On Monday night, Charlotte City Council met for their regularly scheduled monthly meeting. On the agenda were three items we were paying especially close attention to: a tree canopy report; a vote on increasing fines for parking in bike lanes, streetcar right-of-ways and on sidewalks; and a discussion about a new bus operations management company contract. Here’s a brief recap of the meeting and our take.

Thank you to the more than 100 people who responded to our action alert and advocated to Mecklenburg County commissioners for Park and Recreation Department funding! Your stories about the importance of greenways struck home with many of the commissioners, as evidenced by their vocal support during Tuesday’s public policy meeting.

Credit: The City of Charlotte Planning Department

What is Community Area Planning?

Community Area Planning (CAP) is the next step in helping Charlotte grow in an intentional, sustainable, and equitable way. The planning process, which invites participation from members of the community and intentionally includes their input in decisions, builds upon the vision and goals stated in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan (https://cltfuture2040.com). The information gathered from this initiative will provide more detailed guidance regarding development, infrastructure, transportation, and other critical quality-of-life influencers for each of the 14 community areas throughout Charlotte (the Uptown area has its planning process separate from this effort). 

Community Area Planning aims to capture each geography’s distinctive needs and character while accounting for surrounding areas to inform decisions about development and growth. That’s where you come in! The more voices in the conversation, the better we can plan for our community’s future.

Charlotte has a new bicycle planner in town. Dave Campbell started his new job with the Charlotte Department of Transportation in December after a long advocacy career, including the last 10 years as advocacy director for Bike East Bay in California.

This week, the Metropolitan Transit Commission voted to move forward with redevelopment plans for the Charlotte Transportation Center (CTC) and discussed an alignment evaluation for the center city portion of the future Silver Line light rail.  

We remain committed to advocating for equity in all transportation investment decisions and applaud progress toward meeting the transportation and mobility needs of residents throughout the Charlotte region.

Mecklenburg County staff and commissioners are already planning for the next budget year, which begins in July. A big part of that process includes the next Capital Improvement Plan, a five-year program that funds a range of projects, including expanding our parks, nature preserves and greenway system.

Mecklenburg County commissioners held their annual budget retreat Jan. 25-27, and we tuned in. How governments budget and spend available funds reflects their values and determines their ability to address existing problems. For this reason, it’s important to pay attention to the budget and ensure it reflects what residents want.

Last night, Sustain Charlotte Director of Engagement and Impact Meg Fencil addressed the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners at its first budget hearing to receive resident input on planning for the county manager's fiscal year 2024 budget. The county is also in the process of completing the next five-year Capital Improvement Plan, a program that funds a range of projects, including creating new community resource centers, updating county facilities, and expanding our park and greenway system. 

Both the annual budget and the Capital Improvement Plan will be up for discussion at the County Commission’s budget retreat on Jan. 24, so we're speaking up now for continued funding to support a vibrant, healthy, and equitable community for all. 

In 2023, Sustain Charlotte resolves to work for an expanded greenway network, dependable public transit, equitable community involvement and more! (Photo: Charlotte Area Transit System)

In 2023, what would it look like to collectively aspire to a better future for our community? Here are the big-ticket items Sustain Charlotte resolves to continue working for in the new year -- and we're committed to making it easy for members of the community to do so, too. Won’t you join us in supporting a better way forward for our climate, health and equity? 

On Thursday evening, several dozen community members gathered for Sustain Charlotte’s Impact 704 Academy's third and final session of 2022 to discuss local land-use challenges. This series of education and engagement programs focused on sustainable, equitable, and resilient urban development in the Charlotte area.