CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Some residents in the Far East neighborhood of Charlotte are concerned about the number of new housing developments being built in the area. It comes as Charlotte leaders discuss whether to allow duplexes and triplexes on any single-family zoned lot without deed restrictions.

What You Need To Know

  • Since 2016 there have been 47 new subdivisions approved in the Far East area and seven more are in progress

  • This equates to thousands of new homes in the area

  • It comes as Charlotte discusses its 2040 comprehensive plan, which could increase housing density in the city

Vivian Lord has lived in the Far East neighborhood for 15 years. It’s located on the outskirts of east Charlotte. She bought the home because it was quiet and rural.

 “We just sit out on the porch, watch the deer and different birds that come in,” Lord said.

But she is afraid her neighborhood is changing. She lives on a street with single-family homes. A 13-acre piece of land sits next her house and was recently sold to a developer. 

“If the city puts in the place types it is talking about, the developers, with no other input, could say ‘I am going to put in duplexes and triplexes,’” Lord said.

Lord is talking about Charlotte's 2040 comprehensive plan to allow duplexes and triplexes on single-family zoned lots. City leaders are currently discussing whether that part of the plan will be included in the city’s second draft of the 2040 plan. What she is really worried about is the fact that there is already a lot of new development around her.

According to Charlotte planners, since 2016 there have been 47 new subdivisions approved in the Far East area and seven more are in progress. This equates to thousands of new homes.

“We can’t support people out here in a way that adds to the quality of life, unless we have more schools, wider roads, sidewalks, street lights,” Lord said.

Lord feels there aren’t enough projects happening in the middle of the Far East neighborhood where many of the new homes are being built. Charlotte city planners said in an email that funding for city projects is “limited and competitive” and they select projects based on a number of factors such as safety, congestion and connectivity. 

Transportation projects are also expensive. The city said one project it is currently working on in the Far East neighborhood will cost $65 million. It’s why the residents say the possible congestion on Hood Road does not rank high enough.

Lord said she understands the city doesn’t have the funds to work on every street, but she just hopes the city continues to consider her concerns.

“I invite people to come out and live, and I just hope that they will encourage their developers and the city to try and build what will support them,” Lord said.