The Implementation Guide, developed as part of an area plan, is primarily a
staff document that identifies the priorities, expected time frame and
responsible agency for implementing concept plan recommendations. It is not
adopted by City Council. Rather, actions identified in the implementation guide
require future Council approval and are brought before them on a case-by-case
basis.
Implementing Land Use Recommendations
Land Use recommendations are implemented on an ongoing basis after an area plan
is adopted, especially during the rezoning process when development proposals
are brought before staff for support before City Council. During the rezoning
process staff works closely with the property owner, developer and/or architects
as well as other City and County staff to determine if the proposed development
is consistent with the recommendations in the adopted area plan. Consistency of
the proposed development is determined after examining a wide variety of factors
including land use, transportation, urban design and the environment. The
proposed development is deemed consistent with the area plan recommendations if
it meets the future land use designation in terms of use i.e. residential,
office, mixed-use etc., and in terms of intensity/density, building heights and
urban design.
Corrective Rezonings
Staff-initiated corrective rezonings are a key tool for implementing land use
recommendations. A rezoning changes the zoning classification on a property,
thereby changing the allowed uses and development standards. Staff-initiated
corrective rezonings are most often recommended to:
• Align zoning with existing land use
to make future land uses compatible with existing development
• Align zoning with the currently adopted land use plan
• Protect environmentally sensitive areas
The implementation guide typically
describes the proposed corrective rezonings needed to achieve the plan vision.
The proposed rezonings must be approved through a separate rezoning process
before they take effect. The
rezoning process includes the opportunity for public comment.
Implementing Transportation Recommendations
The implementation guide typically prioritizes the transportation
recommendations and may identify potential funding sources for specific street
improvements, connectivity enhancements, pedestrian and bicycle improvements and
transit. It may also suggest studies or analyses that should be undertaken to
better address more complicated transportation issues. Some Area Plans have very
specific project proposals with streetscape and cross section recommendations.
Area Plan Implementation Program Fund
There is a Council adopted program fund intended to be used for implementing
capital projects that help realize the intended visions set forth in area plans.
The program began in 2006 from the need for better follow-through on plan
visions and recommendations, especially capital improvements. The Planning
Department had dozens of adopted plans and hundreds of plan recommendations but
no way of tracking physical results and needing to press forward the
implementation mechanisms to bring the plan visions into reality. The Department
created a system to analyze, track and implement capital projects as well as
other projects originating from City Council adopted Area Plans. City Council
also established an Area Plan Implementation Program, intended to help fund
capital projects that help establish the vision set forth in adopted area plans.
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Click Here to View the "Plan to Progress" document
For more information regarding Implementation of an Area Plan contact:
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Department
600 East Fourth Street (8th Floor)
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
Phone: (704)-336-2205
Fax: (704)-336-5123