4.3 DIMENSIONAL AND DESIGN STANDARDS

A. General

1. The tables below include the dimensional and design standards for the Neighborhood 1 Zoning Districts. Abbreviation included shall be interpreted as follows: MF = Multi-family. (Additional abbreviations are described in Section 2.2.)

2. Where this Ordinance refers to frontages in general, a transit station, off-street public path, or public park shall not be considered a frontage within the Neighborhood 1 Zoning Districts.

3. In the tables below, where a cell contains a standard or a “✔” the standard shall be applicable. Where a cell is blank and shaded, the standard shall not apply.

B. Lot
Lot standards govern the basic dimensions of lots, including but not limited to minimum area, width, and coverage as applicable. These standards are intended to provide a rational basis for the division, organization, and development of land within the City of Charlotte.

Table 4-1: Neighborhood 1 Zoning Districts Lot Standards¹
		N1-A	N1-B	N1-C	N1-D	N1-E	N1-F
A	Minimum Lot Area – Residential (square feet)	10,000	8,000	6,000	3,500	3,000	3,000
B	Minimum Lot Area – Nonresidential and Mixed-Use (square feet)	12,000	12,000	12,000	12,000	12,000	12,000
C	Minimum Lot Width – Residential (feet)	70	60	50	40	30	30 MF: 50
D	Minimum Lot Width – Nonresidential and Mixed-Use (feet)	70	70	70	70	70	70
E	Maximum Building Coverage (%)	Lots 10,000 square feet and greater: 40 Lots Less than 10,000 square feet: 50

¹Lot Standards do not apply to individual sublots but do apply to the parcel on which the sublot(s) is located.

C. Building Siting
Building siting standards govern the placement of buildings on lots and are intended to ensure that development maintains compatibility with its surrounding context and the intent of the applicable zoning district.

Table 4-2: Neighborhood 1 Zoning Districts Building Siting Standards
		N1-A	N1-B	N1-C	N1-D	N1-E	N1-F
A	Min. Front Setback from Street (Measured from Right-of-Way) (feet)^1,2,3,4^{, 6}^{, 7}	27	27	17	17	10	17
B	Min. Corner Side Setback from Street (Measured from Right-of-Way) (feet) ⁴^,⁵^{, 6}^{, 7}	13.5	13.5	10	10	10	10
C	Minimum Side Setback (feet)	5	5	5	5	5	5
D	Minimum Rear Setback (feet)	40	35	30	25	20	20

¹ Front setbacks shown on a plat recorded at the Register of Deeds shall supersede required zoning district front setbacks.
² The following alternative setback standards may be used for an established blockface that is at least 25% developed or has at least four existing dwellings:

1. A new single-family, duplex, or triplex dwelling on an established blockface shall be located at or behind the average of the front setback of the two closest residential buildings on the same blockface.
2. In no case shall the minimum setback be less than ten feet or intrude into a required clear sight triangle at an intersection (Section 16.1).

³ In the case of a lot abutting both a local or collector street and a parallel arterial street (through lot), buildings shall orient toward the local or collector street.

⁴ In no case shall any building entry be located closer than six feet to an existing or proposed off-street public path or shared use path.

⁵ When the corner side setback is located along an arterial street, the corner side setback shall be subject to the minimum front setback dimension for the zoning district.

⁶ Street includes public and network-required private streets. For network-required private streets, front setback is measured from the back of curb, and shall be as indicated for the zoning district, plus an additional 14 feet.

⁷ Setbacks on existing local and collector streets shall be measured from the existing right-of-way. Setbacks on existing arterial and limited access streets shall be measured from two feet behind the future sidewalk as defined by the Charlotte Streets Map.

D. Building Height
Building height standards govern the maximum heights of buildings, as applicable, and are intended to provide flexibility while maintaining appropriate transitions to adjacent areas.

Table 4-3: Neighborhood 1 Zoning Districts Building Height Standards
		N1-A	N1-B	N1-C	N1-D	N1-E	N1-F
A	Maximum Building Height – Residential (feet)¹	48	48	40	40	40	48
B	Maximum Building Height – Nonresidential and Mixed-Use (feet)^1,2^,3	48	48	48	48	48	48

¹ The height and location of structures may be restricted by the limitations set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 14 Part 77: Safe, Efficient Use, and Preservation of the Navigable Airspace. A notice of proposed construction FAA Form 7460-1 must be filed with the FAA for construction or alteration that impacts any of the imaginary surfaces as defined in 14 CFR Part 77 or is more than 200 feet in height above the ground at its site at least 45 days prior to construction. The Aviation Department Planning Division may serve as a point of contact for information regarding building notification requirements and obstruction evaluation.

² The maximum building height of any structure within 200 feet from the lot line of residential uses or vacant land in a Neighborhood 1 Place Type is limited as follows: Portions of a structure within the first 100 feet are limited to a maximum height of 50 feet. Building heights for all portions of a structure shall be measured from the average grade established for the whole building.

³ Building height may be increased by one foot for each additional one foot of building setback from required side and rear setbacks to a maximum height of 65 feet.

1. Maximum Sidewall Height for Duplexes and Triplexes
All duplex and triplex buildings within the Neighborhood 1 Zoning Districts shall meet the maximum sidewall height regulations below.

a. The sidewall height for all duplex and triplex buildings is limited to 20 feet. The sidewall height may be increased above 20 feet if the average height of the facing sidewalls of the single-family, duplex, or triplex buildings on both sides of the lot exceeds 20 feet. In such case, the sidewall height of the subject duplex or triplex building may be increased up to this average height.

i. Sidewalls shall be measured from the finished floor elevation at the ground floor to the eave or, if no eave is present on the building, to the bottom of the finished roof plane.

ii. For a lot that does not have single-family, duplex, or triplex buildings on both sides of the lot, the two closest single-family, duplex, or triplex buildings on the same blockface are used for averaging.

iii. When a sidewall height of greater than 20 feet is proposed, a sidewall height survey of the relevant single-family, duplex, or triplex buildings is required at the time of plan submittal.

b. If no single-family, duplex, or triplex buildings exist on the same blockface as a new duplex or triplex building under development, the maximum building height for the zoning district controls.

c. When an existing local street is extended for a new subdivision, as defined by Section 30.3.A, a 50’ wide landscape yard may be used to establish a new blockface if it meets the following:

i. The landscape yard shall be planted to Class B standards, per Table 20-2, for each 25’ of width of landscape yard.

ii. The landscape yard shall abut, and be the depth of, the last existing residential lot(s) prior to the new local street extension.

iii. The new blockface shall only be for the purposes of establishing the maximum sidewall height requirements of this Section.

2. Building Height Plane for Duplexes and Triplexes
In addition to the maximum building height requirement for the zoning district, all duplex and triplex buildings within the Neighborhood 1 Zoning Districts shall meet the building height plane regulations below.

a. One additional foot of height, above the maximum permitted sidewall height at the required minimum side setback, is allowed for each additional one foot in distance the portion of the building is located from the required minimum side setback. This establishes a building height plane of 45 degrees. The building height plane does not allow an increase in the maximum sidewall height. Buildings may not exceed the maximum building height of the zoning district.

b. Dormers and gable ends may extend into and through the 45 degree building height plane but shall comply with the maximum building height. The cumulative width of dormers extending into and through the building height plane shall be limited to 25% of the depth of the sidewall.

BUILDING HEIGHT PLANE (DUPLEX AND TRIPLEX)

E. Building Articulation
Building articulation standards govern the dimensions of building facade elements and entry features and are intended to facilitate the enhancement of a pedestrian-oriented environment. The following standards apply only to building façades facing a frontage, except for Limited Access. The standards below apply to all uses unless a use has a specific standard. When only specific uses are cited, then the standard applies only to those uses.

Table 4-4: Neighborhood 1 Zoning Districts Building Articulation Standards
		N1-A	N1-B	N1-C	N1-D	N1-E	N1-F
A	Maximum Building Length – Residential (feet)						MF: 150
B	Maximum Building Length – Nonresidential and Mixed-Use (feet)²	300	300	300	300	300	300
C	Maximum Blank Wall Area – Residential (Ground floor and upper floors; Horizontal or Vertical; Per building) (feet)						MF¹: 20
D	Maximum Blank Wall Area – Nonresidential and Mixed-Use (Ground floor and upper floors; Horizontal or Vertical; Per building) (feet)	20	20	20	20	20	20
E	Maximum Spacing for Required Prominent Entrances - Residential (feet)						MF¹: 250
F	Maximum Spacing for Required Prominent Entrances – Nonresidential and Mixed-Use (feet)	250	250	250	250	250	250

¹ Does not apply to Multi-family Attached When Units are on Sublots.

²The Maximum Building Length shall be 500 feet for an Educational Facility – Primary or Secondary, for an Educational Facility – University or College, or for a Place of Worship when these uses are located on an arterial street.

F. Transparency
Transparency standards govern the required amount of ground floor and upper floor transparency and are intended to facilitate the enhancement of a pedestrian-oriented environment. The following standards apply only to building façades facing a frontage, except for Limited Access. These standards do not apply to multi-family attached development on sublots. The standards below apply to all uses unless a use has a specific standard. When only specific uses are cited, then the standard applies only to those uses.

Table 4-5: Neighborhood 1 Zoning Districts Transparency Standards
		N1-A	N1-B	N1-C	N1-D	N1-E	N1-F
A	Ground Floor Transparency – Residential (% of wall area between 3’ and 10’ from grade; Per building)						MF: 25
B	Ground Floor Transparency – Nonresidential and Mixed-Use (% of wall area between 3’ and 10’ from grade; Per building)¹	30	30	30	30	30	30
C	Upper Floor Transparency – Residential (% of Wall Area per Story; Per building)						MF: 15
D	Upper Floor Transparency – Nonresidential and Mixed-Use (% of Wall Area per Story; Per building)	15	15	15	15	15	15

¹The ground floor transparency requirement shall not apply to mobile classrooms or mobile assembly buildings for an Educational Facility – Primary or Secondary, for an Educational Facility – University or College, or for a Place of Worship when these classrooms or buildings are located behind the front building line of the principal structure.

G. Site Layout Standards

1. Residential Site Layout Standards
The table below establishes site layout standards for multi-family attached, both when located on and when not located on sublots, multi-family stacked, and triplex and quadraplex development. Multi-dwelling developments are also subject to the prescribed conditions in Article 15.

RESIDENTIAL SITE LAYOUT STANDARDS

Multi-family Attached When Units Not On Sublots

Multi-family Stacked

Multi-family Attached
When Units On Sublots

Triplex / Quadraplex

The primary pedestrian entry to each principal structure abutting a frontage shall face the frontage. On corner lots, the primary pedestrian entry of the principal structure closest to the intersection may be oriented to either frontage.

If a principal structure abuts both a frontage and common open space perpendicular to the frontage, the primary pedestrian entry may face the common open space¹ if it meets the following:

1. The common open space has a minimum width of 50' for the length of the common open space provided.

2. The common open space has a maximum length of 500'.

Principal structures not abutting a frontage do not have to orient primary pedestrian entries to a frontage or common open space.

✔

✔

The sidewalls of each principal structure abutting a frontage shall be oriented perpendicular to the frontage, except:

1. On corner lots, sidewalls of the principal structure closest to the intersection may be oriented perpendicularly to either frontage.

2. When a principal structure is located along the perimeter of a new residential development and with frontage along a new or extended network-required street, sidewalls may be oriented either parallel or perpendicular to the frontage.

If a principal structure abuts both a frontage and common open space, the sidewalls may orient perpendicularly to the common open space¹ if it meets the following:

1. The common open space has a minimum width of 50' for the length of the common open space provided.

2. The common open space has a maximum length of 500'.

Principal structures not abutting a frontage do not have to orient sidewalls perpendicularly to a frontage or common open space.

✔

✔

¹ Common open space shall also comply with the standards of Table 16-2: Design of Open Space.

H. Building Design Standards

1. Residential Building Design Standards
The table below establishes building design standards for multi-family stacked and multi-family attached development when not on sublots within the Neighborhood 1 Zoning Districts.

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING DESIGN STANDARDS
(MULTI-FAMILY STACKED AND MULTI-FAMILY ATTACHED WHEN NOT ON SUBLOTS)

Table 4-7: Neighborhood 1 Zoning Districts Residential Building Design Standards
	Multi-family Attached When Not On Sublots	Multi-family Stacked
The primary pedestrian entry shall be a prominent entrance along a frontage as defined by this Ordinance, except for a Limited Access frontage, or along a common open space as per Table 4-6 above. In the case of a building with individual units with multiple exterior entrances, at least one of the entrances for each individual unit shall be a prominent entrance and that entrance shall be located on the highest frontage classification as per the hierarchy in Section 3.5.D.	✔	✔
All ground floor entrances to individual units on a frontage with a sidewalk shall be between 1’ and 5’ above the grade of the adjacent sidewalk when located within 10’ of the back of sidewalk. Residential units located below the grade of the adjacent sidewalk are permitted to have below-grade entrances, which shall be between 1’ and 3’ below the grade of the adjacent sidewalk.¹	✔	✔
Structures shall incorporate elements of variation on any façade facing a frontage, public open space, or common open space. Variation shall be achieved as follows: 1. For multi-family attached buildings when not on sublots, one of the following shall be incorporated into the design of the structure: a. Variation in the façade depth of adjoining dwelling units of at least 3’. Such variation shall extend the entire height of the façade. b. Architectural features, such as balconies, bay windows, or other elements along the façade of each dwelling unit, subject to the standards of Article 18. 2. For multi-family stacked buildings 150’ or more in length, recesses or projections of the façade of at least 1’ in depth, and no less than 10’ in width are required at intervals of no more than 60’ linearly. This shall not be required on any portion of a multi-family stacked building 50’ or more in height above average grade.	✔	✔
Windows, doors, porches, or other architectural features are required on all frontage-facing facades to avoid the appearance of blank walls.	✔	✔

¹ Zoning Administrator may allow adjustments to standards if adjacent average sidewalk slope is greater than 10% or to comply with federal and state law.

2. Nonresidential and Mixed-Use Building Design Standards
The following design standards apply to nonresidential and mixed-use buildings in the Neighborhood 1 Zoning Districts.

NONRESIDENTIAL AND MIXED-USE BUILDING DESIGN STANDARDS

a. A frontage shall have a minimum of one prominent entrance, as defined in this Ordinance. This does not apply to Limited Access roads. The number of prominent entrances required shall be determined by the building length along the frontage and the maximum spacing in F of Table 4-4.

i. In the case of a building with two frontages located on a corner, one prominent entrance located on the corner may count as a required prominent entrance for both frontages, subject to the following:

(A) A prominent corner entry shall include design features that reinforce intersections as key locations for pedestrian activity. Two of the following shall be included:

(1) A chamfered or rounded corner design.

(2) Awnings, canopies, or other covered entry features.

(3) Special paving, landscape, or lighting features.

(4) Unique architectural detailing that emphasizes the corner entry.

b. A minimum of one prominent entrance on the ground floor is required per building on a site.

c. A minimum of one ground floor entrance along each frontage facing façade, except for a Limited Access frontage, shall include a pedestrian connection between doors and adjacent pedestrian facilities, where such facilities are present or are required by this Ordinance. The Zoning Administrator may waive this requirement if they determine that the nature of the use does not require such pedestrian connections, for example warehouse and distribution centers, airports, truck and rail freight terminals, and other similar uses.

d. Pedestrian-oriented ground-floor designs are encouraged, including arcades, galleries, colonnades, outdoor dining areas, and outdoor plazas.

I. Building Material Restrictions
The building material restrictions apply to the following development in the Neighborhood 1 Zoning Districts: nonresidential development, mixed-use buildings, multi-family stacked, and multi-family attached when not on sublots.

1. These restrictions do not apply to accessory buildings less than 1,000 square feet or greater than 250’ from a street, platted right-of-way, or public open space establishing the frontage, as defined by Article 2 of this Ordinance.

2. The following building materials are limited to 25% of each façade along a frontage. They may also be used as a component of construction when not a surface finish material without limitation.

a. Corrugated metal siding, either galvanized or with a painted finish. An alternative metal siding may exceed the limit outlined in item 2 above if the metal siding is deemed a more decorative surface finish material as approved by the Zoning Administrator.

i. The reuse of pre-fabricated shipping containers is permitted and is not subject to this limitation, subject to compliance with the building code and other applicable codes.

b. Exterior insulation finishing systems (EIFS) is prohibited on the ground floor of a multi-family dwelling (the 25% permission in item 2 above does not apply)

c. Plain concrete masonry units (CMU) having no integral color pigment or improved exterior surface finish. For this standard the application of paint does not qualify as an improved exterior surface finish.

d. Plastic

e. T-111 composite plywood siding

f. Vinyl

Article 4. Neighborhood 1 Zoning Districts

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Article 4. Neighborhood 1 Zoning Districts

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