CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte city leaders gave the green light to a major development in south Charlotte Monday, voting to rezone 125 acres of farmland, called the Cato Property.
For months, there’s been an ongoing debate about developing the farmland on Tom Short Road, just north of Ardrey Kell Road near Waverly.
But on April 2, the zoning committee unanimously recommended the approval of a rezoning petition from Childress Klein Properties and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
This is because of the diverse array of housing options in the project – from single-family detached to homes to townhomes to apartment units – as well as the new middle school’s ability to help with overcrowding at Jay M. Robinson Middle School, which CMS says is at capacity.
Traffic issues due to the size of the development have been a point of concern, but the developers have said they are working with the Charlotte Department of Transportation, the North Carolina Department of Transportation and local residents and will commit to identifying and making transportation improvements in the area.
Despite the push from residents against the change to the farmland, only one city council member, Dimple Ajmera, voted against the plan.
Contact Destiny Richards at drichards5@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.