There must be a playbook ...

Last week a group of residents from central ... neighborhoods ... met ... to discuss methods for stemming certain kinds of infill development. They focused on stopping the spread of new over-large homes in older neighborhoods, which some people feel erode the charm of older communities. But others say the current fight is really a debate over taste and approach.

No, this is not from Raleigh.

[The couple] moved out of [the neighborhood] three years ago. At the time, they wanted more space.

But they missed their old neighborhood. When their old home hit the market, they scooped it up. The only problem was the 980-square-foot home no longer matched their needs. The couple wanted to start a family and the house was way too small.

They decided to tear down the old house and build a new one. Tear-downs have become increasingly popular in the area. Last year in Mecklenburg County, 794 single-family houses were demolished. That's up from 697 in 2006.

They said their home, which will be finished in a few months, fits well into their neighborhood. And they said it would increase the value of other homes in the area.

It is a complicated issue, with heated feelings on both sides. If city officials wade into the debate, they likely will find themselves balancing desire for neighborhood aesthetics with concerns about property owners' rights.

Yup, they will.

The entire story can be found here:
A building debate on tear-down projects
Central Charlotte neighborhoods form a group to stop the spread of ‘McMansions.'

Fallonia is observing that a larger home that fits in is 4000% better than a house that does not try to fit in (affectionately known as a sore-thumb house). It is clearly not all about size. FP still believes the key word here is Respect.