7A, Draft Guiding Plan for B2 District

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Current Physical Conditions Major Natural Features As illustrated by Figure 2, Study Area, there are at least four major wetlands, all located south of County Road E, some of which sustain open water. There is also a large, privately owned wooded area that wraps around the Country Financial site in the southwest portion of the study area. Building Design and Conditions Most of the buildings in the study area have been constructed within the past forty years and are generally in very good condition. The oldest buildings include the industrial buildings north of County Road E and the Pot 0' Gold bingo hall (a deteriorated and aged former industrial structure). The newer buildings tend to be south of County Road E. Exterior building architecture varies although most structures have facades of masonry and glass. The overall impression along County road E is a low-rise, low-density suburban environment. Many of the commercial buildings have a landscaped front setback with the parking located to the side or rear, which provides a pleasant appearance for the corridor. Others have parking between the sidewalk and the building with little or no landscaping. The most impressive structure is probably the four-story former Holiday Inn hotel that has been vacant since the fall of2007. In comparison, the three office buildings immediately south of County Road E from the hotel are one story in height and six-sided. Arden Plaza is a community-scale shopping center located in the southwest comer of Lexington and E that includes the three office buildings mentioned above. The appearance of the center is well maintained but undistinguished. The center is nicely buffered from the adjacent housing and offices by a row of mature conifers. Between Arden Plaza and Lexington Avenue is a landscaped pond, which is attractive but probably hurts the business visibility of the center and restricts auto access. The Northpark Corporate Center consists of a pair of one-story brick office buildings with frontage along County Road E plus two three-story brick office buildings to the south with primary access from Pine Tree Drive. The largest building in the study area is probably the warehouse and offices for Corporate Express, a major vendor of business office supplies, equipment and furniture. Fortunately, only the office element abuts the County Road E frontage; the warehouse and truck court are relatively concealed in the rear. The largest surface parking lot, that of Country Financial, is arranged in an unusual and interesting semi-circular shape focused on a landscaped arrival and turn-around. The approach is via a curving, tree-lined two-lane road, and views are softened by mature woods. Thus, the expanse of parking is not a visual nuisance to the vicinity. 2-14 Guiding Plan for the 82 District 20 October