Highlights
- City Attorney reaffirms her position that hybrid meetings would be illegal DESPITE the fact that Cary Town Council was holding hybrid meetings even before the pandemic. Mayor Pro Tem Stewart says they are hearing from the same people in remote meetings as they did during in-person meetings, implying that she isn’t interested in hybrid meetings. Councilor Cox asks City Attorney to talk to Cary.
- Unanimously approved text change to enhance tree conservation.
- Voted unanimously to largely return to in-person meetings effective March 1.
- Unanimously authorized City-Initiated Rezoning Application for several Dix Edge properties to allow more units for the purpose of creating affordable housing.
- Rezoning Z-68-20: Hillsborough Street and Bagwell Avenue, at the northeast corner of the intersection (District D) – agreed to leave open until March 1 for continued discussion regarding conditions.
- Rezoning Z-21-21: 8916 Six Forks Road, east of the intersection of Six Forks Road and Strickland Road (District A); deferred until March 15 because of concerns about development in the watershed.
- Rezoning Z-52-21: W. Morgan St, at the southeast corner of the intersection of Morgan Street and Harrington Street, one block west of the Raleigh Municipal Building (District D); approved 6 to 1 with Councilor Cox dissenting,
- Three council committees will meet on February 22.
Work Session
- Greenway Master Plan
Afternoon Session
Councilor Melton absent and excused.
CONSENT AGENDA – approved unanimously (see items at end of this report)
PUBLIC COMMENT
- Ross Yeager on neighborhood clean-up
- Charles Till on speed limit reductions
- Curtis Johnson on RPD
- Chantelle Miles on hybrid meetings; City Attorney reaffirms her position that hybrid meetings would be illegal DESPITE the fact that Cary Town Council was doing this before the pandemic
- James Blaylock on taxi fares
- Michael Lindsay on CACs and Community Engagement
- Christina Jones on Community Engagement
- Tim Niles
Alexander Stein- Douglas Johnston on Greenway Support
- Lisa Hughet on hybrid meetings
- Alice Hinman on tree conservation
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
- The following items are scheduled for public hearing at the City Council meeting on March 1, 2022:
- Council Redistricting Proposal (all districts)
- STC-08-2021 – Portions of West Lenoir Street and West South Street (District C)
- STC-12-2021 – Portions of Mid Lakes Drive and Holly Lane (District E, future)
- TCZ-58-21 – Falls Valley Drive (District A)
- Z-41-21 – Bloodworth Street, Cabarrus Street, Person Street (multiple parcels) (District C)
- Z-43-21 – Hargett Street, Salisbury Street, Martin Street, McDowell Street (multiple parcels) (District C)
- Z-56-21 – 2016 Cameron Street (portion) (District D)
- Z-59-21 – 2618 Wade Avenue (District D)
- The following items are scheduled for public hearing at the City Council meeting on March 15, 2022:
- Z-77-21 – 4501 Edwards Mill Road (District E)
- Z-86-21 – Rock Drive and Poole Road (District C, future)
- TC-15-21 – Towing Yards (held open from 2/1/22) (all districts)
- Text Change TC-11-21: Parking Minimums, Maximums, and Mitigations – 3/1 hearing date recommended; unanimously approved 3/15 hearing date because of heavy load on 3/1
- Rezoning Z-54-21: 0 & 5000 Louisburg Road, on its east side, 300 feet north of its intersection with Valley Stream Drive (District B) – 3/15 hearing date recommended; Councilor Cox prefers an evening meeting because of public interest; staff recommends 4/5; Councilor Cox asked for staff evaluation on parkway frontage on Louisburg Road because many rezonings are asking to eliminate parkway frontage on Louisburg; 4/5 approved unanimously
- The Capital North Corridor Plan: A Future of Choice – 4/5 hearing date recommended; Councilor Buffkin wants to hold to get more input from BPAC and is supported by Councilor Cox; 4/5 approved unanimously
- Wake BRT: Western Boulevard Corridor Study and CP-10-21 Amendments – 4/5 hearing date recommended and approved unanimously
- Rezoning Z-61-21: 316 W Edenton St, at the northeast corner of W Edenton St and N Harrington St (District D) – 4/5 hearing date recommended and approved unanimously
SPECIAL ITEMS
- Authorize Text Change – Tree Conservation Enhancements – unanimously approved
- 1. Create TCA requirements for lots 1-2 acres in size.
- 2. Explore Champion/Specimen tree provisions
- 3. Include tree planting requirement for smaller lots (under 2 acres) that don’t have required TCA
- 4. Explore Resource Management Zoning District (Potential future change)
- Staff Update – COVID Status and Return to In-person Public Meetings
- Council meetings will be in-person for first and third meetings in March, with 4pm work session and council committee meetings continuing remotely until resuming fully in-person in April.
- Provide guidance to advisory Boards & Commissions to transition to in-person meetings during the month of March, based on individual board needs and logistical considerations, and then return to fully in-person meetings beginning in April.
- Staff will provide guidance on masking requirements in council chambers and attendance numbers.
- Amended and Restated Ground Lease – Mt. Herman Road Property – SWING Sports, Inc. – unanimously approved
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY MANAGER
- Dix Edge Area Study – Authorize City-Initiated Rezoning Application – City Owned Property 1500 Wilmington Street, 15 Summit Avenue, and 0 Waterworks Street to allow more units for the purpose of creating affordable housing; Councilor Cox asked how to guarantee Affordable Housing will be built and Councilor Branch asked about potential for land swaps for affordable housing – approved unanimously
- Contract Services – Pilot Program for Advanced Water Meter Infrastructure Contract Amendment – Sensus, USA, Inc. – unanimously approved expansion of pilot program as well as continued operation and maintenance
- Leaf Collection Update – significant increase in volume; weather delays; staff shortages; First Pass completed 11 days behind schedule; Second Pass underway; adding Saturday schedule to catch up
PUBLIC HEARINGS
- Joint Hearing with the Raleigh Historic Development Commission – Historic Landmark Applications – postponed until 3/1
- Unfit for Human Habitation: 90 Days Repair – approved unanimously
- Rezoning Z-68-20: Hillsborough Street and Bagwell Avenue, at the northeast corner of the intersection (District D) – agreed to leave open until March 1 for continued discussion on conditions
- Petition Annexation AX-31-21: Contiguous Inside ETJ – 7003 Buffaloe Road (District C) – unanimously approved
- Rezoning Z-21-21: 8916 Six Forks Road, east of the intersection of Six Forks Road and Strickland Road (District A) – Mayor Baldwin feels that staff information isn’t clear; applicant asking for deferral to March 15; homeowners concerned about development in the watershed; passes 6 to 1 with Councilor Cox in opposition
- Rezoning Z-52-21: W. Morgan St, at the southeast corner of the intersection of Morgan Street and Harrington Street, one block west of the Raleigh Municipal Building (District D); Councilor Cox expressed concerns about impact of development on existing neighbors; approved 6 to 1 with Councilor Cox in opposition
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION COMMITTEE
- Virtual meeting on 2/22 at 1:30pm
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE GROWTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE
- Virtual meeting on 2/22 at 4pm re omnibus text change program
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE SAFE, VIBRANT, AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY COMMITTEE
- Virtual meeting on 2/22 at 11:30am with update on hotel purchased on New Bern Ave and White Flag efforts
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSIT COMMITTEE
- Next meeting March 24
REPORT FROM THE MAYOR AND COUNCILORS
- Councilor Knight asked about authority to do something to prevent accidents like bike fatality in Chapel Hill; will hold listening session on 3/16 at 7pm
- Councilor Buffkin reminder about 3/10 District A Town Hall; receiving many complaints about yard waste changes; wants council to consider a funding request from United Arts Council on March 1
- Mayor Pro Tem Stewart asked for staff report on different ways to measure traffic impact of rezoning requests
- Mayor Baldwin asking for staff report on performance-based standards for stormwater control and water quality outcomes to balance need to accommodate housing with need to protect water.
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
- Senate Bill 300 and Proposed City Code Amendments — Senate Bill 300 (“SB 300”) made changes to the way in which certain ordinances are enforced. In light of those changes, the City Attorney’s Office recommended revisions to the City Code to eliminate misdemeanor penalties where SB 300 now prohibits them and to reinforce that that criminal enforcement remains available for other City Code provisions.
CONSENT AGENDA – approved unanimously
- Surplus Property Declarations
- Acquisition of Real Property – 1451 New Hope Road; 1426 & 1408 Wilders Grove Lane – Future GoRaleigh Public Transit Use
- Easement Request: 5600 Thornton Road
- Storm Drainage – Drainage Assistance Program – New Projects
- Utility Construction Agreement – NCDOT (U-5826) Falls of Neuse Road from I-540 to Durant Road
- Wake County Transit Plan – Repeal Interlocal Agreement – Execute Memorandum of Understanding – Procurement of Planning Services
- Professional Services – Durant Road 36-Inch Transmission Main – HDR, Inc.
- Professional Services – Dix Park Play Plaza – Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates – Amendment No. 2
- Contract Services – Utility Bill Print, Mail and Related Services – Professional Mail Services Inc – Amendment No. 2
- Contract Services – Limited Repair Loan Program – Resources for Seniors
- FY22 Operating Budget – Amendment – Equipment Funds
- Budget Amendment and Transfer – Venue and Event Security
- No Parking Zone – 200 Woodburn Road
- Speed Limit Reductions – Aaron Drive, Clifton Street, Kent Road, McMakin Street, Method Road, Oldtowne Road, Van Thomas Drive, and Vestavia Woods Drive
- No Parking Zone – Departure Drive