Ballantyne, NC – Residents from the Ballantyne area turned out to ask questions of the planning board and a representative from the Charlotte Housing Authority. Also on hand was a representative for the landowner of the tract of land that is up for rezoning on the corner of Johnston Road and Providence Road West. The turn out was so strong from Ballantyne homeowners that they were moved to a separate conference room in order to allow the other agenda items to be discussed.
Residents were allowed to ask questions about how the planning board assesses rezoning requests. The planning board looks at the suitability of the property to handle the density planned (110 units) and if the current public services can support that request. Transportation and school assignment are part of the equation but not the sole deciders. Various departments are asked to weigh in on their recommendations as to what type of strain the proposed development may or may not place on current services.
Those that attended the meeting were on fact-finding missions, however many seem opposed to the idea of affordable housing coming to Ballantyne. Concerns that were raised included access to public transportation. Currently the closest CATS stop is approximately 1 mile away and at this time there are no plans to extend it. Others attending the meeting stressed the fact that this is a high traffic corridor with no existing sidewalks further complicating the issue of accessibility if the residents do not have transportation.
The view of the Housing Authority is that transportation is not a major consideration when deciding where to locate affordable housing projects. Currently only 50% of this type of housing is serviced by public transportation routes, according to Ben Collins of the Charlotte Housing Authority.
This development, if approved, plans to have apartments that will “mirror the community feel, while providing housing to those that work in the Ballantyne service industry. When asked if working in the Ballantyne area would be part of the application process, the Scoop Network was told that due to fair housing policies that can not be done. Affordable housing by law has to be open to everyone fitting the requirements.
The property has been zoned commercial for years now so the request for residential zoning comes as a surprise to many. Adjacent landowners had hoped to develop a commercial property and they feel that their property value will diminish if affordable housing fronts their property. The two developments would potentially have to share entrance-ways.
The developer requesting the rezoning is required to hold a public meeting in the area to inform the community of their plans. Notifications are required by law that property owners within 300 feet and homeowners associations within 1 mile be made aware of this meeting.
City Councilman Warren Cooksey was in attendance for the planning board meeting, the only city councilman to attend. Local residents are planning to hold a town hall style meeting to discuss the issue at hand in the coming weeks.
It is the policy of the Charlotte Housing Authority to create housing options throughout this city and to not cluster it into one area. According to the CHA, affordable housing will come to the Ballantyne area it is just a matter of where and when.
Stay tuned to the Scoop for updates, we are following this story on a daily basis. We welcome your comments and concerns on this story.
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What’s stopping the folks from having jobs in SC (less than a mile away)? A new Wal Mart is under construction now. Isn’t this to keep jobs in NC? This housing is for low income residents, there is no public transporation or sidewalks near this project. How will people that do not have their own transportation get to work, grocery stores, etc.?
Did anyone else notice Warren Cooksey’s implicit bias in favor of locating public housing in Ballantyne? He restated the City’s position that spreading out subsidized housing projects can break the intergenerational cycle of poverty. Sounds like he’s trying to sell it to us. Please let him know your concerns, as I believe he will vote in favor of the rezoning unless the Community can convince him otherwise.
Please note that explaining an existing city policy is not an implicit bias. It’s simply explaining existing city policy. I never take a position on a rezoning petition prior to its public hearing (scheduled for March 15) in order to make sure all relevant information is known.
Right now I view my job as explaining the facts of existing city policy so that those who want to advocate for a specific position on the petition know the environment in which they are debating. For example, it has recently come to my attention that a new state law explicitly prohibits the City Council from making land use decisions based upon affordability, except when it is following a policy to avoid concentrations of affordable housing. Thus, asking Council to vote against the petition because it is linked to an affordable housing program is asking Council to break state law.
Citizens need to know these facts in order to make effective arguments. It is far better to learn them now than to learn them at the public hearing. I have seen too many citizens make a passionate argument at a rezoning hearing only to be told, “We’re sorry, by law we can’t consider that,” or, “We hear what you’re saying, but our adopted policies say otherwise.” I do not want that to happen with this petition.
I don’t know what to think about the project in general. I have more questions that anything else:
How will this proposed project affect the property value of the area, if at all? (Habitat for Humanity cites studies that property value is not affected)
What will be the impact of the project on the local schools? Overcrowding? Will the resources be available to deal with the needs of the new students? Already, the middle school is overcrowded. Will a new one be built?
More people in general. How will this affect the crime rate in the area? The traffic? The local resources?
Will certain businesses pull out of the area? Or what new types of businesses will it generate and will those businesses be aligned with the Ballantyne model?
Already, this proposed project is creating animosity and certain assumptions towards the people that this project will target. How will those tensions play out? Will it increase tolerance or polarize people more?
Who will benefit more, nc or sc?
Does it really make sense to have the project in an area that probably does not generate most of the jobs for the people that the project will target?
[...] Housing" in Ballantyne Ballantyne Residents Turn Out For Planning Board Meeting | Ballantyne Scoop Has anyone heard about the plan to rezone the land at the corner of Providence Rd. West and [...]
[...] Posted by Jake Ryan Ballantyne Residents Turn Out For Planning Board Meeting | Ballantyne Scoop It is my understanding that this tract of land which has been zoned commercial for years is now [...]
Warren, you state “For example, it has recently come to my attention that a new state law explicitly prohibits the City Council from making land use decisions based upon affordability, except when it is following a policy to avoid concentrations of affordable housing. Thus, asking Council to vote against the petition because it is linked to an affordable housing program is asking Council to break state law.”
Doesn’t that make voting FOR it because it is affordable housing illegal as well? Isn’t affordability the whole point of the project?
I believe everyone deserves the right to affordable housing…. but schools are extremley over crowded on this area due to the sprawl type of neighborhoods that have been built within the current years. Not to mention we have affordable options already in this area. There are plenty of apartments as well as small single family homes that are in a moderate price point. Unlike areas like Myers Park where the home prices have skyrocketed in the past 5 years. Most of the homes in this area are built on less than .20 of an acre. Just because the land is available or affordable does not mean it will benefit all that apply. Our school recently lost use of the music room and art room due to the need for more classrooms for more student growth. You tell me how more students will be able to be added to this area. It is zoned for commercial purpose for a reason and should stay that way.
There are multiple affordable housing options in the Ballantyne area, including houses and apartments. To select this particular tract of land with the large homes all around it would be wrong and unfair to the current owners of these homes. I reiterate there are many affordable houses already for sale, let’s fill them up before building new ones.
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[...] Ballantyne Rezoning Meetings Scheduled Ballantyne, NC – Two meetings have been scheduled to discuss the upcoming rezoning petition for the mixed income housing development at the intersection of Providence Road West and Johnston Road (see related articles http://ballantynescoop.com/ballantyne-residents-turn-out-for-planning-board-meeting). [...]
Ballantyne Scoop plans to live stream tomorrows Ballantyne Breakfast Club meeting visit our site for details on how to watch….http://ballantynescoop.com/
Folks, This “politics at the cost of the tax paying homeowner” has all been done before right here in Charlotte 25 years ago. The “sell” to the surrounding neighborhoods was affordable housing for good people just wanting to get ahead. We were told by CMUD that they would screen the residents and everything would be fine. This was only a 30 unit complex. We lived 2 miles away several neighborhoods away. 6 months later our house of 20+ years was robbed-ransacked upstairs and down first time ever.. Took our family antique silverware. We moved. We heard someone broke in two more times including stealing a retired priests religious items. This is fact not fiction. FYI, the residents on Carmel Road stopped this same “project” several years ago from happening in their backyard.
[...] The right-wing pundits and politicians have tried as hard as they could to spin it as “evil developer, evil Charlotte Housing Authority” causing the problem. While there were legitimate issues regarding this particular deal and this particular developer, the true feelings of Ballantyne residents were expressed at a planning board meeting. [...]