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City Council Still Trying To Stop Proposed Noise Wall On I-277

City of Charlotte

Charlotte City Council is still trying to figure out how to stop a planned noise wall from being built between I-277 and the 4th Ward neighborhood.  The North Carolina Department of Transportation says it’s moving forward with the design because there isn’t enough opposition among residents and property owners in the neighborhood. City Council members last night criticized the state’s voting process. WFAE’s Duncan McFadyen reports.

The atmosphere was more somber than angry. Councilwoman Vi Lyles, chair of the transportation committee, explained that despite a push from the 4th Ward neighborhood association, there weren’t enough votes to stop the wall.

"It’s very hard to understand that 73 percent of people oppose having the wall….that does not meet the standard set forth in the process," she said. "So we have a dilemma.”

Based on the number of ballots returned to the state, it would’ve taken 80 percent to vote down the wall.

The other controversial section of the wall, proposed for the outer edge of 277 near Alpha Mill, was voted down. That’s because the owner of the development controlled enough of the votes to carry the decision on its own, and chose to vote “no.”

Still, council members were not satisfied.

“There has to be another solution for something that’s imposed on you that you don’t want, ” said Councilwoman Claire Fallon.

The solid concrete walls would be up to 22 feet tall and would block the skyline view. Council members  asked city manager Ron Carlee to search for any possible options for stopping the wall. But the state wants to put the project up for bid next month. So they’ve have asked Carlee to report back in a few days.