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CHARLOTTE – In the latest round of city rezoning requests, the majority of petitioners aren’t actually asking for a rezoning, just site plan amendments that would allow the developers to change the layout or configuration of land that was previously rezoned.
Trinity Capital Advisors is asking for a site plan amendment that would allow them to reconfigure their plan to bring a 120-room hotel, an office building and 13,000 square feet of retail to an undeveloped portion of Toringdon. Photo by Payton Guion
When the Charlotte City Council struggles with rezoning requests, it’s usually because of land-use issues. Councilmembers hesitate to approve development that they feel doesn’t fit the city’s vision for the site or that is what they consider a poor use of the land. But most of the latest petitions are only amendments to rezonings already approved by council, which could mean they’ll be approved more easily.
But Tammie Keplinger, the city’s rezoning planning manager, said site plan amendments don’t always pass the City Council with ease.
“The site plan amendments are not treated that differently from regular rezonings,” she said. “The land use has already been approved so to speak, so it’s not a land-use question. But council can still struggle with the amendments.”
Of the latest batch, the plan amendment request seeking the biggest change belongs to Trinity Capital Advisors, the Charlotte-based commercial real estate firm. The company is asking to change the location of a 120-room hotel on the 13.2-acre property at Toringdon in Ballantyne, as well as replacing the previously approved townhomes with a 13,000-square-foot building that would include a mix of retail, restaurant and office uses.
Trinity was originally approved for nearly 300,000 square feet of space, which would include two office buildings, the hotel and the townhomes. One of the office buildings was built, but the rest of the parcel remained undeveloped. According to the site plan submitted by Trinity, the company still plans to develop the second office building, the hotel and the 13,000 square feet of retail
The amendment would allow the developer to build the hotel at the new location on the property, which is bound by Johnston and Community House roads, and would approve the mixed-use building as opposed to the townhomes.
Unless otherwise noted below, all public hearings for these rezonings will be held March 17 at the City Council’s rezoning meeting at the Government Center, at 600 E. Fourth St.
Rezoning Petition 2014-023
Petitioner: Edgeline Residential LLC
Current Zoning: Mixed-use development district
Proposed Zoning: MUDD – Site plan amendment
Location: 2.15 acres at the intersection of North Caldwell Street and East 16th Street and generally surrounded by East 16th Street, North Davidson Street, and East 16th Street.
Plan: Edgeline is asking for a site-plan amendment to reduce the number of units from 150 to a maximum of 120, and to add a rental option on those units.
Rezoning Petition 2014-024
Petitioner: Stonehunt LLC
Current Zoning: Urban residential
Proposed Zoning: UR-2 – SPA
Location: 6.57 acres on the west side of Luther Street generally surrounded by Cherry Street, Main Street, Baxter Street and Eli Street.
Plan: To change the current development to allow the detached single-family lots on the main tract and revise the layout on the other two parcels for 13 town homes.
Rezoning Petition 2014-026, public hearing is Feb. 17
Petitioner: Abigail Jennings, Pioneer Springs Community School
Current Zoning: General business and office
Proposed Zoning: B-2 and O-1 – SPA
Location: 1.68 acres on the east side of Bob Beatty Road, north of the intersection at Reames Road and Old Statesville Road.
Plan: To change the wording of the zoning to allow for a school to occupy the premises, with alterations to the existing structures and the addition of new structures and site improvements.
Rezoning Petition 2014-027
Petitioner: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Department
Current Zoning: Light industrial
Proposed Zoning: Transit-oriented development
Location: 0.81 acres on the west side of Dunavant Street between Remount Road and Merve Place.
Plan: To redevelop the area for use as work studios, office or retail space, in keeping with the New Bern Station Area Plan. To allow all TOD uses.
