Philip Brown is a business owner, husband of 18 years, and father of three sons. He and his wife are both multigenerational Raleigh natives who are deeply invested in preserving the city’s character while supporting thoughtful growth. Through his leadership in neighborhood advocacy, he has worked to educate residents about the planning process and encourage meaningful public participation.
Philip spoke to City Council on July 7, 2026:
NOTE – There will be a neighborhood meeting with the developer for this zoning case Monday, July 13 @ 7pm. See the notice at the end of this piece for details.
Good evening, Mayor and Council Members,
My name is Philip Brown, and I’m a multigenerational Raleigh native. My 3 sons are 4th generation in our home in Litchford forest neighborhood, Z-43-25.
I grew up believing Raleigh was a city that valued neighbors, thoughtful planning, and fairness. That’s why this process has been so disappointing. This isn’t just about one rezoning. It’s about whether ordinary residents still have a meaningful voice when the future of their neighborhoods is being decided.
My neighbors and I aren’t developers, attorneys, or planners. We’re homeowners. We’ve spent months learning the Comprehensive Plan, transportation policies, and zoning regulations simply to understand a process that most residents don’t even know how to navigate until it’s happening in their own backyard.
And that raises some important questions.
Why are residents expected to weigh in on a rezoning before seeing a binding site plan that shows exactly what is proposed?
Why are only nearby property owners formally notified when the impacts extend well beyond 500 feet?
Why do residents receive only a few minutes to speak while applicants have months to prepare reports and presentations?
And why does it appear that when deadlines or procedural requirements become obstacles for applicants, the process can be adjusted, while residents are expected to meet every deadline without exception? If the rules are meant to ensure fairness, shouldn’t they apply equally to everyone?
We’re also still waiting on public records our neighborhood requested more than a month ago. Those records could help us understand how this case has been handled, yet they have still not been produced. Every day those records are delayed is another day taken away from our ability to meaningfully participate. Transparency delayed is transparency denied. If this process has been fair, why are residents still waiting for the information needed to see that for ourselves?
At its core, our concern is simple.
This proposal would replace approximately five homes on 3.79 acres with forty-seven homes. That is not a small adjustment. It is a complete transformation of an established neighborhood.
Johnsdale Road is approximately seventeen feet wide. It has no curb and gutter, no continuous sidewalks, and lacks the infrastructure expected to support this level of development in the school zone of Millbrook High School, where students, parents, buses, faculty, and afternoon activities already generate significant daily traffic.
Growth should follow infrastructure—the comprehensive plan requires it—not precede it.
If Johnsdale Road requires millions of dollars in improvements to meet modern standards, then those improvements should come before additional density—not after.
We’re not asking Raleigh to stop growing. We understand growth is inevitable. But growth should respect the Comprehensive Plan, existing neighborhoods, and the infrastructure needed to support it safely.
Tonight, I ask you to remember that this isn’t just another parcel on a zoning map.
It’s our homes.
It’s our families.
It’s our life savings.
And it’s our trust in the city we love.
Please choose transparency. Please choose compatibility. Please choose infrastructure before density.
Most importantly, please choose your residents.
I respectfully ask that you deny this rezoning.
Thank you.
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