Council members defend their actions by arguing they have to be selective in approving high-density projects. But those that support smart growth fear there are signs the council can't stand up to neighborhood opposition, according the report. Planners are pushing for more high-density development along transit corridors.

If the council is unable to make the right decisions in the face of opposition, Charlotte will continue to spread outward, and its $1 billion-plus transit investment will be derailed, according to the report quoting Mayor Pat McCroy.

The council has a record of approving almost all zoning requests. The current council has voted on 119 projects since taking office in December 1999. Voting records show only six projects have been rejected.

The council has approved projects ranging from office buildings to the SouthPark mall expansion. Among those rejected were townhome projects in southeast Charlotte, a wealthy section of the city where neighborhood groups are usually better organized, the report states.

Walter Fields, a former city planner and consultant, says in the publication that the council continues to send a mixed message by turning down some projects while approving other identical proposals. Fields is quoted as saying there is such a demand for housing in the Charlotte area that the rejected townhome projects in southeast Charlotte will be built further out, just what the city doesn't want.

Instant Insights /

City Grapples with Smart Growth Proposals

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