Upcoming Raleigh Events
CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
Transportation and Transit Committee Meeting
Transportation and Transit Committee Meeting
City Council Pre-Budget Work Session
City Council Pre-Budget Work Session
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
District D Neighborhood Alliance (DDNA) meeting
District D Neighborhood Alliance (DDNA) meeting
Councilor Jones District E Book Club
Councilor Jones District E Book Club
In-Person Water Billing Help Session
In-Person Water Billing Help Session
Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting: 3621 & 3703 Page Road
Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting: 3621 & 3703 Page Road
Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting: 1523 Crest Road
Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting: 1523 Crest Road
Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting: 319 Heck Street
Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting: 319 Heck Street
Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting: 5925 Glenwood Avenue
Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting: 5925 Glenwood Avenue
Meeting to Reactivate South CAC in Raleigh’s District C
Meeting to Reactivate South CAC in Raleigh’s District C
In-Person Water Billing Help Session
In-Person Water Billing Help Session
Raleigh Commission for Persons with Disabilities Meeting
Raleigh Commission for Persons with Disabilities Meeting
Read up on our latest news…
Been There, Done That!
The city has grown enormously in the past few years, as people from all over began to recognize it’s a great place to live. But this growth was accompanied by absolutely no planning – or bad planning – which means we are now living in a helter-skelter atmosphere akin to a Third World city in which anything goes. Along with this has come a lapdog attitude when it comes to the city council’s relationship with developers. Sound familiar? This commentary was written 5 years ago in 2019.
Former City Councilor Considers Run for Mayor
I was elected three times and was honored to serve District B and the City for seven years. Despite not being on Council since 2022, I continue to hear from people. There is much concern about the direction of the City and many have asked that I consider returning to Council. As with the first time I ran, I need good reasons to run. I take serving seriously and never had a desire to run just for the sake of running. I want to be clear that I have not made a decision to actually run. If I do, I will run for Mayor. And here are some of the reasons why.
Z-12-25 West St Tower – Video – Bring Down the Height
The public hearing for this case will be held Tuesday, October 7 at 7pm. This public hearing will allow ONLY 8 minutes in TOTAL for those in opposition to present their case to City Council. Watch this video outlining the full fact and policy based opposition to Z-12-25. The 240’/360′ towers, in a transition area, 776′ along Historic Glenwood-Brooklyn Neighborhood only 190′ to 240′ feet from homes violates all plans, polices, urban planning guidelines and logic.
Why ask for public input only to ignore it?
I honestly have to ask – why seek public input if it’s not reflected in the analysis? Community engagement should serve as an opportunity to either mitigate community concerns or provide a transparent and respectful explanation when disagreement exists.
Z-12-25 does NOT meet Transit Land Use criteria
For a site to be designated as a Transit Land Use category, it must meet the definition “fronting along a corridor programmed for high-capacity, frequent bus transit.” The West St site meets ONLY the frequent transit criteria but fails the other two. It does not qualify for the Transit Land Use category.
Planning Department Fantasy!
Our Comprehensive Plan says building heights should transition from the Central Business District to residential neighborhoods. The planner says 30 stories is transition. FANTASY!!
Z-12-25 Stomps on Raleigh’s Comp Plan
Raleigh has the tools and the policies to manage growth responsibly. Z-12-25 ignores them. Approving this rezoning would not only damage a historic neighborhood but also set a precedent that threatens every neighborhood in Raleigh. The Comprehensive Plan shows us the path forward: moderate, context-sensitive growth that strengthens, not undermines, our city’s future.
City Council Mid-Year Retreat, September 27, 2025
Council retreat focused on Federal Grants, Legislative Agenda, Steady State Bonds, “Big Ideas,” the next Comprehensive Plan, and Expansion of Affordable Housing Sites
City Councilors are elected by residents to represent residents
City Councilors, it is your job to make sure that city staff knows that their job is to protect the interests of the people that live in Raleigh, not to just make things easy for businesses and developers.
Honor the Process. Planning Runs Policies thru the Spin Cycle
The materials being presented by the Planning Department in support of Z-12-25 do not create a complete picture or analysis that is useful for basing your decision on this third round of change requests for these particular parcels. A good analysis of compatibility should take a broad view of relevant rules, plans and guidance, and it should reflect stakeholder input with integrity. Given the inadequacies of the materials provided to you, there is no way you can come to a rational conclusion of consistency with the comprehensive plan.
Selective Policy Emphasis and a Disregard for Neighborhood Protections
Are we just counting which policies are convenient for a project and ignoring the ones that aren’t? This isn’t about stopping growth. It’s about rejecting a project that ignores codified transition areas, disregards protections for historic neighborhoods, and offers no real public benefit for on-site affordable housing.
Thank you for letting us all know when the king is naked!!
I appreciate your constant vigilance, your push for accountability and how you seek and embrace feedback from your members and your community of followers.
It’s OK to Say NO to a Developer
the proposed 30 story tower at Peace and West Streets would be triple the height of the building across the street where Publix is. It will grossly overpower the entire neighborhood. I am all for development within reason. It is ok to say no to a developer.
September 16, 2025 City Council Meetings
Highlights from September 16 Council Work Session and Afternoon Session
Why Z-12-25 (The West Street Tower) Fails Raleigh’s Vision
Raleigh needs growth, but growth must be responsible. The 2030CP and ETOD establish a framework where context, transitions, and neighborhood protection guide how and where height happens. Z-12-25 proposes 240-360 foot towers just steps from a historic neighborhood. This is inconsistent with adopted plans, sets a dangerous precedent, and undermines Raleigh’s planning tools.
It’s Not the City’s Responsibility to Insure Business Profits
In order to make important decisions with confidence, City Council needs good advice. The Planning Department should be working to provide you with a recommendation based on a full and rational analysis of all impacts, positive or negative, and consistency with the Comprehensive Plan. Their job is NOT to convince you the proposal is necessary and essential to the continued expansion of Raleigh’s revenue base.
Thank You for your Support
Former Mayor Meeker explained you always learn something when you listen to the public and that helps result in better decisions. He concluded by saying Livable Raleigh has strengthened our city and he looks forward to Livable Raleigh being a force going forward.
Sept 9 City Council Work Session and Public Comments Meeting
Highlights from September 9 Work Session on Dix Park and evening public comment session
Smashing through the Guardrails of Policy
Amazingly City Staff identified no detriments from this rezoning case. This proposed development is very close to a historic neighborhood. Why is there no reference in this document to Section 12 of the Comprehensive Plan regarding Historic Preservation? The first comment reads “Lack of transitions around historic resources which can sometimes lead to jarring juxtapositions of scale and proximity that detract from the character of the historic resource’s setting.” Has anybody read this or is even aware of this section of the Comprehensive Plan?
Making growth choices that will stand the test of time
Everyone agrees that more urban parks and walkable urban densities are good things, but promoters of 30 story towers next to the historic Glenwood Brooklyn neighborhood have offered no evidence that the new 12 story Publix building just across Peace Street isn’t an excellent example of what could go on the West Street site, giving the developer ample profits and urban high-rise densities without casting 30 story shadows over the neighborhood every winter morning