November 19: The week ahead in Raleigh
The City is once again seeking resident input on whether or not the City should move from electing a new City Council every 2 years to elections with staggered 4-year terms. While the City is conducting a survey using random scientific sampling, it is also making the survey available to the public in general. On September 7, 2021, a Council-appointed study committee recommended unanimously that Council should move to 4-year staggered terms to allow a more deliberative approach to decision making. You can review the Study Recommendations here. To ensure as much diversity in survey responses, please take the survey here.
The City recently completed a study titled: “Raleigh’s Black Heritage and Historic Places Study: 1945-1975.” Staff and the study’s consultant will present findings and talk about next steps in the program during an event on November 30. For more details, click here.
Raleigh is developing its 2024-2025 Affordable Housing and Community Development Needs Assessment. There is one more community engagement session planned for November 20 and an online survey where residents can provide input. For more information about meeting dates and to take the survey, click here.
The City recently announced a BRT engagement program called “Five Weeks to Connect.” The program has a range of programming, information engagement opportunities during a 5-week period starting in late November. Click here for details.
City Council held a work session on November 14 where staff updated Councilors on the City’s effort to address equitable development around transit. The session focused on the New Bern Avenue BRT route and did an excellent job reviewing the many programs and tools the City is using to ensure that equity, gentrification and displacement are addressed as BRT is implemented along New Bern Avenue. While there are groups in the community promoting the idea that the City is not doing anything to ensure equitable development around transit, the reality is quite different. Click here for the complete presentation.
City Council Meets on Tuesday, November 21, 2023. Here are some of the items that caught our attention:
Staff will present Council with options for addressing the substantial differential between the original estimate and the current estimate to implement the Six Forks Road Improvement Plan. Staff will request direction from Council as to which option the City should pursue. Click here for more details.
City Council will consider approving additional gap financing for to preserve 292 existing affordable housing units across 5 communities owned by DHIC. The total funding request is $3,504,000. Click here for more details.
Z-20-53 involves approximately 1.12 acres located at 501 Hillsborough Street. The request is to rezone the property from Downtown Mixed Use-12-Shopfront (DX-12-SH) to Downtown Mixed Use-40-Shopfront, Conditional Use (DX-40-SH-CU). Of note, the request includes a condition requiring a payment of $180,000 into the City’s affordable housing fund for any site plan approved with less than 301 residential units. If a site plan is approved for more than 300 residential units, the developer will pay $180,000 plus and additional $40,000 per residential unit for each unit exceeding 300. Planning Commission voted to recommend approval 7-0. Click here for more details.