Guide to the CR Regional Commercial Zoning District in Charlotte
The City of Charlotte CR Regional Commercial Zoning District is designated for large-scale commercial uses and coordinated clusters that serve regional markets. Development in this district requires a minimum lot width of 50 feet and limits building height to a base of 50 feet, though this may be increased to 65 feet through voluntary development bonuses. The City of Charlotte CR District is categorized as a Tier 2 parking environment, meaning it enforces both minimum and maximum off-street parking requirements. [Section 6.1, Table 6-1, Table 6-3, Section 19.2.A]
Purpose and General Character
The City of Charlotte established the CR Regional Commercial Zoning District to accommodate high-intensity, significant commercial developments. These areas often consist of a coordinated cluster of commercial uses or a single large-scale use of regional significance. While the CR District is designed to accommodate heavy automobile access, the zoning regulations ensure that controls are in place to maintain compatibility with neighboring properties and create safe, efficient internal circulation patterns for all modes of travel. [Section 6.1.B]
The character of the CR District is defined by large-format buildings and significant infrastructure. However, the City of Charlotte imposes design and articulation standards to prevent monolithic structures and promote a higher quality built environment. This includes requirements for prominent entrances and transparency standards on building façades facing public frontages. [Section 6.3, Table 6-4, Table 6-6]
Permitted Land Uses
The CR Regional Commercial Zoning District allows a broad spectrum of high-intensity uses. These are classified into Permitted (X), Permitted with Prescribed Conditions (PC), or Conditional (C). [Section 15.2]
Residential Uses
- Permitted with Conditions (PC): Multi-family attached and stacked units, Multi-dwelling developments, Single Room Occupancy (SRO) residences, and Continuum Care Retirement Communities (CCRC).
- Special Cases: Duplex, triplex, and single-family dwellings are generally only permitted if they existed legally prior to June 1, 2023. [Table 15-1]
Commercial and Industrial Uses
- Permitted (X): Financial institutions, hotels/motels, industrial design firms, offices, research and development (R&D) facilities, and retail goods showrooms.
- Permitted with Conditions (PC): Adult uses, indoor and outdoor amusement facilities, animal care facilities, car washes, commercial kitchens, convention centers, nightclubs, personal service establishments, and vehicle repair facilities (major and minor).
- Prohibited: Heavy retail establishments and most heavy industrial processes are not permitted in the CR District. [Table 15-1]
Institutional and Governmental Uses
- Permitted (X): Community centers, cultural facilities, educational facilities (pre-school, primary, secondary, and vocational), government offices, and places of worship.
- Permitted with Conditions (PC): Adult care centers, childcare centers, and public safety facilities. [Table 15-1]
Dimensional and Siting Standards
The City of Charlotte applies specific dimensional requirements to ensure development in the CR District remains compatible with its urban context.
Lot and Siting Requirements
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Lot Width | 50 feet |
| Minimum Side Setback | 10 feet |
| Minimum Rear Setback | 20 feet |
| Maximum Building Length along a Frontage | 650 feet |
| Maximum Building Coverage | (Not specified for CR in Table 6-1) |
[Table 6-1, Table 6-2, Table 6-4]
Frontage Setbacks
Building placement is determined by the type of street or frontage the property abuts.
| Frontage Type | Setback Line (from future back of curb) | Build-To Zone (from setback line) |
|---|---|---|
| Uptown Signature | 24 feet | N/A |
| Main Street | 24 feet | 0 - 20 feet |
| Linear Park | 36 feet | N/A |
| 4-5 Lane Avenue/Boulevard | 36 feet | N/A |
| 6+ Lane Avenue/Boulevard | 40 feet | N/A |
| Transit Station / Public Park | 20 feet | N/A |
| Secondary Frontage | 36 feet | N/A |
[Table 6-2]
Building Height and Design
| Height Standard | Limit |
|---|---|
| Maximum Building Height (Base) | 50 feet |
| Maximum Height with Bonus | 65 feet |
| Minimum Ground Floor Height (Residential) | 10 feet (Main Street) |
| Minimum Ground Floor Height (Nonresidential) | 16 feet (Main Street) |
[Table 6-3, Table 6-4]
Building Articulation and Transparency
To ensure aesthetic quality, the City of Charlotte requires specific design elements for buildings in the CR District.
- Prominent Entrances: Buildings must have at least one prominent entrance. On corner lots, a single prominent corner entry can satisfy the requirement for both frontages if it includes specific design features like a chamfered corner or an awning. [Table 6-6]
- Transparency: Building façades facing a "Main Street" frontage must meet a 60% transparency requirement for the ground floor and 15% for upper floors. Other frontage types generally require 30% ground floor transparency. [Table 6-5]
- Material Restrictions: Use of corrugated metal siding, EIFS, and plastic is limited to 25% of each façade along a frontage. [Section 6.3.H]
Parking and Open Space
- Parking Tier: The CR District is a Tier 2 parking district. This requires developers to provide a minimum number of spaces while adhering to a maximum cap to prevent over-parking. [Section 19.2.A, Table 19-1]
- On-Site Open Space: New construction or expansions over 5,000 square feet must provide a minimum of 5% on-site open space. For commercial developments, at least 50% of this space must be public open space. [Section 6.4, Table 6-7]
Sections Cited
- Article 6. Commercial Zoning Districts (6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4)
- Table 6-1: Commercial Zoning Districts Lot Standards
- Table 6-2: Commercial Zoning Districts Building Siting Standards
- Table 6-3: Commercial Zoning Districts Building Height Standards
- Table 6-4: Commercial Zoning Districts Building Articulation Standards
- Table 6-5: Commercial Zoning Districts Transparency Standards
- Table 6-6: Commercial Zoning Districts Building Design Standards
- Table 6-7: Minimum Required Open Space
- Article 15. Use Regulations (15.2)
- Table 15-1: Use Matrix
- Article 19. Off-Street Vehicle & Bicycle Parking (19.2)
- Table 19-1: Vehicle Parking Requirements