WFAE Construction is seen in Charlotte's South End area. The Community Benefits Coalition wants to use contracts between developers and neighborhoods to ensure that new development in Charlotte benefits existing residents. A coalition of neighborhood and community groups is urging Charlotte leaders to strengthen a provision in the city's draft 2040 Comprehensive Plan aimed at ensuring that existing residents benefit from future development. Community benefits agreements are private contracts between developers and neighborhood groups that spell out how projects will benefit existing residents. The Community Benefits Coalition says agreements like these are needed to protect residents from displacement and gentrification by giving them leverage. For example, residents could agree to support a project in exchange for something the neighborhood wants, like affordable housing, a park, or extra measures to ease traffic.