DSTAC Update

Dan Melvin of Melvin Engineering is the NAIOP designee to DSTAC. Below are key August 2025 updates:

• NCDOT – Zach Gardner is the new District Engineer for Mecklenburg. He has been directed by Division Engineer Felix Obregon to streamline driveway permits. A new Driveway Permitting Checklist will roll out soon. Make sure your consultants are completing this checklist and submitting it with first submittal, or reviews will be held up until the checklist is completed. This is not in effect yet but should go into effect sometime this fall.
• Land Development – We’ve asked Josh Weaver to improve the Mid-Cycle Amendment (MCA) process for projects with only a few comments remaining. The City’s internal process improvement team is training staff on when MCAs apply. We’ve requested that Josh share the same criteria with the development community. I will share once I get my hands on it.
• Urban Forestry – UDO tree survey requirements now go beyond what most surveyors typically provide. Tim Porter and Henry Kunzig are preparing guidance materials (including photos) to help surveyors correctly identify species and avoid repeat mobilizations or surprises during permitting.

Contact Dan at dan@melvinengineering.com if you are experiencing any issues with Charlotte Land Development. Keep in mind that DSTAC discussions focus on broad process issues rather than project specific, though project specific challenges can usually be framed in a way to highlight broader concerns.