After months of debate, Charlotte approves 2040 plan

CHARLOTTE — After months of debate, the Charlotte City Council passed the 2040 plan, 6-5, on Monday night. The most controversial change is to single-family zoning.

“We are going to make sure everyone in this community has an opportunity to have safe place to live, a good paying job and a quality of life we would all want,” Mayor Vi Lyles said. “And this plan helps us move to do that.”

The plan expands zoning to allow duplexes and triplexes in all-place types. Covenants and neighborhood association rules will still apply, however, so some areas may not see a major change.

. The city hasn’t had a plan like this since 1975.

The city has stripped the language interpreted to limit the height of uptown buildings.

[PAST COVERAGE: 2040 vision plan in flux as city leaders question single-family zoning changes]

The city removed a provision that called for Center City towers over 30 stories to include community benefits, such as affordable housing or green space.

The plan calls for at least half the public infrastructure spending over the next 20 years to be in the most vulnerable communities. To protect residents from gentrification, an anti-displacement commission will be formed. It is unclear what powers the group will have.

Councilman Matt Newton and the others who voted against it said that single-family zoning changes will increase gentrification.

“The opportunity to build more units will be an opportunity for developers to make more money,” he said.

The chair of the planning commission disputed that statement.

“Increasing housing supply is a tried and true method of increasing housing affordability,” chairman Sam Spencer said.

The city has added a preamble to explain that it is an aspirational document. The development community is worried that some ideas will increase the cost of housing allowed by state law.

(WATCH BELOW: City Council holds special meeting to vote on parts of controversial 2040 plan)

City Council holds special meeting to vote on parts of controversial 2040 plan

One example is to use fees and funding tools to make sure new development contributes to the funding and construction of new infrastructure.

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