Defines the places we want to create…
Establishes the rules to create them.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Department
Creating Great Places for Our Community
Transportation & Planning Committee March 26, 2018
Presentation Outline
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1. A “Walk Thru” CharlotteUDO.org & Project Facebook Page
2. Process 3. Questions & Answers
4. Discussion - Get Your Input
Who is involved
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City Council
Transportation & Planning Committee
Community/ Neighborhoods
Ordinance Advisory
Committee
Planning Commission/
Committee
Staff
• City Council
• Transportation & Planning Committee
• Ordinance Advisory Committee
• Planning Commission/ Committee
• Community/ Neighborhoods
• Interdepartmental Staff Technical Team
What We Heard…
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500+ comments in 2012: 1. Development Review Process 2. Reliance on and Use of
Conditional Zoning 3. Relationship to City Plans 4. Suburban Development Vs.
Urban Development/ Redevelopment
5. Zoning Districts and Uses 6. Ordinance Organization,
Understanding and Accessibility
7. Development Standards
What We Heard…
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In 2016:
1. Names of Place Types are Confusing – too many names with “mixed-use”
2. Need to Address Affordable Housing
3. Importance of Green/Open Space & Walkability
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Charlotte’s Vision & Goals…
1. High quality, context sensitive design
2. Protection of established neighborhoods
3. Housing for a diverse population
4. Diligent consideration of the environment
5. Healthy and flourishing tree canopy
6. More walkable places with a variety of activities
7. Diverse, growing and adaptable economy
8. Revitalization of economically challenged areas
9. Enhanced transportation networks pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and transit users
10.Efficient infrastructure investments
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Timeline
How did we get here? • 2013 (Clarion Assessment/Approach
Report)
• 2015 (Selection of Camiros as UDO consultant)
• 2016 (Consultant contract approved and background work on UDO started)
• 2016/17 (Transportation Fair, Pop-Up Meetings, Request a Speaker, Place Types Community Workshop)
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Current Land Use Policy & Ordinance/Regulations
• Outdated, misaligned, non-user friendly
• Zoning Districts not adequate to implement Area Plans without extensive conditional rezoning notes
• Over 80% of rezoning cases are conditional, requiring a high level of scrutiny for each case
• Neighborhood input in the conditional rezoning process
• Takes times and costs more
Current Policy Current Ordinance/Regulations
• Outdated plans, non-user friendly
• Inconsistent level of detail
• Confusing – too many plans (CCW, GDP, District, Area Plans)
• Unclear expectations - Area
Plans difficult to implement with current zoning districts
• Takes times and costs more
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Place Types
What is Place Types and how important is it to the Unified Development Ordinance? • Policy document. Land use vision.
• Clearer expectations for future development – this
saves time and lessens community concerns
• Updates some older area and district plans
• Provides a way to keep plans updated to better reflect growth and change
• Addresses design of development in addition to use
• Informs the UDO and links it to our area plans and vision
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Unified Development Ordinance What is the benefit of a new ordinance/regulation? • User-friendly
• Consolidates multiple
ordinance/regulation into one document
• Streamlined process
• Changes to conventional and conditional zonings
• Reduced time for processing applications
• Transition from use-based to place-based
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Community Engagement
How will this rewrite affect the community engagement process? • Predictable. Both community and
developers know what to expect
• Sets clear urban design standards upfront
• More conventional zonings provide opportunity for more staff-led community meetings/involvement rather than all developer-led community meetings
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Council Involvement
How will the zoning ordinance rewrite impact Council’s ability to stay involved in shaping our communities?
• Fewer conditional zoning petitions and more conventional rezonings requiring decisions – Time Savings for Council
• Opportunity to update zoning for all properties, not just those requiring rezoning
• More opportunities for planning staff engagement with Council on District levels
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Council Involvement
How will the zoning ordinance rewrite impact Council’s ability to stay involved in shaping our communities?
• Council will consider amendments to Place Types every 1-2 years & comprehensive update every 5 -7 years
• Council will have opportunity to consider text amendments to UDO monthly
• Council will continue to adopt future Area Plans
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Development Community
How will this rewrite benefit the development industry? • Time Savings: Intent is that having
better standards in our conventional zoning districts will allow us to increase number of conventional zonings and have simpler conditional zonings, thus saving time for developers
• Predictability and Consistency: Place Types and UDO creates certainty of use/development as well as what is required
• Market flexibility
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Economic Development
Will this result in a better climate for economic development? The UDO and Place Types will:
• Result in a more predictable
development environment in policy and regulation.
• Provide a single source for City of Charlotte Development Ordinances.
• Include simple, illustrated development standards.
• Reduce ordinance conflict.
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Diverse Price Point (Affordable) Housing
What tools does the City currently have for increasing supply of diverse price point (affordable) housing? • “On-time” Review and Permitting
Process.
• Density Bonus Provisions.
• Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Allowances.
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Diverse Price Point (Affordable) Housing
What incentives can the City offer developers to produce more units for families earning 60-80% AMI?
• Expanded “on-time” review and permitting process
• Expedited rezoning process for diverse price point (affordable) housing
• Revised and additional density and height bonuses
• More locations where moderate and high density housing can be built
• Removal of unnecessary barriers to diverse price point (affordable) housing in existing regulations
• Housing Trust Fund
Diverse Price Point (Affordable) Housing/
Comprehensive Housing Plan
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Lessons from Elsewhere
Who else has done/is doing this?
• Denver, CO (Zoning)
• Raleigh, NC (UDO)
• Wilson, NC (UDO)
• Memphis, TN (UDO)
• Austin, TX (UDO)
What have we learned from them?
• Code updates typically take 4 to 5 years, and in some cases longer
• Need clear goals/blueprint
• Engage the community throughout the process
• Best practices and examples from other cities are helpful
• Develop an effective transition from old to new regulations
• Even with consultant assistance, project is staff intensive
• Minor updates after full adoption are common
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Neighborhood Character Overlay District - NCOD
What is the status of the NCOD? • Intent is to preserve the character of
our neighborhoods
• We consider this as a tool that can help achieve this
• Currently, we are pressing a reset button to re-evaluate how this intent can be accomplished
• Help us define the outcome
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March 24 Summit
Impressions from Summit: • Turnout • Work sessions • Participation • Takeaways • Next Steps
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