The city of Charlotte now makes no pretense that future land-use regs will attempt to drive cars off the roads. Woe to anyone who actually wants to drive in the city. The latest candidate for this treatment is the West End, roughly the triangle bounded by West Trade St. and Beatties Ford Rd. The wrong kind of development is happening there, it seems:
“We’ve started to see some infill that has not been the kind we want,” said city planner John Howard. “We don’t want suburban development with garages in the front. We want development that helps create a sense of place.” …
The plan also recommends: …
Fewer lanes on Beatties Ford and West Trade to slow traffic and make room for bike routes, medians and wider sidewalks.
Dozens of other changes to help make West Trade Street and Beatties Ford Road walkable corridors lined with restaurants, shops and condominiums.
Ah, yes. The sense-of-place. With no cars, of course. Plans also call for removing access to the Brookshire Freeway. Because if there are no cars, who needs that?
