Unified Development Ordinance

[Norm2]

How will the UDO impact the construction of taller buildings in Ballantyne and South Park? 

[navigator319]

For example, in the Transit Urban Center district, the category that allows for the tallest buildings, developers have the right to build up to 130 feet. That translates to around 10 stories. But they can build up to 300 feet under the bonus height system, unless the building is within a quarter of a mile walking distance to a rapid transit station, in which case the height is unlimited.

Unlimited height within 1/4 mile of stations????  Is this new?  Could we get our first 1000 footer up in University then??

[Matthew.Brendan]

No but we could get another sweet Carvana. 

Also I dunno what is up with this mass delusion that Charlotte is going to land a 1000 footer any time soon. The newest buildings are barely cracking 35-40 stories aka 600-700’

I mean sure it’s fun to dream but c’mon. 

[tozmervo]

The city is working on the next stage of implementing the updated TOD districts, which they call "translation" and then alignment rezoning. The latter is a huge deal and will represent a huge step forward for Charlotte planning.

https://charlotteudo.org/transit-oriented-development/zoning-translation-and-alignment/

https://charlotte.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=8623e280e8934502aa7b2c43c22a84da

First, all the existing TOD zones will be translated into the new TOD zones. But then, they will be going along the transit station areas along the transit corridors and basically "blanket rezone" to the most appropriate of the new TOD zones. That means that properties in transit station areas will a) not have to request rezoning to TOD and b) will not be able to redevelop under existing zoning, which is often low-density commercial or residential. That also includes all of the parking limitations in the new TOD zoning. 

[FreeOpinions]

https://www.wfae.org/post/charlotte-talks-city-planners-consider-bold-idea-address-history-segregation-charlotte

[southslider]

On 4/16/2019 at 11:30 AM, navigator319 said:

Unlimited height within 1/4 mile of stations????  Is this new?  Could we get our first 1000 footer up in University then??

Such tower would need to be almost two miles from any residential.  There is a height plane for TOD of an additional foot for every ten feet from residential.  Thanks to Dilworth's reaction to the Arlington, call this Charlotte's "pink tower" rule.

[kermit]

https://www.sightline.org/2019/06/30/oregon-just-voted-to-legalize-duplexes-on-almost-every-city-lot/

the state of Oregon just passed a bill eliminating single family zoning statewide (I believe it applies to any municipality larger than 10,000).

a better way to phrase the change is that Oregon just eliminated all regulation of duplexes and (more) affordable housing.

#DotherightthingCharlotte

Edited July 1, 2019 by kermit

[CLT>]

If anyone is interested these are the proposed changes to the Sign & Tree Ordinances as part of the UDO.

Informational Meeting July 11th 6-8pm CMGC

Room 267 (2nd Floor), 600 E. Fourth Street

Sign Ordinance

Tree Ordinance

[Hushpuppy321]

Beginning to look like higher rise construction is moving outward from Uptown into Southend, Southpark and Ballantyne.  I support this as Charlotte needs to grow up and not sprawl out so much

[kermit]

I thought we had an affordable housing thread. This belongs there:

 

 

[KJHburg]

We do have an affordable housing thread in the coffeehouse 

good news about it more developers are adding some affordable units to their projects. 

 

[kermit]

 

 

Edited January 27, 2020 by kermit

[southslider]

Hopefully, the City has UDO changes ready to go faster than late next year to comply with new State law changes in Chapter 160D. 

[kermit]

3 hours ago, southslider said:

Hopefully, the City has UDO changes ready to go faster than late next year to comply with new State law changes in Chapter 160D. 

What is that?

[tozmervo]

1 hour ago, kermit said:

What is that?

I look forward to someone's TL/DR of highlights. https://www.sog.unc.edu/sites/www.sog.unc.edu/files/reports/20190500_PZLB28_v8.pdf

One notable item I caught: the "Map Act" is repealed. This was the thing where NCDOT had "protected corridors" that essentially permitted the use of eminent domain for things like widening highways.

In general, it seems to standardize certain development rules across the state, eliminating some exceptions. Reading between the lines, it is probably reducing the power of some planning & inspection boards that may have been more stringent than most. 

 

[kermit]

^ my understanding of the problems with the Map act was that it allowed NCDOT to designate corridors that it ‘might’ use. From a market perspective this was a ‘taking’ but NCDOT didn’t compensate landowners until the corridor began construction.  

Eminent domain is still possible, but reserving the corridor in advance is not. I am sympathetic to both sides of this issue.

[Nathan2]

Does anyone know if TOD will also be applied to the silver line corridor and when they are planning to do that?  I would hope sooner than later even if the silver line is a decade out.

[southslider]

The biggest change may be the loss of conditional use permits.

[Hushpuppy321]

On 1/28/2020 at 10:03 AM, Nathan2 said:

Does anyone know if TOD will also be applied to the silver line corridor and when they are planning to do that?  I would hope sooner than later even if the silver line is a decade out.

There’s been preliminary talk of preserving the SilverLine Corridor and the preservation efforts will only accelerate now that the $50 Million Design Work has been awarded to get more specific data.  TOD absolutely will be applied to the whole corridor - probably in blanket fashion once this is under construction in the late 2020’s.  Definitely hoping a funding bond referendum is floated during a Presidential Election cycle - better turnout, better results.

[Nathan2]

10 hours ago, Hushpuppy321 said:

There’s been preliminary talk of preserving the SilverLine Corridor and the preservation efforts will only accelerate now that the $50 Million Design Work has been awarded to get more specific data.  TOD absolutely will be applied to the whole corridor - probably in blanket fashion once this is under construction in the late 2020’s.  Definitely hoping a funding bond referendum is floated during a Presidential Election cycle - better turnout, better results.

I would have hoped they would have at least started before then. I hate to think how much development could occur that doesn't benefit the area and silver line before 2025. 

[tozmervo]

25 minutes ago, Nathan2 said:

I would have hoped they would have at least started before then. I hate to think how much development could occur that doesn't benefit the area and silver line before 2025. 

If the all-new UDO zoning is adopted by September 2021, the entire city will be affected, not just the transit corridors. As part of the sweeping change, I expect we will see blanket rezonings to TOD along both the gold line and silver line.

[KJHburg]

This kind of parking garage should be encouraged  from Seattle.

https://www.bdcnetwork.com/gly-construction-build-underground-robotic-parking-garage-seattle-cancer-care-alliance

[kermit]

 

[tozmervo]

2 hours ago, kermit said:

 

"Scare suburban voters" is the clear strategy. If the 2018 mid-terms showed the GOP anything, it's that they are hemorrhaging previously reliable suburban votes. 

[tozmervo]

On 7/19/2020 at 12:23 PM, tozmervo said:

"Scare suburban voters" is the clear strategy. If the 2018 mid-terms showed the GOP anything, it's that they are hemorrhaging previously reliable suburban votes. 

Hey, look at me! I'm secretly an NPR political analyst. 
https://www.npr.org/2020/07/22/893899254/down-in-the-polls-trump-pitches-fear-they-want-to-destroy-our-suburbs