Last week, members of Charlotte’s real estate community spoke with several Charlotte City Council candidates to learn more about their views and how they see the future of Charlotte. Thank you to our event sponsors: Canopy Realtor® Association, Charlotte Region Commercial Board of REALTORS®, NAIOP Charlotte, Home Builders Association of Greater Charlotte, Inc. and the Real Estate & Building Industry Coalition (REBIC).

As a reminder, primary elections are on Tuesday, September 12.

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Originally published on July 20, 2023, by Rob Nanfelt for REBIC.

Charlotte's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) has been in place for nearly two months.  As was anticipated, we are seeing challenges in the field due to some of the new requirements.  Similarly, language changes have resulted in a lack of clarity and constrained flexibility.  Each of you have an opportunity to play a direct role in assisting us in obtaining some of the necessary changes.  Take advantage of it!

In collaboration with, and at the request of City Staff, REBIC members have developed a UDO Change Request Form to assist Staff and Members of Council with reviewing suggested changes to the ordinance.  Specific examples and recommended language changes submitted along with justification for the requested amendments should result in a more efficient process for obtaining clarity where necessary, and to accelerate the process of administrative as well as legislative relief. 

Complete the Form

Forms should be sent to Laura Harmon with the City of Charlotte Planning Department at [email protected], with carbon copies to [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected].

My take:  I don't know how more directly to say this - if we want to fix the problems, in a timely manner, we need to demonstrate the need and reason for those changes.  This tool also provides another layer of accountability and buttresses our needs case to adopt amendments, as rapidly as possible.  When we entered into his new era of the 2040 Plan and UDO, it was frequently mentioned by Members of the Council and Planning Staff that modifications would be necessary and would be considered on an ongoing basis.  This tool will assist in tracking our progress and obtaining a more positive outcome.  Please share this within your network so it may be utilized broadly.  

Originally published on July 21, 2023, by Rob Nanfelt for REBIC.

Have We Forgotten What Leadership Looks Like? Let’s Show We Remember, This November.

It’s official. Candidate filing for the 2023 municipal elections in North Carolina has come to an end. I wish I had better news, but it looks like we will still have to choose from some of the same old tired leadership. Sure, there are bright spots but I’m wondering why we’re okay to keep electing people who are ill suited for the job. You’ll know what I mean as you read on.

We all know that many highly accomplished people, who could be good candidates, are busy doing other things. They are not drawn to public service, and we are not reaching out and recruiting them. There are the exceptions like Charlotte City Councilman Ed Driggs who retired years ago but has found a valuable niche serving the community. But he won’t be doing this forever so new leaders need to be identified, encouraged, supported, and promoted. And we need to start that process, now.

There are those that run because they see elected office as a stepping stone to other, bigger things. And some of them probably don’t care what happens to you after they leave. Although some of today’s solid elected officials started service at the local level and moved up, it was mainly because having already proved themselves leading school boards and cities, they simply wanted to test their mettle by doing other things. Beware of those seeking higher office just for the sake of going higher.

Read More

You want to build WHAT in my neighborhood? - Council Member James Mitchell, Jr. will host a town hall to discuss various planning and development topics including UDO implementation on June 1, Community Area Planning, understanding the blue "Z" rezoning sign, and community benefits. 

RSVP to Jocella Palmer

• June 13 - History of Planning in Charlotte
• June 27 - Comprehensive Plan & Unified Development Ordinance
• July 11 - Mobility & Transportation
• July 25 - Urban Design & Preservation

Click here for more information
& to register for sessions

CLT Council Committees Meet Next Monday - On June 5th, Charlotte City Council Committees will meet as they always do on the first Monday of each month.  Next week's meetings will be of particular interest as the next wave of UDO text amendments will likely be discussed in the Transportation, Planning, & Development Committee.  A final resolution on the Eastland Project may also be in the offing in the Economic Development Committee.  

Check this link later in the week to view the agendas.

We're back with our popular "Two for Tuesday PLUS" edition providing education for you about relevant issues.  Here's our list of things YOU should know about:

• CLT Land Development Streamlining Submittal Process - In conjunction with the implementation of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), the department is enhancing the application submittal process.  Some highlights include:
• Accela Citizen Access (ACA) will be reduced to 9 record types from 70.
• ACA will now be accepting UDO Administration Applications for Pre-submittal meetings, Appeals, Variances, and Interpretations.
• Fees will be invoiced after all records are assessed in a gateway.  For fee estimation, a link on the application will go to the User Fee Section on the CLT Development Center website.
• Charging to the Mecklenburg County account option will be eliminated due to payment options now offered by the CLT Development Center - conventional check, credit card payment, and e-checks.
• NCDOT will be reviewing Plats and Traffic Impact Study records in Accela.  Staff is working with NCDOT to streamline the Commercial review process.

PLEASE NOTE:  The City’ s submittal portal Accela Citizen Access (ACA) will be “under construction” on Thursday, June 1st thru Sunday, June 4th.  ACA will re-open on Monday, June 5^th.  CLT Development Center

While interviewing Tracy Montross, we discovered some amazing facts about her, and the impact this pivotal airport and airline has on the health of our entire region.  For instance, did you know that at one point during the pandemic, our own Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) was the busiest terminal in the world?  It’s a testament to the airline that has helped put us on the world map in terms of attracting, maintaining, and growing business opportunities around the greater Piedmont region.

Charlotte, (or CLT which represents 5% of the entire GDP for the state of North Carolina) is fortunate to serve as America’s second-largest hub, connecting us to the world with an average of 560 daily flights, more than 170 destinations, and 23 countries, serving more than 42 million travelers in 2022.  Its regional impact on our economy, huge employment figures, and the way it supports our ability to attract world businesses; this is truly a subject REBIC wants you to know about!

Listen to this very entertaining podcast, here.

Community Area Planning (CAP) started its spring workshops on March 28th with the West Middle geography. Workshops will be held in 14 geographies throughout the city. Each area will have a virtual, evening, and weekend workshop option. Spring/Fall workshops are part of the two-year CAP project, and the next step in implementing the Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Community Area Planning builds upon the vision and goals in the Comprehensive Plan. It provides more detailed guidance for development, infrastructure, transportation, and other quality-of-life factors for each part of the city.

Not sure which workshop to attend?

Click here to discover your
Community Area Planning Geography!

Ready to register?

Click here to sign up for a workshop in your area!

Erin Shaw is slated to become the newest member of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Planning Commission as she received seven recommendations during last night's Council meeting earning her an automatic appointment.  Erin is a Managing Director with Beacon Partners, a REBIC Member, serves on the Charlotte Region Commercial Board of REALTORS®, a participant in the Urban Land Institute National Development Council, and is a member of NAIOP.  She will add a wealth of experience to the commission.  

Read Bio

Last Thursday the Charlotte City Council held a Budget Workshop as it works toward a May/June approval of the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget set to begin on July 1st.  To view the full meeting, click this link.  Additional inks to presentations provided can be found following here: 

• Revaluation Update Presentation 
• Revaluation Impacts
• CATS FY 2024 Budget Outlook
• CATS One-Pager
• Charlotte Water FY 2024 Budget Presentation
• Charlotte Water One-Pager
• March 9th Budget Workshop Follow Up

The City of Charlotte UDO team is hosting two online (Zoom) informational sessions on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, to provide information about four proposed text amendments that have been filed.  If approved, these text amendments will be in place when the UDO and amended Tree Ordinance go into effect on June 1, 2023. They are: 

1. RZ#2023-056 concerning Land Clearing and Inert Debris (LCID) Landfills;
2. RZ#2023-057 concerning uses in Centers Place Types;
3. RZ#2023-058 concerning a series of clean-ups to the existing adopted UDO, and
4. Amendment making modifications to the Tree Ordinance.

The first session is scheduled from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m., and there will also be an evening session from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  The same presentation will be made at both sessions, so you may choose the time that is most convenient for you. 

Advance registration is required.  Please use the following link to register for one of these sessions. 

CharlotteUDO.org

Community Area Planning will build upon the engagement efforts from both the Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan & Policy Map. Attend a Workshop to learn about the process and to share your input regarding future development and growth in your area. 

Meetings will be held beginning next week (March 28th) on Tuesdays at 11:00 am, Thursdays at 4:00 pm, and Saturdays at 9:00 am.

Click here to see the full list and sign
up for one or more workshop events! 

On Monday, November 7th, the Charlotte City Council held a marathon day of meetings.  Two of the committees held discussions on topics of significant interest to the real estate industry.  To catch up on anything you may have missed, please click on the information links below:

Transportation, Planning, and Development Committee - Agenda, Video

(Presentations)

• Housing and Jobs Summit Planning
• Charlotte Transportation Center Update
• Lynx Silver Line Light Rail

Housing, Safety, and Community Committee - Agenda, Video

(Presentations)

• Housing and Jobs Summit Planning
• Development Fees for Affordable Housing

Numerous vacancies remain on several Charlotte City Council-appointed Boards and Commissions.  

• The recent vacancy notice lists positions for which the City Council will make nominations and appointments in 2022.  Please take note of application deadlines and dates projected for nominations and appointments.
• Any additional positions will be added to this list as they arise.  Please subscribe to NotifyMe to receive notices of new vacancies.
• Applications are available online at charlottenc.gov/clerk or by clicking here.
• Applications remain active for one year from the submission date.
• Applicants will be notified when appointed.
• Please visit the Boards & Commissions webpage to view more details about each board and commission and their meeting times and locations.  Please review the necessary qualifications for each board, as well as attendance and code of ethics requirements.
• All applicants must be residents of Mecklenburg County.
• Appointees serve voluntarily without compensation.

Monday, November 7th

Bonds on November Ballot For Charlotte, Gastonia

On Nov. 8, Gastonia residents will vote on a $75 million Transportation General Obligation Bond Referendum. The City Council approved the bond referendum at its Aug. 2 meeting.  

Proposed projects include:

• Street and road repairs
• Pedestrian walkways (sidewalks)
• Street resurfacing
• Utility relocations
• Street intersection improvements
• Street light improvements

For more information, visit this link.       

Charlotte voters will also have the opportunity to vote on a $226 million bond package that will upgrade and enhance streets, build housing for low-to moderate-income individuals and families, and improve infrastructure in the city's older neighborhoods and emerging high-growth areas.