Charlotte's Unified Development Ordinance has been a monumental project, bringing in zoning, development and other policies into one massive plan that will guide the Queen City's growth.
The new code, called the UDO, has been in the works for years, based off the city's 2040 Comprehensive Plan. The latest draft of the UDO is scheduled to head to city council on Aug. 22 for final discussions and a vote.
"The UDO simplifies, consolidates and updates the regulations that guide Charlotte’s development. It is a critical tool in implementing the community’s vision for growth," the city said Monday, releasing the latest version a week before the city council vote.
It guides essentially everything about how the city will grow. That includes where developers can build new single-family homes or the next massive skyscraper, how much parking a building needs, the size of business signs, where bus stops go, and how much outdoor dining should be available in specific districts.
The draft being sent to council incorporates changes based on feedback from the planning commissions, city council and public comments on the draft.
The city planning staff said they made dozens of changes based on what they heard from city officials and residents.
Council members are expected to vote on the UDO Monday. They could potentially vote to make last-minute changes to the sprawling development code.
The Unified Development Ordinance does just that, it unifies the city's rules that guide growth. It combines eight current sets of rules into one:
- Zoning Ordinance
- Subdivision Ordinance
- Tree Ordinance
- Street and Sidewalk Regulations
- Floodplain Regulations
- Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Ordinance
- Driveway/Access Standards
- Post Construction Stormwater Ordinance