September 3: The week ahead in Raleigh
City Council meets on September 5. The agenda is fairly light. There are only 4 rezoning cases. Here are a few items of interest:
Council begins its new public comment process this month. There will no longer be a public comment on Council agendas for the 1st meeting of every month. Instead, Council will add a public comment period at the end of its work sessions held on the 2nd Tuesday of every month. The public comment remains the same for Council’s meeting on the 3rd Tuesday of every month. Click here for additional details.
Council resumes the public hearing for rezoning Z-16-20. The case involves approximately 526 acres in the eastern part of Wake County. The property is currently outside of Raleigh’s municipal boundaries and is zoned under the County’s zoning ordinance for low density residential. The developer is seeking approval of a Planned Development Zoning District that will allow for a phased development that will include greenways, public open spaces and various infrastructure improvements required to support the proposed development that will include a variety of housing types, along with a relatively small amount of retail. While these kinds of large mixed-use master plans were common in the 1990’s and early 2000’s, as land has been consumed by development, there are relatively few large tracts left to be developed like this. Planning Commission voted 8-1 to recommend approval of the rezoning. Click here for the agenda backup materials.
Rezoning case Z-72-22 is located at 423 S Blount Street and contains 0.13 acres. This is an interesting case because it involves removing the Prince Hall Historic Overlay District from a .13-acre parcel next to an historic Masonic Lodge. The property is currently zoned Downtown Mixed-Use 3 stories, Urban General Frontage, with General Historic Overlay District (DX-3-UG w/ HOD-G). The applicant seeks to remove the historic overlay district and change the zoning to Downtown Mixed-Use 12 stories, Urban General Frontage, Conditional Use (DX-12-UG-CU). Proposed zoning conditions regulate new building facade materials on the first level along South Blount Street, establish the architectural base of the building in compatibility with the Prince Hall Masonic Temple Building, and require vibration-sensitive equipment at the subject property. Surrounding properties are zoned for heights between 3 and 20 stories. Planning Commission voted 6-2 to recommend denial of the rezoning request. For more information about this case, click here.
Rezoning Z-15-23 involves a .45-acre parcel located at 513 S West Street and 514 S Harrington Street. The parcel is currently zoned Downtown Mixed Use-4-Urban Limited (DX-5-UL). The proposed zoning is Downtown Mixed Use-12-Urban Limited-Conditional Use (DX-12-UL-CU). The request is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and the Future Land Use Map. Properties around this parcel are zoned for 5-20 stories. Planning Commission voted 6-1 to recommend approval. For more details about the rezoning, click here.
Other meetings of interest:
Planning Commission Committee of the Whole continued reviewing Z-92-22 that will apply the Transit Overlay District to the proposed New Bern Avenue Bus Rapid Transit route (BRT). It held Z-92-22 and CP-7-22 in Committee and is considering continuing its review during a special session of the Committee of the Whole likely to be held on September 27, 2023. That date will be confirmed at the September 12 Planning Commission meeting. Click here for additional backup materials related to the BRT Comprehensive Plan Amendments and rezoning.
As Raleigh continues broadening and diversifying its engagement process, Raleigh is “rolling out” its new community engagement van. Residents can request the van to attend community events across the City. Click here for more details.
The South Park and East Raleigh Neighborhoods historic neighborhood exhibit just opened. More here.
Interested in helping Raleigh become more equitable and inclusive? Consider submitting a session proposal for the City’s Equity and Inclusion conference. Click here for more details.