City Profiles / Large Cities / Charlotte, NC

Charlotte, North Carolina

Cities to Watch

Charlotte is known for its smart city planning and development, which plays a major role in its Environment Focus Area Plan, updated twice a year. Specific policies include a "centers, corridors and wedges strategy," which encourages a minimum of 40 percent of new housing permits, 70 percent of new multi-family housing permits, 75 percent of new office development and 75 percent of new employment to be located in central areas or those near transit. In 2007, the Charlotte Department of Transportation adopted the Urban Street Design Guidelines to make streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists and more efficient for motorists. It includes the principle that streets are an important component of public space, with minimum sidewalk widths and planting strips.