List of figures
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2
Comprehensive Plan: Introduction
Growth, Population History & Demographic Trends
Figure 2-1: Growth through Annexation
2-1
Figure 2-2: City of Gastonia Population, 1880-2010
2-1
Figure 2-3: Land Area in Square Miles
2-2
Figure 2-4: Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill NC-SC
MSA Area 2-4
Figure 2-5: Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill
NC-SC MSA, Population, 1970-2010
2-4
Figure 2-6: Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill NC-SC
MSA, Share of MSA Population, 1970-2010
2-4
Figure 2-7: City & County Population Growth, 2000-2010
2-5
Figure 2-8: Gastonia Racial Profile
2-5
Figure 2-9 City of Gastonia, Population Change
2-5
Figure 2-10: Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill NC-SC MSA,
Households 2000-2009 2-5
Figure 2-11: Change in Population, 2000-2010
2-6
Figure 2-12: Percent Population Growth, 2000-2010
2-6
Figure 2-13: Population by Age & Sex,
Gaston County 1980-2009
2-7
Figure 2-13: Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill NC-SC
MSA, Race by Region, 1970-2010
2-8
Figure 2-15: High School Graduates in the Region,
1970-2009 2-9
Figure 2-16: High School Graduates, 2000 & 2009
2-9
Figure 2-17: 1990 Percentage of Population with
A High School Diploma or Greater, 1990-2009
2-10
Figure 2-18: Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill NC-SC
MSA, Average Household Size, 1960-2009
2-10
Figure 2-19: Percent Increase in Owner Occupied
Housing, 1990-20002-10
Figure 2-20: Map, Median Household Income,
2000 & 20092-11
Figure 2-21: Chart, Median Household Income,
2000 & 20092-11
Figure 2-22: Regional Poverty Status: Percent
Below Poverty Level, 20092-12
Figure 2-23: Percentage Living Below Poverty Level,
Gastonia2-12
Figure 2-24: Individuals Below Poverty Level
2-12
Figure 2-25: Population by TAZ, 2005 Projected Out
to 20352-14
Figure 2-26: Planning Area Sectors
2-15
Figure 2-26: Graph, Sector Population Projections
2-15
Figure 2-27: Chart, Sector Population Projections
2-15
3
Housing & Neighborhoods
Figure 3-1: Density of Housing Within Planning Area
Figure 3-2: Gastonia Residential Building Permits,
2005-2010
Figure 3-3: Percent of Housing, 35 Years and Older, 2010
Figure 3-4: Density of Housing, 50+ Years of Age
Figure 3-5: Age of Housing Units
Figure 3-6: Housing Type by Type of Structure
3-3
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List of Figures ii-1
GASTONIA 2025 Comprehensive Plan
Figure 3-7: Gastonia Housing Tenure: 1970 to 2010
3-7
Figure 3-8: Comparison of Housing Occupancy Status,
2009 3-7
Figure 3-9: Gastonia Types of Households, 1990 - 2009
3-8
Figure 3-10: Types of Households in the Region
3-8
Figure 3-11: Cost of Housing, 1970-2009
3-9
Figure 3-12: Top 10 Counties in NC, Number of
Foreclosures, 20103-10
Figure 3-13: Gaston County Median Monthly Housing
Cost, 20093-10
Figure 3-14: Median Value, Owner Occupied
Housing, 20003-10
Figure 3-15: Gaston County Homeless Population,
2007-20103-12
Figure 3-16: Historic Districts3-13
Figure 3-17: Gastonia Residential Properties on the
National Register3-14
4
Economic & Human Development
Figure 4-1: Employment by Industry, 1994, 2004, 2006
and Projected 2016 in U.S.
Figure 4-2: Location Quotient Map
Figure 4-3: North Carolina Gasoline Prices,
August 2007 - March 2011
Figure 4-4: Travel Time to Work from Gastonia,
2000 and 2009
Figure 4-5: Residence County to Workplace:
County Commuter Flows for North Carolina, 2008
Figure 4-6: Chart, Top 25 Employers, Gaston County,
January, 2011
Figure 4-7: Map, Top 25 Employers, Gaston County,
January, 2011
ii-2 List of Figures
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4-9
Figure 4-8: Percentage of People Employed in
Gaston County by Industry4-10
Figure 4-9: Ratio of Industry Employment to Base-Industry
Employment, 20094-10
Figure 4-10: Industry Outlook - Employment Growth by
Industry, 2006-2016 4-11
Figure 4-11: Annual Average Unemployment Rates
by Percent 4-13
Figure 4-12: Percentage Living below Poverty Level,
Gastonia, 1990, 2000, 2007, 2010
4-15
Figure 4-13: 2025 Planning Area Business and
Technology Parks 4-18
Figure 4-14: Percent of County Population Served by
High Speed Internet Access, 2006
4-22
5
Public Utilities & Community Services
Figure 5-1: Historic Water Use
5-1
Figure 5-2: Annual Maximum Daily Water Demand
Projections (million gallons per day)
5-2
Figure 5-3: Water System Map
5-5
Figure 5-4: Sewer System Map
5-6
Figure 5-5: Existing Long-Term Wastewater Satellite
Communities 5-8
Figure 5-6: Wastewater Treatment & Drainage Basins
5-9
Figure 5-7: Gastonia Police Districts
5-16
Figure 5-8: Calls for Service 2000-2010
5-16
Figure 5-9: Existing Fire Station Locations
5-17
Figure 5-10: Future Fire Station Plan
5-18
Figure 5-11: Station Description & Sevice Area
5-20
Figure 5-12: GEMS Locations5-21
Figure 5-13: Gaston County Schools
5-23
Figure 5-14: Schools with Proposed Renovations/Additions5-24
Figure 5-15: Gaston County Library-Gastonia Branches
5-27
GASTONIA 2025 Comprehensive Plan
6
Open Space, Parks & Recreation
Figure 6-1: Lists of Parks & Locations
6-3
Figure 6-2: List of Community Centers & Locations
6-3
Figure 6-3: Crowders Mountain State Park
6-5
Figure 6-4: Recreational Facilities(Map)
6-6
Figure 6-5: Inventory of Gastonia’s Park and
Recreational Facilities and Amenities Offered
at Each6-7
Figure 6-6: Level of Service (LOS) Standards for
Parks & Recreation Facilities6-8
Figure 6-7 List of Recommendations for City Park &
Recreation Facilities6-10
Figure 6-8 City of Gastonia Greenway Plan
6-15
Figure 6-9 Annual Amortization Costs of
General Obligation Bonds6-18
7
The Center City
Figure 7-1: The Downtown Master Plan, 1999
7-5
Figure 7-2: Components of the Center City,
Neighborhood Boundaries and Districts
7--11
Figure 7-3: Land-Use in the Center City
7-12
Figure 7-4: Land-Use Percentages in the Center City
7-12
Figure 7-5: Illustration of Potential Greenway
Connections in Center City7-16
Figure 7-6: Illustration of On-Street Pedestrian
Connections to Greenway7-16
Figure 7-7: The Highland Rail Trail Project 7-17
Figure 7-8: Economic Development Incentive Area
in the Center City7-26
8
Franklin Boulevard Corridor
Figure 8-1: Current Development Trends along the Franklin
Corridor 8-2
Figure 8-2: Land Form & Hydrology along the Franklin
Boulevard Corridor 8-3
Figure 8-3: Street Connectivity Along the Franklin Boulevard
Corridor 8-4
Figure 8-4: Open Spaces and Greenway Opportunities
Along the Franklin Boulevard Corridor
8-5
Figure 8-5: The Franklin Boulevard Corridor, by Segment
8-5
Figure 8-6: Build-Out Analysis
8-8
Figure 8-7: Existing Land Use
8-8
Figure 8-8: Future Land Use
8-8
Figure 8-9: Nodes of Redevelopment along the
Franklin Boulevard Corridor
8-9
Figure 8-10: Nodes of Redevelopment and Connectivity 8-12
Figure 8-11: Eastern Gateway Redevelopment
8-13
Figure 8-12: Downtown Redevelopment
8-14
Figure 8-13: Greasy Corner/Loray Mill Village
Redevelopment8-15
Figure 8-14: Dixie Village/Myrtle School Rd Gateway
Redevelopment Master Plan
8-16
Figure 8-15 Illustration of Road Capacity along the Franklin
Boulevard Corridor
8-17
Figure 8-16: Enhanced Roadway Section: Franklin
Boulevard at entrance to Dixie Village
8-18
Figure 8-17: Enhanced Roadway Section: Franklin
Boulevard between Vance Street and
Millon Street 8-18
FIgure 8-18: Downtown Issues & Opportunities Map
8-20
Figure 8-19: Eastern Gateway Issues &
Opportunities Map 8-21
Figure 8-20: Western Gateway Issue & Opportunities Map 8-22
Figure 8-21: Mill Village Issues & Opportunities Map
8-23
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GASTONIA 2025 Comprehensive Plan
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Regional Planning & Interjurisdictional Coordination
Figure 9-1: The 15-Couty Bi-State Region
Figure 9-2: Regional Education Trends,
Population 25 and Older
Figure 9-3: Area of Consideration
10
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Environmental Quality
Figure 10-1: The Color Coded Air Quality Index
10-3
Figure 10-2: Sources of Surface Raw Water
10-6
Figure 10-3: NC Water Quality Assesment & Impaired
Water List 10-9
Figure 10-4: Major Drainage Basins
10-10
Figure 10-5: Areas of Poorly Suited Soils
10-13
Figure 10-6: Regional Growth Model 10-15
11
Community Appearance & Identity
Figure 11-1: Community Image Areas
11-8
Figure 11-2: Major Gateways11-9
Figure 11-3: Gastonia Properties on the National Register 11-11
12
Transportation
Figure 12-1: Charlotte Metropolitan Statistical Area
Employment 2000,2005,200812-2
Figure 12-2: Projected Population, Charlotte, MSA
12-2
Figure 12-3: Demographic Trends in Transportation,
Gaston County12-3
Figure 12-4: Transportation Progression Models
12-4
Figure 12-5: Major Sources of Congestion
12-4
Figure 12-6: Funding Sources for Roads
12-6
ii-4 List of Figures
Figure 12-7: Metrolina Regional Model and
Non-Attainment Area12-7
Figure 12-8: Roadway Map12-8
Figure 12-9: Summary of Thoroughfare System
Classification 12-9
Figure 12-10: An Illustration of a Typical
“Complete Street”12-10
Figure 12-11: Bicycle and Pedestrian Circulation in
Center City Gastonia12-12
Figure 12-12: Bike Routes, Gaston County
12-13
Figure 12-13: Gastonia’s Greenway Plan
12-14
Figure 12-14: South East High Speed Rail
(SEHSR) Corridor12-15
Figure 12-15: Express Bus Route Service CATS 85X
Route from Gastonia to Charlotte and Back
12-17
13
Land Use & Development
Figure 13-1: Commercial Density Map
13-4
Figure 13-2: Current Residential Development Approvals 13-5
Figure 13-3: Increase in Developed Land vs Population
Increase13-6
Figure 13-4: Currrent Land Uses
13-14
Figure 13-5: Existing Land Use
13-15
Figure 13-6: Total Developed Land
13-14
Figure 13-7: Development Constraints
13-19
Figure 13-8: Development Constraints in the Planning
Area13-19
Figure 13-9: Future Land Use Map
13-21
Figure 13-10: East Sector, Future Land Use Map
13-34
Figure 13-11: East Sector, Development Strategy Map
13-35
Figure 13-12: Northeast Sector, Future Land Use Map
13-39
Figure 13-13:Northeast Sector, Development Strategy Map13-40
GASTONIA 2025 Comprehensive Plan
Figure 13-14: Southeast Sector, Future Land Use Map
Figure 13-15: Southeast Sector, Development Strategy Map
Figure 13-16: Northwest Sector, Future Land Use Map
Figure 13-17: Northwest Sector, Development Strategy Map
Figure 13-18: Garden Sector, Future Land Use Map
Figure 13-19: Garden Sector, Development Strategy Map
Figure 13-20: Crowders Sector, Future Land Use Map
Figure 13-21: Crowders Sector, Development Strategy Map
Figure 13-22: Southwest Sector: Future Land Use Map
Figure 13-23: Southwest Sector: Development Strategy Map
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ii-4 List of Figures