Charlotte City Council Zoning Meeting - May 20, 2024

The Charlotte City Council held a zoning meeting on Monday, May 20, 2024, at 5:00 PM in the Council Chamber of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center. The meeting included consent agenda items, decisions on several rezoning petitions, and public hearings for multiple proposals. Key actions included approval of a UDO text amendment over the zoning committee's deferral recommendation, approval of a controversial petition opposed by the committee, and deferral of a mixed-use development petition in Elizabeth.

Consent Calendar

• Item 3 (2023-015) – Tribek Properties: Petition to rezone 4.54 acres at Wilkinson Boulevard and Remount Road from ML-2 to TOD-NC(CD). Councilmember Mayfield pulled the item, expressing concerns about lack of updated TOD language to ensure diverse pricing along the light rail corridor. A motion to approve passed; Mayfield and Watlington opposed. Approved.
• Item 4 (2024-005) – Portman Residential: Petition to rezone 1.21 acres on Chamberlain Avenue from ML-2 to IMU. Approved unanimously without discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 7 (2023-033) – CRD Elizabeth LLC: Residents from the Elizabeth neighborhood, including former Mayor Dan Clodfelter, expressed concerns about building height (78 feet) and parking impacts. The district representative (Mayor Pro Tem Anderson) supported the petition after the petitioner reduced units from 215 to 193 and increased parking ratio to 1.2 spaces per unit. Staff maintained opposition, citing height concerns. The petition was deferred on a substitute motion.
• Item 8 (2023-042) – Wilmore Preservation LLC: No opposition; community engagement highlighted preservation of historic character.
• Item 11 (2024-033) – Text Amendment (Cleanup): A minister requested inclusion of places of worship as a permitted use in ML-1 districts; staff confirmed the amendment would address this. No other speakers.
• Item 15 (2024-031) – Panthers Stadium, LLC: Resident Wesley Clark opposed the 70-foot field house on Cedar Street, citing loss of tree canopy and views. Petitioner committed to working with the Third Ward community on design and potential mitigation.
• Item 19 (2023-173) – Josaih Boling: Small business owner Mary Fortner opposed the conventional rezoning to IMU, worried about traffic and parking impacts on her game store. Petitioner had no site plan but committed to UDO standards.
• Item 21 (2024-003) – ATAPCO Properties: No opposition; the petition involves displacement of 55 low-income households, with staff encouraging mitigation.
• Item 27 (2024-021) – Foundry Commercial: Community advocate initially opposed but later supported after transparency and preservation commitments, including a partnership with nonprofit "She Built This City."

Discussion Items

• Item 5 (2024-043) – Conservation Residential Development Standards: This UDO text amendment increased open space requirements from 2 to 5 acres, added landscape buffers, and required public street frontage. The zoning committee had voted 6-0 to defer, but council debated. Councilmember Bokhari proposed a deferral to allow further tweaks; others argued action was needed to close loopholes and prevent negative impacts from a pipeline of applications. A substitute motion to approve staff's recommendation passed, with Bokhari and Driggs among those opposed. The petition was approved over the committee's deferral.
• Item 6 (2022-105) – Moores Chapel Retail, LLC: Rezoning 3.99 acres from N1-A to B-1(CD) for a commercial development. The zoning committee recommended denial (5-2), citing environmental and traffic concerns. Staff recommended approval. Council voted to approve despite the committee's position, with Mayfield and Watlington opposed.
• Item 7 (2023-033) – CRD Elizabeth LLC: After a motion to approve failed (4-7? unclear tally), a motion to deny was made, then a substitute motion to defer passed. The petition was deferred to allow further negotiations on building height and community concerns.
• Item 8 (2023-042) – Wilmore Preservation LLC: Petition to rezone 3.23 acres at West Boulevard and Mint Street to MUDD-O with historic overlay. Approved unanimously with praise for historic preservation and affordable housing commitments.
• Item 9 (2024-004) – The Drox Group, LLC: Rezoning 4.1 acres on South Tryon Street from N1-B to N2-A(CD) for 50 townhomes. Councilmember Mayfield opposed, citing neighborhood concerns about traffic, stormwater, and tree loss. Councilmember Brown supported, noting staff and committee approval. Approved with Mayfield opposed.

Key Outcomes

• Item 5 (2024-043): Approved over zoning committee's deferral recommendation. The text amendment will take effect to tighten conservation development standards.
• Item 6 (2022-105): Approved despite zoning committee denial. The rezoning allows a commercial development at Moores Chapel and Rhyne Roads.
• Item 7 (2023-033): Deferred to a future meeting (likely June 17, 2024, per pattern) to allow the petitioner to address staff concerns on building height.
• Item 8 (2023-042): Approved unanimously.
• Item 9 (2024-004): Approved with one opposed.
• Consent Items: Items 3 and 4 approved; Item 3 passed with two opposed.
• Public Hearings: All hearings (items 11-27) were closed without immediate decisions. These petitions will proceed to the Zoning Committee for recommendation and return to City Council at a future date.