In 2005 the City went through an extensive 10 day planning charette with the help of Dover-Kohl and Associates to develop a vision for the future of the downtown area. A vision document, proposed zoning code and map, and a proposed architecture manual were drafted. In 2006 the City adopted the DMP Zoning Districts recommended as part of the Dover-Kohl Plan. The DMP calls for appropriate and balanced urban intensity to increase development downtown where infrastructure exists. As the downtown continues to fill in, it will reduce some of the development pressure felt on the City edge, which typically culminates in sprawl.

The City was active in acquiring railroad right-of-way which was no longer in use to develop the Frisco Trail from 6th St. to Dickson St. Currently, this trail provides a pedestrian and bicycle route through the center of downtown. Once completed, this trail section will be part of the Master Trail Plan “spine”, connecting south and north Fayetteville together in a linear corridor.

The DMP Zoning Code is important in understanding how urban form impacts the human and natural environment. The four adopted downtown zoning districts; Downtown Core, Main Street Center, Downtown General and Neighborhood Conservation, prescribe the densest and most intense development in the Core with lesser density and intensity in the more traditional residential areas. Street trees provide greenspace in the highly developed areas with a gradual transition to yard space in the least developed areas. Correspondingly, building mass and bulk is highest in the core with less intensity in the transitional areas.

The City has been actively turning one-way streets back to two-way streets in an effort to slow vehicular traffic and increase connectivity. One-way streets encourage speeding. Two way streets with four way intersections lead to slower vehicular speeds and increased pedestrian safety and comfort. Many of these street cross-section conversions also have enough street width for parallel parking on the street, another traffic calming measure.

The Transportation Department is currently working on replacing irregular and damaged sidewalks in much of the downtown area. This work is being funded through the City’s TIF district, which was formed to remove the blighted Mountain Inn Hotel site in preparation for redevelopment.