CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Monday night, Charlotte city leaders unanimously approved plans for a new neighborhood near University City.
The project will bring about 650 houses, townhomes, and condominiums to a large plot of wooded land near Old Concord Road. The petition by NVR was delayed a couple times before finally getting its approval Monday night. Meanwhile, the vote on a different, larger University City project was delayed in the same city council meeting.
The two project proposals combined could turn about 300 acres of trees into housing, retail, a school, and more. Charlotte needs more housing, but the projects have raised concerns about the city’s tree canopy.
"We see deer, we see foxes, owls, hawks, hummingbirds, dragonflies," homeowner Joe Speidel shared. "All of that obviously is going to go away."
Speidel's house is directly next to the 150 acres of woods that will eventually turn into the new subdivision.
Speidel, his neighbors, and council member Renee Johnson have voiced concerns about how Charlotte’s rapid growth is impacting its environment.
During Monday night's city council meeting, Johnson explained the vote on the Old Concord Road petition was delayed a couple times because she was waiting for more research and information on the Queen City's existing tree canopy.
"I was waiting on the tree canopy report and I sent an email to council saying we need to be responsible about this decision," Johnson said.
Charlotte touts its expansive tree canopy, but research shows it’s dwindling. The last analysis, which was done in 2019, shows Charlotte's tree coverage went from 49% in 2012 to 45% in 2018.
Johnson said city staff members were able to share some new information with her regarding the tree canopy but they aren’t ready to make the research public yet. Johnson said the information shared with her made her OK with voting yes.
She also applauded the developers for meeting with residents several times and reducing the number of units it plans to build.
"They’re donating I believe 20 acres, so there’s a total of 29 acres of tree save," Johnson explained.
However, she asked developers of a larger project up the road to defer their petition until the updated tree canopy report can be published in writing. The petition would turn 182 acres of trees near John Adams Road into nearly 2,000 units of housing, retail, and a school.
It’s unclear when the city’s tree canopy report will be released but the next city council zoning meeting is Nov. 20.
Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.