Larry King is a native of Georgia. He received his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree from Georgia Tech and his MS and PhD degrees in Agronomy from the University of Georgia. In 1974 he joined the faculty of the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at NC State University and purchased a (now) 100-year-old house in SW Raleigh. The house was the clubhouse at the Capitol Country Club golf course established in 1931. Larry served on the board of the Women’s Center of Wake County for 15 years and continues his long-time membership on the advisory board of Common Cause North Carolina. Since his retirement from NCSU in 2001, he has enjoyed his hobbies of gardening and playing the guitar.
A proposed Lorimer Spring development of 60 apartments for senior citizens is advancing with no official notification to nor input from neighborhood residents. It has inadequate parking and no real access to transit within safe walking distance. Especially for seniors.
Neighbor Larry King explains the lack of transparency on the part of the City and recommends changes to the process.
The Rezoning Process
The City of Raleigh has a very detailed process to be followed when one desires to rezone a piece of property. Rezoning Process https://raleighnc.gov/planning/services/rezoning-process.
One of the first requirements listed: “A rezoning applicant must conduct a neighborhood meeting and attend a pre-application conference before they may submit a rezoning application.” Note the stipulation: the neighborhood meeting must be held “before they may submit a rezoning application.”
A further requirement: “For a first neighborhood meeting, you must send notice letters to property owners and tenants within 500-feet from the parcel boundary lines of the subject site.”
The document goes on to point out the reason for the neighborhood meetings: “The first neighborhood meeting is a way for the rezoning applicant to initiate a conversation with the community members most directly affected by the proposed rezoning.”
A second neighborhood meeting is required if the proposed rezoning meets certain criteria. One criterium is: “The proposed change increases residential density by an additional ten (10) dwelling units per acre.” If a second meeting is required: “Applicants must invite owners and tenants of all parcels within 1,000 feet of the rezoning site.”
It is very obvious from the information above that the City has set up a very good system to inform and engage neighbors of proposed rezoning that will affect their neighborhood.
High Density Development
But, if a high-density development is proposed within one half mile of a Bus Rapid Transit route, i.e., within a Frequent Transit Area, that entire process of informing and engaging the affected neighbors vanishes. That is what we experienced in our neighborhood.
The City committed $1,250,000 to the Lorimer Spring development in April of 2024. The neighbors were not notified. We learned of Lorimer Spring only thru a broker, who was attempting to facilitate purchase of properties adjacent to the site. In an October 29, 2024 email to a property owner, the broker stated in part: “The approved plan includes up to 60 units specifically for residents 55 and older, with limited parking.”
The Bottom Line
Rezoning: neighbors are informed of the proposed change that will impact their neighborhood.
High Density Development in Frequent Transit Area: neighbors are not informed of a development that will have a much greater impact on their neighborhood.
Change needed: the same requirements for the rezoning process should be applied to high density development in Frequent Transit Areas.
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