2021 is a critical year for Charlotte’s future. How we grow for the next twenty years is being decided as we speak and the decisions being made around the 2040 plan will impact every Charlotte area resident's quality of life for generations to come.

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is taking a look at Transit Oriented Development (TOD) along the proposed Lynx Silver Line. TOD is essentially the economic development that occurs adjacent to a high-frequency public transit line--in this case, the Silver Line light rail. For the past year and a half, the Silver Line team has worked to define the Locally Preferred Alternative including station areas. Now, CATS is  focusing on planning TOD along the alignment.

There's a lot going on this summer with transportation and land use in Charlotte -- and across our region!  Today we're digging into one of three planning processes that were shared by staff at Monday's City Council Transportation, Planning, and Environment (TPE) Committee meeting. Over the next few weeks, we'll share blog posts about the Connect Beyond regional transit planning process and the Silver Line Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Study. Slides from the TPE meeting presentations on all three topics can be viewed here. Join us today for the first deep dive as we take a closer look at I-77. Yes, it's an interstate that moves a lot of cars and freight. But it has the potential to do so much more! We're about to go...Beyond 77. 

After receiving input from the public and various Charlotte City Council committees, City staff have released a revised version of the Charlotte Future 2040 Plan that they are recommending for adoption by Council.  The public -- that's YOU!-- is invited to submit feedback on this revised draft until June 3rd. The final Council vote on the plan is scheduled for Monday, June 21st.  (image: City of Charlotte; cltfuture2040.com)

This Monday night, Charlotte City Council will undertake a critical vote on the Charlotte Future 2040 Plan. The outcome will shape the way that our city grows for decades to come. 

Each year we honor local sustainability leaders who are leading the way for a more sustainable future through their work. At this year's Charlotte Sustainability Awards presented by Duke Energy, we honored over 40 incredible nominees at our 2021 virtual event on the evening of April 22nd. Of those nominees, six were selected by our independent panel of judges as winners, and were presented with beautifully handcrafted custom awards (donated by Carolina Urban Lumber). We also honored the two winners of the 2020 Recycling Excellence award. The day was extra meaningful because it was also Earth Day! 

Is the current draft of the Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan the vision that Charlotte needs to grow in an equitable, authentic, integrated, and resilient way for decades to come?  This was the essential issue that Charlotte City Council's Transportation Planning and Environment Committee discussed at a special meeting on Monday, April 19th. 

  2021 is gonna be a GREAT year for cycling in Charlotte! Another segment of the City’s Uptown CycleLink project went into construction last week!    

Just in time for Earth Day 2021, Mecklenburg County Solid Waste Services has added a “Kids Can Recycle Right” webinar. Now kids of ALL ages can learn how to Recycle Right, because that helps the planet EVERY day of the year! This webinar  (click HERE to view) is for ages 3 to 11. The adult Recycle Right webinar (click HERE to view) is available for everyone else. Then print out the free coloring page (click here for a .pdf version) and post it on your fridge!   Sustain Charlotte is proud to partner with Mecklenburg County Waste Services to educate the public about how to Recycle Right!

Mecklenburg County just took a HUGE STEP FORWARD in committing to environmental sustainability and racial equity in all of its operations! At the March 16th Mecklenburg County Commission meeting, the Environmental Leadership Policy and Action Plan were unanimously adopted.