Research Triangle Park could be getting a facelift in the near future.

On Thursday, RTP commemorated the adoption of RTP 3.0 and opened applications for new development opportunities within the park.

Companies and landowners in RTP unanimously approved the new development standards in June. According to RTP leaders, RTP 3.0 is a long-term initiative that expands how land can be used in the park over the next 50 years.

RTP says the framework will allow it to pursue mixed-use and residential opportunities for the first time in the park’s history. Since its inception in 1959, governmental rules have prevented the redevelopment of the land for anything but research and development.

What does it all mean for Apple in the Triangle?

With plans for redevelopment approved, it leaves an important question: What does this mean for Apple? The company announced plans to come to RTP in 2021 and already had 1,110 employees in North Carolina when the deal was struck. Included in the plans were:

• 1-million sq.-ft building that would bring more than 3,000 additional jobs to RTP.
• Jobs offered in machine learning, artificial intelligence.
• A $1 billion investment into the state by Apple., software engineering and other cutting industries, which the company says will eventually pay a minimum salary of $187,000.
• A $100 million investment to support schools and community initiatives in the Triangle, plus $110 million toward infrastructure in 80 North Carolina counties.

During Thursday’s commemoration, Scott Levitan, who is retiring in October, told WRAL News that Apple was “very engaged” in the process of approving RTP 3.0, along with the other 400 businesses in the area and remain “very much engaged on planning for the future of RTP.”

As for what else the company is planning, Research Triangle Foundation Vice President of Planning and Policy Travis Crayton said they know just as much as the public does.

“We don’t know anything that’s not already public as it relates to Apple, but we can say they have been very engaged in this process as a member of our RTP Owners and Tenants Association, and are aware of the changes that we’re making with RTP…