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Development project approved in south Charlotte despite flooding concerns
The Charlotte City Council unanimously approved the project near the Four Mile Creek Greenway during its zoning meeting on Monday night.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A controversial development is coming to south Charlotte.
The rental community will be built along Rea Road in Piper Glen next to the Four Mile Creek Greenway after getting fierce pushback from neighbors.
The Charlotte City Council unanimously approved the project during its zoning meeting on Monday night. Leaders gave credit to neighbors for sharing concerns and getting involved — saying it led to several changes that made them comfortable with getting on board with the plans.
Residents started an online petition against the 53-acre project that now has over 20,000 signatures. Neighbors have said they’re concerned about high-density housing, losing trees, and exacerbating the flooding problems in the area.
“It’s flooded constantly,” Heather Shapiro said while walking on the greenway. “I’ve driven here to take a walk and I had to turn around and go home.”
In response to the pushback, the developers reduced the number of units from 640 to 566. The plans call for townhomes and apartments.
The project, according to the developer, conserves 17 acres of trees and a 3-acre pond. The developer told WCNC Charlotte that the dam would be reconstructed to withstand a 100-year storm.
“We continue to meet with engineers and the city to create a long-term plan that exceeds ordinance minimum requirements and provides the most benefit to downstream neighborhoods,” L. Russell Ranson said in an email.
Council members applauded councilman Ed Driggs for working with the developer and residents to find compromises on the project. The original plans submitted over a year ago called for more than 1,000 units.
Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.