Social districts. Transit. Eastland. See City Council’s last votes before members change
The Charlotte City Council held its final meeting Monday night before newly elected leaders replace four outgoing members behind the dais.
The current council’s swan song included the approval of a document that governs development in the city, allowing communities to ask for public drinking districts, transit center design money and a lively debate about arts funding. Mayor Pro Tem Julie Eiselt and council members Larken Egleston, Greg Phipps and Matt Newton cast their final votes on proposals that will shape Charlotte’s future.
If you missed the hourslong meeting Monday night, here’s a roundup of everything you need to know.
Alcohol social districts
Social districts allow neighborhood and merchant organizations to request the creation of areas that allow people to drink alcohol from open containers in predetermined boundaries.
While council’s unanimous approval of social districts doesn’t mean booze will flood the streets immediately, organizations from Plaza Midwood, NoDa and South End have expressed interest in creating social districts. Rules for specific social districts will be decided when an organization applies to create one.
Transit center money
The city approved up to $2.9 million in reimbursement for the design of the Charlotte Transportation Center. The redevelopment includes building a temporary bus site during construction of the permanent facility at 310 Trade St. near the Spectrum Center in uptown.
The total design costs $18 million for architectural and engineering services for both facilities.
In addition to transit services, developer WPTP Brevard Holdings LLC plans to build 1 million square feet of office, hotel and retail space.
The vote passed 8-2, with Councilwoman Renee Johnson absent because she contracted COVID-19 and was not allowed to participate remotely. Councilmen Tariq Bokhari and Ed Driggs voted “no.”
Umbrella Center funding
The City Council voted to allocate $5 million from the American Rescue Plan toward The Umbrella Center, a family justice center that serves victims of interpersonal violence. The city money is expected to join $10 million from Mecklenburg County and $20 million from private sector contributions by 2024.
The center is proposed southeast of uptown, where Albemarle Road and East Independence Boulevard intersect in Council District 5.
The center will provide services for victims of:
▪ Domestic violence
▪ Sexual assault
▪ Elder and dependent abuse
▪ Human trafficking
▪ Child abuse.
Unified Development Ordinance
City Council approved the Unified Development Ordinance Monday night, a nearly 700-page rule book for what can be built where in Charlotte.
Despite public scrutiny surrounding the denser housing in single-family home neighborhoods, the ordinance passed with a 6-4 vote. The full Unified Development Ordinance can be viewed at charlotteudo.org.
Arts funding
City Council voted to allocate $6 million in fiscal year 2023 toward arts and culture administrative services.
District 6 Councilman Tariq Bokhari attempted to make an amendment to not include the Arts and Science Council in the motion following changes to the way arts funding is distributed by city government. Bokhari said the City Council hadn’t followed the process it set for itself. But he failed to receive a second to his motion.
Eastland Infrastructure
City Council approved a reimbursement up to $6 million for infrastructure in Eastland Yards, the former mall that is under construction to become a mixed-use project including single-family homes, apartments, office and retail.
The money from the city’s Capital Investment Plan is expected to reimburse:
▪ Site grading
▪ Underground utility mains
▪ Storm detention
▪ Traffic signals
▪ Intersection improvements
Police bomb robot
City Council approved Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department’s purchase of an almost $300,000 robot used by bomb technicians. The Andros Spartan Robot includes new technology such as a 360 degree articulating arm.
The CMPD Bomb Squad has used Andros Spartan Robots for several decades and uses this same robotics platform for all certification and re-certification courses for bomb technicians, the City Council’s agenda documents state.
This story was originally published August 22, 2022 at 9:23 PM.
