City leaders unveiled 14 community area plans and seek public input to guide neighborhood growth.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ The city of Charlotte is releasing 14 new community area plans designed to shape how neighborhoods grow and evolve over the coming decades โ and officials want input from the public.
Each plan outlines a detailed vision for different sections of the city, offering guidance on development, infrastructure, and land use in alignment with Charlotteโs 2040 Comprehensive Plan.
โWe know that weโre experiencing tremendous growth, and this helps to guide that growth,โ said Kathy Cornett, long-range planning division manager for the city.ย
Covering nearly 350 square miles, Charlotteโs land area presents a complex canvas for planners. Cornett and her team have spent years working on the plans, tailoring each one to the unique needs and challenges of specific neighborhoods.
โIt sets the policy framework and also identifies each of those geographyโs greatest needs in terms of the comprehensive plan,โ Cornett said.
Among the 14 plans are bold ideas for reshaping key areas. One vision focuses on the intersection of The Plaza and W.T. Harris Boulevard, where planners envision a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly mixed-use district with improved street connectivity and safety features. Another proposal targets the Orr Road and Old Concord Road area, which the city sees as an โinnovation mixed-useโ district aimed at supporting research, development, and job growth.
While the renderings show exciting possibilities, city officials caution that the concepts are not finalized. Implementation will depend on a variety of factors, including market conditions, site limitations, budget availability, and โ crucially โ community feedback.
Greg Asciutto, executive director of CharlotteEAST, has long championed development in east Charlotte. He supports elements of the plan but urged caution, noting that similar visions in the past have taken decades to materialize.
โItโs great stuff, but itโs aspirational,โ Asciutto said. โLike weโve seen time and time again, not just in east Charlotte but across the city, projects put on paper might take โ in the case of Eastland โ 30 years to come to fruition.โ
A public hearing on the plans was originally scheduled for April 28, but has been postponed to May 12 to allow additional time for review and feedback.
City planners are encouraging residents to engage in the process, which will help refine the plans before theyโre brought before City Council for adoption.
Contact Walker Lawson at wlawson@wcnc.com or follow him on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.
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