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During the evening of Monday, August 24th, the regular monthly Public Forum was held during the meeting of the Charlotte City Council. This is simply a chance to hear community voices offer their perspectives on the key issues at hand. Those key topics for discussion included further consideration of the I-77 expansion project and a proposal to institute a curfew for teens and children 17-years old and younger. Mayor Harrington ran an efficient meeting while still allowing for ample debate.
In attendance were several real estate and business community leaders who encouraged the council to reconsider its position and vote to reinstitute support for the project. Participation was strong and engagement was real. In fact those business and community leaders who attended stayed until the very end. And even with opinions expressed on all sides, most stayed respectful.
The night got off to a positive tone when Anson County Commission Chair Jamie Caudle took to the microphone to thank the City of Charlotte, particularly Charlotte Water, for the assistance it provided when the County’s water system experienced a complete depressurization in early July. The expression of gratitude from a neighboring community was a great way to kick off the evening.
Following the Public Forum as council moved further into the agenda, things took a different turn. Councilmember Mayfield expressed concern about process during the course of several votes on non-controversial measures. Councilmember Johnson joined and added a similar perspective and both asked items to be deferred. When other councilmembers disagreed and voted to move forward, Mayfield and Johnson responded with “no” votes on most of the remaining items.
This was followed by a presentation on a proposed curfew by Charlotte Police Chief, Estella Patterson. Teen takeovers have been a significant problem in Charlotte over the past year, and council asked the Chief to identify a potential solution. The recommendation offered was to institute a 9:00 pm to 6:00 am curfew for anyone under that age of 18. Exemptions would be given in several instances including for those traveling between school events or work or running an errand for a parent. Minors accompanied by a parent or guardian aged 21 and over would also be exempt. Most councilmembers seemed ready to institute the curfew as a pilot project, but others resisted and it is likely to be considered again at the next meeting.
After the public comments concluded and business at hand was complete, the council eventually adjourned the meeting and went into closed session to discuss a legal matter.
Video of Charlotte City Council Meeting, August 24, 2026
My Take: Just showing up makes a difference. Thank you to all of you who made the effort to attend and participate, and stayed the entire duration of the meeting. Also, when you sign up to speak at a Charlotte City Council meeting during the Public Forum and you are number 12 on the “Wait List,” there’s a decent chance you might actually get to speak. I learned that last night and was thrilled to make the case encouraging our Councilmembers to move back to their original position to overwhelmingly support the I-77 Expansion Project. As I’ve mentioned before, their support of the project was well documented several times over the past decade. So I am hopeful we can get back to the negotiation table and save the project. If not — and this is the essence of this vote — it will likely be a decade or more before it can be revisited. And our economy and prosperity will most certainly suffer. That’s why it is important that we continue to encourage additional action before it is too late. Ask me now if you need suggestions for engaging, and advocating for the right outcome.
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Gaston County is currently reviewing major updates to its 2050 Land Use Plan and Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). These overlapping initiatives—collectively organized under the Engage Gaston UDO Project and the Envision Gaston initiative—aim to modernize development rules, streamline approvals, and manage rapid regional expansion.
The 2050 Land Use Plan
The county’s draft 2050 Land Use Plan establishes long-term policy for unincorporated areas outside municipal borders.
The Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Update
While the Land Use Plan dictates where growth should happen, the UDO is the legal playbook controlling how it is built.
Public Involvement & Next Steps
The decision-making process depends heavily on public feedback and review by regional leaders:
Look for the land use plan here.
My Take: I’ve had the opportunity to participate in several of the 2050 Plan stakeholder meetings alongside members of the Gaston Association of Realtors®, and the HBA of Greater Charlotte. During those meetings, staff and the consultant team accepted feedback and the discussion was collaborative. Unfortunately, there were very few stakeholders participating. We highlight this land use process in Gaston County because there is still time to weigh in. If you live in the community or are planning some projects in the area, I strongly encourage you to engage in the process now and get up to speed on some of the proposed changes before it’s too late to lend your voice.
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