This Community Area Plan (CAP) is one tool to support implementation of the citywide Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan and the Charlotte Future 2040 Policy Map, providing more detailed guidance for land use, building form, mobility, open space, and public facilities for the West Outer community-level geography. At this scale, the West Outer CAP provides a coordinated, efficient, and effective structure for identifying nuanced and locally-specific needs and priorities. It also provides a structure for developing strategies and recommendations to address those needs and priorities and for contributing to the community’s overarching goal to create a more equitable Charlotte.
This E-Plan serves as a summary of the complete, adopted West Outer Community Area Plan, which can be viewed by following the link below.
On November 24, 2025, Charlotte City Council decided to delay action on this Community Area Plan and the Revised Policy Map for this area to allow for more community input. Additional engagement opportunities are being planned, and more information will be posted on the project website. Plans for these areas will stay on the project website until Council makes a final decision.
West Outer Location Map – Click to enlarge
Community Area Profile
The West Outer geography is roughly bounded by Charlotte City limits to the north, Interstate 485 and Charlotte Douglas International Airport to the east, Shopton Road to the south, and the Catawba River to the west. This geography is traversed by regional-serving streets (Wilkinson Boulevard, Brookshire Boulevard) that include express transit service and the CSX Railway. The area is predominately developed between 1980s-mid-2000s and is characterized by a separation of land uses and auto-dependent mobility. Currently, the area is predominantly characterized by Neighborhood 1, Manufacturing & Logistics, and Parks and Preserves Place Types. The West Outer geography is currently home to 24,075 residents (3% of the city’s population), with slightly more racial and ethnic diversity and slightly lower college education rates than the citywide average. By 2040, this area is expected to grow by 16,478 residential units and 43,234 new jobs (10% and 16% of projected citywide growth, respectively).
Understanding these current conditions and expected growth patterns help in determining the specific needs and priorities for the West Outer area. Specifically, this profile sets the foundation for understanding how local growth and change can contribute to a more equitable city for all by increasing opportunity and access and by reducing harmful impacts. More information about existing conditions can be found in the West Outer Community Report.
West Outer Area Map – Click to enlarge
Expected Growth
The West Outer geography is projected to see an increase of 16,478 residential units, which is 10% of the city’s overall residential growth, and 43,234 new jobs, which is 16% of the city’s total job growth, by the year 2040.
Data Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 2019, Quality of Life Explorer (QOL) 2020, Community Viz Model 2020, CPA Prioritization Matrix 2019