HIGHLIGHTS
- Asked staff for attendance information for Planning Commission and other quasi-judicial boards as Planning Commission has missed several meetings due to lack of quorum.
- Rezoning Z-92-22: New Bern Station Area Planning
- Council plans to visit New Bern Avenue sites during Work Session on April 9 and discuss further during May 7 afternoon meeting.
- Unanimously approved removing NCOD and adding TOD to affordable housing sites and Grayson redevelopment site.
- Approved 70 parcels in Lincoln Park redevelopment site to go from 3 stories to 4 stories by a vote of 6 to 2 with Councilors Black and Jones in opposition.
- Rezoning Z-46-23: North Boylan Assemblage — not scheduling public hearing yet in order to allow applicant to submit conditions including lowering height and adding some affordable housing conditions.
- Text Change TC-7-22: Co-Living — Unanimously authorized text change for Option 1 with additional engagement, including through CACs and the Community Engagement Board. This would Permit Co-Living in Mixed-Use Districts except OP. Suggestion is also to add Co-Living to the list of Group Living Uses, include a definition for Co-Living, and due to significant overlap, consider replacing and/or revising Boardinghouse use, as well as Option 3 – Address Co-Living opportunities through the Comprehensive Plan
- Taxi Rate Structure Change — Recommended raising fares from a start rate of $1.95 to $3 and rate per mile from $2.50 to $3, effective May 1, with a regular review schedule based on market rates. Unanimously approved.
- By a vote of 5 to 3 with Councilors Patton, Jones, and Black opposed, authorized the City Manager to execute a 3-year contract with Capitol Special Police, LLC and Capitol Special Patrol, LLC for GoRaleigh Station Security in an amount not to exceed $3,351,235
- Prince Hall Historic Overlay District — The Ad Hoc Committee has concluded its work and will make a report to the full RHDC during their April 16, 2024 regular meeting. The RHDC could make a recommendation to City Council as early as May 7, 2024.
- Rezoning Z-36-23: 1230 & 1234 South Saunders Street — Applicant requested to keep hearing open until afternoon of May 7 in order to submit revised conditions.
- Rezoning Z-39-23: On the east side of Nowell Road, approximately 0.2 miles north of Chapel Hill Road (District D) — Applicant requested to keep hearing open until afternoon of May 7 in order to discuss revised conditions.
- Economic Development & Innovation Committee — Downtown Raleigh Economic Development Strategy returned to full Council for further discussion
- Growth & Natural Resources Committee summarized themes from their discussion of Rezoning Z-28-23 Harden Road which is scheduled for public hearing later tonight. Next meeting will be April 23 to discuss Strickland Road rezoning request.
- Councilor Jones will be holding a community meeting on April 10 from 6-8pm at New World Cafe
- Councilor Harrison got a request from Cameron Park neighbors to change name of Cameron Park NCOD to Forest Park NCOD. Initiation of text change unanimously approved.
- Mayor Baldwin announced that Council will meet at the Municipal Building at 3pm on April 9 to tour parcels along New Bern Avenue corridor related to Z-92.
- Annual Action Plan – Fiscal Year 2024-2025 — Council will be asked to adopt the plan likely in mid-May
- Municipal Election Changes – Four (4)-Year Staggered Terms and Nonpartisan Primary and Election Method — consensus to hold referendum on four-year staggered terms with non-partisan primary — that will come back to Council for a vote on April 16.
- Municipal Election Changes – Addition of Three (3) District Council Member Seats — Staff to provide more information on adding district seats on April 16. Councilor Harrison moves for an additional engagement meeting and that is unanimously approved.
- Rezoning Z-72-22: S Blount Street, north of E Cabarrus Street (District C) — deferred until afternoon of May 21 to allow for RHDC input.
- Rezoning Z-28-23: Harden Road, southeast of the intersection of Harden Road and Blue Ridge Road (District E) — held until May 21 to allow for more discussion between neighbors and applicant
- Rezoning Z-57-23: Spring Forest Road and Atlantic Avenue, at the intersection of Spring Forest Road and Atlantic Avenue (District A) — approved unanimously
- Rezoning Z-58-23: Rawls Drive, north of Poole Road and east of Diversity Way (District C) — held until afternoon of April 16 for applicant to remove two parcels that contain naturally occurring affordable housing
- Rezoning Z-64-23: Summit Avenue, Northwest of the intersection of Summit Avenue and Water Works Street (District D) — unanimously approved
- Text Change TC-8-23: Appearance Commission Name Change — unanimously approved
AFTERNOON SESSION
A. 1:00 P.M. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY THE MAYOR
1. Pledge of Allegiance
B. CONSENT AGENDA
- See Details at end of report
- C3 pulled to set public hearing for April 16
- Unanimously approved
F. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
1. Planning Commission Report
2. No report. The Planning Commission did not meet as scheduled on March 26 due to lack of a quorum.
- Discussion about impact of missed meetings on backlog and future workload. Councilor Forte asked for attendance info on this and other quasi-judicial boards for 2023 and 2024 year-to-date. Will report in Manager Update.
The following items are scheduled for public hearing at the City Council Meeting on April 16, 2024 at 1:00pm
- Rezoning Z-50-23 — 1530 Varsity Drive (District D) (Held open from March 19 meeting)
- Rezoning Z-51-23 — 430 Buck Jones Road (District D)
- Rezoning Z-53-23 — Northwest of the intersection of Rock Quarry Road and Interlock Drive (District C) (Held open from March 19 meeting)
- Rezoning Z-54-23 — South Saunders Street (District D)
- Rezoning Z-3-24 — 933 Cross Link Rd (District C)
The following items are scheduled for public hearing at the City Council Meeting on May 7, 2024 at 1:00pm
- Rezoning Z-35-23 — 0 Gorman Street (District D) (Held open from February 6 meeting)
The following items are scheduled for public hearing at the City Council Meeting on May 7, 2024 at 7:00pm
- Text Change TC-7-23 — Mordecai Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District – Amendments
G. SPECIAL ITEMS
1. Rezoning Z-92-22: New Bern Station Area Planning, 744 properties along New Bern Avenue between Downtown and Hedingham Boulevard / Freedom Drive (Districts B & C)
- Council plans to visit New Bern Avenue sites during Work Session on April 9 and discuss further during May 7 afternoon meeting.
- Unanimously approved removing NCOD and adding TOD to affordable housing sites and Grayson redevelopment site.
- Approved 70 parcels in Lincoln Park redevelopment site to go from 3 stories to 4 stories by a vote of 6 to 2 with Councilors Black and Jones in opposition.
2. Rezoning Z-46-23: North Boylan Assemblage, at the intersection of North Boylan Avenue and West Lane Street (District D)
- Request is to rezone from 3 stories to 12 stories and remove NCOD
- Would like to set public hearing for May 7, but not scheduling yet in order to allow applicant to submit conditions including lowering height and adding some affordable housing conditions.
3. Text Change TC-7-22: Co-Living – Update and Options
- Unanimously authorized text change for Option 1 with additional engagement, including through CACs and the Community Engagement Board. This would Permit Co-Living in Mixed-Use Districts except OP. Suggestion is also to add Co-Living to the list of Group Living Uses, include a definition for Co-Living, and due to significant overlap, consider replacing and/or revising Boardinghouse use, as well as Option 3 – Address Co-Living opportunities through the Comprehensive Plan
H. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY MANAGER
1. Taxi Rate Structure Change
- Recommended raising fares from a start rate of $1.95 to $3 and rate per mile from $2.50 to $3, effective May 1, with a regular review schedule based on market rates. Will bring back to Council for a vote this evening.
2. Contract Services – GoRaleigh Station Security Contract – Capitol Special Police, LLC
- By a vote of 5 to 3 with Councilors Patton, Jones, and Black opposed, authorized the City Manager to execute a 3-year contract with Capitol Special Police, LLC and Capitol Special Patrol, LLC in an amount not to exceed $3,351,235
I. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE RALEIGH HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
1. Prince Hall Historic Overlay District – Ad Hoc Committee Report
- The Raleigh Historic Development Commision (RHDC) formed the Prince Hall Historic Overlay District (HOD) Ad Hoc Committee in May 2023 in response to a memo from the State Historic Preservation Office. The State’s letter, while in response to rezoning Z-72-22 at 423 S Blount Street, addressed all of the rezoning requests that had removed parcels from the historic overlay district. The public hearing for rezoning Z-72-22 will resume the evening of April 2, 2024. When it last appeared in front of City Council, the Council requested this update from the Ad Hoc Committee.
The Committee has met six times: May 26, 2023, June 7, 2023, August 10, 2023, November 15, 2023, January 31, 2024, and March 20, 2024. The cumulative attendance at all of the meetings is 64 people with 31 unique individuals. Issues heard and discussed at the meetings include: the piecemeal removal of parcels from the HOD, the history and memories of the neighborhood, the creation of the HOD, the physical changes to the area, the Certificate of Appropriateness process, and possible preservation options for the future of the district.
The Ad Hoc Committee has concluded its work and will make a report to the full RHDC during their April 16, 2024 regular meeting. The RHDC could make a recommendation to City Council as early as May 7, 2024.
J. MATTERS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING (AFTERNOON SESSION)
1. Rezoning Z-36-23: 1230 & 1234 South Saunders Street, being Wake County PINs 1703338024 and 1703329817
- Applicant requested to keep hearing open until afternoon of May 7 in order to submit revised conditions.
2. Rezoning Z-39-23: On the east side of Nowell Road, approximately 0.2 miles north of Chapel Hill Road (District D)
- Applicant requested to keep hearing open until afternoon of May 7 in order to discuss revised conditions.
K. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION COMMITTEE
1. Item 22-04: Downtown Raleigh Economic Development Strategy
- The Committee recommends return with a Special Item for further discussion by the full Council regarding the following:
- Recommendations for allocating remaining Capital Reserve funds to support quickly deployable investments in downtown that support cleanliness, safety, public art, and wayfinding;
- Certain policy recommendations impacting downtown that have no direct cost of implementation;
- Reallocation of previously appropriated ARPA and CIP funds to support the Fayetteville Streetscape Study; and
- An examination of other areas to which the remaining Capital Reserve funding may be allocated.
- Item remains in committee for further discussion
L. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE GROWTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE
1. Item 22-10: Rezoning Z-28-23 Harden Road (District E)
- The Committee recommends removing the item from the agenda without a recommendation as the Public Hearing for the item is scheduled for the April 2, 2024 7:00 p.m. agenda.
- The Committee took comments from the applicant and neighbors that oppose the project. General themes from the discussion are summarized below:
Themes of Opposition
- Many properties in the area are already experiencing erosion and surface water impacts including stream erosion
- The development site is at a significantly higher grade than adjacent properties and will have off-site impacts
- There is limited public stormwater infrastructure in the area and private stormwater infrastructure is insufficient or in poor condition
- The neighborhood and House Creek are already experiencing negative stormwater impacts from the 440 Beltline expansion project
- There is not sufficient detail or stormwater consideration in the rezoning proposal
Themes of Support
- Zoning conditions meet the highest stormwater control standard based on precedent
- Development of the site should not be expected to address pre-existing issues that are not related to the development of the site
Areas of additional deliberation/ clarification
- Staff was asked to additional research and reconciliation about documented stormwater complaints and concerns
- The applicant was asked to identify any opportunities for Green Stormwater Infrastructure to compliment other on-site detention strategies
- Given that a site plan has not been prepared, other graphical depictions that the applicant can provide would be beneficial to deliberations
- Next meeting is April 23 at 4pm to consider Strickland Road
M. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE SAFE, VIBRANT AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY COMMITTEE
1. No Report
2. Items Pending
N. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSIT COMMITTEE
1. No Report
2. Items Pending
O. REPORT FROM THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
1. Individual Reports from the Mayor and Council Members
- Councilor Jones will be holding a community meeting on April 10 from 6-8pm at New World Cafe
- Councilor Harrison got a request from Cameron Park neighbors to change name of Cameron Park NCOD to Forest Park NCOD. Initiation of text change unanimously approved.
- Mayor Baldwin announced that Council will meet at 3pm on April 9 to tour parcels along New Bern Avenue corridor related to Z-92.
P. APPOINTMENTS
1. Police Advisory Board – Police Chief Appointee
2. Appearance Commission – One Alternate Vacancy
3. Arts Commission – Three Regular Vacancies
4. Hispanic and Immigrant Affairs Board – One Regular Vacancy (Professional Category)
5. Substance Use Advisory Commission – Two Regular Vacancies
Q. NOMINATIONS
1. Environmental Advisory Board – Two Regular Vacancies
2. Hispanic and Immigrant Affairs Board – One Regular Vacancy (Community Member Category)
3. Planning Commission – One Regular Vacancy
R. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
S. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY CLERK
1. Sale of Surplus Property – 504 Tilden Street
2. Minutes – Various
- Accept the bid of $650,000 from Anuj and Vinita Mittal
T. CLOSED SESSION
1. Enter into Closed Session
U. OPEN SESSION
1. Return to Open Session
2. Recess Meeting
EVENING SESSION
V. 7:00 P.M. EVENING AGENDA
W. MATTERS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING
1. Annual Action Plan – Fiscal Year 2024-2025 — Council will be asked to adopt the plan likely in mid-May
2. Municipal Election Changes – Four (4)-Year Staggered Terms and Nonpartisan Primary and Election Method
- Councilor Harrison suggests final vote take place as late as possible to allow for more public engagement, perhaps including a dedicated public hearing in late May.
- Councilor Black agrees on the need for more public engagement
- Most speakers advocated for a ballot referendum
3. Municipal Election Changes – Addition of Three (3) District Council Member Seats
- Mayor Baldwin asks staff to come up with options regarding referendum or not, number of seats to add, which seats get initial two-year term or four-year term, etc.
- Mayor Pro Tem thinks additional public engagement is unnecessary, but that Council should continue discussions among themselves. Baldwin and Branch agree.
- Patton and Harrison continue to advocate for more engagement.
- Forte thinks it’s clear that four-year terms should be on the ballot. As someone who has served a District and at-large, she agrees to add three district seats.
- Consensus on referendum on four-year staggered terms with non-partisan primary — that will come back on April 16.
- Staff to provide more information on adding district seats
- Councilor Harrison moves for an additional engagement meeting and that is unanimously approved.
4. Rezoning Z-72-22: S Blount Street, north of E Cabarrus Street (District C) — — deferred until afternoon of May 21 to allow for RHDC input.
5. Rezoning Z-28-23: Harden Road, southeast of the intersection of Harden Road and Blue Ridge Road (District E) — held until May 21 to allow for more discussion between neighbors and applicant
6. Rezoning Z-57-23: Spring Forest Road and Atlantic Avenue, at the intersection of Spring Forest Road and Atlantic Avenue (District A) — approved unanimously
7. Rezoning Z-58-23: Rawls Drive, north of Poole Road and east of Diversity Way (District C) — held until afternoon of April 16 for applicant to remove two parcels that contain naturally occurring affordable housing
8. Rezoning Z-64-23: Summit Avenue, Northwest of the intersection of Summit Avenue and Water Works Street (District D) — unanimously approved
9. Text Change TC-8-23: Appearance Commission Name Change — unanimously approved
X. ADJOURNMENT
1. Adjourn Meeting
B. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Consent Agenda Process
2. Limited Obligation Bond Anticipation Note Program – General Government
3. Limited Obligation Economic Refunding – General Government
C. CONSENT AGENDA – PETITION ANNEXATIONS
1. Petition Annexation – AX-38-23 Non-Contiguous, Inside ETJ – 5116 Needham Road (District B)
2. Petition Annexation – AX-39-23 Contiguous to Satellite, Inside ETJ – 5101, 5121, 5225, 5221 Forestville Road (District B)
3. Petition Annexation – AX-01-24 Contiguous to Satellite, Inside ETJ – 4908 & 4930 Forestville Road and 4160 & 4172 Landover Lane (District B)
4. Petition Annexation – AX-05-24 Contiguous, Inside ETJ – 5042 Tryon Road (District D)
D. CONSENT AGENDA – CONTRACTS AND CONSULTANT SERVICES
1. Contract Services – Neuse River East Parallel Interceptor – Park Construction of NC, Inc. – Change Order Number Two
E. CONSENT AGENDA – TRAFFIC
1. Speed Limit Reductions
2. No Parking Zone – Ridgewalk Drive
3. No Parking Zone – Line of Sight – Northclift Drive
4. No Parking Zone – 200 Poplar Street