CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte leaders say residential development is getting out of hand after they enacted new development policies last year.
Both city staff and council members said many new housing subdivisions aren’t being built how they were intended to be. This is because of a loophole in the Unified Development Ordinance called the "conservation district" option.
Many Charlotteans have rung the alarm over new development, saying houses are being squeezed together without open space or adequate roads. Now, leaders are working to make several tweaks to the rules in hopes of ending the loophole.
"It’s not attractive development," City Councilman Ed Driggs said.
The loophole allows builders to squeeze in more units while shrinking street sizes to conserve open space. However, staff members have noticed developers are not conserving the open space as was intended.
The developments are frustrating homeowners like Paul Maxwell. He worries a new development in his neighborhood will spill parking into his street since there aren’t many spots or public roads.
"I’m hopeful as we make these current amendments that we’ll start to see a higher quality of development," Councilwoman Victoria Watlington told WCNC Charlotte.
City planners told a council committee that almost all housing developments under review right now, which will create nearly 9,000 units, have submitted plans under this loophole. Council members plan to pass new requirements that will close it.
"I’m hoping the authorities take a look at these new regulations and modify them," Maxwell said.
The tweaks will require developers to build proper roads instead of just using alleyways on their properties.
The proposed changes to the UDO also add a new "compact" provision that allows smaller units in certain subdivisions but with new standards to prevent this issue from repeating itself.
"That way we achieve our goal of affordability and availability of housing," Driggs explained.
In the fall, leaders will consider allowing more quadruplexes, accessory dwelling units and cottage courts in more areas. The goal is to help infrastructure catch up with housing growth. Watlington added she's happy the city will right the ship on some of these things soon.
The council will vote on closing the loophole in conservation districts on May 20. Then in June, it will vote on adding the compact provision to allow smaller units.
Leaders anticipate more changes to the UDO's policies for the next couple of years as more situations arise.
Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.