REBIC – A Year In Review. Wins that Made a Difference.

From REBIC

A Peek at just some of the REBIC 2025 WINS that are resulting in significant changes in outcome from housing attainability, infrastructure improvements, zoning, and more.

Political Leadership Highlights:

• Historic Mecklenburg County Transportation Referendum Passed – Through hands-on bi-partisan advocacy, we sought and achieved the passage of the 1% sales tax referendum that will generate $19 billion in revenue to fund regional rail, road, bus, and other infrastructure improvements over the next 30 years.
• Produced widely distributed Voter Guides for both the Primary Election and General Election within the REBIC coverage area (Mecklenburg, Iredell, Cabarrus, Gaston, and Union Counties).
• Supported pro-business candidates and saw several elected to key offices around the region.

Regional Impact Highlights:

• Several REBIC members were appointed to the Mecklenburg County Public Transit Authority (MPTA) and we will support their efforts as they advocate for an efficient, user friendly, and cost-effective transportation system throughout the county and ultimately the region at some point in the future.
• We were successful in defeating a proposed code change for Waynesville Short Term Rentals (STR’s) that would have significantly limited property owners’ rights.
• Worked to eliminate an increased road depth requirement in Statesville, reducing unnecessary cost, and making housing more attainable.
• Catalyzed policy changes to result in the potential for better development outcomes in Mooresville through changes to the land use plan.
• Enhanced our community relations initiatives around water, sewer, and Inter Basin Transfer conversations. We will continue to encourage the retention and storage of additional water resources to meet the needs of a growing region.

Policy and Law Highlights:

• Continued to work with Charlotte elected officials and staff to achieve a more workable Charlotte Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). Several key changes have been made, including language that would allow more residential units in commercially zoned areas aimed at increasing the supply of housing. Other improvements we have proposed are likely to be voted on in March of 2026,

Member Development Highlights:

• Increased our 2 For Tuesday email list audience by 10-fold, including the addition of elected officials and planning directors from around the region.
• Enhanced the visual and content approach for our outreach communications including redesign and enhancements to layout of the 2 for Tuesday newsletter.
• Engaged in a highly insightful Iredell and Mecklenburg County focus group and survey project that yielded new perspectives on voter opinions related to growth. The data indicated there are concerns about how elected officials manage growth, but a significant majority of residents suggested they enjoy the community amenities (shopping, entertainment, etc.) that come with an increased population.

General Highlights:

• By adding the Piedmont Public Policy Institute (PPPI) under the umbrella of REBIC we accelerate funding for important land development and community enhancement issues. We are currently coordinating with UNC Charlotte on a study to identify potential efficiencies that may be gained by implementing certain reforms to Charlotte’s land development process and Mecklenburg County’s code enforcement/building standards departments.

Rob’s Take: It’s been a busy year marked by a frenetic pace of change. That’s generally what happens in a region experiencing strong economic growth and development. While there are challenges with the strong influx of population we have seen, the alternative should not be an option. Just ask the folks in St. Louis, or Portland, or any other major U.S. city that suffered greatly due to a lack of leadership. I’m optimistic about the Charlotte Region. I think this is a special place. We’ve taken steps to get our infrastructure better aligned with our needs. It’s a great step forward, and shaping the outcome will be a major priority for us all in the coming year and into the future.