Charlotte, North Carolina

In 2018, Charlotte, North Carolina, embarked upon a monumental effort to lead the south in developing the most robust, equitable and inclusive comprehensive planning effort. Focused not only on including people of color and marginalized residents as part of planning engagement, the Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan is designed to take an equitable lens in evaluating all components of the plan framework. This effort began by fully embracing the legacy of racial injustice and how past policies led to inequities. The Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan is focused on providing a new path forward that creates an equitable growth framework for all residents to reach their full potential. Joining a team led by MIG, Inc., Clarion Associates was the project lead for developing a policy synthesis and analysis of over 50 community plans – setting the foundation for the new comprehensive plan. Clarion then led development of a multi-departmental and city partner effort to develop the Plan Framework.

Guided by ten visionary goals, this plan framework sets the stage for implementing several “big ideas” for Charlotte including eliminating exclusionary zoning policies for neighborhoods, creating a culture of developer-community collaboration, creating a robust program of reparations and restorative justice, prioritizing equitable TOD (E-TOD) along trail and trail corridors, implementing the City’s Strategic Energy Action plan through development of Resilient Innovation Districts, and directing at least half of public infrastructure spending over the next 20 years to the most vulnerable communities. The Charlotte Future 2040 Plan was adopted in June 2021.

Visit https://cltfuture2040.com/ to see the Charlottle Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan.