[Music] [Music] Hey hey hey. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] and >> welcome to our September nomber 15th zoning meeting. We start our meetings with uh introductions and we will start um with our clerk, >> Billy Tons, deputy city clerk. >> Good evening everyone. Thanks for coming this evening. I'm Tijana Brown representing Charlotte City Council District 3. >> Good evening. Marjorie Molina, District 5. >> Allison Craig, deputy city manager. >> Good evening. Dante Anderson, Mayor Pro Tim, District 1. Malcolm Graham, District 2. Ed Driggs, District 7. Edwin Peacock, District 6. >> Good evening, Lana Mayfield, representing you at large. >> Good evening, Victoria Watlington, and I have the pleasure of serving you as a council member at large. Terry Hegler Gray, senior assistant city attorney. >> Excellent. So, we begin our meetings with an invocation, as an expression, an inspiration followed by our pledge of allegiance. The invocation by the council member is intended to underscore our proceedings and we celebrate the religious diversity of our entire community including those without a religious faith and tonight council member Peacock will provide the invocation. >> All right, let us bow our heads. Gracious God, give thanks for this day and for the privilege of living and serving in the city of Charlotte. We are grateful for the many blessings we enjoy as a community, especially the growth, the opportunity, and prosperity that continue to shape our city's future. May we never take these gifts for granted, and we be ever mindful that there are other parts of this great nation where there's not so much progress as we see here, or nor is it assured. As we gather to consider matters of land use and development, grant us the wisdom and the patience. Help us to listen with open minds, speak with clarity and respect, and seek the common good in all our decisions. We ask for the courage to lead with integrity, the conviction to act justly, and a renewed sense of purpose to serve our neighbors, whether it's in this room, in our homes, or throughout our city. Bless this meeting. Bless those who serve behind the scenes. and bless all who call Charlotte home. May our work today help shape a city that is much more just and vibrant and welcoming for generations to come. And all God's people said, >> "Amen." >> Amen. For sure. >> All right, let's rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> So, we'll start officially the meeting by um providing an explanation of our zoning process. And the process begins with applications submitted to our planning staff for review. There there are cases of two types on the agenda. There are decisions and there are hearings. Decisions on cases for which a public hearing was previously held. We will have no further comment this evening. But for hearings, anyone wishing to speak uh is asked to see our clerk before the start of that particular hearing. And we'll go through the staff's presentation and that has no time limit. And the petitioner um that is those who are in favor of the petition get three minutes combined to present their case unless one of two conditions occur. One is um there is opposition signed up to speak or if staff is in opposition, the petitioner gets 10 minutes, the opponent gets 10 minutes and then the petitioner is provided a twominut rebuttal. If no one is opposed or signed up to speak, staff provides a short presentation. Uh the hearing is closed and we move forward. So, I'm at this time I will pass it on to um our zoning committee chair uh chair Wilton who will introduce his committee and uh provide um greetings. >> Uh thank you, Mayor Proim, and thank you members of the council. My name is Douglas A. Welton, and I am the chairman of the zoning committee for the planning commission. Allow me to introduce uh the fellow members of my uh committee and they include Melissa Gaston, Aaron Shaw, Teresa McDonald, Robin Stewart, Carolyn Milan, and Michael Caprioli. The zoning committee will meet on Tuesday, September 30th at 5:30 p.m. At that meeting, uh the zoning committee will meet to discuss and make recommendations on the petitions that have a public hearing here tonight. The public is welcome to come to that meeting, but please note it is not a continuation of the public hearings that are being held here tonight. Prior to that meeting, you are welcome to contact us and provide any input that you would like. You can find contact information for the zoning committee and information about each one of the petitions that is being heard tonight on charlottplanning.org. Back to you, Mayor Pertton. >> Thank you, uh, Chair Wilton. Okay. So, we will begin with our consent agenda items. Um, reszoning petition items 3 through 15 may be considered in one motion um except for those pulled by a council member. And please note the following criteria. All >> Mayor Pro Tim, would you like to proceed with the deferrals? >> Yes, I'm sorry. Yes, we we'll we'll do that. So, we do we do have a few items that have been uh deferred this evening and um I will pass it over to staff to speak to those. Thank you. We have one decision up for deferral. Item number 16, petition 202527. Petitioner is Mission City Church Freedom Communities requesting a deferral of their decision to October 20th, 2025. Then we have three hearings requesting a deferral all to October 20th, 2025. The first being item number 20, petition 2025-025 by Angelo Tilman. Item 21, petition 2025-030 by Trion Adviserss and petition 2025-063, which is item number 27 by Northwood Raven. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Can I have those repeated because I could barely hear? >> Yes. I and I can give you the item numbers if you like. It is item number 16 in the decision section >> as well as for hearings items 20, 21, and 27. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Did everyone capture that? >> All right. Is there a motion to defer uh the one decision and the three hearings? >> So moved. Second. >> All right. Motion and second. All in favor raise hands. Any oppose? That is unanimous. Thank you. So, we will move on to the actual consent agenda items, which are items uh 3 through 15. And um these will be considered in one motion unless a council member requests to pull them. The following is criteria around our um consent agenda items. >> Oh, no. Go ahead. >> Okay. Um, one the first one is it had no public opposition to the petition at the hearing. Staff recommends approval. The zoning committee recommends approval. And there are no changes after the zoning committee's recommendation. Are there any consent agenda items council would like to pull for question, comment, or separate vote? And I will start by pulling item number 13. Miss Millina. >> Thank you, Mayor Pro Tim. I would like to pull item number 14 for a comment. >> Okay. Miss Mayfield, >> Madam Clerk, you ready? >> Three, five, six, eight, nine, and 15. >> Okay. I heard three, five, six, eight, nine, nine, and 15. >> And 15. Okay. Okay. And so then that would leave um item 4, 10, 11, and 12. And um is there a motion to approve the following petition items and adopt the zoning committee statement of consistency as their own for the following items? I need to read the numbers. Petition number 2025. >> Question from staff. >> Item number seven as well was not pulled. >> I didn't have that written down. >> I should stand consent. >> Yes. Okay. >> 368 9 and 15. >> I got you. So, uh, petition number item four. Uh, petition number 2025009. Item number seven, petition number 2025 046. Petition number 2025 050, 2025 053 and 20254. Is there a motion to approve and adopt? >> So move second. >> All right. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor raise hands. Any oppose? That is unanimous for those items. So, we will um go back to the top and we'll start with item number three. Is there a motion to approve and adopt uh the zoning committee statement of consistency for item number three? Petition number 2020 4141. Is there a motion to approve and adopt? >> That's council. >> Which one? That's the one that council member >> M Johnson I know you just came in. >> Oh motion to approve second. >> Okay. All right. >> Um we have discussion at this time and I'm recognizing Miss Mayfield. >> We going to fourth. >> Thank you. For item number three, the concern that I have is this is a proposal of a residential community of up to 575 multifamily attached dwellings. So yet more apartments. I shared with council over the weekend the concerns I have with the number of multif family that we are seeing in our city and we have had plenty of conversations and comparisons from community and others of we don't want to look at look like some communities that have seen a high increase of multif family versus owner occupied housing dwellings. I've already stated we have over a 100,000 single family homes that are now rental properties within our city. Also, this for me is a very highly intensive project that is going to create a considerable strain on our infrastructure, specifically our road infrastructure when we do not have the current financial wherewithal between our funding as well as the state funding to accommodate this infrastructure change. I will be voting no. >> Okay. Miss Johnson. >> Thank you, Mayor Pro Tim, and thank you for that um email, Council Member Mayfield. And she's she's right about the number of units. However, this petition is a for sale um project and in this area with so many multifamily and apartments in that area, this is diverse housing for that area. So, it is for sale. We do need for sale units in that area. Also, they performed a traffic study. So, they're going to be making improvements to the infrastructure and to the traffic. They're also donating uh 5.3 acres to Meckllinmberg County for a future public park. There's additional walkability. Again, it's for sale project. The university city partners are supporting this as well as the district 4 coalition. So, for that reason, I will be supporting it today. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Mayfield. >> Thank you, Council Member Johnson. Along with when I reached out the concern that I have of attached dwellings and the impact and the cost of those, my greater concern is the proposed 4,331 potential trips per day, whereas the entitlement under the current zoning is 1,988. that infrastructure impact aligns with the conversation you and other comp council members have mentioned regarding cumulative impact when we look at our seat plans when we look at our environmental goals. So I am happy to hear that this will be a four- sale town home multif family product and project. The concern for me is still in the number of trips and the impact that that's going to have on our infrastructure which it would be helpful if we had representatives on at a different level to release some of the funding that we need to move forward our infrastructure. That is not necessarily the reality over the next year, but I do appreciate you clarifying that this is a town home and not just a multif family that is a for sale product. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Hearing no additional comment. All in favor raise hands. Any opposed? Miss Mayfield is opposed. So we will move on to item number five. Is there a motion to approve and adopt the zoning committee statement of consistency for petition number 202534? >> So moved. Second. >> All right. Any discussion? Miss Mayfield. Thank you. Again, when we're looking at the potential of 79 multif family attached dwellings, we're also looking at an additional 552 trips per day just based on this 79 single family attached dwelling units infrastructure, road infrastructure, and the impact. We are seeing quite a bit of construction happening around the city on two-lane roads where we're attempting to do some widening, but the impact that that's having on community is causing quite a bit of congestion and challenges. So again, for the sake of us pausing long enough to make the investments we need infrastructure-wise before approving yet more development, I will be a no. >> Okay. Any other discussion? >> I don't think so. No >> hearing none. All in favor raise hands. Any oppose? >> Miss Mayfield is opposed, which takes us to item number six. Is there a motion to approve and adopt the zoning committee's statement of consistency for petition item 2025 034? >> We're going to wait on you, ma'am. >> So moved. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Thank you. Uh, any discussion? Miss Mayfield. >> Question for staff. Why is the city the entity that is petitioning for this resoning of this site versus the actual developer who would in any other circumstance pay whatever development fees that any other developer that wants to do a resoning? Why is the city leading this? >> So, this is a city-owned property and it's a conventional request. There's no developer identified. Technically, it is a conventional request, but given that it is a city-owned property, it's typical that we would be the petitioner in this situation. >> So, I'm going to rephrase the question. The city owns a piece of property. Unless there is a developer that's interested in actually doing something with that property, why are we reszoning it ahead of time versus when and if there is interest in that property, that individual, that business, then going through our proper reszoning prop process? Why are we being proactive with reszoning this? So, it's a city-owned property, so we understand what they're maybe intending to do at the site, and it could be done through a conventional request. So, we were bringing it through the process conventionally, but since it's a city-owned property, we're the petitioner. So, we're not going to see eye to eye on this particular question for the simple fact that I still don't think you answered the question of why we are initiating it versus waiting for and when there's a developer that's interested in this property for them to go through the same process that the other two projects that we just discussed which consists of a number of conversations going through committee and fees that evident we need right now. >> So, yeah, I understand your question. Uh, the city is looking to develop the property. They will likely bid that out. I believe it's for additional parking for the entertainment complex that's there. Uh, so the first step is to get that zoning in place and then they would go through the process uh with whoever they want to choose for potential development of that site. It's not uh, you know, out of the ordinary for us to take this step. We've done it for a couple affordable housing projects where we've zoned it in two or R17 back in the day when we then would put it out for bid from there. So, it will come back to y'all if they do go through that process for a selection if they go through like a bid process to develop the property. But for now, it's just to get the zoning in place so they know, you know, who they can work with, what the standards are, what type of project they would need to uh consider, and then go through the next steps from there. So they haven't identified exactly who would do anything with the property, what they will do in the final, you know, end product of it, but for now they know they need a different zoning than what they currently have for them to even consider uh working with another development partner uh to to move this property forward. >> Thank you. Attorney Hegler Gray, just for clarification, if there were to be a petitioner or someone that's interested in a piece of land, there's a avenue for them to outreach for the city to reszone the land prior to with the anticipation that there may be a potential RFP or a request to redevelop that land versus going through the process that we normally go through. >> Uh I'm not sure I understand. Um but I I want >> Let me rephrase it. My apologies. Based on what was just shared, does this o give the opportunity for a potential developer to meet with staff in order for the city to reszone land in anticipation of a project they might be interested in? the um property owner must be the petitioner >> city >> the city um I think if there were a situation where there were a developer that uh is was interested and had um was um consulting with the city with respect to the property which I don't know if that's the case here um uh it would still be the city that would be reszoning the property. >> Thank you for the clarification. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Any additional comment hearing? None. All in favor raise hands. >> Any opposed? That is unanimous. Which we will move on to item number eight. Is there a motion to adopt approve and adopt the zoning committee's statement of consistency for petition number 2025 048. >> So move. >> Second. >> Second. >> Okay. 048 or 046. >> Number eight. >> Any discussion? >> Number eight. >> 048. >> Someone someone requested to pull this. >> Just go through the vote. >> Okay. All right. Hearing no dis further discussion. All in favor raise hands. Any oppose? M. Mayfield is opposed. Uh, is there a motion to approve and adopt the zoning committee statement of consistency for item number nine, petition number 2025 049? >> A head on. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor raise hands. Any opposed? Miss Mayfield is opposed. Is there a motion to approve and adopt the zoning committee statement of consistency for item number 14, petition number 2025 060? >> We do 13. >> Are you 13? >> 13. >> Oh, do did we skip? Oh, I'm sorry. >> Yeah, >> bad handwriting. Um, is there a motion to approve and adopt petition number 20250055, item number 13? >> So, so moved. >> Second. >> We are. >> Okay. I'll start off the discussion and and we can take it from there. um this petition, the community has had conversation with the petitioner and have some requests around what is meant to be on this site. And um I've been in contact with them. I know other council members have as well. And so I want to I'm gonna actually make a motion, a substitute motion um to defer this item um because u I want to give the the community an opportunity to continue to work with the petitioner. I think there's some good work to be done and Belmont has a um a very strong neighborhood association and land use individual who's really tapped into this. So, I would like to make a substitute motion um to defer this item until the next month. >> Point of order. I don't know that you need to do a substitute motion. You can just amend your original motion since you're the motion maker. >> Okay. >> Yeah, I I want I I agree. I think it would be a little unusual for the maker of the motion to make substitute motion. >> So, I can I'll just amend it. >> So, I'll amend my original motion um and make it for a deferral to the next month. >> Second. >> I have Miss Mayfield as a second. Any any comment hearing? None. All in favor for the deferral, please raise hands. Any opposed? Okay, that is unanimous. Thank you for helping me get through that. Um, is there a motion to approve and adopt the zoning committee's statement of consistency for petition number 2025 060, item number 14? So moved. Second. >> We have a motion and second. Any discussion? >> Absolutely. >> All right, Miss Molina. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor Pro Tim. I just um I want to draw some attention to this particular uh petition because not for any bad reason at all. First, I want to start by thanking our partners in Meckllinburgg County. Um because this is a substantial investment in East Charlotte. Um this is currently a 27.47 47 acre park uh that's located on the east side of East WT Harris. It's just north of Albamar Road um and south of Hickory Grove Road. And what I want to bring your attention to is some of the things that it promotes because we're actually there's one other petition in relationship to this. Yes. Uh that I want to highlight. So, actually, oddly, um, something that we don't see very often, this petition is actually already consistent with the 2040 plan, um, and the policy map, um, because it's actually now going to be kind of a neighborhood 2C. I'm saying these things out loud for a reason. Um, there are public benefits um, in the categories of sustainability. It's a public amenity. It's uh includes the preservation of open space and it actually exceeds the UDO requirements. Um this area is largely um a residential neighborhood area. Everything that surrounds it to the left and to the right is um is is residential. It's all residential. So, it's just a wealth of community benefit um for healthy, safe, active, integrated, you know, environmentally friendly. I mean, just a number of different great things. And so, um I can't thank our partners at the county enough. Um, I want to hold that because in relationship to um something that I'll speak about later, which is why I'm going on public record to make sure that I highlight the benefit and the proximity. This is also uh literally almost adjacent to Spark Central, one of our um opportunity hubs. You literally can walk across the street and walk into a 27 acre park which is on our Albamarl and Central Avenue corridor of opportunity. I ironically located on WT Harris but still um approximate enough for it to be a district-wide community benefit. So shout out to Meckllinmberg County for your investment. Thank you for partnering with us and I am absolutely ecstatic to say yes to this. >> Thank you, Miss Molina. Any additional comment hearing? None. All in favor raise hands. Any opposed? Miss Mayfield is opposed. Is there a motion to approve and adopt zoning committee statement of consistency for item number 15, petition number 2025 081? >> So move. >> Second. >> Second. >> Okay. Any discussion? Miss Mayfield. >> Thank you for staff. I'm going to ask the question again. Why is the city the petitioner on behalf of this business? Yeah. So, this one originally came through um maybe a year or two ago and they were requesting a district to modify their entitlements so that they could build surface parking essentially to um act as accessory to the Samaritan's Purse development. Something changed in the UDO. They needed that at the time. Their current when they originally went through reszoning their current district didn't accomplish didn't accommodate what they needed. The UDO since was amended and we also found in a table deep within the UDO as you do with any new ordinance. There is a small note about what can occur within an established setback. And because it was missed in our initial review and they're trying to go through permitting right now so that they can be ready for their operations comes closer to Christmas time when they need to make use of this site. Um, we're taking it through the process on behalf of Samaritan's Purse. So, we're not the petitioner directly, but we're taking it through the process on behalf of Samaritan's Purse because it was essentially um caught out by ordinance changes and during the review of it because of a a small footnote in the ordinance. So, we took care of we held their community meeting for them. They've been involved in the process and they're still working through the permitting process concurrently. So for clarification, when we made changes, basically a sentence was missed. So this is to help correct for them. >> It's a corrective reasoning. Correct. Right. >> Thank you. Okay. Any additional comment hearing? None. All in favor raise hands. >> Any opposed? That is unanimous. Which concludes our consent agenda portion of the meeting and we will move forward with decisions beginning with agenda item number 17. Is there a motion to uh approve and adopt the zoning committee statement of consistency for agenda 17 as it appears on our agenda? >> So moved. Second >> 17. >> Second 17. >> Any any comment? >> Hearing none. All in favor raise hands. That is any opposed. That is unanimous. So we will move on to um agenda item 18. And I'll try to be be a little bit more structured here. Agenda item 18 is in is in my district and I would like to start by making a motion to defer this item um to the next um >> second >> zoning meeting. I have a a second. So we'll start with discussion. So with this particular uh petition, there has been work and as you you all know during the hearing the last time there was good conversation around a number of concerns for for the community on this particular um well there's three different um parcels here that's involved in this one petition. And we were able to make traction on one effort which is the hybrid pedestrian crossing which the community was uh very pleased to hear. But there's still a number of items that um I would like to see the commu the community work with the petitioner on. Um one is about an ingress and additional ingress and egress to this property, but there's a list of others and um to not rush this process and wanted to allow the community to have this time and they've agreed. So I'd like to move forward with a deferral and hopefully pushing for the best outcome for the community. Any additional? >> Let's do it. >> Okay. Hearing no additional commentary. All in favor of deferring to this item until next month's zoning meeting. Any opposed? Okay. That is unanimous. We will move on to agenda item number 19. Is there a motion to approve and adopt the zoning committee statement of consistency for agenda number 19 as it appears in our agenda? >> So moved. >> I have one change. >> Oh, is there a change? >> Yes. >> Let's see here. >> Yes. Okay. We do have one change. So I'll pass it over to you to dis discuss the change. >> Yes. Just one minor change and as you see it printed out in your agenda, it says that there is an outstanding issue regarding a fence along that southern property line. So they did amend the site plan today to include the commitment to add that fence. So we are in good shape and staff recommends approval of this petition. Okay. Is there a motion to not send back to the zoning committee? >> Moved. >> Second. All right. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor raise hands. Any oppose? That is unanimous. So is there >> may oppos you were opposed to sending back? >> No, >> you're you're pro. >> My apologies. It is unanimous to not send it back. >> Okay. It is unanimous to not send it back. Thank you. >> Is there we had Well, is there a motion to approve and adopt? >> Okay. Thank you. Um any discussion? >> Second. Do we have a second? >> Second. I had the second. She said >> any discussion on item 19 >> hearing none. All in favor raise hands. >> Any opposed of 19? Miss Mayfield is in opposition of number 19. And that concludes our decision portion of the meeting and we will move forward with the hearings. And agenda item 20 21 and 20 20 and 21 were deferred. So we will begin with agenda item 22. Petition number 2025 021 by Harold Jordan. The location is approximately 1.24 24 acres located on east of east WT Harris Boulevard north of Idle Wild Road and south of Meadow Dale Lane and District 5 Miss Molina's district. The current zoning is N1B. Proposed zoning is CCD. Staff recommends does not recommend approval of this petition. And after staff's presentation start >> Mr. Harold Johnson will have 10 minutes um to address. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you, Mayor. Prom 2025 021. Uh it's 1.24 acres. It is on East WT Harris Boulevard, north of Idle Wild, south of Meadowdale Lane. Uh it is currently zoned neighborhood 1B and the proposed reszoning request would take the uh property to an NC neighborhood center conditional. Uh the adopted place type, as you can see on the map, is for neighborhood one. You can see the other three corners of this intersection are suggested or excuse me recommended for neighborhood center uh place type. The proposal is for a vehicle fueling facility with four pump islands and a principal building uh that would include commercial kitchen and a retail space. Access would be provided through both uh WT Harris as well as Idle Wild uh as generally depicted there on the site plan. Uh there will be a dedication of 53 ft of rightway from the center line of WT Harris and a 52- ft right ofway from the center line of Idle Wild Road. There also will be a two-ft sidewalk utility easement uh behind the sidewalk there. A 12oot multi-use path will be constructed along East WT Harris Boulevard. You can see that with that thick red line there. Uh an 8oot planting strip and sixoot sidewalk would be constructed along the frontage on Idle Wild. And then architectural and landscape standards uh that are being proposed are 25 ft class B landscape yard that's provided along the eastern property boundary where it abuts that neighborhood one place type. Uh and then also they have prohibited building materials which would include vinyl siding and unfinished concrete blocks and also all the rooftop mechanical units if used would be screened from view. Uh as mentioned staff does not recommend the petition in its current form. We are still working through uh some of the constraints on the site. There are some utility easements. the site size itself uh does pose some challenges that we're continuing to work through uh to see if uh the gas station that's being proposed which is permitted in the NC zoning district uh can meet all the prescribed conditions uh that are intended to improve the design for these types of uses. Uh but again we will continue to work through uh the project with the petitioner uh with our partners in in COT and others just to again continue that evaluation as it goes through the process uh prior to zoning committee. So with that, we will turn it over to the petitioner uh and take any questions that you might have following the presentation. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Jordan. When you come down to the podium, please uh be careful and you will have 10 minutes. >> The one right behind you, sir. >> Thank you. >> Well, good evening everyone. How is everyone doing today? >> Doing well. >> Council as well as the neighbors and the staff. um with our particular project. My client has um this gas station will provide a service to the community. Um as of right now on WT Harris in this core, the closest gas station is across the street, but we have a median in the middle of the road. So, with this gas station being provided, we're going to be able to cut down the amount of people that are doing U-turns, leaving the gas station to be able to service the community on the side that our gas station is on. Um, we do have a couple of issues that we still are working out with staff as far as the landscaping of the lot, but we do have already provided those particular um corrections, but we just didn't make the deadline for when it had to be submitted. Um per for the um comments that we received from SE do um as of right now the gas station will only have four pumps there. Our site is actually designed to be able to um allow for fire truck egress as well as leaving. Um we are as they just said providing the 35 foot right away as well as the 12oot special use on WT Harris side. um just to keep it plain short and simple, but this is actually this site from my understanding is still part of the 2024 from what we're reszoning our lot to to be for the usage in that area. >> Okay. Thank you. Any comment or question? Miss Molina. >> Thank you, Mayor Proim. Um, I want to start by first of all, thank you um for coming tonight. I um I' I've not met you in person yet, but uh I'm the council member for the district. Um, so the reason why I I made the comment on the public park, um, is because that public park with nearly 28 acres of space is 4 miles up the street. >> Yes. >> Um, and so let me let me start with some with some um with some general information. Um, and and it pains me to say this, but I live across the street and I never heard anything. I didn't even get a postcard. Um, I I know what the Z means, so I I already started researching it. Um, and I was actually told that I live too far away to get a a postcard, and I've lived there for 16 years. So, I want to make sure that I bring that up. Um, so I actually have to say that I agree with staff's assessment that um it it's it's just not where it needs to be. Um it's inconsistent with the current policy for the 2040 map um because of the neighborhood one place type, right? It's currently zoned um neighborhood 1B indicating that there's a large residential area, which it is. It's it's highly residential. Um the I'm I'm I'm only making a comment. This isn't an exchange. >> I mean, I'm I'm familiar with the area. I grew up in the area. So, >> keep asking him a question. >> Um so, sir, just so you're aware, you can't make a comment unless the council member specifically asks you a question. >> Thank you. >> So, let me just You guys have gotten my my information about this, so I I'll make sure I read it out loud. Uh we're investing in a 27 acre park. Meckllinburgg County is investing in a 27 acre park. The corridor already has multiple fueling convenience operations and advancing additional fuel uses because the the the challenge isn't there being a community use. It's the fuel uses. the fuel and convenience operations where you're continuing to feed people at gas stations is the biggest problem where it's already a very highly residential area. This is implying that the person who leaves the ga leaves the 27 acre park with their family to go for a walk there there are no restaurants and there's only two grocery stores within a 5 to 10 mile radius. So the only place you take your kid to get some water or something to eat is a gas station that is, you know, got a food component to it. That's what the CD is, right? So NCCD, the CD allows the gas station to be able to prepare and sell food on the inside. That's the second portion of it. Um, so the let me just go down because this is a very long set of notes. Um, so I know that the UDO team is actively reviewing audio oriented uses in centers and this would be a neighborhood center place type, but I think this particular um gas station, it's premature. Um, again, it doesn't align with what the current what I feel like planning should be for this particular area. I mean, I think it's almost an oxymoron to say that you're going to give a 27 acre park and two gas stations within uh less than a mile radius. We're talking like 0.9. Um, and there's another gas station, too. Like literally, actually, it's point4 on the other side, right beside the Walmart. So, no matter what the outcome of the upcoming election is, I'm sending y'all information to keep that on your radar. Uh, but this one in particular, um, I absolutely don't see where we could meet the standards of this being a neighborhood oriented opportunity. Um, again, in my mind, when I see anything that comes to the council, it's an exception, right? So we have the the council the previous councils worked on a 2040 plan that was anticipatory of the growth that we would have. So when we have a petition that petition in it it intends to make a good argument that what we've already planned is wrong and you have an exception to that rule. Right? So it's it's already zoned neighborhood 1B. That that's what it's zoned. And so that says that you you would like for there to be an exception. And when we raise our hands, we're making an exception to that rule, right? And so implying that it's consistent, it's not consistent with the 2040 plan. And I don't feel comfortable with just three people having been there um with a very very very large residential area uh saying that this exception meets that due diligence. So, I will not be supporting this petition. Um, and and I want to make sure that I'm clear about that. >> Okay. Thank you, Miss Azimura. >> Thank you. >> So, my question is for staff. Um, I know this site is unique in a way there are utility easements and other restrictions. um what changes that would be required to get the staff support. >> Uh I don't know if I'd be able to go on and explain what exactly would it would take to get staff support because there's a lot of factors that go into it outside of just the site design. Uh we're as the council member Molen alluded to, we are looking at an inconsistent petition. So we have to weigh those factors in uh contextual factors. there are some ordinance things that uh they could do with you know trying to get us some clarity on some of the screening some again how they're going to deal with that utility easement some of the access points that we have asked some questions about but as far as saying what exactly needs to be done and provide a list of what it would take to get staff support I I wouldn't be in a position right now to be able to to communicate that because again there's a lot of other factors than just the site plan that goes into it uh and some of the things that once we see that revised site plan then we'll go back and start to do that full evaluation again uh prior to zoning committee in a few weeks. So uh again not not really sure I can provide that in in a good list form for you. >> Sure. >> Thank you Mr. Pton. So for Mr. Jordan, you mentioned that you had missed the deadline to submit the revised site plan. >> So what's the difference between the plan that you submitted that's in front of us versus the revised site plan? >> Um it was Okay, go ahead. >> Okay. I'm sorry. It was it was a couple of um items that need to just be cleared up so they could be legible and be readable. Um it was bunch of real minor things. Just making sure that we're showing the the 12T s the special use passageway. Um wasn't nothing really major. >> Okay. and then calling out the the um center line the rightway from the um you know from the from Ottawa Road as well as East WT Harris. >> Okay. I I'm looking at notes here from staff in terms of outstanding issues uh prior to public hearing transportation and site and building design. Have they been addressed? >> Mr. >> Again, we we will get those on the revised plan. >> On revised plan. Yeah, we can accept plans four weeks before the hearing. So, they may have made some changes that they'll submit to us. The deadline for that will be this Thursday. Uh we'll take a look at that. And again, even if there are things that uh you know, identify and address some of those outstanding issues, there's the whole uh policy side of things that we still have to go through with that analysis. >> And uh Mr. Jordan, I know there are three people that attended. I agree with Miss Council Member Molina. That's u very low attendance. What's been their feedback? Have you seen or have you heard any opposition to this? >> Um the Well, one main thing, one um neighbor asked for us to be able to provide a wood fence. Um it's our client, I mean, it's our neighbor that's the Jehovah Witness that owns a lot of the land behind us. Uh but then one person raised a concern that if y'all have a wood fist that might give the kids a opportunity to hide behind the fence, you know, eating, throwing trash. But my client, they clean up their property daily and actually have a cleaning crew that comes out weekly to keep the properties clean and everything. And then we do have security cameras throughout the facility as well as the exterior. Well, I look forward to reviewing staff's comments on the revised site plan. Um, and I'll continue to work with uh district council member Molina on this. Well, that's all I have. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any additional comment, Mr. Driggs? >> Uh, I just want to say I've discussed this uh with Council Member Molina uh and I think she is doing her duty as a district rep uh looking after the interests. Um, I agree with her analysis and uh, particularly if you don't have staff support, I just have to caution you the path from here to an approval is uh, is bumpy and I hope that before this comes up for a vote, you will satisfy yourself as to the likely outcome of that vote and not set yourself up for disappointment because it's not in a good place right now. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any additional comment? >> Hearing to close. I have a motion and a second. All in favor? Closing public hearing? Raise hands. Any opposed? That is unanimous. We move on to agenda item number 23, petition number 2024113 by 410 SG Partners LLC. The location is approximately 1 acre located on the northwest intersection of South Gardener A and Chamberlain A and north of State Street and District 2, Mr. Graham's district. The current zoning is ML2 proposed zoning IMU. Staff recommends approval and after staff's presentation, we will have uh Mr. Papanasttos um join us for a presentation as well. Thank you. >> Thank you. This site is right at an acre. It's located the intersection of South Gardener Avenue and Chamberlain Avenue to the Savona Mill project that has seen a lot of redevelopment and a mix of uses. Current zoning is ML2 with a proposed zoning of IMU. 2040 policy map recommends the innovation mixeduse place type. Staff recommends approval of the petition. The IMU district permits a variety of uses that are in keeping with the character of the area which is rapidly diversifying from heavy industrial to a mix of light industry, office, retail, restaurant and residential development is consistent with recent resonings in the vicinity that include both adaptive reuse of existing structures as well as new mixeduse developments while utilizing UDI UDO design standards that are pedestrian pedestrian oriented. I will turn it over to the petitioner and be happy to take questions. >> All right. When you get to the podium, you will have three minutes. Welcome. >> Okay. Thank you, Madame Mayor Prom, members of council and staff and the committee. Thanks for having me tonight. I I won't I'll be very brief. Uh this might be the most straightforward thing I've ever done. Uh so I'm I'm here to take questions if you have any. Uh this is a 1acre site as staff mentioned uh 10,000 foot building. The improvements to the shell have uh almost been completed. We're about 95% of the way there. So we're bringing this resoning into um kind of the modern day. Uh this was a heavy industrial site. At one point in time, 30 acres. We own the entire site and have uh kept this property and and another property across the street from it which is currently zoned under the master reszoning uh mud conditional. Um we're looking to do things in this building that uh complement the neighborhood retail office, studio space, food and beverage. >> Thank you. And did I pronounce your last name correct? >> Great. >> Excellent. I just wanted to make sure any comment >> close public hearing. >> Second. >> All right. All in favor of closing public hearing, raise hands. Any oppose? That is unanimous. Thank you for joining us. We will move on to agenda item number 24, petition number 202533 by um BRRI 1882, Innovation Park Development LLC. The location is approximately 40.13 acres located on the northeast side of IMB drive south of West WT Harris Boulevard and west of Veno Boulevard and district 4 Miss Johnson's district. The current zoning is RE3 and RC. Proposed zoning is N2 AC. Staff recommends approval of this petition upon resolutions of outstanding issues related to site design and after staff's presentation, Mr. Brown will have three minutes. Thank you. >> Thank you. This site is just over 40 acres along IBM Drive south of WT Harris, just west of a lot of the university city area development. site in an area with institutional, office, commercial, and some residential uses. Though much of the area within the resoning site itself is currently used as surface parking. Property is zoned RE3 and research campus and they are proposing to go to neighborhood 2A conditional which is inconsistent with the policy maps recommendation for campus and the community activity center place types at this site. The proposal itself is for up to 260 town home style units. Buildings would have no more than six units and a 12-oot multise path would be built along the site's IBM drive frontage. Petitioner details commitment to three amenities such as a clubhouse, butterfly garden, dog park, art installation among other options. They also have preferred open space standards that exceed ordinance requirements and ensure amenized and accessible open space areas for all residents. An area of the site would be dedicated and conveyed to the county and or may have an easement over the 100 foot swim or flood plane buffer to the Wy Creek tributary. They also have preferred architectural and design standards. Staff recommends approval of this petition upon resolution of outstanding issues related to site design. The project is adjacent to both the community activity center and campus place types that offer potential access to a range of goods, employment opportunities, healthcare, and essential services. as adding residential uses at this location will enhance the area's mixeduse character and intent. And the area meets several of the variables that we look for when we're considering a place type change to neighborhood 2, such as preferred minimum acreage, preferred place type adjacencies, proximity to an activity center, access to transit, and frontage along in arterial. And I'll take questions following the petitioner's comments. >> Thank you. Welcome, Mr. Brown. >> Thank you. Um, Mayor Pro Tim, council members, any committee members, Colin Brown on behalf of the petitioner, um, Taylor Morrison, her slides come up. Be great. Um, as Holly mentioned, what's interesting about this is this is part of Innovation Park, uh, which as you know, u most of you know in University City, was a major employer, had large footprint office buildings, has kind of struggled as as work has changed. So, Innovation Park owns this. They own the land that we're operating on. They've kind of selected our petitioner. So, they're very much trying to revitalize this development. They've they've come in, they've got uh some restaurants, some coffee shops, and they're trying to invigorate. So, if you can see here, I don't know if you can see, most of the area that we're talking about are empty surface parking lots. So, there are asphalt parking lots that have been sitting out there for years and not used. And so, Innovation Park again wants to revitalize this. They've got Elevation Church out there. They've brought in some residential. And so, uh, they've partnered with Taylor Morrison to come in and, um, and propose the proposal that you're hearing about tonight, which is to come in and bring in town home style units. Um, as we've talked about, there is a lot of multif family in the University City area. Taylor Morrison does both for sale and for rent. This is initially targeted to be their rental. So, this is for folks that, you know, maybe are moving out of a single family home. They don't want to be in a small apartment. They've got pets, they've got kids, they want a little space. We think it's a great um location for it. I skipped through a map I wanted to share with you. Uh here, I know it's a little hard to see. You can't quite see, but I've got a half a mile ring. Within half a mile, you can walk to retail nodes. You can walk to all of Innovation Park. You can walk to elementary school, middle school, and high school. Um so folks that have students that want to go, that's a great place to live. Educators looking for a home. It gives them a different product type. Uh we think it's a great addition. I think you'll see we had no attendees at our official community meeting, but we have been meeting on several occasions with the District 4 coalition, which is great to have kind of a clearing house up there. Um, I think Innovation Park is working directly with University City Partners on this. So, we're hopeful to kind of hopefully when we're back to see you next month, uh, we've kind of got a bow on it and have support wrapped up. I did want to mention because we do talk about it all the time. Um, Council Member Johnson, uh, I mentioned we got three schools in walking distance. Two of those schools are under capacity at 74%. The high school is over capacity. CMS has noted that it's still within their flex zone, but we actually think that the school site is a real amenity to this site, you know, for folks working at the schools. And then that's just a great campus to walk to. Happy to take uh questions. >> Thank you. >> Any comment? >> Um, Miss Johnson. >> Thank you, Mr. Brown, for the presentation. And we can talk off offline. I don't have any questions tonight. Thank you. Move to close. >> Second. >> All right. All in favor of closing hearing, raise hands. Any oppose? >> That is unanimous. And we will move on to agenda item number 25, petition number 2025 041 by Concord Charlotte Uptown LLC. The location is approximately 42 acres located on the east corner of East 8th Street and North College Street and west of East 9th in district 1 my district. The current zoning is UDUD O. Proposed zoning is UDU SPA. The staff recommends approval of this petition upon resolution of requested technical revisions and after staff's appro uh presentation, Mr. Brown will once again join us. Thank you. >> Thank you. The site is just under half an acre in Uptown along North College and East 8th Street. It's currently developed with the Homewood Suites Hotel. This is a request for a site plan amendment to the existing Uptown mixeduse district optional plans from petition 2010-065 which allowed for a multi-use project that included hotel uses just as a portion of the plan. The site plan amendment is consistent with policy maps recommendation for the regional activity center place type which is across all of Uptown. This site plan amendment just requests one note and it that is just to add an optional provision to eliminate the parking requirement for the existing hotel use. Staff recommends approval of the petition upon resolution of a minor technical revision. The site is being located in Uptown and within the regional activity center place type and generally accessible to transit is in an area where we want to be less reliant on personal auto usage. in this amendment does not alter the number of on-site parking spaces developed under the previously approved plan. And I'll take questions following petitioner comments. >> Try to summarize this very simply. This is a hotel that exists uptown. New hotels built under our UDO are not required to have parking because this was built under the old ordinance. They're required to have parking, which means they lease parking offsite that no one uses. Uh that doesn't make sense and puts them at a competitive disadvantage. So they would like to play by the same rules. So, we're asking for them not they they may still provide parking and they will, but they would like to be kind of held to the same standard. So, this will bring them in line with new hotels that are developed under the UDO. >> Thank you. And Mr. Brown and I have have discussed this particular petition. Any additional comment? >> Motion to close public hearing. >> Second. >> All right. All in favor of closing public hearing, raise hands. Any opposed? That is unanimous. We'll move on to agenda item number 26, petition number 2025 051 by Bo and Arrols Properties LLC. The location is approximately.33 acres located on the east side of Parson Street north of Parkwood A and south of Grace Street in district 1. My district. The propos the current zoning is N1C. proposed zoning is N1D. Staff recommends approval and after staff's uh presentation, we have Mr. Letum who will have three minutes. >> Thank you. >> And Mr. Letum, if you can come over to this um podium, that would be great. Thank you. >> The site is approximately a third of an acre located along Parson Street north of Parkwood Avenue near the vicinity of the plaza near Plaza Midwood Historic District. real in an area where we have predominantly residential zoning but as well as a lot of commercial zoning and commercial entitlements and development along the plaza just east of the site. It's currently zoned neighborhood 1C and they are proposing to go to neighborhood 1D which is consistent with the policy map's recommendation for the neighborhood one place type at this site. This is a conventional petition with no associated site plan. Staff does recommend approval of this petition. It's situated among lots with typical lot dimensions that are approximately 50 feet in width for most of the adjacent properties. And the lot areas in that in the direct vicinity typically range from 7,000 to 8,000 square ft. And so just for reference, this site has a lot width rather than 50 as most most of its neighbors, a lot with 85 ft and a lot area of just under 15,000 square feet. So those are significantly larger dimensions than we're seeing in the neighboring properties. The N1C and N1D zoning districts allow for the same single family residential uses. The really the only difference are the limited to dimensional standards such as lot width. The minimum lot width in N1D is 40 ft as opposed to 50 ft in the N1C district. So it allow for slightly more flexibility in those dimensional standards but would maintain the same single family intent as well as the allowed uses that currently exists under the N1C zoning. And I'll take questions following petitioner comments. >> All right, Mr. Mr. Lesum, welcome. You have three minutes. >> Thank you. I'll be very brief, but just wanted to make myself available for questions, but thank you to the council for taking the time to hear our petition today. Um, this project is uh pretty straightforward. We uh intend to build single family, two single family units on what is currently a one large lot area. And so that's really the only difference and why we've asked for the zoning change. I see you had three individuals at the community meeting. Were they individuals from the Villa Heights community and did they raise any concerns? >> There were not a lot of questions at the community meeting. We had a couple people reach out before the meeting. They called us and and we spoke to them individually that really the the concerns that came up were are you going to have single family dwellings or versus multif family. We also had a question about um what what about the trees on the property as there are quite a few mature trees. The fortunate part and part of why we're going for the variance is the trees are mostly around the perimeter of the lot. So we would be able to build two single family homes and still maintain almost all of the trees that are currently on the lot. So that's very attractive as well because it fits in with the character of the neighborhood. And we view it also as a not just environmentally friendly, but a selling point, you know, because most new homes, they come down, they flatten everything on the lot and then put then they put up a a house, right? And you lose those mature trees. So we are definitely going to do everything we can to keep uh almost all of the mature trees on the lot because they're around the perimeter. >> Thank you, Miss Johnson. >> Thank you. I just want to understand. So, you would be demolishing one single family home and building two in its place. >> There's actually nothing on this lot today. It's an empty lot. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Miss Mayfield. >> Thank you. I just want to commend you for the idea and the commitment of protecting the mature trees because you are correct. that could be a selling point having a new home and a developed community that has established tree canopy. So, thank you for taking into consideration the aspect of our sustainability and green building. >> Welcome. Thank you. >> Move to close. >> Second. >> All right. All in favor of closing public hearing, raise hands. Any opposed? That is unanimous. Thank you for coming out and we will move on to agenda item number 28 uh petition number 2025 064 by the Rapo Group LLC. The location is approximately.17 acres located on the west side of Highland Street north of Wilson Boulevard south of Greenland Avenue in district 2, Mr. Graham's district. Current zoning is CG. Proposed zoning is N1C. Staff recommends approval and miss clerk, I don't have anyone who has signed up for this one, so we will um have questions after staff's presentation. Thank you. Thank you. This site is about 1/5if of an acre located on the west side of Highland Street, north of Wilkinson Boulevard and south of Greenland Avenue. site is currently vacant and is zoned CG with the proposed zoning of N1C. The 2040 policy map recommends the community activity center place type. This is a conventional petition. Staff recommends approval is inconsistent with the policy map recommendation for CAC place type. However, this portion of the Ashley Park neighborhood has long been established with single family homes with goods and services accessible along the Wil Wilkinson Boulevard corridor. The N1C zoning district allows the same single family residential uses as are currently present on a majority of the lots surrounding the site and the N1C zoning is more consistent with the character of the area than the current general commercial zoning designation. And with no speaker, I will take any questions. Okay, any questions hearing? None. Well, Miss Mayfield, >> help me understand if we already know that the petition is inconsistent. The staff is recommending approval and the manager and I had this conversation when we had our meeting. We actually drove around the impact of the opportunity for staff to actually drive through some of the neighborhoods versus just looking at the map. This is, as was mentioned, an area that has seen tremendous growth with a number of multifamily units all along Wilkerson Boulevard. There's one small building right off of Greenland that actually provides an amenity. Walmart is not in walking distance to get to the community and we have very little office space left especially over in this area. So if this is general commercial, help me understand how staff sees that this is a opportunity to grow the neighborhood. One >> um so I think just from one point this the scale um it's 1if of an acre. It's right the place type is right on the edge of the place the uh policy map change from CAC which kind of runs along the Wilkinson Boulevard corridor to the uh N1 place type to the north. Um and actually across Highland Street there's N1 place type that goes another two lots kind of beyond that closer to Wilkinson. Um, so I think just looking at the the general context, the immediate adjacency to the north to the N1 place type um is the reason that that we would support this petition. >> Thank you. >> Any additional Okay. >> Second. >> All right. All in favor of closing public hearing, raise hands. Any opposed? That is unanimous. We will move on to agenda item number 29, petition number 2025 066 by Dream Key Partners. The location is approximately 2.27 acres located on the northeast corner of Samuel Street and Newland Road and west of Statesville Avenue and district 1, my district. The current zoning is UR2 CD. Proposed zoning is N2B. Staff recommends approval of this petition and after staff's presentation, we will have Miss Grant and Mr. Dodson join us. Thank you. Thank you. This site is about 2.27 acres located on the north side of Samuel Street and east side of Newand Road. It is currently vacant. It's surrounded by multifamily as well as institutional uses. Current zoning is UR2 conditional with a proposed zoning of N2B conventional. The 2040 policy map recommends the neighborhood two place type. Staff recommends approval of this petition. It is consistent with the uh into place type recommendation. Um the site is actually entitled for 80 multif family stacked residential units um under UR2CD that was reszoned in 2013. Um, so it would essentially allow similar uses conventionally um in place of the current conditional zoning, but there's a mix of uses along Staceville Avenue, an activity center, walkable to the site >> and um be happy to answer questions following comments from the petitioner. >> Absolutely. Thank you, Miss Grant, for joining us. >> Good evening, members of council, mayor prom, members of the zoning committee. My name is Bridget Grant. I'm a land use consultant with Moren Van Allen. It's a pleasure to be here tonight with Fred Dodson with Dream Key. Um, as Joe mentioned, this is really in some ways a technical cleanup. A portion of the site was already developed under UR2. We'd like to change this particular piece to N2B to be consistent with a vacant parial that's adjacent so it can be developed in a unified manner. So you can see from the map the portion highlighted in yellow is what we'd like to change to N2B and you can see that vacant existing N2B site adjacent to us. So it's really for the purpose of consistency and with that we're happy to answer any questions. >> Okay. Any questions or comments? >> Move to close the hearing. Second. >> All in favor of closing public hearing raise hands. >> I have zero questions for you. >> Any any opposed? That is unanimous. We will move on to agenda item number 30. Petition number 2025 068 by PK819 LLC. The location is approximately 1.7 acres located on the southeast corner of North Mcdal Street and East 17th Street west of Seagull Avenue and south of East 18th Street in District 1. My district. The current zoning is UR2 CD. Proposed zoning is N1C. Staff recommends approval of this petition. And once again, we have no one signed up to speak. So, we will end with staff's presentation and questions. Thank you. >> Thank you. The site is just under two acres along North Mcdal and East 17th Street. Generally in the Belmont neighborhood close to the Blue Line and a range of retail and mixeduse development but directly situated among single family residential. It is currently zoned urban residential conditional and they are proposing to go to neighborhood 1C which would be consistent with the policy map's recommendation for neighborhood one at this site as well as these surrounding parcels. This is a conventional petition, but um as you will see maybe on the zoning map, most of the properties that is directly surrounded by are zone neighborhood 1c this. So this would really just bring it into consistency with what is surrounding it. That previous UR2 plan was for five single family attached uh units along the lot and they're just looking to do something that would have entitlement similar to what's already on the ground there. It does have close proximity to, of course, the the Blue Line as well as Sugar Creek Greenway and other transit opportunities as well as retail in the area. We don't have any outstanding issues with this petition. I'll take questions. >> Okay. Any comments? Go to close the hearing. >> Miss Johnson. >> Thank you. Um, I just wanted to ask staff why this one was being presented as conventional versus conditional >> is conventional. They're they're requesting neighborhood 1C and that is consistent with the policy maps recommendation for neighborhood one that also matches the entitlements of everything surrounding it. So, it's compatible with what's already in the entitlements of the really the entire block that it's situated in. So because it would create a consistent development pattern or we felt that it was appropriate that it could proceed conventionally. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. I had a motion and second to close public hearing. Um all in favor raise hands. Any opposed? That is unanimous. So we'll move on to agenda item number 31. Petition number 2025 069 by Northwood Raven. The location is 36.8 acres located north of Scaly Bark east of South Boulevard and along either side of Sloan Street, Wyona Avenue and Hollis Road in district 1, my district. The current zoning is to odo and to odor o proposed zoning. It's to odo spa and t to od spa. Staff recommends approval of this petition and after staff's presentation, Mr. Brown will join us once again. Thank you. >> Thank you. located near the Scaly Bike Station, this nearly 40 acre site is requesting a site plan amendment. And I will just call out here cuz the mapping is going to be for a really large area. I think in the maps that you'll see for zoning committee and moving forward when it comes back to you for decision, it's going to be limited just to parcel L, which we'll highlight here shortly, which is just a small portion of the site. Um, but I'll get into it. It's a current zoning is a range of two different TOD districts and they're just looking to do a site plan amendment to it and that is consistent with the policy maps recommendation for an activity center across the site. There's a neighborhood to place type also recommended for the site, but it's not for the portion that this site plan amendment would be applicable for. The site plan amendment proposal request is for specifically just just realistically one note that's requesting to reduce the minimum square footage of a retail building to 12,000 square ft down from 25,000 square ft. And this is just going to apply to partial L right here at the very bottom of the screen. So again, we'll have mapping updated to just limit the reszoning site to that area as they have submitted a change form request as part of their resoning documents. But um appearing before you tonight is the entire site that originally went through the resoning. Staff does recommend approval of this petition. We have no outstanding issues. We believe that this change is fairly minor and maintains the intent of the original request and uh generally community activity center place types encourages retail uses like these and doesn't specify specific square footages. So we think this is appropriate and consistent with our policy guidance and I'll take questions following petitioner comments. >> Mr. Brown to >> to simplify Colin Brown on behalf of the petitioner. Thank you. uh to simplify and take away some of the mystery, the to zoning district requires a lot of transparency. That is very difficult for grocery stores. When this petition was approved 15 years ago, there was a provision written in essentially for grocery stores as long as they were above 25,000 square feet, they could have relaxed standards. 15 years later, a grocery store wants to come, but it is a smaller grocery store. And since it's less than 25,000 ft, we don't meet the note. So, we'd like to modify the note to accommodate a smaller grocery store. Had a huge turnout from the neighborhood because they saw a 40acre site. Once we explain what they were doing, I think everyone's pretty happy. And so, as Holly said, we're going to bring that down to just this parcel. So, >> thank you. >> I think this makes a lot of sense and has a lot of support. >> Absolutely. And um I'll just start it off by saying Mr. Brown and I have been speaking about this um for quite some time. It is um as mentioned just to impact a small parcel of this this a small part of this overall parcel and it will be a great amenity um to the neighbors. We've seen an increased densification around this particular area. So neighbors would potentially have the opportunity to walk to a grocery store as well as ride the light rail and get off, go to the grocery store and get back on to public transportation. So overall, it would be a great benefit to this particular part of my district. I see uh Mr. Peacock. >> Mr. Brown, I believe it was 2021 that Charlotte lost another great restaurant site, Zach's Hamburgers. Is that just right across the street? Is there any possibility that with our mayor pro Tim's good comments about a grocery store that we could bring them back or is that in the works? >> The Northwood Raven folks would be happy to talk with you guys about retailers at the site. I I can't open my lips on the potential groceryer but um we hope there's a lot of excitement for it. >> That's it. >> Y >> I will say that this particular site does have opportunity for growth. So >> additional conversations can be had. Um all in favor of closing public hearing, raise hands. >> There we go. >> Any opposed? That is unanimous. So we'll move on to agenda item number 32, petition number 202571 by Harris Investment Company number one LLC. The location is approximately 1.53 acres located north of Carnegie Boulevard east of Coca-Cola Plaza and south of Rexford Road and District 6, Mr. Peacock's district. Current zoning is 015 CD. Proposed zoning is RACCCD. Staff recommends approval of this petition upon resolution of outstanding issues related to transportation site and building design. After staff's presentation, Mr. Brown will stay at the podium um for us for this one. Thank you. >> Thank you. The site is about 1 and a half acres in the South Park area just north of Carnegie Boulevard west of Sharon Road and east of Barkley Downs Road. They're they are currently zoned a legacy ordinance district that old 015 district and it was a conditional plan and they're requesting to go to regional activity center conditional which would bring it into consistency with the recommendation here from the policy map for re regional activity center. The proposal itself um is for a mixeduse development. So, it would have up to 68,000 square feet of office uses, 6,000 square feet of financial institution uses, and 6,000 square feet of restaurant retail uses with accessory uses as permitted in the RAC zoning district. They would also note um that 80% of the building's ground floor frontage along Carnegie Boulevard would be activated with non-residential uses, provides those pedestrian enhancements along Carnegie Boulevard, and um identifies open space areas that would exceed minimum UDO requirements and be fully amenized. Access would be off Carnegie Boulevard. That um portion in blue at the rear would be their proposed deck envelope and then they have the building envelope oriented off of Carnegie Boulevard. Staff does recommend approval of this petition upon resolution of those outstanding issues. Generally, it would take the site away from a conditional plan that's limited to just office uses and allow for a greater mix of uses that's more compatible and and better alignment with the regional activity center zoning district as well as its corresponding place type. And it also has those conditions to activate that uh ground floorage along Carneu Boulevard um and enhance the pedestrian experience that also speak to the intent of the regional activity center place type as well as the 10-minute neighborhoods and I'll take any questions following petitioner comments. >> Okay, Mr. Brown. >> Hello again. Uh for the record, Colin Brown on behalf of the petitioner. uh happy to have the opportunity to work with Johnny Harris uh and his team on this development. Um the Harris family, as you know, is very involved in South Park and it's neat to kind of I think they developed these buildings as first generation and now to see them as second generation. This is what I call the Town Bank building with a um kind of decorative pond out front. Uh real opportunity here for Town Bank to kind of have a a bigger footprint in Charlotte. And so this zoning will give us the opportunity to construct a signature building on the site. Um, happy to say that it has staff support. Um, I I know that council member Peacock has received letters of support from the South Park area neighbors as well as South Park partners. Um, so we'll be working with staff over the next month to tie up those outstanding issues and hope to see you next month. >> Okay, any comment or question hearing? None. >> Move to close. Move to close public hearing. >> Second. All in favor of closing public hearing raise hands. Any oppose? Thank you. And we are on agenda item number 33, petition number 202573 by White Lodging. The location is approximately 68 acres acre located at the northern corner of the intersection of South Tryan Street in Bland Street and District 3, Miss Brown's district. The current zoning is TOD U. Proposed zoning is TOD UEX. Staff recommends approval of this petition upon outstanding. We will have Mr. Brown again. Thank you. >> Thank you. This site is about 2/ird of an acre located uh east of West Bland Street and west of North Triion Street. It's currently vacant in kind of the heart of the south end district. Uh current zoning is Todd U with a proposed zoning of Todd UCEX. That is a exception district that allows for quantitative uh requests that uh would be balanced by community benefits to be added offered by the petitioner. >> The 2040 policy map recommends the regional activity center place type. The proposal would allow for all uses permitted in the Todd UC district. Uh has an accessible recess parking space along the site's West Bland Street frontage. Upgrades the alley and sidewalk connection along the northwest property boundary. Dedicates a sidewalk utility easement to the back of the sidewalk. Uh requests the following EX or exception provisions. allow to allow the future ride ofway to terminate at the future back of curb. An 8-oot amenity zone and 8ft sidewalk would be included within a sidewalk utility easement to allow a two-foot encroachment into the 20-oot setback for an 18t setback on South Triion Street and West Blland Street to allow for a belowgrade parking structure and underground vault within 2 feet of the future rightway at back of curb and to allow an enlarged curb cut and driveway along Bland Street for ingress and egress of vehicles for pedestrian Drop off petitioner offers the following community benefits as justification for the EX request and sustain sustainability category commits to building design that meets or exceeds lead silver standards that is leadership in energy and environmental design building standards and from the city improvement category provides an enhanced pedestrian dropoff area with decorative pavers on West Bland Street. Staff recommends approval of this petition upon resolution of outstanding issues related to transportation and site and building design. And I did specifically wanted to highlight uh an outstanding issue that staff is requesting the petitioner work with C DOT uh for an off-site transportation improvement that would enhance the streetscape in the surrounding area. Uh petition is consistent with the policy map recommendation for the regional activity center place type. Um, as I mentioned, exception zoning district allows for altering or modifying certain quantitative zoning standards and street crosssection standards for proposed development in exchange for a commitment to public benefits to accommodate unique zoning scenarios. Petition would maintain the site's existing Todd UC zoning while providing flexibility regarding for specific development standards. The petition offers community benefits in the form of lead building standards and an enhanced pedestrian dropoff area. The petition will facilitate development of a site that has remained vacant while many surrounding properties have redeveloped in recent years. And I will turn it over to petitioner and take questions following their presentation. >> Thank you, Mr. Brown. >> Pro Tim Colin Brown on behalf of the petitioner white lodging. We're moving at record pace tonight and I hate to slow it down, but I I do want to tell y'all a couple things about this. So, White Lodging um is known for their great development of urban hotels and big cities. They developed the JW Marriott downtown. They have a site in Southoun they would like to come to and bring a very cool project. Um we are challenged by some of the inflexibility of our UDO. Staff is working very hard. I think everyone gets it, but it's it's not very flexible. Uh this is the look at the building that uh they would like to build. I think everybody sees it. We're like, "Wow, this is what we'd like to see in Southoun. a building really engaging the street. The problem is we do need parking uh to to serve the site. So what White Lodging would like to do is they would like to bury the parking underground and have underground parking. The problem is our sites now in South End are really not large enough to do the big parking deck. So like this when we give 30% of the site to the public realm, there's not enough room under the um footprint of what we own to have the parking structure. So, what we're requesting and and Joe explained it well is we would like to underneath the street cheetah here's here's the literal we'd like to extend our parking under the sidewalk area so that we've got enough room to park the cars so that we don't have cars behind bars up above ground. If this were not approved, you know what parking decks look like? We call the cars behind bars. They'd have to put the parking above ground. Not a good solution for anyone. The very frustrating thing is for white lodging to do what everyone agrees would be a great idea under our ex provisions, we've got to earn them. So, we've got to go out and do these other community benefits. And luckily, white lodging is great and they're going to work with the city and we're going to try and do that. But, it does seem like we're punishing them for design that everyone likes. So, staff has been working hard with us. We hope we continue to work hard. We had a community meeting and the neighbors were like, "Yes, this is what we want." So, I did just want to share that with you. Um, I think a lot of times we our old MUD O that y'all heard a lot about had a lot of flexibility. The EX has some handcuffs on it. So, we we appreciate staff working with us. I think this will be a great one if we can have it done. So, hope to have your support. >> Okay, Miss Mayfield. >> Thank you. Question for staff. So, one, the idea of going underground for Mr. Brown and for your clients. I appreciate, of course, we those of us that had the opportunity to visit Germany, looked at a number of ways that they identified their development and a lot of their construction went underground and the commitment for lead development and the sustainability because that is not a easy decision to make and is definitely a considerable able improvement and investment in the community for staff. Help me understand the additional requests. Keep it in mind earlier when I asked why are we the city making certain decisions on resonings of petitions. But yet, when we have a project that seems to meet our sustainability goals, seems to meet design controls that will benefit the urban area of Southoun. Help me understand the correlation of the expectations that we're having for this ex designation. So the way the EX provisions are set up, there are quantitative standards that the petitioner can ask for quantitative >> um changes or exceptions um from those standards in exchange for providing community benefits. Um I think one um and that's the only way that they can go about getting that that change. Um I think one thing that staff has a bit of concern about is the uh one of the exception provisions which is um allowing for an enlarged curb cut is then also cited as a community benefit for a pedestrian drop off area when we feel that that's actually detracting somewhat from the pedestrian experience um walking along Bland Street and that's why we are asking for an off we we've asked if can you incorporate open space petitioner uh just can't accommodate that on their site. So that's why we're asking for an off-site improvement um to improve uh the streetscape in in the south end area somewhere. Do we have an instance where we've asked a petitioner of a hotel to invest in an offsite infrastructure that's directly that's not directly connected to their project? Do we have that as an example or a precedent that has been set previously? Um, I I would kind of liken it to a a traffic impact where potentially you are um you're having an impact on the area around you and therefore we're asking for well that's that's coming directly from a study. Um, but this this is just kind of how that EX provision functions. Um, we've had a few of these, not not a lot. Um, so I think petitioner and staff are still working through how we navigate um through EX provisions, but the way it's set up is asking for changes from the UDO standards and in exchange for that there are community benefits. So we're working to kind of find that that medium of where those are proportional and and make sense for both parties. >> Mr. Brown to your understanding is there possibly a different designation other than EX cuz from what I'm hearing community benefits is the lead is the sustainability. So, I'm trying to figure out if in the conversation between the district representative as well as staff if any other recommendations may have been provided. >> Yeah, I mean I think staff's working hard. I mean, they're reading what the UDO says and I don't disagree with them that that's what it says. Uh I'm just saying it's frustrating um for you know development teams that and sometimes frankly their project is the community benefit. The community benefit is you're doing a better project. Um, so I think staff I think staff gets it. I mean, we've talked about it and so I think we're working on and we're we're going to get there on this one. This is just I wanted to give you an example. This is a tremendous project and I think staff sees it too and it's we're just hamstrung by way the ordinance is written and so >> and what about the cut the curve out piece as far as the pedestrian >> the challenge that we as staff >> Well, I won't um with that. >> I I'm happy to follow up. I think we think that's a better and I'll show you that. I don't want to have to pull it up again. >> That would be great. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you, >> Miss Brown. >> Council May, Miss Johnson. >> Oh, yeah. Council member Mayfield, it's always a pleasure for your senior knowledge. But if it's after December the 1st, you can talk to new district rep about that. I don't think we'll I'll have to worry about that. Mr. Collins, >> she going to be my problem after December the 1st. >> Oh, I think this is district one, too. So, you might Or am I wrong? >> No, it's district three. You might be off the hook. Oh, it is three. >> It's on the border. Yeah, it's officially >> It's a share. By the time they finish, it's going to be one and three. >> Y'all y'all y'all figure that out. >> Sorry. >> No problem. >> Any anything else, Miss Brown? >> No. Move on to Miss Johnson. >> I just wanted some clarification. Um, Mr. Brown, and maybe this question is for Allison. So in the UDO currently hotel new hotels don't require parking. Is that what >> that that's true? So they would not have to build any parking but as good hotel operators they want some parking and so to have parking it could by code they could build it overground. They'd like to build it under. >> Okay. So is how is that working for the uh the city? If I can ask the staff how's that working? Are there have there been any hotels that haven't had to file a petition for other accommodations or is that an acceptable and realistic standard? >> So, not all hotels don't have to require parking. Um, hotels in this particular zoning district, they don't have the same parking standards as they would if they were built in, let's say, a commercial district. Uh, so there are hotels that do require some level of parking. And this one because it's TOD and most of our TOD uses because they're uh within that transit distance. This one's within less than probably a half mile. Uh there's no parking requirements for a lot of those uses because that's to encourage use of the transportation system that's that's there for everybody. Uh so we have had hotels uh there was a recent re well not recent there was a reasonzoning in Dworth a few years ago for a hotel that provided some parking in a to district as well as a commitment to the neighborhood uh to try and you know mitigate some concerns about parking in the neighborhood but most of the hotels that we've seen still are providing some level of parking for their guests. We've had some of those hotels even convert it to multif family. Those have all the parking requirements for those types of uh conversions. This one's unique because it is being built in a TOD district uh that doesn't require that as a a base commitment. >> Okay. Thank you. That's all I have. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Move to close. >> Move to close public hearing. >> Second. >> All right. All in favor of closing public hearing, raise hands. Any oppose? That is unanimous. And it brings us to our final petition for the evening. Agenda item number 34. Petition number 2025 074 by Gene Pan. The the location is approximately 2.58 acres located along the west side of Zor Road east of Shannary Drive and south of Hunting Birds Lane in the ETJ and district six of the board of county commissioners. Um, Miss Rodriguez McDow, closest to district 3, Miss Brown's district. The current zoning is in 1A. Proposed zoning is in 1C. After staff's uh proposal, Mr. Lakshmi Purum will join us and you will have three minutes. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. This site is just over 2 and 1/2 acres along Zor Road near the Palisades. Also on the border was South Carolina here. So at the very edge of our city and our state, it is currently zoned neighborhood 1A and they are proposing to go to neighborhood 1C. And I'll go ahead stay on that last slide real quick for existing zoning. I just want to point out here the existing lot development pattern that we see just to the west of the site was developed under the legacy ordinance and is developed out to standards that more closely resemble neighborhood 1B lots. Um so it is zone neighborhood 1A but I just wanted to give a comparison of in terms of the size of the lots what it would look like if it were um related to the UDO standards today. So, this is a conventional request with no associated site plan. The neighborhood 1C request here is consistent with the policy maps recommendation for neighborhood one. Staff does recommend approval of this petition. That proposed zoning represents a slight increase in intensity over existing N1A entitlements and provides opportunity for a mix of housing types. The abing development, as I just explained, more closely resembles neighborhood 1B type areas and lot widths. So, this is similar to what um you could liken to a one-step increase in terms of the entitlements along the site's western edge. Primary differences between the neighborhood 1A and neighborhood 1C or even neighborhood 1B districts is limited to dimensional standards such as lot size and lot width and the those districts do allow the same uses. So, that would remain the same. And I'll take questions following petitioner comments. >> All right. Welcome Mr. Lakshmi Puram. >> Thank you very much. Um, it's my first time uh in a reasonzoning meeting and uh I thank you all for having us here. Um, yeah, my name is Prra Lakshmi and uh my partner here, Ethan, he's the owner of the site and uh we just are just two individuals um just passionate in real estate. So, um we uh as she's mentioned, uh we're requesting for a N1C uh neighborhood type. Um nothing too extreme to the uh region in the zone. Uh right across the state line is actually uh if you look down Zoro Road, uh you see town homes and uh other um uh smaller footprint uh housing, but we are not trying to do multif family. We're doing uh single family zoning with um just smaller lot requirements. Um, with the current N1A zoning, uh, we see that we would have, um, it would be really tough to fit, uh, as many, uh, houses as possible and make it affordable for the region. It's already become a little bit more, um, uh, in terms of pricing, it has uh, gone into the 400s to the 500s range. We definitely want to keep uh, it low um, offer as many housings houses as possible. and is our initial um entry into uh housing development as well. So, uh we welcome any questions that the staff might have. >> Thank you. Any question or comment? Okay, we'll go. Okay, we'll go. Miss >> We're kidding. >> We have Miss Johnson. >> We were kind of kidding, but I am going to say >> this is the second petition tonight we've heard for single family housing. That's a refresher. Refresher. So, thank you and reach out to me um if you see any area in district 4. It's something we welcome. Thank you. >> You're next. >> Did you have >> No, I was just >> Okay. So, then we're going to go Miss Asher and we'll end with Miss Brown. >> Okay, cool. >> Go ahead. >> Well, thank you. also uh welcome to the housing development world and like to see u more of uh more of this entrepreneurial spirit in our city. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. Thank you so much, Mayor Pro Tim. So, I um I spoke to you before the meeting and I just want to speak directly from um our constituents. We definitely are um excited to hear the type of development that you're doing. we need to reach out to um Creek Shower Neighborhood and Steel Creek Associations to have a meeting and I'll be more than happy to facilitate that with you because they want it deferred for some reason. So, if we can just do a deep dive to see what their concerns are and address them accordingly and appropriately. That's how we move together on common ground. So, I'll be more than happy to help you facilitate that. As a matter of fact, I'll initiate the email so we can get the ball rolling. Okay? But thank you so much for everything and thank you for being here tonight with us. We appreciate you. >> Thank you. >> There's a motion. I have a second. All in favor? Raise hands. >> Good. Thank you. >> Any oppose? That is unanimous. Is there There's a motion to adjourn. >> Second. >> All in favor? Go home. Have a good evening. Thank you. >> Have a great one. Everyone already out the door. [Music]