Title
Streets Map to Implement Transit Oriented Development Zoning Along Blue Line
Action
Action:
Adopt the Streets Map to implement Transit Oriented Development for the Blue Line.
Body
Committee Chair:
Julie Eiselt, Transportation and Planning
Staff Resource(s):
Liz Babson, Transportation
Johanna Quinn, Transportation
Tracy Newsome, Transportation
Explanation
§ The Streets Map is a key implementation tool for the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Zoning Ordinance, which was adopted by City Council on April 15, 2019.
§ The Streets Map sets the vision for the public realm within TOD by assigning street classifications and setting ultimate curb locations for Complete Streets in the TOD areas around the Blue Line.
§ Street classification and curb location are used to determine design requirements such as setbacks, building placement, streetscapes, and other key design elements related to street frontages, providing predictability, consistency, and clarity for development.
§ Until the Streets Map is adopted, TOD districts rely on area plans, some of which do not include Charlotte’s most recently adopted Complete Streets design policies.
§ The Streets Map will also form the basis for the design of capital projects along streets.
Background
§ The Streets Map is intended to complement the adopted TOD Ordinance to create safe and comfortable Complete Streets for all users and to provide multi-modal access to transit stations and the destinations around those stations.
§ The information on the Streets Map reflects previously-adopted policies from the Urban Street Design Guidelines (USDG), the Transportation Action Plan, Charlotte WALKS, and Charlotte BIKES.
§ The Streets Map includes recommendations for the cross section of each arterial street in TOD around the Blue Line. These recommendations include number of lanes, bicycle facilities, and on-street parking and center space where applicable.
Community Input
§ The Streets Map incorporates significant public comment from previously-adopted City Council policies. Thousands of people commented during the adoption of USDG, TAP, Charlotte WALKS (adopted 2017), and Charlotte BIKES (adopted 2017).
§ Information about the Streets Map has been provided across the City to community and advocacy groups including the Bicycle Advisory Committee, the Ordinance Advisory Committee (OAC), Town Halls, and Biketoberfest 2018.
§ Staff has also met with the broader community as part of the TOD Zoning Alignment, attending all property owner and community meetings. The TOD Zoning Alignment and Streets Map are two key implementation tools for the recently adopted TOD districts.
§ A Streets Map Stakeholder Group was formed to address questions from the OAC and to have a more in-depth conversation about the Streets Map. The Stakeholders were made up of developer and advocacy group representatives and met a total of three times.
§ The city collected public comments on the map June through September, and at the October 14, 2019 Council Business Meeting, Council heard public comments on the Streets Map.
§ The Streets Map is available at <https://charlottenc.gov/Projects/Pages/StreetsMap.aspx>.
Committee Discussion
§ The Streets Map was presented to the Transportation and Planning Committee on July 22 and September 23, 2019. At the meeting on September 23, 2019, the Committee voted to recommend that the Streets Map be presented to full City Council for public comment.
§ During the City Council Strategy Session on October 7, 2019, information was provided about the Streets Map including the content, development, and application of the Streets Map to TOD.
Attachments