By: Shannon Binns (Special op-ed for Charlotte Observer)

A recent Observer headline laid out the challenge: “First test for City Council newbies: What to do about Charlotte’s growth?”

Indeed, Charlotte’s five new council members – along with their re-elected colleagues and new mayor Vi Lyles – have their hands full dealing with exponential growth at the same moment that a massive rewrite of our rulebook for managing growth is seriously bogged down.

Our soaring economy requires never-ending construction that, if not properly managed, threatens our quality of life.

The challenge is compounded as Charlotte’s traditional low-density, car-oriented development pattern no longer fits the preferences of many residents, especially our burgeoning millennial population. And Charlotte’s appalling economic inequity compels us to ensure that new developments offer affordable housing throughout the city.

Read the full op-ed here.