Martin Cramton

Biography: Martin R. Cramton Jr. Retired Charlotte - Mecklenburg Planning Director Charlotte, NC Martin Cramton has 40 years of planning experience in Michigan, Oregon and North Carolina communities. His experience covers regional, county and municipal planning. Responsibilities included management, land use, transportation, regulation, capital improvement programs, urban design, economic development, neighborhoods and community consensus building. He served 35 years as director in 4 planning agencies. Before retirement in 2003, he was Planning Director in Charlotte for 24 years. Currently, He consults on private development projects. His career began in Michigan. He served in a variety of regional and local planning positions including Director for Saginaw County Metropolitan Planning. Next, he served as Planning Director for Washington and subsequently Multnomah Counties (Portland OR). He played a key role in crafting Comprehensive Plans as well as rewriting and administering land use regulations for both Counties. He also had a major role in creating growth boundaries for both Counties and the Portland Region. He was the 1979 recipient of the Oregon Chapter of American Planning Association's Award for significant contributions to local and regional planning. Most recently, as Charlotte - Mecklenburg Planning Director, Martin was instrumental in building a community consensus on an urban vision and growth management strategy. He was instrumental in creating a regional land use / transit plan that resulted in a light rail line opening in 2007. A plan for transit supportive development was completed and it is a reality. In addition, he advanced many other successful planning initiatives. These included: a new 2005 General Development Plan; a 2015 Vision and Goals Plan; a "Smart Growth Program" linked to the City budget. Other initiatives he pushed forward included: Charlotte Center City Plans; 5 District Plans; 70 neighborhood