Why do we do area planning?
Area planning grew out of the 1980 Urban Symposium. Symposium participants requested more detailed, comprehensive planning for specific areas of the City and County, as up until that time, most long range planning was done on a countywide basis.
The goals of today's area plans are similar to those of the past. They aim to:
Area plans have also changed over time. In particular, today's area plans differ from those of the past in that they:
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More thoroughly integrate transportation and land use considerations
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Include more complex data analyses due to technological improvements like Geographic Information Systems
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Provide a greater level of detail, especially regarding land uses and intensity
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Have a much greater emphasis on design
What are the different types of area plans and how do they fit with other policies and plans?
Click here to open a PDF document illustrating the relationship among Charlotte-Mecklenburg's policies and plans.
How do I find out more information about district plans?
With the adoption of the 2005 Generalized Land Use Plan in 1985, Charlotte-Mecklenburg was organized into seven districts to facilitate the preparation of detailed land use and physical development plans. These plans, referred to as district plans, were originally developed for each of the seven planning districts between 1986 and 1992. Click here to learn more about district plans.
To view Charlotte-Mecklenburg's districts, with associated adopted land use, please click on the link to adopted future land use maps.
What is the difference between the land use recommendation in an area plan and zoning?
Area plans are policy documents. They address land use issues and define how land should be used in the future. The future land uses adopted as part of an area plan are policy, not regulatory.
Zoning designations are legal requirements, which determine how parcels of land may be used. When property owners want to develop or use their property in ways that do not conform to their current zoning regulation, they must apply for a change in their zoning classification, also referred to as a rezoning. Zoning regulations, and the rezoning process, are often a key part of implementing area plans.
What is the difference between existing land use and the currently adopted land use?
Existing land use refers to how property is currently developed.The currently adopted land use plan specifies the land use that the City has determined to be most appropriate for a parcel in the future, as specified in the most recently adopted plan. For example, a property may be currently developed with an apartment building (the existing land use is multi-family residential), but the currently adopted land use may be for office development.
Can area plans be changed or updated?
Areas can sometimes change unexpectedly over time. Changes can result from unanticipated development, a shift in demographics, capital improvements, or other unforeseen circumstances.
Plans can be amended or changed through the plan amendment process. Similar to the development of an area plan, a plan amendment includes a thorough analysis of issues and public involvement.
Plans can also be amended through the rezoning process. Rezoning is the process of changing the zoning classification on a parcel of land. Land owners may request a rezoning if they want to use their land in a manner that is inconsistent with the current zoning classification. Any request for a rezoning is evaluated against the currently adopted land use for the site. If a rezoning petition is approved, it amends the adopted plan and becomes the new adopted land use for the site.
