Durham leaders have approved a rezoning request that will allow Research Triangle Park to become more of a destination hub.
Durham County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on Monday to amend RTP's zoning district to allow non-research development across the park's 7,000 acres.
Other WRAL Top Stories
Since its inception in 1959, governmental rules prevented the redevelopment of the land for anything but research and development business.
The Research Triangle Foundation, a nonprofit that dates from the same year, has been in charge of guiding the development in the area, initially focused on connecting Triangle universities and companies at RTP.
RTF Vice President of Planning and Policy Travis Clayton said the rezoning reshapes the long-range vision for the area.
"We've been working for the past four years ... to talk about what the future of Research Triangle Park should be," he said.
The ordinance changes allow companies to redevelop portions of their land for non-research purposes like retail, residential and even restaurants.
"How do we put RTP on a competitive plane with some of the leading innovation districts and business parks globally," Clayton asked.
The plan has been years in the making, a benefit, Clayton said, of giving all the stakeholders a voice in the process.
It is part the "RTP 3.0," a 50-year plan to attract top talent, innovative companies and global investment.
The plan allows for new uses that "look a little bit different and feel a little bit different and are a little bit denser and a little more urban than our traditional RTP development," Clayton said.
Durham's decision coincides with the ordinance change previously approved in June by Wake County Commissioners.
"This plan really embodies the values and the desires that our community wants to have a more work life play environment, and housing and having walkable communities," Durham County Commissioner Wendy Jacobs said.
The Research Triangle Foundation said they will work with RTP owners and tenants to adopt development standards and approve design guidelines, likely next year.