Zoning Agenda Notes:
Assisted Housing Locational Policy and the Rezoning Petition Process
Resource:
Stanley Wilson, Neighborhood & Business Services, 704-336-3337, swilson@charlotte.nc.gov
On July 20, 2009 City Council referred the Assisted Housing Locational Policy and the rezoning petition process to the Housing & Neighborhood Development Committee. The purpose of the referral was to address possible procedural changes for rezoning petitions involving proposed assisted housing developments for which City funding is requested and the City's Assisted Housing Locational Policy is triggered. The referral resulted from discussions with residents of the Sedgefield community regarding a waiver of the Assisted Housing Locational Policy in connection with the Savanna Woods development.
Background: Savanna Woods was rezoned on March 19, 2009 to allow for the development of Savanna Woods. Prior to the rezoning, the Charlotte Housing Authority (CHA) met with the Sedgefield neighborhood residents and received a letter of support for the Savanna Woods development. The CHA was seeking funding from the City ($1,000,000) and a waiver of the Locational Policy because the homeownership rate is less than 50% (47%). As a part of the review process, staff sent letters of notification about the requested waiver of the Locational Policy to the Sedgefield residents. Based on the new information, the Sedgefield residents felt they could no longer support the Savanna Woods project.
City staff and the CHA met with the Sedgefield residents on July 11, 2009 to discuss the project. During the meeting, residents encouraged staff to review the rezoning and Locational Policy waiver processes to determine if improvements could be made that would introduce the need for the waiver during the rezoning process.
Housing and Neighborhood Development Committee Review: On September 9, 2009 the Housing and Neighborhood Development Committee (Burgess, Barnes, Cooksey and Lassiter) reviewed Neighborhood and Business Services (N&BS) and Planning staff's recommendations for process changes. The Committee endorsed the following process improvements:
- N&BS will be copied on all potential re-zonings much like Transportation and Engineering & Property Management.
- N&BS will research each case to determine:
- If City funding will be requested, and
- If a waiver of the Assisted Housing Locational Policy is needed.
- N&BS will comment on all rezoning petitions and in instances where a policy waiver is to be requested N&BS will notify Planning in its comments and provide the relevant Quality of Life information. This will make information available to citizens, including the adjoining property owners.
- A representative from N&BS will attend the Rezoning Meeting where there are cases involving waivers of the Assisted Housing Locational Policy.
These process changes do not require Council action. Staff will provide a brief update to the Council on the process improvement at the September 21 Zoning Meeting. The changes will be effective with the December 2009 rezoning petitions.
Information Items:
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center Parking Deck Solar Demonstration Project
Resource:
Sue Rutledge, Engineering & Property Management, 704-336-4120, srutledge@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Engineering & Property Management (E&PM) plans to apply for a matching grant from the North Carolina State Energy Office to fund a solar energy demonstration project. The State Energy Office has designated a total of $3,500,000 to fund renewable energy projects across North Carolina. Up to 30 matching grants will be awarded, and the deadline for applications is September 21, 2009.
E&PM's proposed project would involve the installation of a 9.2 kilowatt photovoltaic solar array mounted on a single steel pole on the top level of the Government Center Parking Deck. The array would be situated in the southwest corner of the parking garage atop a raised deck structure spanning six parking spaces. This location allows for a clear solar window, optimizing the array's ability to capture light. No parking would be lost, as employees will be able to park under the deck structure. The system could be moved easily or expanded in the future.
The project would be highly visible, allowing opportunities for employees and the public to view and tour the structure. To increase awareness and education about renewable energy, an interactive kiosk would be constructed and installed in the lobby of the Government Center. Users of the kiosk would have the ability to navigate through real-time information to monitor the energy-producing capacity of the array.
Total estimated cost of the project is $90,000, and the grant application will be for no more than $45,000. The City would sell the energy generated by the array to Duke Energy and would sell the Renewable Energy Credits produced to NC Green Power or a similar vendor. Complete financial information will be presented to Council as part of the request for formal acceptance if the City's project is chosen for funding.
20th Anniversary of Hurricane Hugo
Resource:
Kim McMillan, Corporate Communications, 704-336-2643, kmcmillan@ci.charlotte.nc.us
The GOV Channel, operated by the City of Charlotte Corporate Communications division, has produced an hour-long program entitled, "Remembering Hugo: Emergency Preparedness Then and Now," that will debut September 22 at 7 p.m. on Time Warner Cable 16 and continue running through the end of October to coincide with hurricane season.
The first half of the program features interviews with City staff who were alerted in the middle of the night that Charlotte was in Hugo's path. Staff share vivid memories and accounts of how well City and County employees responded to the call of duty to ensure the safety of citizens and the delivery of critical services. Representative Sue Myrick, who was mayor at the time, also recounts her experience with the recovery effort and how the community pulled together. The program features interviews with former and current employees as well as others who served as the trusted voices throughout Hugo.
The second part of the program focuses on preparing the public for any future disaster with emergency preparedness tips and information on services now available to assist citizens such as 311 and www.charmeck.org.
