Town of Beaufort, NC
Cedar Street Corridor
Vision/Purpose
The realignment of the Gallant’s Channel Bridge and the US-70 corridor presents many positive
opportunities for the Cedar Street corridor and surrounding area of downtown Beaufort.
Amongst these opportunities are a complete streetscape redesign, an intensification of uses
including redevelopment and infill development, and increased bicycle and pedestrian
connectivity.
The Town of Beaufort officials envision a “street diet” scenario in which the roadway surface
would be reduced to two lanes with the incorporation of bike infrastructure, improved sidewalks,
and on street parking.
Building on the town’s vision and the conceptual
beautification renderings by consultants Haden-Stanziale
of Durham, NC, the perceived future Cedar Street would
be a new mixed use corridor with limited building
setbacks and an incredible variety of attractions which
would help to create an atmosphere of an inclusive third
place for the town’s diverse residents and visitors alike.
This corridor would offer an alternative to the traditional
Front Street/waterfront destination that currently serves
as a commercial, retail, and social focal point. These
destinations in concert would increase interest in the
Town of Beaufort as a place to work, live, and play.
Cedar & Turner Street Intersection as envisioned by HadenStanziale Consultants, Durham, NC
Context/Existing Conditions
The Cedar Street corridor, currently US-70, bisects the most developed area of the Town of
Beaufort. Cedar Street runs from its current junction with the Gallant’s Channel Bridge and runs
in a south-easterly direction to its terminus at Carteret Avenue. Cedar Street is on a common
grid-patterned street network and as such has intersections with side streets at approximate 400
foot intervals. The roadway surface is currently 48 feet from curb to curb. Affording roughly 4
feet of sidewalk with a planted buffer of approximately 2 feet, the total right-of-way for the
corridor is 60 feet. The roadway surface is completely dedicated to motorized vehicular traffic
and provides four 12-foot wide travel lanes of varying directional use.
Standard treated-wood utility poles line either side of Cedar Street. The south side of the
roadway has additional utility poles which are metal in their construction and have a wider base
and greater height than standard utility poles. The presence of these poles is related to the
corridor designation as a highway.
As a major arterial of the Town of Beaufort the road accommodates a significant number of local
vehicle trips. In addition, the thoroughfare accommodates approximately 15,000 through1
vehicles per day who have their origination or destination to the north and east in areas of the
inner Core Banks as well as the southern Outer Banks via the Cedar Island Ferry.
The Gallant’s Channel Bridge Relocation/U.S. Highway 70 re-alignment project will greatly
reduce the volume of traffic on Cedar Street, limit direct access to the town core, and create a
more private feel. As part of this project, the current drawbridge will be demolished and
converted into a park. Additionally, the road will no longer be maintained by the North Carolina
Department of Transportation (NCDOT). Instead, responsibility will be transferred to the Town
of Beaufort. The implications of this are significant as they remove the strict NCDOT standards
allowing for greater flexibility in design and accessibility.
For land use analysis purposes, the study area for the corridor was the entire length of the
roadway from the existing Gallant’s Channel Bridge to Carteret Avenue, and from Pine Street to
Broad Street. Additionally, the entire multi-family housing parcel at Carteret Avenue and Cedar
Street as well as the parcel for Ocean View Cemetery between Broad Street and Ann Street were
included as a means to accommodate analysis of various other elements of the project. In all, a
total of 334 unique parcels were included in the study area. The following land uses were
observed within the study area: Commercial; Commercial/Office; Public/Institutional; Singlefamily Residential; Multi-family Residential; Parks, Recreation & Conservation; and Vacant or
Undeveloped. Land uses were observed in an on-ground analysis and verified against aerial
ortho-imagery and the Town of Beaufort’s 2012 Land Use Update.
A majority of the land use abutting Cedar Street is Commercial, Commercial/Office, or
Institutional. There also exists several pockets of Single-family Residential. While the sizes of
the individual Single-family Residential use parcels are not significant, the parcels cluster
together to have a significant presence along the corridor.
Cedar Street Project Study Area
Existing Land Use 2014
Vacant or Undeveloped
Parks, Recreation, & Conservation
Residential Single-Family
Residential Multi-Family
Public/Institutional
Commercial/Office
Commercial
Transportation, Communications, & Utilities
Acreages Quantity of Parcels
7.199
43
4.476
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32.823
203
10.542
9
20.168
15
4.698
16
11.924
38
0.838
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Issues
Though the vision for the design of Cedar Street seeks to provide for all populations and create a
more cohesive community within the Town of Beaufort, redevelopment projects of this size and
scope are often accompanied by the threat of gentrification and displacement of disadvantaged
populations.
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Single-family Residential land uses on the existing thoroughfare are relatively incompatible with
the nature of the corridor. As the corridor becomes more dense and developed per the guidelines
of this plan, the Single-family Residential use will fall further out of favor as greater intensities
of use propagate.
Buildings at southwest and northeast corners of Cedar Street’s intersection with Pollock Street
have a zero foot setback from the sidewalk infrastructure and right-of-way. Due to the buildings
being of a historic significance to the Town of Beaufort, no removal of these buildings is feasible
at this time. This prevents any widening of the right-of-way at this intersection.
Because of the width of the roadway and the material with which it is constructed, the volume of
impervious surface in the right-of-way is very high. Additionally, parking facilities immediately
adjacent to the roadway have no visible means of stormwater management, whether via
impervious surfaces or drainage systems. The volume of runoff is not a significant issue because
the system drains to Taylor Creek. However, the point-source pollutants from the roadway will
be carried away in the runoff.
The downtown Beaufort area suffers from a lack of available parking at times of peak volume for
visitors, particularly in the summer. If development were to occur along the Cedar Street
corridor per this plan, this issue could be exacerbated.
Recommendations
1) Take advantage of zero foot setback imposed on the right-of-way at Pollock Street by the
historic buildings by using it as a standard setback for new development which will help
to create a street-wall, activate the sidewalk infrastructure as a complete street feature,
bring the right-of-way to a pedestrian scale, and promote density.
2) Redesign the right-of-way to be compatible with complete streets principles. This
includes:
a. Reduce in the number of drive lanes from 4 to 2.
b. Reduce remaining drive lane widths from 12 feet to 10 feet.
c. Incorporate bicycle infrastructure per 2009 Town of Beaufort Bicycle
Comprehensive Plan, Section 7, Table 7.0, Item 34.
d. Incorporate planting buffer between drive lanes and sidewalk infrastructure as a
means for beautification as well as increasing pervious surface within the
corridor.
e. Plant street trees per Town of Beaufort Land Development Ordinance, Section 14,
C. and Appendix A – this will help to further reduce stormwater runoff, improve
the aesthetic value of the streetscape, and create a tree-canopy to provide shade to
pedestrians.
f. Incorporate round-a-bout/traffic circle style intersection at Turner Street as
suggested by Haden-Stanziale Consultants as means to create a gateway feature
upon entrance from new US-70 alignment and to accommodate a smoother traffic
flow.
g. Install decorative seating in strategic areas along Cedar Street to encourage the
use of the right-of-way as a public space.
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h. Allow for wide sidewalk feature on the north side of the Cedar Street corridor as a
means to allow runners and exercise walkers a new, exciting place to exercise and
be a part of the community.
3) Ensure continuity of historic district character throughout Beaufort.
a. Use the standards for new construction outlined in the Beaufort Historic District
Guidelines manual as the basis for more stringent style sets and guidelines to be
incorporated into the Town of Beaufort Land Development Ordinance for the
entirety of the Old Town area roughly south of the tidal marsh.
b. When possible, ensure that buildings which are historic in nature but not within
the historic district are repaired and restored to their original façade and color
scheme – this too will encourage adaptation of historic character of surrounding
properties.
4) Address downtown Beaufort parking issues as related to Cedar Street.
a. Though on-street parking can detract from the complete street model, exception
will have to be made in the Cedar Street corridor redevelopment to include this
feature. On-street parking areas should be carefully selected to provide maximum
benefit and limit visual and physical obstruction of the redesigned streetscape.
Parking should be limited to one side of the corridor and be parallel in alignment.
The parking lane should be no more than 8 feet wide to ensure that space
allowances for other features within the right-of-way are minimally impacted.
The south side of the corridor would be most accommodating of this parking
infrastructure due to the presence of the more permanent style utility poles and the
limitations for sidewalk design width that they impose.
b. Preserve existing volume of surface parking in new zero-setback development by
incorporating at-rear and under-building design techniques.
c. Build a parking structure on the existing courthouse property. Utilize an exterior
design scheme which has continuity with the new streetscape and has aesthetic
value beyond that of a parking structure. Specific dimensions of the structure will
be determined by perceived need and calculated demand.
Example of Parking Structure Treatment for Town of Beaufort; (Staunton, VA)
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5) Ensure appropriate stock of affordable housing within the downtown core.
a. Work with Beaufort Housing Authority to determine a minimum number of
affordable housing units which will be a part of a redeveloped Cedar Street and
the larger Beaufort community.
b. Outline incentive programs for developers which will encourage the creation of
the above determined housing units in new developments.
c. Create diverse and attractive housing options by encouraging incentive programs
across various styles and locations of development.
6) Bolster existing economic development opportunities and explore avenues for continued
growth through Cedar Street redevelopment.
a. Gauge interest of regional and state-owned commercial and retail establishments
to locate within new developments in Beaufort.
b. Work with the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce to launch a new,
aggressive marketing campaign to attract younger, more diverse visitors to the
Town.
Opportunities
Numerous opportunities exist as a direct result of the US-70 bypass project.
1) The redesigned existing corridor can:
 Create new residential options and commercial retail amenities never before seen
in the Town of Beaufort.
 Connect existing pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure as planned by the Town of
Beaufort which will help to increase the walkability of the downtown core and
promote the health and wellness of the Beaufort community.
 Create a bicycle loop to Front Street that will encourage leisurely tour-style rides
around town, fun for residents and visitors alike.
2) Cedar Street will be reconnecting the different neighborhoods of downtown Beaufort
that for so long have been bisected by a busy highway corridor. This can lead to a
greater sense of community, connection, and inclusion for all residents.
3) The proposed mixed use corridor will create an attractive regional shopping and
leisure destination that will draw locals and visitors from nearby Crystal Coast towns
including Morehead City and Atlantic Beach. The money they spend will greatly
benefit the tax revenue of the Town of Beaufort in addition to creating a drastic
increase in economic activity through the money multiplier effect.
4) Popularization of the downtown core and Cedar Street will inevitably lead to an
increase in popularity of the already greatly favored waterfront. The volume of
visitors may drastically increase the demand for lodging and other hospitality
amenities within the Town of Beaufort that are simply not feasible to provide within
the downtown core, especially during peak season. As such this could spur
development of hotel properties, restaurants, movie theaters and shops along the new
US-70 alignment.
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Implementation
Implementation of the new Cedar Street design will not happen overnight. It is simply
not feasible and also not serving the best public interest. It is necessary to start small and
implement individual elements as the opportunity is available.
1) Organize Cedar Street Redevelopment Task Force. Aim to include a wide variety of
citizens who are representative of the Town of Beaufort as a whole. This task force
should begin to collect ideas from other towns who have redeveloped a highway
corridor into a local, mixed-use corridor. Preference should be made toward coastal
or semi-coastal towns with similar land areas and populations as Beaufort.
2) Gauge public interest in variety of options for Cedar Street redesign. Building off of
the proposals made herein as well as those put forth by Haden-Stanziale, administer a
survey to residents in which scenarios are presented and chosen based on personal
tastes and their vision of the future of the Town of Beaufort. Consideration should be
made to distribute this survey outside of the Town of Beaufort to communities such
as Morehead City, Newport, Atlantic Beach, and others in general area as a means to
gauge interest from outside the town in proposed amenities and regionally attractive
businesses.
3) Incorporate new, modern strategies as interest generators. This can be done through
events such as ‘pop-up parks’, community art participatory events (e.g. chalk painting
on the roadway), and other similarly inexpensive but memorable events.
4) Make a long-range plan for Cedar Street which incorporates elements of the various
land-use, zoning, and transportation plans already put forth which can be used as a
basis for continued protective development and a mechanism for steering the look of
Cedar Street toward the Town’s vision.
5) Explore funding options available for street-scape redesign including grant programs
through the NCDOT for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.
6) Approach parcel/business owners in the Cedar Street corridor and discuss options and
strategies for increased density through redevelopment of their properties. This can
be used as a catalyst for other such redevelopment.
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Small Park Project
One focus area for improvements in Beaufort is where Cedar Street meets Carteret Avenue.
There are two decent size parcels both owned by the Town of Beaufort, the lot south of Cedar
Street is 0.73 acres and the lot north of Cedar Street is 1.34 acres. This area is significant because
it allows for connectivity between the proposed bike lane loop between Cedar Street and Front
Street. A basketball court with adequate lighting has been built on the lot south of Cedar Street
and two tennis courts with adequate lighting has been built on the lot north of Cedar Street.
While this is a great improvement to a vacant lot that had no prior use, this area has a great
opportunity to become a park. A few problems that accompany these lots is a drainage ditch that
runs parallel to the road on the lot north of Cedar Street and a fenced in utility area on that same
parcel.
There are a couple proposed ideas to improve this area. First, is to extend the sidewalk that ends
at the Cedar Street and Hendrick Street intersection. This can be extended to the new park area
with a street crossing leading to the tennis courts. A horseshoe court would fit perfectly parallel
to that sidewalk, and a few benches and another bike rack would also accompany that lot well.
On the other side, parallel to Carteret Ave, a community garden would be a nice addition, both
aesthetically pleasing and would create the opportunity for a community event in which residents
could come out and plant different flowers and plants. There is also a scattered gravel lot almost
in the shape of a parking lot. This could be significantly improved if it is paved over with asphalt
and parking space lines drawn in.
On the lot south of Cedar Street, a gravel-jogging track would fit perfectly circulating around the
basketball court. In the empty field west of the of the basketball courts 4 to 6 picnic tables, 2
grills, and a water fountain would be a nice addition. Ideally, a giant tent accompanied by
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adequate lighting inside could cover this picnic area. All or any of these changes would make
this place a point of attraction to the community. With this area being easily accessible and
adjacent to many residences including a recently developed neighborhood south of the area and a
huge multi-family development east of the area.
These are proposed ideas without a cost analysis. The most cost-efficient ideas would be the
garden and the horseshoe court, however, all of these ideas would be beneficial to this area, and
the residents.
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Images from top left to bottom right: Lot north of Cedar Street with Tennis Courts, Space for
community garden, Lot south of Cedar Street with basketball courts, Lot with potential for picnic
tables, grills, water fountain, and giant tent
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