Two For Tuesday | April 23, 2024

1.  Latest UDO Activity Includes All-Day Planning Session

With the flurry of activity around the UDO, especially at the Charlotte City Council public hearing last Monday, April 15th on UDO text amendment 2024-043 aimed at curbing the use of Conservation Subdivisions for new development, there is a lot to talk about.  The details of that meeting were covered in last week’s edition of 2 for Tuesday.  You can read that issue and get caught up here.  It is worth mentioning again that the action on this amendment is only a part of the bigger picture.  Passage of the amendment will effectively eliminate this provision and is one of three interrelated matters currently before council:

1.  Conservation Subdivision Amendment – will result in less density.
2.  Addressing the matter of Duplexes and Triplexes in existing neighborhoods – will result in less density.
3.  Creation of a Compact Development category (to replace conservation subdivisions) – could allow higher density developments under certain conditions.

Because action on any one of these has the potential to limit our ability to meet substantial housing needs, we are encouraging Members of the Charlotte City Council to take action on them all at once, while taking into consideration the big picture.  Currently the vote on the Conservation Subdivision provision is scheduled for May 20th.

• Allow units to front quality open space
• Reduce lot base sizes from 6,000 square feet to 5,000 square feet
• Test and study impact of setbacks
• Increase allowance for alleys under certain conditions
• Explore perimeter buffers
• Would be allowed on all lots over 2 acres
• Voluntary mixed income developments could use compact development standards on all lots over 1 acre

My take:  Last week’s meeting appeared to be a positive step forward.  Color me cautiously optimistic.  The designers that were in the room are some of the best in Charlotte and have been heavily engaged in UDO discussions from the very beginning.  The most useful part of the exercise was how they illuminated staff on the realities of current market challenges and how any rules they propose can stifle industry’s ability to provide needed, necessary products – homes to house a growing population.  Mayor Lyles, Mayor Pro Tem Anderson, and Council Members Molina and Graham attended a good portion of the meeting which means they are engaged and aware.  This is a good thing, 

My take:  This is great progress and we appreciate being heard.  Several of these steps have been taken in direct response to comments made by our members and others engaged in seeking a better outcome.  The training for both staff and industry partners is very welcome, especially when there have been several instances of standards being misapplied from one circumstance to another.  The “disproportional” compliance and contiguous tree save regulations have been huge challenges for quite some time.  I’m hoping the new language will take us further in the right direction and common sense will reign, at least to some extent.