As we continue our examination of the home building process in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, we turn to two of the area’s leading experts on what you can and cannot do with a piece of land once you’ve acquired it.

Bridget Grant is a land use and development consultant with Moore Van Allen and Rob Nanfelt is the executive director of REBIC (Real Estate Building and Industry Coalition), both located in Charlotte. Bridget and Rob join hosts Aaron Kersey and Morgan Smith for a discussion about how to get approval from the city and county to build your home. 

Rob and Bridget explore the complex process of land entitlements, zoning, and community engagement in the greater Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. The team discusses how these factors influence housing costs, community opposition, and infrastructure planning, offering valuable insights for prospective homebuyers and developers.

Connect with the Home Builders Association of Greater Charlotte at hbacharlotte.com.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Land Development and Entitlements

01:08 Guest Introduction: Bridgette Grant's Background

02:12 Rob Nanfelt and the Role of REBIC

03:35 Recap of Land Buying and Entitlement Process

04:49 Difference Between Permits and Entitlements

05:38 Key Players in the Entitlement Stage

06:26 Factors Stretching the Entitlement Process

07:04 Community Engagement and Opposition

08:27 Community Meetings and Resident Concerns

09:21 Impact of Development on Traffic and Infrastructure

10:08 Transportation Referendum and Infrastructure Funding

11:04 Common Community Frustrations with Development

12:37 Benefits of Entitlements for Property Owners

14:43 Residential vs Commercial Entitlements

16:25 Due Diligence in Property Evaluation

17:27 Project Failures Post-Entitlement

18:17 Land Scarcity and Growth Challenges

19:10 What is a UDO and Its Purpose

20:25 Challenges in Implementing the UDO

22:01 Coordination Between City and County

23:10 Impact of Delays on Development Costs

24:33 Importance of Relationships in Entitlement Process

25:22 Differences Between Zoning Ordinance and UDO

26:07 Cost Implications of Development Delays

27:23 Cost of Apartments and Housing Affordability

28:19 Who Benefits from Entitlements?

29:01 Zoning and Land Use Regulations

30:21 Engagement and Civic Duty in Development

32:38 Final Thoughts and Next Episode Preview

Resources

Charlotte Regional Business Alliance - https://charlotteregionalbusiness.com/

Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) - https://charlottenc.gov/Planning/Pages/UDO.aspx

Rebic - Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition - https://www.rebiclobby.com/

Charlotte City Planning Department - https://charlottenc.gov/Planning/Pages/default.aspx

Guest Links

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridgettegrant/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robnanfelt/

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