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INSIDE ▼ 7 tips to ease back-to-school chaos
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PAGE 2A Friday, Aug. 14, 2026 • Vol. 26 • No. 32
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Changes to NC laws complicate UDO rewrite by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
MATTHEWS – Changes to state laws have made updating the Unified Development Ordinance more challenging for Matthews staff, according to Assistant Town Manager Jay Camp. He shared with town commissioners Aug. 10 how the General Assembly has
limited local government authority over land-use and zoning regulations. “The difficult part for us moving forward is we’re in the midst of a UDO update, and it has really bogged us down because there are just so many potential pitfalls and challenges with this process,” Camp said. One such law limits downzoning, or changing zoning regulations that reduce
what a property owner can do with the land. Downzoning may include reducing the number of buildings or eliminating a previously permitted use. Prior to the change, Matthews could reduce development intensity or permitted uses in the public interest with the proper public hearings and board approval. Now, the town has to get written consent of every
affected property owner. “If you’re trying to make even what seems like maybe a lateral change to that ordinance, could it be construed as downzoning?” Camp said in relation to the UDO rewrite. “It’s made our jobs and that of our consultant very difficult.” The Regulatory Reform Act of 2025 eliminated waiting periods on denied zoning applications. Prior to
Pink Cupcake Walk rallies survivors, thrivers & supporters
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Photos courtesy of The Pink Cupcake Walk
CMS to welcome back superintendent
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education voted today to return Dr. Crystal Hill to her role as superintendent following her temporary leave. We believe this provides the best path forward while maintaining continuity
see LAWS, Page 3A
by Daniel Peterson Matthews Town Attorney
See page 1B
and stability for our students, employees and families. The board did not take this action lightly. When serious concerns involving district operations and oversight are raised, the board has an obligation to investigate them thoroughly, carefully consider the findings and act in the best long-term interest of CharlotteMecklenburg Schools. The review identified issues that will require ongoing attention as it relates to leadership and operational practices. We will address these issues directly with Dr. Hill.
Camp
Attorney says punishing towns for I-77 vote violates law
Reason to celebrate
CHARLOTTE – Crystal Hill will be able to return to her role as superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools following a school board investigation into matters involving administrative and operational oversight. The school board released the following statement Aug. 11:
this change, developers had to wait one year after a denied project before resubmitting an application. “If we had a long, contentious rezoning and the neighbors had really went through months and months of uncertainty, the town had a waiting period so people could take a deep
With the review complete, our focus remains on the start of the school year. CMS has strong leadership throughout the organization, and district leaders, principals, teachers and staff have worked throughout the summer to ensure our schools are ready to welcome students on Aug. 25. We appreciate the patience of our community, families and employees throughout this process. Our students remain at the heart of every decision we make, and we are committed to providing them with a strong and successful start to the new school year.
would like to briefly report on a topic which has made some news and affects our community – the topic of legislation recently passed as part of the state budget whose sole purpose is to punish members of the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization who voted to rescind support for the toll lane project on I-77 South. This vote came after details of the toll lane project were released and then there was strong public outcry against the proposed project, including further destruction of historically AfricanAmerican neighborhoods in west Charlotte to make way for this project. Matthews is a member of that organization and has never supported the I-77 South toll lanes project; yet, is among those who, unless we change our vote of conscience now to support a project this town, again, has never supported, are targeted by this legislation to face a stiff financial penalty for failing to do so, for failing to heed the instructions of the state Legislature. My opinion on this matter is already a matter of public record, so I simply restate it tonight for the benefit of our community and for others. This legislation, in my opinion, is unconstitutional and violates federal transportation law. Over and over again, the sponsor of this bill has admitted publicly that the purpose of this legislation was to punish communities with whom certain powerful interests disagree on this topic. Legislators cannot retroactively punish legal conduct by declaring it illegal and punishing those who partook in the thenlegal conduct. It violates, again, federal transportation law that requires state and local governments to work cooperatively with one another in forming state transportation plans. Matthews, nor any of its fellow local governments in Mecklenburg County, sought this conflict. I think that’s important to remember. However, finding a resolution grounded in trust and cooperation is improbable or impossible where we are threatened in the way Matthews and other communities in Mecklenburg County have been by this legislation. To put it plainly, we are confronted by a doctrine that is simply “might is right,” of a kind that the founders of our nation saw see ATTORNEY, Page 4A