Meeting Agenda

Why Are We Here?

Staff TeamCharlotte-Mecklenburg Planning DepartmentCharlotte Area Transit System (CATS)Engineering & Property ManagementCorporate CommunicationsCharlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT)Mecklenburg County Park and RecreationNeighborhood & Business ServicesCharlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities (CMU)

Charlotte Fire DepartmentCharlotte-Mecklenburg Police DepartmentSolid Waste ServicesStormwater ServicesLand Use and Environmental Service

Whats Been Done So Far?

Background

Asking QuestionsFour ways to ask a question: Submit a question form during the presentationAsk your question during the open house portion Line up behind microphone to ask your questionEmail your question to: kcornett@charlottenc.gov

Questions and answers will be posted tothe project web page at CHARMECK.ORGand summarized at the October 18 meeting.

Blue Line Extension Update

LYNX Blue Line Extension (BLE)9.3 milesImplementation in 2017+25,000 daily ridersConnects UNC Charlotte campuses

Major Achievements FTA issued Record of Decision in December 2011FTA approved entry into Final Design in July 2012FTA Full Funding Grant Agreement in October/November 2012Blue Line Extension (BLE) Project Update

11 Stations (7 walk-up / 4 park-and-ride) Accommodates 3-car trainsApproximately 3,100 parking spaces Congestion-free commuteConnecting bus services

BLE ProfileConvenient and safe station amenities for customersSecurity featuresBicycle parkingPublic artShelters, garbage cans, benchesTreesLightingTicket vending machines (TVMs)Maps and schedules

BLE Update*Schedule subject to change

Plan Purpose

What is a Station Area Plan?Policy Guide that Provides a Framework for Future Growth and DevelopmentProvides Detailed Land Use and Community Design Recommendations for each Station AreaIdentifies Public and Private Investments and Strategies Needed to Realize the Plan VisionUpdates the Centers, Corridors and Wedges Boundary for the Plan AreaProvides Building Setback and Streetscape Standards for Properties with Urban Zoning DistrictsRepresents a Shared Vision for the Future

What is a Station Area Plan?Elements Typical of Area PlansVisionLand Use/Transportation/Community Design RecommendationsRecommended Infrastructure ImprovementsImplementation Section with Recommended Zoning Changes

Street Cross-sections that Identify Future Curb LinesIdentifying Setbacks from Back-of-Curb Lines

What Happens After Plan Adoption?

Plan AreasRed lines show station area boundaries.Criteria Used to Determine Plan Boundaries:Properties within mile of the transit station.Includes some properties in neighborhoods zoned single family.Uses natural boundaries where possible (streets, rear property lines, etc.).

Policy Context for Plans

Policy ContextActivity Centers Center CityMixed Use CenterIndustrial CenterGrowth Corridors Established Neighborhood AreasTransit Station AreasInterchange AreasGeneral Corridor AreasWedges

Identify and provide policies to address development opportunities and issues

Identify public and private investments needed to achieve vision

Possibly recommend zoning changes in appropriate locations

Guide more appropriate developmentWhat Can You Expect From a Station Area Plan?Create regulations or laws

Provide funding and implementation means overnight

Rezone property

Halt development

But not . . .

But not . . .

But not . . .

But not . . .

Clarify the Vision for the Area

Plan Development ProcessData Collection and AnalysisSummer 2012Public Workshop No. 1October 4, 2012Public Workshop No. 2October 18, 2012Public Workshop No. 3November 1, 2012Wrap-Up Public MeetingJanuary 2013Review and AdoptionSpring 2013

Transit Station Area PrinciplesGuidelines that address:Land UseCommunity DesignMobility

Transit Station Area PrinciplesTransit Oriented Development: A compact neighborhood with housing, jobs and neighborhood services within easy walking distance of a transit station.

Developing the Vision

What is the Concept Plan?Considers the vision and goals

Illustrates the recommended development pattern

General in nature and to provide guidance for policies

Types of Character Areas

Types of Character AreasParks, Open Space and SchoolsPurpose: Why do we need Parks, Open Space, and Schools? Provide amenities to the communityFacility Types: SchoolsPlaygroundsAthletic courts, fields and gymnasiumsGreenways and TrailsStormwater facilities

Character of Uses:ParksPassive and Active Recreation Community Services

Types of Character AreasNeighborhood PreservationPurpose: Why do we need Neighborhood Preservation?To strengthen and enhance existing residential Support neighborhood amenities and retail nodesBuilding Types: Single family detached homesTownhomes

Character of Uses:Residential (varying densities)

Types of Character AreasNeighborhood Retail and OfficePurpose: Why do we needNeighborhood Uses?Provide moderate office with some neighborhood-scale retail services to support the communityBuilding Types: Include mixed-use blocks or mixed-use buildings with ground-floor retail and office or residential aboveCharacter of Uses:RetailOffice Limited residential

Types of Character AreasTransit Oriented Mixed-UsePurpose: Why do we need Transit Oriented Mixed-Use?Support transit stations with appropriately intense land usesBuilding Types: Include mixed-use buildingsMixed-use blocks with small to medium building footprints Pedestrian scale with connected streets and walkable block sizes even when building footprints are larger

Character of Uses:Intense mix of residential and non-residential uses

Types of Character AreasEmployment UsesPurpose: Why do we need Employment Areas?Provide concentrations of employment and tax base for the communityProvide jobs for people.Building Types: Manufacturing FacilitiesWarehousesFlex SpaceLarge-Floorplate OfficesSupporting retailCharacter of Uses:Single-use office and industrial, with limited supporting retail uses

Asking QuestionsFour ways to ask a question: Submit a question form during the presentationAsk your question during the open house portion Line up behind microphone to ask your questionEmail your question to: kcornett@charlottenc.gov

Questions and answers will be posted tothe project web page at CHARMECK.ORGand summarized at the October 18 meeting.

Visioning Exercise

Visioning Exercise InstructionsSelect your Transit Station Area(s) on the wall

Review maps and post your comments on the wall using Post-it notes.

Discuss any questions you have with City staff person at the wall

NotesYou are encouraged to talk to your neighbors about your comments.

Time30 Minutes

Next Steps

Plan Development ProcessData Collection and AnalysisSummer 2012Public Workshop No. 1October 4, 2012Public Workshop No. 2October 18, 2012Public Workshop No. 3November 1, 2012Wrap-Up Public MeetingJanuary 2013Review and AdoptionSpring 2013

Thank You!

www.charlotteplanning.org

Image will be on the screen as folks walk in the door*Good evening and welcome. My name is Kathy Cornett and Im a senior planning coordinator with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Department. Id also like to introduce Alysia Osborne, who is a planning coordinator and co-project manager.

Id like to recognize any elected and appointed officials here with us tonight. Are there any other officials here tonight that I may have overlooked?

Thank you to Sugaw Creek Presbyterian Church for allowing us to use their facility.

Housekeeping items:Restroom locationsSign-in

Questions

*The format of the meeting is to present about 30 minutes of material, break out into discussion groups by station for 45 minutes and then to get back together for a 10 minute wrap-up and to answer any questions.

Tonight, were going to Discuss the purpose of station area plans;

Introduce the station area planning initiative

Provide an update on the BLE Project (actual design and construction of the line)

Describe the plan development process

Were going to quickly introduce the Northeast Corridor Infrastructure Program

And, most importantly, were going to receive public input.*There are many city and county departments that are working on this effort and many of these are represented here tonight. Would staff representatives please raise your hands?*Lets talk a little bit about whats been done so far*A lot of ground work has been done toward station area planning for the BLE over the past several years.

To begin with, Charlotte adopted Transit Station Area Principles in 2001 that are our starting point in this process. These make general recommendations for the type of land use, design and transportation facilities desired within a half mile walk distance of transit stations. Well discuss these further in a minute.

We also use adopted land use plans, such as Belmont and Optimist Park and the NoDa Vision Plan that was developed by the NoDa community.

Last summer, CATS and Planning staff prepared a New Starts application and Environmental Impact Statement as part of the Federal requirements for the project. Both of these documents look at both the entire corridor and each station in great detail to analyze demographics, environmental information, the street network and pedestrian environment, infrastructure, issues and opportunities and much more.

This information then became part of the Existing Conditions Report that was developed for this project and all are available to the public.*Staff will collect questions at the end of the presentation, before the visioning exercise beginsStaff will be available at around the room after the meeting and during the breakout exercise to answer individual questions Line-up at the mic during the Q/A portion of the meeting to ask questions about the presentation and plan process*While were here tonight to discuss station area planning around the future transit stations, I know many of you are eager to get an update on the actual BLE project. Ill give a brief update and there are CATS and Real Estate staff here who can answer specific questions during our breakout or after the meeting.*The project stretches 9.3 miles from 9th Street to the UNC-Charlotte campus.

It is expected to begin service in 2017.

It will serve about 25,000 daily riders and it will include improvements to North Tryon Street.

The project has had several major achievements over the past year.The FTA issued a Record of Decision in 2011the approved entry in to Final Design this past Julyand we expect them to issue a Full Funding Grant Agreement this month or next.

*Has anyone ridden the South Corridor Blue Line? It will be very similar to that project.

There will be 11 stations seven walk up and four with park and ride facilities.

The stations are designed to accommodate three car trains.

There will be about 3,000 parking spaces and an extensive connecting bus service.

Stations are designed to be safe and convenient for customers and include security features, bicycling parking and they incorporate public art, trees and lighting.

Tickets are purchased at the stations.*Major next steps for the project include Utility Relocation, ROW Acquisition and Final Design.

Construction is scheduled to begin next fall with operations to begin in the spring of 2017.

**What is a station area plan? Its a policy guide that provides a framework for future growth and development. They provide detailed land use, community design and transportation recommendations for each station area.

They identify public and private investments and strategies needed to realize the plan vision.

Represents a shared vision for the future.

.*Station area plans are very similar to your typical area plan

They include a vision, land use/community design and transportation recommendations, recommended infrastructure improvements and sometimes recommended zoning changes.

They also include street cross section that identify future curb lines and building setbacks from the curb..*There are several ways that area plan recommendations are implemented.

One is through the rezoning process as development occurs;

Another is through public/private partnerships and joint development opportunities;

Another is through corrective rezonings and transit supportive zoning;

And another is through the Northeast Corridor Infrastructure Program, also referred to as NECI. NECI identifies a wide variety of infrastructure projects, like sidewalks, bicycle facilities, stormwater improvements and others that improve accessibility and promote economic development in station areas.

At this time, the NECI program is only partially funded, but we hope that will change. Well discuss this program and identified projects at our 3rd workshop.*The red lines show the station area boundaries that well be discussing tonight.

Generally, the boundaries include properties within a half mile walk distance of the transit station area.

Some include properties zoned single family. I want to stress, though, that typically established neighborhoods are identified for protection and preservation.

We also use natural boundaries like streets and rear property lines where possible.

**I mentioned the Transit Station Area Principles earlier and another broad policy document we use as a starting point is the Centers, Corridors, and Wedges Growth Framework, Charlottes broad-based framework for growth.

It has been used in some form since 1994 as the basis for the development of more detailed plans and policies.

It illustrates a generalized land development pattern for Charlotte by categorizing land into one of three categories: Activity Centers, Growth Corridors, and Wedges.

The Northeast Corridor is a Growth Corridor and were discussing Transit Station Areas within it. Well also identify Established Neighborhood Areas within the Corridor.Established Neighborhood AreasThese sub-areas are those existing, primarily low density residential communities that are located within the Growth Corridors. These areas: are typically comprised of single family housing, but may also include some multi-family, commercial and civic uses, as well as some mixed or multi-use developments;should be maintained and enhanced; should be protected with a transition from more intense development that adversely impacts the character of the neighborhood.

**A station area plan is a policy document. It does not carry the force of law.

It makes recommendations but does not directly implement those recommendations.

For example, it may suggest zoning changes in certain locations but the plan does not rezone property. All rezonings go through a public process and must be ultimately approved by City Council.

It guides more appropriate development, but does not halt development. By the same token, it is not a short term development plan. Many changes wont happen for many years.Lets talk about the process for this effort.

Over the next month, well have three workshops such as this that build upon each other and get into more and more detail for each station area.

Weve completed data collection and analysis. Were at workshop #1 and the next workshops are scheduled for October 18th and November 1st.

After this series of workshops, staff will prepare recommendations and present those at a public meeting in January. We hope to begin the review and adoption process in the spring.*Ive mentioned our Transit Station Area Principles a couple of times already and explained that these are broad principles that we use to guide recommendations within a mile walk distance of a rapid transit station.

They address and use, community design and mobility.

These workshops are roughly designed to focus on these areas at each meeting.*What do we mean when we say, Transit Oriented Development?

Its a compact neighborhood-environment with housing, jobs and neighborhood services within easy walking distance of a transit station.

In many cases, transit oriented development wont happen in the short term, but is more of a long term vision. And the uses around many stations many have a transition period before they have true TOD development. These plans are long term and look out over the next 20 to 30 years.**The draft concepts presented tonight are illustrations of the recommended development pattern based on the vision and goals for each station area.

They are general and are ideas to help you provide feedback. They are not parcel specific at this point.

The concepts will be used to guide the specific policies that well develop as part of this process.

Even though the maps and graphics look pretty refined, they are initial concepts and can be changed.*Like any typical neighborhood or community, the development concepts include different types of character areas that make up each station area.

Parks, schools, established neighborhoods, neighborhood retail, office and employment uses are those we find in most neighborhoods. Transit oriented uses are those that cluster closest to the station. All of these rely on being pedestrian-oriented and accessible.*For example, parks and greenways can provide active and passive recreation, pedestrian connections and environmental protection. They can be playgrounds, parks, greenways, trails and stormwater facilities.

Schools, libraries and other civic uses are important to the areas quality of life and become more accessible when located near transit stations.*There are existing established neighborhoods in many station areas and we want to preserve, protect and enhance those. This includes single family and town homes. It may also include the creation of new neighborhoods.*Moderate and neighborhood scale office and retail uses provide jobs and services to the area. They can include mixed-use buildings or blocks of ground floor retail and office uses that primarily serve the surrounding area and have good internal and external connectivity.*Probably the most unique character area is transit oriented mixed use.

They support the stations with appropriately intense land uses and are usually a mix of residential and nonresidential uses.

Though they are often intense, they maintain a pedestrian scale and relationship.*Employment areas obviously provide jobs and a tax base for the community.

In this portion of the corridor, we find single use office and industrial uses.

Many of these include limited supporting retail uses, too.*Staff will collect questions at the end of the presentation, before the visioning exercise beginsStaff will be available at around the room after the meeting and during the breakout exercise to answer individual questions Line-up at the mic during the Q/A portion of the meeting to ask questions about the presentation and plan process**At this time, were ready to begin the group exercise.

You can visit as many station areas as you like.

Please review the maps and post your comments on the wall using post-it notes.

As I mentioned earlier, the maps are initial concepts. Feel free to write on them if you think thats more appropriate for your comments.

Staff are available to answer any questions that you might have.

Please discuss you comments with others at your station.

Well wrap-up for questions next steps after about 30 minutes.**Lets talk about the process for this effort.

Over the next month, well have three workshops such as this that build upon each other and get into more and more detail for each station area.

Weve completed data collection and analysis. Were at workshop #1 and the next workshops are scheduled for October 18th and November 1st.

After this series of workshops, staff will prepare recommendations and present those at a public meeting in January. We hope to begin the review and adoption process in the spring.**A good way to get periodic updates if you are not able to volunteer to be on the stakeholder group is to check our website