UE Uptown Edge Zoning District: Purpose, Uses, and Development Standards
The UE Uptown Edge Zoning District in the City of Charlotte serves as a transition zone between the high-intensity Uptown core and surrounding smaller-scale mixed-use areas and urban neighborhoods. This district establishes a high-quality, pedestrian-oriented urban environment that permits a base maximum building height of 150 feet, which may be increased to 300 feet through the use of voluntary development bonuses. Development within the UE Uptown Edge Zoning District emphasizes compatibility with adjacent neighborhoods while supporting a vibrant, walkable City center.
Purpose and General Character
The City of Charlotte established the UE Uptown Edge Zoning District to address unique areas of transition within the urban fabric. Its primary purpose is to maintain a walkable pedestrian orientation while facilitating mixed-use development that is sensitive to the scale and character of adjacent developments [Section 12.1.B]. As a component of the Regional Activity Center Zoning Districts, the UE Uptown Edge Zoning District supports major employment locations, cultural destinations, and high-density residential uses that serve both local and regional markets [Section 12.1.A].
Permitted Land Uses
The UE Uptown Edge Zoning District allows for a broad range of high-intensity uses, typically organized in a vertically mixed-use format. Use permissions are categorized as permitted by-right (X) or allowed subject to prescribed conditions (PC) [Section 15.2].
Residential Uses
- Multi-Family Stacked Dwellings: Permitted by-right.
- Residential Component of Mixed-Use: Permitted by-right.
- Multi-Family Attached, Duplex, Triplex, and Quadraplex: Permitted subject to prescribed conditions [Table 15-1].
- Group Homes and Dormitories: Permitted subject to prescribed conditions [Table 15-1].
Commercial and Institutional Uses
- Office and Financial Institutions: Permitted by-right.
- Retail Goods and Personal Service Establishments: Permitted by-right.
- Restaurant/Bar: Permitted subject to prescribed conditions.
- Hotel/Motel: Permitted by-right.
- Art Gallery and Arts or Fitness Studio: Permitted by-right.
- Cultural and Community Centers: Permitted by-right.
- Place of Worship: Permitted by-right [Table 15-1].
Dimensional and Siting Standards
Siting standards in the UE Uptown Edge Zoning District are governed by the type of street frontage the property abuts. These regulations ensure that buildings are placed appropriately to reinforce the urban streetscape.
Building Siting Standards
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Frontage Setback Line (from future back of curb) | 24' (Uptown Signature/Main St); 36' (Linear Park); 20' (Other/Secondary) [Table 12-1] |
| Frontage Build-To Zone (BTZ) | 0' to 20' from the frontage setback line [Table 12-1] |
| Minimum BTZ Build-To Percentage | 80% [Table 12-1] |
| Minimum Side Setback | 0' (Unless abutting Neighborhood 1 Place Type, then 10') [Table 12-1] |
| Minimum Rear Setback | 0' (Unless abutting Neighborhood 1 Place Type, then 20') [Table 12-1] |
Building Height and Articulation
The UE Uptown Edge Zoning District provides for significant vertical development while maintaining requirements for ground-floor engagement.
| Height/Articulation Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Building Height | 24 feet [Table 12-2] |
| Maximum Building Height | 150 feet [Table 12-2] |
| Maximum Height with Bonus | 300 feet [Table 12-2] |
| Minimum Ground Floor Height (Residential) | 16 feet (Finished Floor to Finished Floor) [Table 12-3] |
| Minimum Ground Floor Height (Nonresidential) | 16 feet (Finished Floor to Finished Floor) [Table 12-3] |
| Maximum Blank Wall Area | 20 feet (Ground floor and upper floors) [Table 12-3] |
Transparency and Design
To support a safe and engaging pedestrian experience, the City of Charlotte mandates transparency requirements for all building facades facing a frontage (excluding Limited Access roads) [Section 12.3].
- Ground Floor Transparency: Residential facades must be at least 25% transparent; nonresidential or mixed-use facades must be at least 50% transparent [Table 12-4].
- Upper Floor Transparency: All uses must maintain at least 15% transparency per story [Table 12-4].
- Prominent Entrances: A minimum of one prominent entrance is required per building on a site. For nonresidential and mixed-use buildings, these entrances must be spaced no further than 250 feet apart [Table 12-3].
Open Space and Parking
- Open Space: New construction of principal buildings 1,000 square feet or greater must provide on-site open space equal to a minimum of 10% of the site area [Section 12.4.A and Table 12-8].
- Vehicle Parking: The UE Uptown Edge Zoning District follows Tier 3 parking requirements. Under this tier, most uses do not have a minimum off-street parking requirement, and maximum limits are enforced to encourage transit use and reduce auto-dependency [Section 19.2.A and Table 19-1].
Sections Cited
- Article 12, Regional Activity Center Zoning Districts: RAC, UE, UC
- Section 12.1, Purpose
- Section 12.2, Uses
- Section 12.3, Dimensional and Design Standards
- Section 12.4, Open Space Requirements
- Article 15, Use Regulations
- Table 15-1, Use Matrix
- Article 19, Off-Street Vehicle & Bicycle Parking
- Section 19.2, Vehicle Parking Space Requirements