Overview
Aaron Houck’s practice focuses on land use and zoning and development that requires coordination or negotiation with local governments. He assists clients pursuing all types of development projects in Charlotte and other local governments in the region. Aaron provides strategic counsel for clients pursuing rezoning efforts and other development entitlements, and he represents clients before governing and planning boards.
Aaron's clients benefit from his practical experience as the former director of regional policy for the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute. He worked with policymakers from across the Charlotte region and conducted research on land use regulation, including a collaborative project with the National Zoning Atlas. Prior to that role, Aaron was a tenured professor of political science at Queens University of Charlotte.`
Experience
- Represented a regional developer on the rezoning of a 37-acre site in Stallings, North Carolina, to accommodate a mixed-use development on the site that will contain a maximum of 30,000 square feet of commercial uses and a maximum of 222 residential units.
- Represented a national developer on the rezoning of a 107-acre site in Charlotte, North Carolina, to accommodate a residential community on the site that will contain a maximum of 575 multifamily attached dwelling units (townhomes).
- Represented a regional developer on the rezoning of an 11-acre site in Charlotte, North Carolina, to accommodate a multifamily residential community on the site.
- Represented a local government on the rezoning of a 28-acre site in Charlotte, North Carolina, to accommodate the development of a public park on the site.
- Represented a regional company on the rezoning of a 7-acre site in Charlotte, North Carolina, to accommodate the development of a 70,000-square-foot building on the site that will contain office, warehouse and light industrial uses.
- Represented a local government on the rezoning of a 25-acre site in Charlotte, North Carolina, to accommodate the development of a community resource center and office building on the site.
- Represented a regional developer in connection with a planned-unit development (PUD) amendment for a 2.5-acre site in Union County, North Carolina, to accommodate the development of a 12,000-square-foot medical office building on the site.
Affiliations
Professional Affiliations
- ULI Charlotte, Advisory Board and Programs Committee, 2024-present
- Law360, North Carolina Editorial Advisory Board, 2025
Community Affiliations
- Gardhouse, Board of Directors, 2021-present
Practice Areas
Education
Harvard Law School, J.D., 2005
Duke University, Ph.D., 2014; James B. Duke Fellow; University Scholar
Davidson College, B.A., cum laude, 2002; Phi Beta Kappa; John M. Belk Scholar
Bar Admissions
- North Carolina
