Project Schedule and Timeline

None

Charlotte desperately needs a comprehensive plan like this. Successful cities of the future will need to have more density and diversity. The concept of the 10-minute neighborhood is the most important part of the plan, IMO. Go to any thriving, successful city in the world and you'll see this. It addresses a host of problems from energy usage, to physical health (more walking), to emotional health (close neighborhood communities and resources), and most importantly - economic diversity (getting us all out of our bubbles.) It's the kind of city my children and other young people want to live in. I've lived in Myers Park for 62 years. 57 of those years were in single family homes. When my wife and I became empty nesters, we downsized into a Myers Park duplex. It's actually an historic home that was already zoned multi-family. It looks exactly the same as when it was built in 1931, it just houses two families instead of one. Converting it to a duplex did nothing to destroy the character of the neighborhood. It was great that an opportunity like this existed nearby so we could downsize in our own neighborhood. The Minneapolis experience shows that density changes slowly so no one needs to worry about immediate drastic change. But we need to open the door to it and get started. I favor the elimination of single-family zoning in the city. I've always been proud to be a native Charlottean and reside in this progressive city. Executing a plan like this will make me even more so.

Without a doubt, there will be new comments, ideas, and questions that come together in the final weeks prior to the plan being voted on. Wouldn't it be wise to allow more time to review this new feedback and to possibly make a few amendments to the plan as a result? And shouldn't this be completed before it is voted on? This is too complex and important to not consider new information or ideas.

I would suggest that council not adopt this plan as written. There needs to be some solid planning done about implementation and financing. Without the knowledge of the details, council is being fiscally and operationally irresponsible.