CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte leaders are facing some hurdles in implementing the city’s new Unified Development Ordinance.
The UDO went into effect almost a year ago, laying out how Charlotte will develop in the coming years. While the city needs more housing, many people disagree on how and where that growth should happen.
"Those of us that opposed [the UDO] across a bipartisan basis … knew exactly this is what we had in for," Councilman Tariq Bokhari said at the city's last zoning meeting.
"I’m sorry that we're in this situation, to be honest," Councilwoman Victoria Watlington added.
The term “unintended consequences” has popped up as city planners look for loopholes that allow developers to squeeze in more units while shrinking street sizes.
"I think the full council has recognized that we may have gone a little overboard in terms of creating more housing to slow down the rise in the cost of housing, not paying enough attention to infrastructure capacity," Councilman Ed Driggs said to WCNC Charlotte.
Driggs voted against the UDO, which promotes high-density housing in more parts of Charlotte. Driggs said the big question is how city leaders can improve things by tackling those difficult issues.
Part of the answer may be found in the community area plans the city is creating.
"Each plan talks about where growth should occur, where established neighborhoods are expected to continue," Katherine Mahoney, a senior project manager for the city's planning and development department explained.
The plans will drill down on how 14 individual areas of Charlotte should develop based on each community’s goals and needs. Mahoney said the detailed plans are the next step in implementing Charlotte’s 2040 plan.
"The intent is that the documents will provide guidance for what type of development is appropriate throughout that area," Mahoney added.
Leaders are considering edits to the UDO that would close those loopholes. These plans are expected to be part of Monday's committee meetings.
As for the 14 community area plans, the city will host workshops in the fall to get feedback from different neighborhoods. Mahoney said the drafted plans will be ready for review in early 2025.
Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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