CAC-1: Community Activity Center Zoning District in Charlotte

The CAC-1 Community Activity Center 1 Zoning District in the City of Charlotte is designed to transition automobile-centric areas into walkable, moderate-intensity mixed-use centers with a baseline maximum height of 80 feet. This district allows a diverse range of residential, commercial, and institutional uses, typically requiring an 80% build-to percentage for structures along Main Streets and providing for a height bonus up to 120 feet through the provision of community benefits. Development in the CAC-1 District prioritizes multi-modal transportation, ensuring that sites are accessible for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists alike [Section 11.1.A].

Purpose and Intent

The primary purpose of the CAC-1 Community Activity Center 1 Zoning District is to support the evolution of City of Charlotte neighborhoods from traditional, car-dependent commercial zones into well-connected, vibrant hubs. These centers are intended to provide a mix of retail, restaurant, entertainment, office, and personal service uses, as well as high-density residential options [Section 11.1.A].

The CAC-1 District is characterized by:

• Walkability: Standards are designed to create a comfortable pedestrian environment.
• Flexibility: The district allows for greater adaptability in design and site elements, such as the amount and location of parking [Section 11.1.A].
• Transition: It serves as a middle ground between lower-intensity residential areas and the most intense regional or urban centers [Section 11.1.A].

General Character of the CAC-1 District

The CAC-1 District promotes a moderate-intensity urban form. Unlike the CAC-2 District, which focuses on a more established urban pedestrian environment, the CAC-1 District recognizes its transitional nature from auto-orientation while still requiring high-quality design [Section 11.1.A]. Key characteristics include a requirement for prominent pedestrian entrances and building massing that aligns with the street grid to enhance the public realm [Section 11.3].

Permitted Land Uses

The City of Charlotte UDO permits a broad array of uses in the CAC-1 District, categorized into residential, commercial, and institutional types. Many uses are "Permitted with Conditions" (PC), meaning they must comply with specific standards outlined in the code [Section 15.2.B].

Residential Uses

• Multi-family attached and stacked dwellings (PC)
• Multi-dwelling developments (PC)
• Duplex, triplex, and quadraplex dwellings (PC)
• Group homes (PC)
• Single-room occupancy (SRO) residences (PC) [Table 15-1]

Commercial and Employment Uses

• Art galleries and arts/fitness studios (X)
• Financial institutions (X)
• Hotels and motels (X)
• Medical and dental offices (X)
• General offices (X)
• Restaurants and bars (PC)
• Retail goods establishments and showrooms (X)
• Personal service establishments (X)
• Specialty food services (X) [Table 15-1]

Institutional and Governmental Uses

• Community centers and cultural facilities (X)
• Educational facilities (primary, secondary, university, or vocational) (X/PC)
• Government offices (X)
• Places of worship (X)
• Public safety facilities (X) [Table 15-1]

Dimensional and Siting Standards

The CAC-1 District employs specific siting standards based on the "frontage type" of the adjacent street. This ensures that buildings are positioned to support the intended streetscape character of the City of Charlotte.

Building Siting Standards (CAC-1)

Standard	Main Street Frontage	Secondary Frontage	2-3 Lane Avenue	4-5 Lane Avenue
Frontage Setback Line	24 feet	16 feet	20 feet	20 feet
Build-To Zone (BTZ)	0-20 feet	0-35 feet	0-35 feet	0-35 feet
Min. BTZ Percentage	80%	60%	60%	60%
Min. Side Setback	0 feet*	0 feet*	0 feet*	0 feet*
Min. Rear Setback	0 feet*	0 feet*	0 feet*	0 feet*

*Note: 10 feet if abutting a Neighborhood 1 Place Type; 20 feet for rear setbacks if abutting a Neighborhood 1 Place Type [Table 11-1].

Height and Articulation Standards

Standard	Requirement
Minimum Building Height	24 feet [Table 11-2]
Maximum Building Height	80 feet [Table 11-2]
Max Height with Bonus	120 feet [Section 16.3, Table 11-2]
Max Building Length	400 feet [Table 11-3]
Max Blank Wall Area	20 feet (Horizontal or Vertical) [Table 11-3]

Parking and Connectivity

The CAC-1 District is classified under the Tier 2 parking system in the City of Charlotte. This tier requires a minimum number of spaces while also enforcing a maximum limit to prevent excessive surface parking that would detract from the walkable character [Section 19.2.A].

Vehicle Parking Requirements (Tier 2)

Use Type	Minimum Requirement	Maximum Limit
Residential (General)	1 space per dwelling unit	2 spaces per dwelling unit
Office	1 per 1,000 square feet GFA	4 per 1,000 square feet GFA
Retail Goods	1 per 1,000 square feet GFA	4 per 1,000 square feet GFA
Restaurant/Bar	1 per 1,000 square feet GFA	1 per 125 square feet GFA

[Table 19-1]

On-Site Pedestrian Connectivity

The City of Charlotte requires all new nonresidential and mixed-use developments in the CAC-1 District to provide a pedestrian connection at least five feet in width between the primary entry and the adjacent public sidewalk. Internal sidewalks must also connect buildings to all on-site facilities, including parking and plazas [Section 16.6.B].

Sections Cited

• Article 11. Community Activity Center Zoning Districts
• Section 11.1. Purpose
• Section 11.3. Dimensional and Design Standards
• Table 11-1. Community Activity Center Zoning Districts Building Siting Standards
• Table 11-2. Community Activity Center Zoning Districts Building Height Standards
• Table 11-3. Community Activity Center Zoning Districts Building Articulation Standards
• Table 11-4. Community Activity Center Zoning Districts Transparency Standards
• Section 15.2. Global Use Matrix
• Table 15-1. Use Matrix
• Section 16.3. Development Bonus
• Section 16.6. On-Site Pedestrian Connectivity
• Section 19.2. Vehicle Parking Space Requirements
• Table 19-1. Vehicle Parking Requirements