May 20, 2025 City Council Meetings
Highlights from May 20, 2025 City Council Work Session and afternoon meeting
Missing the Mark, Missing the People, and Missing the Point
The City didn’t rezone these areas the proper way. Instead, they used a procedural sleight-of- hand, labeling it a “text change” to the Unified Development Ordinance. This way, they bypassed the normal legal requirements—like directly notifying affected residents via mail and holding a proper legislative hearing. You probably didn’t hear about this change. That’s not a coincidence. Only five people spoke at the public hearing. In a city of nearly half a million residents, that’s not engagement. That’s evasion.
Speaking to Save Raleigh’s Trees
Studies show that areas with fewer trees and more pavement have hotter and more polluted air than areas with trees. And studies show that downtowns and low-income areas tend to have fewer trees than wealthier areas. This is true in Raleigh as well.
n the 1990s and early 2000s, the City was continually planting trees. But now it seems that we are cutting down more trees than we plant, especially in downtown and lower-income areas.
Raleigh approves over 98% of Zoning Requests – BUILD THEM!
The facts show that of the 303 zoning applications submitted and resolved from 2020 to today, only 5 have been denied including the previous version of the 30-story tower. 298 have been approved. An approval rate over 98.3%.
In the same time council has approved cases for over 110,000 housing units. What is clear is that Raleigh does not suffer from a lack of entitlement to build housing. You approved over 98% of requests, over 110,000 units. BUILD THEM!
City Council Meetings May 13, 2025
HIGHLIGHTS Shared results of Social City Assessment study and Traffic and Safety Study in Glenwood South. The Social City Assessment consultant seemed to be biased toward businesses rather than residents. These issues will be discussed further in May 27 meeting of...
West St Tower Violates Raleigh Downtown Plan
The Downtown Plan specifically notes the recommendation that the North End of downtown would have less large-scale development in contrast to the large-scale redevelopment contemplated on the South End of downtown, the vision for the North End fills the gaps between existing assets to create a complete neighborhood. Furthermore, the plan shows appropriate residential development for the West Street site at 7 and 8 stories.