STEELE CREEK NEWS

Rezoning Notices Are Sent to Charlotte Neighborhood Organization List 

(May 9, 2008/Updated June 2, 2014) Residents often learn at the last minute about rezoning petitions that may bring new and potentially unwanted development to their areas. They thus miss out on early discussions of plans and have an opportunity for input only near the end of the application process. Opposition from nearby residents often will force developers to revise plans to make them more likely to receive approval by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Planning Commission, the Planning Staff, and the Charlotte City Council, which has ultimate authority over rezoning.

Petitioners must send notices of neighborhood meetings for all conditional rezoning applications to all neighborhood organizations in the vicinity of the area to be rezoned, but only if the organization is on their Neighborhood Organization List.

The Planning Department also provides the list to other local government agencies and other organizations, which use it to send notices on a wide variety of issues, including  infrastructure improvements and other projects that may impact their neighborhood as well as notices of meetings.

The list is available online at the Neighborhood Organization List web site, which also has a map with general locations of the organizations now listed. The list is dependent on information provided by neighborhood leaders, and over time leaders change or the organization may become inactive.

Currently only about three dozen homeowners associations, neighborhood associations, and other groups within Steele Creek are on the list. If yours is not, it certainly should be. Contact, or have your president or other organization officer contact, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Department  to have your group added or to update your information. This is a crucial step to make sure your neighborhood organization keeps aware of changes in the local community and has an opportunity to participate in the planning process.

Contact Catherine Stutts (704-336-8312 - cstutts@charlottenc.gov). You may also add or update organization information online.

The Planning Department provides registration and update opportunities at many of its public meetings, such as during the regular Neighborhood Symposium.

The Steele Creek area is growing rapidly and inevitably, but if you are concerned that specific development might be a detriment to the community, be sure to monitor rezoning petitions and make your views known to the Planning Commission and Charlotte City Council.

Other ways to keep up with rezoning petitions:

If you see a sign with a big "Z" on it, someone has petitioned for a zoning change on the property adjacent to the sign. Note the petition number posted on the sign and call the number shown to request information about the application.

All rezoning petitions now are on line at the Planning Department's Rezoning web site.

Additionally, the Steele Creek Residents Association web site has links to rezoning petitions within Steele Creek on the Rezoning Page.