Re: Ardrey Kell Rd - Rezoning Petition 2021-161

This petition affects you, if you live or drive on Ardrey Kell Rd, have students at Ardrey Kell High School or Community House Middle School, or just a concerned citizen about high density housing being built on Ardrey Kell Rd.

Highlights:

The property across from Ardrey Kell High School, was property that was all owned by the Charlotte Mecklenburg School Board of Education; however, recently, more than half of the land was sold to Woodfield Development. Charlotte Mecklenburg School Board of Education plans to build, on their property a new elementary school, which would be right next to the proposed Woodfield Development proposal. Woodfield Development is requesting the rights to build up to 475 dwellings (a combination of three story townhomes and three to four story apartments), with the taller units closer to Ardrey Kell Rd (across from the high school).

Concerns

Density: The Woodfield Development proposal could bring up to 475 potential dwellings (a combination of three story townhouses and three to four story apartments), which would bring a significant amount of traffic to an already congested area that will be surrounded by three schools - Ardrey Kell High School, Community House Middle School and the new elementary school. Ardrey Kell Rd is currently extremely congested, and with three schools in this small area, the roads do not support 475 dwellings. Add to that mix, students and parents coming and going to/from school for drop off/pick up, and then mix in rush hour traffic.  This increase in traffic will lead to drivers looking for other avenues to escape the congestion, which will lead to drivers quickly cutting through surrounding neighborhoods in order to avoid the traffic, in a heavily populated area where students are travelling to/from school.

Having a new elementary school is wonderful, and much needed.  However, Woodfield Development's plan to build high density housing, which will result in increased traffic, right next to a new elementary school, across from Ardrey Kell High School, and right down the road from Community House Middle School, is not a well planned out idea with our current road infrastructure.  

Height: Three and four story buildings are out of character with this area.  

Request: Woodfield Development provide a proposal that will not result in high density housing, by reducing the amount of dwellings and their height. Woodfield Development should propose to reduce the number of dwellings, leaving more green space, and buffer zones between neighborhoods and roadways.   

Key Updates and Recommendations:

For more details, you are encouraged to read the information contained in the link below, attend local meetings, and email or call our local city leaders (contacts are in the link) with your questions and concerns.  The rezoning petition that has been posted online under petition 2021-161.  Keep yourself informed!

https://charlottenc.gov/planning/Rezoning/RezoningPetitions/2021Petitions/Pages/2021-161.aspx

Important Dates:

08/30: City Staff review and comments

09/10: Public Meeting

09/27: City Council version submission deadline

10/18: City Council meeting for public comment

11/15: City Council approval vote