Charlotte City Council held a zoning meeting on Monday night. Zoning meetings are split into two parts: zoning decisions, in which they vote on whether to approve or deny petitions; and hearings, during which developers are able to present their plans, residents are able to speak in support or opposition, and council members are able to discuss before the decision is scheduled for a later date. 

Below, we’ve included some notable examples of both from Monday night’s meeting. 

On the Agenda

• Elizabeth Multi-Use Development
• Rezoning Decisions
• Rezoning Hearings

Elizabeth Multi-Use Development

Monday night’s first decision involved a large mixed-use development proposed at the site of an old Charlotte Metro Federal Credit Union branch between Central and Sunnyside avenues in the Elizabeth neighborhood. The plan faced some opposition from neighbors on Sunnyside during its hearing. 

Since the hearing, units have been decreased from 315 to 295 while minimum retail space has increased from 1,500 to 2,500 square feet. 

The Elizabeth Community Association still opposes the development, claiming developers have not worked with them on concerns since last month’s hearing, according to LaWana Mayfield, who said she has received emails from the organization. 

District rep Dante Anderson said she has been mediating conversations between the two parties. Along with the aforementioned changes to the petition, the size of a park/plaza has been doubled to 1,500 square feet, maximum height has been reduced from 85 to 75 feet, and an additional ‘fitness loop’ path added for public use, Anderson said.

The developer has agreed to pay for a traffic signal at the Central Avenue and Piedmont Street intersection. Charlotte DOT hasn’t yet approved that proposal, as they are still awaiting data that includes estimated traffic impacts from the new development to justify the new signal.

The developer has also agreed to fund up to three speed bumps or equivalent traffic-calming measures along Piedmont or Sunnyside Avenue within a year of the building’s completion and move the existing curb line along Central Avenue to allow for the construction of a buffered bike lane.

Anderson recommended that council defer the petition until CDOT can confirm plans around a traffic signal at Central & Piedmont, as a main concern of neighbors is the traffic impact and cars getting backed up down Piedmont.

Renee Johnson brought up her continued efforts to make changes to the Unified Development Ordinance that would force developers to address certain issues with the cumulative impact of all developments planned for a given area. She asked that staff bring something forward on that soon.

Council unanimously approved Anderson’s substitute motion to defer the Elizabeth development until more details are known about the proposed traffic signal.

Other Rezoning Decisions

Staff did not recommend approval of a drive-thru OZK Bank branch on South Boulevard at Starmount Cove Road, pointing out that it prioritizes vehicular trips despite being located in an area zoned for transit-oriented development.

Dimple Ajmera said that to approve the project would be like undoing all the community engagement that led to the creation of the Unified Development Ordinance’s Policy Map. 

Renee Johnson disagreed, pointing to how imperative drive-thru businesses became during COVID. “This one makes sense as an exception,” she said. 

The petition was approved, with Ajmera casting the only No vote.

Council unanimously approved the development of a new subdivision on Beatties Ford Road north of Hornets Nest Park that will consist of up to 160 units including single-family homes, duplexes and triplexes.

Council unanimously approved a petition to convert an extended-stay hotel into affordable multifamily residential housing on Yorkmont Road off South Tryon Street. All 138 units will be converted, reserving a minimum 10% of those for households earning less than or equal to 80% of the average median income.

Council unanimously approved a petition on 4.36 acres on Old Concord Road in the Newell area of northeast Charlotte to build a residential community of 54 units with a mix of triplexes and duplexes. The project is a partnership between DreamKey Partners and Newell Presbyterian Church.

Rezoning Hearings

The city is looking to rezone its own property on South Tryon Street near the York Memorial cemetery to build a facility to help relieve the ongoing crisis at CMPD Animal Care & Control, which has experienced overcrowding at its existing shelter for multiple years.

Read more: CMPD Animal Care & Control Opens Satellite Shelter Amidst Crisis (2023)

One longtime resident of the area spoke in opposition, voicing her concerns about the impact on nearby home values as well as the lingering effects of the city dump that she said was located at the property up until 1972, worrying that potential methane leaks could result from construction.

A representative with the city said an environmental assessment has been done, adding that there was actually a junkyard and service station on the property between the 1950s-80s, and no traces of methane were found.

The city is looking to launch a new affordable homeownership program in which city-owned parcels around the city host a primary residence that will be available for sale to a low-income household as well as an affordable rental accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on the property. Their first two parcels are located in Belmont and Villa Heights. 

A neighbor opposing the ADU pilot said Belmont has already been home to the city’s experiments. He said the neighborhood is one of Charlotte’s last remaining melting pots that’s home to all socioeconomic statuses and suggested the city build a community space where existing residents can integrate and connect. 

“This particular pilot is important to us and we have to get this right,” said Dante Anderson. “We’ve been talking about ADUs as a tool in our tool kit to address our lack of affordable housing. I want to make sure that we’re thoughtful about the location and the impact.”