Agenda and materials available at https://pub-raleighnc.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=d46e43d8-5d7a-4ab3-b227-1f222b7722ad&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English
HIGHLIGHTS
- Voted unanimously to allow eligible boards and commissions to choose their meeting format as needed, including virtual, and authorize the desired format of their subcommittees.
- Unanimously approved contracts to advance Public-Private Partnership Agreement for Greenway Bridge Across Crabtree Creek at Industrial Drive.
- Unanimously approved annual work plans for Human Relations Commission and Commission for People with Disabilities.
- No Council Committee meetings have occurred and none are scheduled.
- Councilor Patton will hold Office Hours on 10/14 from 6-8pm at Bedford Food and Beverage.
- Mayor Cowell reminded people that the City will host a meeting about youth engagement on 10/12 from 5-7pm at the Five Points Center for Active Adults.
- She also asked Planning staff to look into more options for affordable housing, including allowing four-plexes by right, working more closely with the faith community, and looking at pre-approved, low-cost stormwater devices for small-scale infill development.
- Councilor Jones is hosting her book club meeting on 10/10 from 9:30-11:30 at The Continental and her District E monthly meeting on 10/14 from 6-8pm at La Cucina. She also asked for information on policies for donating surplus equipment to nonprofits.
- Councilor Branch asked for an update on the tennis courts at Biltmore Hills.
- Councilor Harrison reminded people to register to vote by 10/9, early vote from 10/15 – 10/31, or vote on 11/3 election day.
- 18 people spoke in favor of a 32-month moratorium on data centers, but Council approved a six-month moratorium by a vote of 7 to 1 with Councilor Jones voting no. It was quite a contentious hearing.
- Rezoning Z-43-25: 6309 Litchford Road, West Side of Litchford Road, 800 feet north of Atlantic Avenue Intersection (District A) — Denied by a vote of 7 to 1 with Council Lambert-Melton voting against the denial
- Rezoning Z-50-25: 2233 & 2321 Capital Boulevard, West Side of Intersection with Hodges Street (District C) — Approved 6 to 2 with Councilors Patton and Harrison voting against.
- Rezoning Z-56-25: 4020 Carya Drive, located at the intersection of Carya Drive and Poole Road, east of I-87 (District C) — Held until October 20 at Councilor Branch’s request for more information.
- Rezoning Z-07-26: 3911 Western Boulevard, corner of Western Boulevard and Clanton Street (District D) — Unanimously approved
AFTERNOON SESSION
CONSENT AGENDA
- Passed unanimously
- Includes revisions to Special Event Policy related to marches, alley events, and neighborhood block parties.
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
Planning Commission Report
Listed below is a current forecast of upcoming scheduled public hearings:
October 20, 2026 at 1 p.m.
- Rezoning Z-15-26 – 7600 Falls of Neuse Road (District A)
November 4, 2026 at 7 p.m.
- Rezoning Z-22-26 – Bragg Street & South East Street Assemblage (District C)
- Rezoning Z-21-26: 2905 Hodge Road, SE Intersection of Scenic Woods Drive and Hodge Road (District C, upon annexation)
SPECIAL ITEMS
Advisory Boards, Commissions, and Subcommittees – Meeting Options
- Voted unanimously to allow eligible boards and commissions to choose their meeting format as needed, including virtual, and authorize the desired format of their subcommittees.
Rezoning TCZ-19-26: Edwards Mill Road, at the intersection of Edwards Mill Road and Carriage Drive (District E)
- Public hearing scheduled for October 20, 2026
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY MANAGER
Public-Private Partnership Agreement – Greenway Bridge Across Crabtree Creek at Industrial Drive – Project Update
- The Walkable Midtown: The Midtown–St. Albans Area Plan, adopted in May 2020, calls for a greenway bridge across Crabtree Creek at Industrial Drive. Approved contracts to allow for floodplain benching work on City-owned property and for bridge construction access over City-owned or controlled property
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
- Received the Annual Report as information. Approved the Annual Workplan unanimously.
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE RALEIGH COMMISSION FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
- Received the Annual Report as information. Approved the Annual Workplan unanimously.
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION COMMITTEE
- No Report/No Items Pending
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE GROWTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE
- No Report/No Items Pending
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE SAFE, VIBRANT AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY COMMITTEE
- No Report/No Items Pending
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSIT COMMITTEE
- No Report/No Items Pending
REPORT OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
- Councilor Patton will hold Office Hours on 10/14 from 6-8pm at Bedford Food and Beverage.
- Mayor Cowell reminded people that the City will host a meeting about youth engagement on 10/12 from 5-7pm at the Five Points Center for Active Adults.
- She also asked Planning staff to look into more options for affordable housing, including allowing four-plexes by right, working more closely with the faith community, and looking at pre-approved, low-cost stormwater devices for small-scale infill development.
- Councilor Jones is hosting her book club meeting on 10/10 from 9:30-11:30 at The Continental and her District E monthly meeting on 10/14 from 6-8pm at La Cucina. She also asked for information on policies for donating surplus equipment to nonprofits.
- Councilor Branch asked for an update on the tennis courts at Biltmore Hills.
- Councilor Harrison reminded people to register to vote by 10/9, early vote from 10/15 – 10/31, or vote on 11/3 election day.
EVENING SESSION
MATTERS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING
Ordinance – Temporary Six-month Moratorium – Certain Data Centers Within the Planning Jurisdiction of Raleigh
- 18 people spoke in favor of a 32-month moratorium, but Council approved a six-month moratorium by a vote of 7 to 1 with Councilor Jones voting no. It was quite a contentious hearing.
Street Closing STC-03-2025: Midtown Market Avenue Right-of-Way
- Unanimously approved
Rezoning Z-43-25: 6309 Litchford Road, West Side of Litchford Road, 800 feet north of Atlantic Avenue Intersection (District A)
- Denied by a vote of 7 to 1 with Council Lambert-Melton voting against the denial
Rezoning Z-50-25: 2233 & 2321 Capital Boulevard, West Side of Intersection with Hodges Street (District C)
- Approved 6 to 2 with Councilors Patton and Harrison voting against.
Rezoning Z-56-25: 4020 Carya Drive, located at the intersection of Carya Drive and Poole Road, east of I-87 (District C)
- Held until October 20 at Councilor Branch’s request for more information.
Rezoning Z-07-26: 3911 Western Boulevard, corner of Western Boulevard and Clanton Street (District D)
- Unanimously approved
ADJOURNMENT