The Planning Department handles inquiries on existing zoning, potential new development, regulations for signs, neighborhood nuisance property, whether a storage building can be added to a lot, how to divide and sell land and many other issues. The Planning Department prepares background data on proposed zoning changes, looks at site plans to see that buildings and parking lots are properly placed and landscape plantings are adequate, follows up on complaints about possible Town code violations and writes information on land usage concerns for the public and elected officials.
The Mecklenburg County Land Use and Environmental Services Agency handles building and permanent sign permits, zoning permits and inspections. Contact the local office via telephone at (704) 814-0435 or
visit their website.
Matthews at a Crossroads
Mary Newsom, Associate Director for Urban and Regional Affairs, UNC Charlotte Urban Institute, recently hosted a forum on the changing demographics of our Town population. Discussed were some eye-opening statistics on how our demographics are evolving and what changes they may produce in the Town of Matthews in future decades.
Click here for presentation materials: Matthews at a Crossroads
Land Use Plan
The revised Matthews Land Use Plan has been approved. This document sets land development policies for the entire town. The Plan includes general goals, objectives and recommendations for each land use category and for each corridor or transition area. It also suggests tools for achieving and enforcing land use patterns to reach the identified goals and objectives.
The Plan is restructured to address a variety of topics the Town will face in coming years. Particularly, the Plan acknowledges changing trends occurring in demographics, housing and transportation. The Plan addresses long term sustainability, transit supportive developments, mixed use developments and multi-modal transit.
Click here to access the Land Use Plan approved December 10, 2012
Downtown Master Plan
The Downtown Master Plan is also being revised. This plan sets forth the Town's vision for the future of the downtown area and identifies a range of development and redevelopment opportunities that, once implemented, will enhance the quality of life of all citizens.
This Plan serves as an update of the 1997 Downtown Master Plan. As we enter a new decade, now more than at any time over the past 60 years Downtowns across the Country are experiencing a renaissance as consumer preferences shift away from post war suburban sprawl. New town centers and lifestyle centers have supplanted the typical strip mall or enclosed mall and represent a changing dynamic in how and where people live and go about their day to day lives.
The purpose of this Master Plan is to succinctly identify several main objectives, such as recommendations regarding building design, layout, and general aesthetics, identification of opportunities for both specific small and large scale redevelopments, recommendations for future roadways and parking facilities and the creation of a framework that guides development in an orderly fashion.
Click here to access the Downtown Master Plan approved January 14, 2013
Unified Development Ordinance
The purpose of a Unified Development ordinance is to rewrite the Zoning Ordinance consistent with Matthew's "Our Town, Our Vision" and other community expectations and then fold in all of the other land use regulations into one straightforward document.
The consulting firm Land Vision, Inc. is working with the Town's Planning Department staff to obtain their perspective on regulation and code administration issues and opportunities as well as with the Planning Commission and Town Council for the same purpose. A series of public workshops were held to expose interested residents to different ideas about land development and to gauge community acceptance for change. A stakeholder committee is also involved to act as the reality check for the process as we prepare and circulate draft regulations and chapters.
Chapter revisions are in progress.
For more information please click on the following DRAFT chapters:
Crestdale Rising: What Unites Us Is Greater Than What Divides Us
In July 2011, the American Planning Association (APA) organized a Community Planning Assistance Team (CPAT) project in the Crestdale neighborhood of Matthews.
Through a series of site visits, public meetings, and scheduled interviews, the team - comprised of expert planners and urban designers with expertise matched to the specific challenges that Crestdale faces - conducted an intensive study of the community. Team members gained valuable insights from Crestdale residents, stakeholders, and people with a genuine interest in the community's past, present, and future.
This report presents the team’s vision and recommendations for the neighborhood and the Town of Matthews to consider as they decide how to move forward as a community.
If you wish to comment on this report please email us.