98%
Spanish
2%
Other
0%
Closed to responses | 66 Responses