Madison Park

City of Charlotte Housing & Neighborhood Services 1/27/23

marty5223
Mentor
Charlotte, NC
9610 Posts

Upcoming Events and Engagement Opportunities

Exploring Corporate Buyer Deterrence Strategies - Tuesday, February 7 | 6:00 PM

The City is aware of corporate investment concerns and continues to explore options within its legal abilities to support persons who desire to stay in their homes to remain, and to educate property owners, Homeowner's Association (HOA’s) and Condominium Associations (CA) who proactively seek to deter corporate investor interest. The City's support is not advocacy, legal advice, nor a judgment of corporate investment, rather a means to educate residents to define and apply their desired path.

Join us for an educational workshop to understand property rights and corporate buyer deterrence opportunities for individual property owners and HOAs. The workshop will include rights, powers and best practices for property owners and neighborhoods to impact corporate investment interest based on their organizational status.

This workshop will take place via Zoom. Registration is required. Online and call-in access instructions will be emailed to registered participants prior to the workshop.

Using Arts & Culture to Revitalize Your Neighborhood - Tuesday, January 31 | 6:00 PM

From beautiful and vibrant public murals to unique open spaces that serve as a gathering place for community members, the public art scene around Charlotte is thriving. Public art and placemaking can transform a community in a way that builds character, identity, and a sense of belonging. Join us as we discuss opportunities to bring the arts to your neighborhood. The workshop will include presentations on how to apply for funding from the Neighborhood Matching Grant Program, Placemaking Grant Program and additional resources.

This workshop will take place via Zoom. Registration is required. Online and call-in access instructions will be emailed to registered participants prior to the workshop.

Attend a Neighborhood Matching Grant Pre-Application Workshop to Learn How Your Neighborhood Can Receive Up to $25k!

The Neighborhood Matching Grants Program (NMG) awards up to $25,000 to eligible neighborhood-based organizations to complete projects including art, beautification, signage, festivals, sustainability, safety improvements, community gardens, recreational features and more! Applications are accepted March 1, June 1, and September 1, annually. Organizations match funds received with at least 50% volunteer labor, the remaining match may be in the form of more volunteer labor, cash, or in-kind donations (equipment, supplies, professional services, etc.).

Participation in a pre-application workshop is required. Two new in-person workshops have been added to the schedule!

To get started, attend one of the following workshops or view the workshop presentation and program guidelines online.

Thursday, January 26, 6 – 7:30 p.m. (Virtual)
Wednesday, February 1, 6 – 7:30 p.m. (Steele Creek Library, Community Room, 13620 Steele Creek Rd, Charlotte)
Thursday, February 2, 6 – 7:30 p.m. (Virtual)
Tuesday, February 7, 12 – 1:30 pm (Hickory Grove Library, Community Room, 5935 Hickory Grove Rd, Charlotte)
Wednesday, February 8, 12 – 1:30 p.m. (Virtual)
Monday, February 13, 6 – 7:30 p.m. (Virtual)

To participate in a workshop, please register here. For additional information, contact Jackie Clare at jackie.clare@charlottenc.gov.

Volunteer Opportunity: Clean Streets Cleanup, February 11

Join Keep Charlotte Beautiful, the City’s Corridors of Opportunity team, and local residents in picking up litter along Tuckasseegee road! Volunteers will clean a loop route from 10 AM-12 PM. Lunch will be provided. Learn more and register here.

Apply to Join the UDO Advisory Committee

The City of Charlotte’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) simplifies, consolidates, and updates the regulations that guide Charlotte’s development into a single document and serves an important part in implementing the Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan policies. The UDO was adopted on August 22, 2022, by the Charlotte City Council and will become effective on June 1, 2023. Throughout the development and adoption of the UDO, staff worked with an Ordinance Advisory Committee of volunteers from neighborhoods, environmental groups, designers and development professionals to review and receive feedback on UDO regulatory concepts.

Even though the UDO has been adopted there is still more work to do. Currently, our staff is preparing a “clean-up” text amendment to the UDO to correct misspellings, add clarity, and fix minor issues. This text amendment will be filed so that it becomes effective when the UDO goes into effect in June. We are also considering other amendments to the UDO that may have policy implications. This is where an advisory committee will be once again needed. This new committee, the UDO Advisory Committee (UAC), will review potential amendments to the UDO and provide feedback to staff.

This UAC will consist of 20 members who will serve 2-year terms (and additional concurrent terms may be served by active members). No more than 12 meetings a year are expected. The UAC will meet on Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. via Zoom approximately once a month. While the UDO is a technical, regulatory document and professionals that work in the development industry are needed on this committee, it is also important to have applicants from the community for a well-rounded discussion and to help connect the dots between adopted policies and regulations. Applicant selections will consider experience, background, demographics, and home address to encourage diverse perspectives.

Those interested in being a member, please fill out the application by Feb 2, 2023. Please forward this application to others in your networks.

City of Charlotte's UDO University Registration is Open

The City of Charlotte Planning, Design & Development Department is excited to introduce UDO University! UDO University offers a series of virtual training opportunities to assist in learning about the UDO and to ask questions of subject matter experts. The sessions topics will include:

An Overview of the Charlotte UDO
Zoning Districts in the UDO
Tree Protection Article of the UDO
Subdivision, Network and Access, and Other Infrastructure
Neighborhood Zoning Districts
An Overview of the UDO Administration
Stormwater Standards in the UDO
Parking, Landscaping and Screening, and Open Space
Required New Street/Improvements and Standards
Residential Permitting

Virtual sessions are scheduled to begin Friday, January 13th, and end on Friday, March 17th. Each session will be held from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. All sessions will be virtual (Zoom) and recorded. Registration is required and will open the first week of January.

Lowe’s Hometowns Signature Impact Grants Now Accepting Nominations

Lowe’s is investing $100 million to restore and revitalize community spaces across the country through the Lowe’s Hometowns program. Each year through 2026, Lowe’s Hometowns will complete 100 signature projects chosen from consumer nominations, plus nearly 1,700 projects through??¯Lowe’s stores, supply chain locations and store support centers??¯across the country.

Lowe’s Hometowns is accepting nominations for signature project grants through February 20, 2023. To nominate a project, please use the form below. As you complete your nomination, please keep in mind the following:

All nominations must be submitted by February 20, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Grants must be used to make physical improvements to a community space.
Grants must go to a local non-profit that is willing and able to take on the project.
If you are unsure if your project qualifies, please see the program eligibility guidelines or check out past projects.

Nominate a project today.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Giving Free Laptops to Those in Need

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is issuing 20,000 refurbished laptops to adults who are eligible for the MeckTech program. Each laptop is free and optimized for accessing the internet, joining virtual meetings, creating documents, and more.

To qualify, you need to be 18 years or older, live in Mecklenburg County with proof of residency, have access to an active email address, and have a photo identification card. You’ll also have to sign a statement attesting that you would not otherwise have the technology necessary to meet your educational/informational needs.

Applications will be open online starting on Thursday, Jan. 19 at noon. To apply, visit this link and fill out your information.

Approved applicants will get a confirmation within 7-10 business days; you’ll then sign up for a distribution date and time through the confirmation email.

Training on Demand: Introduction to Pollinator & Native Habitat Gardens

In this workshop, local experts provide an introduction to the concept of pollinator and native plant gardens: how they came about, why they're beneficial, and what plants may distinguish them from tall grass and weeds.

To learn, watch the replay. Visit the Community Engagement Training on Demand page for additional training opportunities.