Highlights
- Work session was devoted to Affordable Housing where we have a gap of about 60,000 units.
- Public comments included a request for $300k for support for Fourth Ward, a suggestion to apply for All-American Cities award which the City last won in 1975 based on Mayor Lightner’s creation of CACs which have since had City support withdrawn and which haven’t received promised City support to resurrect, parking issues, concerns about stormwater, and support for City workers in upcoming budget. 10 people signed up; 7 showed up to speak.
- Unanimously authorized staff to extend conditional gap financing funding commitments totaling $17,280,000 for the development of 670 rental units in six rental housing developments (Biltmore Hills, Chapanoke, Fisher Grove, Grosvenor Gardens, Garner Station Apartments and Heritage Park Senior
- Unanimously approved annual report and work plan of the Design Review Commission
- Unanimously approved the recommended name change to John P. “Top” Greene African American Cultural Park for campus and John P. “Top” Greene African American Cultural Center
- Staff conducted a historic context study to expand the knowledge of historically significant places important to the Raleigh LGBTQIA+ communities. Project Summary and Final Report were presented.
- Held the second required public hearing on the Consolidated Plan and Action Plan – five residents spoke
- Petition Annexation- AX-31-24- Contiguous Inside ETJ – 5300 Daleview Drive (District C) – Approved unanimously
- Rezoning Z-31-24: 901 Nowell Road, approximately 800 feet north of the intersection of Chapel Hill Road and Nowell Road (District D) – Approved unanimously
- Rezoning Z-35-24 4409 Creedmoor Road, On the north side of Creedmoor Road, across from its intersection with Crabtree Valley Avenue (District E) – Approved unanimously
- Rezoning Z-38-24: 1400 Edwards Mill Road, at the intersection of Wade Avenue and Edwards Mill Road (District D) – Approved unanimously
- Rezoning Z-46-24: 4349 & 4353 Pearl Road; approximately .5 miles away from the Pearl Rd and Rock Quarry Rd intersection (District C) – Continued until May 6
- Rezoning Z-53-24: John P “Top” Greene Community Center; North of Martin Luther King Jr. Bloulevard, between S East Street and S Bloodworth Street (District C) – Approved unanimously
- Text Change to Zoning Conditions TCZ-41-24: 3616 Louisbury Road, on the south side of Louisbury Road (District B) – Continued until May 6
- Councilor Jones will hold her next District meeting on April 16, from 6-8pm at La Cucina. Her book club will meet on April 19 from 9:30-11:30am at the Oberlin library. She met with RCAC representatives last week and discussed three things – the possible relationship between RCAC and the Community Engagement Network, the possibility of providing contact lists to CACs, and the possibility of providing equipment for CACs to facilitate hybrid meetings.
- Mayor Cowell asked for a study of “minor exempt” subdivisions.
- Councilor Patton will hold office hours on May 3 from 10am to 12noon
WORK SESSION
A. 11:30 A.M. WORK SESSION CALLED TO ORDER BY THE MAYOR
1. Affordable Housing Plan Updates
- During the work session, staff presented the draft affordable housing plan and draft Bringing Neighbors Home unsheltered response strategy. Staff also provided an update on the 2020 Affordable Housing Bond, including activities and spending funded by the bond.
- We have a gap of 60,000 Affordable Housing units. This year more than 600 were approved and more than 800 have come online.
- Councilor Patton asked for numbers of lost Naturally Occuring Affordable Housing (NOAH) and staff is looking into that.
- Councilor Jones asked about whether or not ADUs are specifically helping with Affordable Housing and there is no way to confirm that. She also asked about the $40k that some developers are offering in lieu of including affordable units in their developments, noting that the amount is insufficient to actually construct an affordable unit.
- Councilor Silver asked if conditional use rezonings are slowing down the building process and staff agreed that it was.
- Mayor Pro Tem Forte asked when there will be another Housing bond. City Manager Adams-David said that staff are looking at whether to prioritize another housing bond and/or another transportation bond. She noted that they will coordinate with the County in an attempt to avoid “bond fatigue” for constituents.
- Staff are working on a dashboard to provide better insight into the situation.
AFTERNOON SESSION
B. 1:00 P.M. REGULAR SESSION CALLED TO ORDER BY THE MAYOR
1. Pledge of Allegiance
C. CONSENT AGENDA
- Approved unanimously
- Details at end of document
K. PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Rules of Decorum for Public Comment
2. Voice Mail Public Comment
- Public comments included a request for $300k for support for Fourth Ward, a suggestion to apply for All-American Cities award which the City last won in 1975 based on Mayor Lightner’s creation of CACs which have since had City support withdrawn and which haven’t received promised City support to resurrect, parking issues, concerns about stormwater, and support for City workers in upcoming budget.
- 10 people signed up; 7 showed up.
L. MATERIALS SUBMITTED TO COUNCIL
M. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
1. Planning Commission Report
- One item currently is scheduled for public hearing at City Council on May 6, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
- Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 – Educational Assets – Lindenwood Education System (held over from February 18 meeting)
- No items are scheduled for public hearing at City Council on May 20, 2025, 1:00 p.m.
- The following items are scheduled for public hearing at City Council on June 3, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
- Statutory Hearing on the Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26
- Downtown Municipal Service District — Contract for Services
- Hillsborough Street Municipal Service District — Contract for Services
2. Rezoning Z-70-22: Glenwood Avenue, Lake Anne Drive, Winchester Drive, west of the intersection of Glenwood Avenue and Lake Anne Drive (District E)
- Planning Commission requested and was granted a 60-day extension
3. Rezoning Z-19-24: 105, 107, and 109 Edenburgh Road, being Wake County PINs 0795937123, 0795937033, and 0795927917
- Public hearing scheduled for May 20
4. Rezoning Z-47-24: 2500 Barwell Road, approximately 600 feet west of the intersection of Barrington Drive and Barwell Road (District C)
- Public hearing scheduled for May 20
5. Rezoning Z-54-24: 5420 Louisburg Road, between Fox Road and Spring Forest Road (District B)
- Public hearing scheduled for May 20
6. Text Change to Zoning Conditions TCZ-3-25: 200 West Street, in the block bound by Hargett, West, and Martin Streets (District D)
- Held as a special item for June 3 meeting so that conditions could be amended and so that staff can brief councilors on background of initial offering of affordable housing conditions; at the June 3rd meeting will plan to schedule July 1 evening public hearing
- Councilor Branch recused himself because he is on the Board of Go Triangle which is involved in this development.
N. SPECIAL ITEMS
1. Rezoning Z-39-24: Honeycutt Road, approximately 200 feet north of the intersection of Falls of Neuse Road and Honeycutt Road (District A)
- Public hearing scheduled for May 6; Councilor Jones raised issues about stormwater; Councilor Patton raised issues about access; Councilor Silver motioned for May 6 hearing and it passed 7 to 1 with Councilor Jones voting against.
2. Council Contingency Item
- Unanimously approved requests as follows:
- $1000 to the LGBTQ Center of Raleigh (Mayor Cowell)
- $1000 to Communities in Schools of North Carolina (Mayor Cowell)
- $1000 to Women’s Center of Wake County (Mayor Cowell)
- $3450 to Governor Morehead School Alumni Association (Councilor Branch)
- $13,628 to Women’s Center of Wake County (Councilor Harrison)
O. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY MANAGER
1. NCDOT State Transportation Improvement Program – US 1 North/Capital Boulevard North (U-5307) – Project and Tolling Analysis Update
- During the presentation, staff from CAMPO and NCTA provided an overview on the history of the US 1 N/Capital Boulevard North project and the results from the tolling study.
2. Affordable Housing – Joint Venture Rental Development Program – Rental Development Funding Applications
- Unanimously authorized staff to extend conditional gap financing funding commitments totaling $17,280,000 for the development of 670 rental units in six rental housing developments (Biltmore Hills, Chapanoke, Fisher Grove, Grosvenor Gardens, Garner Station Apartments and Heritage Park Senior
P. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE DESIGN REVIEW COMMISSION
1. Annual Report and Annual Work Plan
- Unanimously approved
Q. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE PARKS, RECREATION, AND GREENWAY ADVISORY BOARD
1. John P. “Top” Greene Park – Proposed Renaming
- Unanimously approved the recommended name change to John P. “Top” Greene African American Cultural Park for campus and John P. “Top” Greene African American Cultural Center
R. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE RALEIGH HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
1. Historic Context Study
- Staff conducted a historic context study to expand the knowledge of historically significant places important to the Raleigh LGBTQIA+ communities. Project Summary and Final Report were presented.
S. MATTERS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING
1. Federal FY 2026-30 Consolidated Plan and FY 2025-26 Annual Action Plan
- In the second public hearing, staff presented an overview of the draft 2026-2030 Consolidated Plan and 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan and members of the public commented on the draft plans. Staff intends to present the final draft of the Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan to City Council for adoption in May 2025. A summary of public comments received during the planning and adoption process will be included in the final draft of the Consolidated Plan and Action Plan submitted to HUD. Five members of the public spoke.
2. Petition Annexation- AX-31-24- Contiguous Inside ETJ – 5300 Daleview Drive (District C)
- Approved unanimously
3. Rezoning Z-31-24: 901 Nowell Road, approximately 800 feet north of the intersection of Chapel Hill Road and Nowell Road (District D)
- Approved unanimously
4. Rezoning Z-35-24 4409 Creedmoor Road, On the north side of Creedmoor Road, across from its intersection with Crabtree Valley Avenue (District E).
- Approved unanimously
5. Rezoning Z-38-24: 1400 Edwards Mill Road, at the intersection of Wade Avenue and Edwards Mill Road (District D)
- Approved unanimously
6. Rezoning Z-46-24: 4349 & 4353 Pearl Road; approximately .5 miles away from the Pearl Rd and Rock Quarry Rd intersection (District C)
- Continued until May 6
7. Rezoning Z-53-24: John P “Top” Greene Community Center; North of Martin Luther King Jr. Bloulevard, between S East Street and S Bloodworth Street (District C)
- Approved unanimously
8. Text Change to Zoning Conditions TCZ-41-24: 3616 Louisbury Road, on the south side of Louisbury Road (District B)
- Continued until May 6 meeting
T. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION COMMITTEE
1. No Report
2. No Items Pending
U. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE GROWTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE
1. No Report
2. Pending Items
V. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE SAFE, VIBRANT AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY COMMITTEE
1. No Report
2. Pending Items
W. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSIT COMMITTEE
1. No Report
2. Pending Items
X. REPORT OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
1. Individual Reports from the Mayor and Council Members
- Councilor Jones will hold her next District meeting on April 16, from 6-8pm at La Cucina. Her book club will meet on April 19 from 9:30-11:30am at the Oberlin library. She met with RCAC representatives last week and discussed three things – the possible relationship between RCAC and the Community Engagement Network, the possibility of providing contact lists to CACs, and the possibility of providing equipment for CACs to facilitate hybrid meetings.
- Mayor Cowell asked for a study of “minor exempt” subdivisions.
- Councilor Patton will hold office hours on May 3rd from 10am – 12noon.
Y. APPOINTMENTS
1. Board of Adjustment – One Alternate Vacancy
2. Design Review Commission – One Alternate Vacancy
3. Environmental Advisory Board – One Regular Vacancy
4. Stormwater Management Advisory Commission – One Regular Vacancy
Z. NOMINATIONS
1. Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission – Two Regular Vacancies
2. Environmental Advisory Board – One Regular Vacancy
3. Fair Housing Hearing Board – One Regular Vacancy
4. Hispanic and Immigrant Affairs Board – Various Vacancies
AA. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
BB. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY CLERK
1. Minutes – Various
CC. CLOSED SESSION
1. Enter Closed Session
DD. OPEN SESSION
1. Return to Open Session
2. Adjourn Meeting
C. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Consent Agenda Process
2. City Code Amendments – Solid Waste Services – Various Provisions
3. Affordable Housing – Joint Venture Rental Development Program – Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits -Burrell Lofts, Lorimer Spring, Maple Ridge
D. CONSENT AGENDA – PETITION ANNEXATIONS
1. Petition Annexation AX-32-24 – Contiguous Inside ETJ – 9404 Carlswood Court (District E)
E. CONSENT AGENDA – EASEMENTS
1. Easement Request – 12804 Strickland Road – Duke Energy Progress, LLC
2. Easement Request – 924 South Saunders Street, 1200 Daladams Street, 1251 Goode Street as well as 1200 and 1505 Lake Wheeler Road – Duke Easement Progress, LLC
F. CONSENT AGENDA – STORM DRAINAGE
1. Raleigh Rainwater Rewards – New Project Approval – 1101 Nichols Drive and 1601 Sutton Drive
G. CONSENT AGENDA – CONTRACTS AND CONSULTANT SERVICES
1. Friends of the City of Raleigh Museum – Revised Operating Agreement and Lease
2. Professional Services – Master Services Agreement for On Call Engineering Services – McKim & Creed Inc. – Amendment Number One
3. Master Services Agreements – On-Call Stormwater Consulting Engineering Services – Various Vendors
4. Contract Services – Gas Monitoring, Employee Safety – Industrial Scientific Corporation
5. Contract Services – Permeable Paver Retrofit Services – Custom Park Surfacing, LLC.
6. Contract Services – Vehicle Wrapping Services – Bullitt Auto, LLC
H. CONSENT AGENDA – BUDGET AMENDMENTS AND TRANSFERS
1. Yard Waste Center Stormwater Infrastructure Compliance
2. Budget Amendment – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – Community Climate Education
I. CONSENT AGENDA – BIDS
1. Bid Award – Pullen Community Center HVAC and Boiler Replacement – Comfort Systems USA (MidAtlantic), LLC
2. Bid Award – Millbrook Exchange Community Center HVAC Renovations Contractor: Central Builders, Inc. of Mebane
3. Bid Award – Glenwood-Creston Drainage Project – Fluvial Solutions, Inc.
4. Public Bid Waiver – Fleet Management Operations – Volvo and Mack Truck Parts – Transource, Inc.
J. CONSENT AGENDA – TRAFFIC
1. Speed Limit Reductions
2. All-way Stops
3. No Parking Zones – Line of Sight – Proctor Road
4. No Parking Zone – Brigadoon Drive