Urban Design Partners

✅ Rezoning Approved!

UDP is excited to share the recent unanimous approval of a rezoning in the Town of Matthews, at 409 W John Street.

The rezoning process coincided with a new chapter for Matthews, as the Town welcomed a largely new Board of Commissioners following the 2025 elections. Understanding that successful projects require more than technical compliance, the team focused on building trust, listening to stakeholder perspectives, and aligning the proposal with the Town's long-term goals. Through thoughtful collaboration with elected officials, staff, and the project team, the proposal evolved into a plan that gained broad support and moved from uncertainty to approval. Special thanks to Nadine Bennett, Senior Planner for the Town of Matthews, for her invaluable guidance and collaboration throughout the process.

Here’s to a great outcome for the team and an exciting next step for this project!

❓Have a question about a rezoning or entitlement? Let's Chat ➡️ https://urbandesignpartners.com/get-in-touch/?utm_campaign=Rezoning+Approval&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=1781812807

Meet the UDP Summer Interns🎉

We're excited to welcome this year's interns to the UDP team! Over the next few months, they'll be gaining hands-on experience, learning from our staff, and getting a closer look at the projects and processes that help bring communities to life.

We're looking forward to seeing what they learn, the perspectives they bring, and the contributions they'll make along the way. Help us give them a warm welcome!

Planting design is about more than selecting plants, it's about creating an experience.

At UDP, we believe successful planting design starts with:
🪴 Choosing the right plant for the right place
☀️ Understanding the site's environmental conditions
💧 Planning for long-term maintenance and success
🌷 Using color, form, and texture to shape the user experience

When these elements come together, the landscape can thrive for years to come.

🔗 Read more about our take on planting design here: https://urbandesignpartners.com/portfolio/transforming-communities-the-art-of-planting-design/?utm_campaign=General+Blog&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social

Congrats to our June Urby winners Colin and Ginger!!

For those who don’t know what an Urby is it’s our “employee of the month.” Every month the team nominates someone(s) and our Ops group chooses the winner for each office (Raleigh Ops members choose the Charlotte winner and vise versa). Each monthly winner is then put into a pool for a chance to be the 2026 overall Urby winner!

🚧 Construction Update 🚧

Progress continues on this duplex project in the Cotswold area of Charlotte NC, consisting of two flag lots designed through the City’s Individual Residential Lot (IRL) process.

A key feature of the project is the use of pervious pavers which helped maintain the site as a low-density development while still supporting the project goals. It’s always exciting to see thoughtful stormwater solutions and site design come together in the field.

Keep your eyes peeled for more construction updates as more UDP projects go vertical!

Happy National Trails Day!

We love any opportunity to incorporate greenways, trail systems, and pedestrian connections into the projects we design. Walkability and movement are such important parts of creating communities that feel connected, active, and easy to explore.

Whether it’s a neighborhood trail, greenway connection, or streetscape improvement, these spaces help bring people outdoors and connect them to the places around them.

What’s your favorite trail or greenway to explore?

✅Rezoning Approved!

UDP is excited to highlight the unanimous approval of a new mixed-use professional office and retail development at the Matthews-Weddington Road and Chestnut Parkway roundabout in Stallings, NC.
Working alongside Brian Rollar of Project X, Inc., UDP led the rezoning effort, helping advance a vision that supports the Town's long-term planning goals while creating opportunities for new office, retail, and neighborhood-serving commercial uses.

The project represents an important step in activating the Chestnut Lane corridor and establishing a strong western gateway into Stallings. The plan incorporates pedestrian-oriented design, rear-loaded parking, enhanced landscaping, and a future greenway connection that advances recommendations from the Town's Greenway Master Plan.

We appreciate the partnership of the Town of Stallings Planning Department, Planning Board, and Town Council throughout the process. Their collaborative approach helped transform a shared vision into a project that will contribute to the Town's continued growth and character for years to come.

❓Have a question about a rezoning or entitlement? Let's Chat ➡️ https://urbandesignpartners.com/get-in-touch/?utm_campaign=Rezoning+Approval&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=1780583406

🎊 Happy Work Anniversary to our amazing team members TJ and Connor! 🎊

Work anniversaries are a time to reflect and celebrate the incredible contributions of our team. From hard work and creativity to the relationships they’ve built across the office, we’re grateful to have them on the team and can’t wait to see what’s ahead!

Some development projects run into problems long before construction ever begins.

Site constraints, zoning challenges, infrastructure limitations, stormwater requirements, and feasibility concerns can all impact whether a project is truly buildable and financially viable.

Understanding these factors early helps teams make more informed decisions, reduce risk, and avoid costly surprises later in the process.

We broke down some of the most common reasons development projects fail before they start ➡️ https://urbandesignpartners.com/whats-new/?utm_campaign=General+Blog&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social