Charlotte Extends Comment Period for Draft TOD Ordinance


The City of Charlotte has extended the comment period for its draft

Transit-Oriented Development A (TOD-A) ordinance, which would allow higher-density, mixed-used development within a quarter-mile of transit stations like the CATS Blue Line.

TOD-A is the first of at least 4 transit-oriented zoning districts that the Planning Department plans to unveil in the next few months, and is intended to accommodate the highest-intensity development along the transit corridor, with allowable building heights as tall as 250′.

After setting base densities and building standards, the ordinance uses a voluntary points system to incentivize developers to meet aesthetic design, open space and affordable housing objectives through allowances for greater building heights.

REBIC and NAIOP have significant concerns with the draft ordinance, which includes highly prescriptive design standards on everything from window spacing to the appearance and location of awnings and doorways. A revised draft of the ordinance, now available online, adds dozens of requirements for sign placement and landscape design, along with the existing building design standards already in the initial draft.

A summary of our initial concerns were submitted to the City last month in a joint letter, and we are continuing to engage with planning staff on the draft. An industry workshop is scheduled for next week to allow city planners to hear directly from developers and architects about the challenges of building under the ordinance.

Comments on the TOD-A can be submitted online through the City’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) website, which also contains the full text of the ordinance. Comments are due to the City by Friday, May 18th.

If you have any questions in the meantime regarding the TOD Districts, please reach out to Monica Holmes in the Planning Department: [email protected].

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