Full agenda and attachments available at https://pub-raleighnc.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=439e1ef1-8b2d-46c9-b49a-6cb42927fb32&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English&Item=6497&Tab=attachments
HIGHLIGHTS
- Mayor Pro Tem Harrison absent and excused (maternity leave) from work session, but in attendance at most of the afternoon session before being excused.
- Public comments focused on greenways, preservation, bus station and public safety, homelessness and affordable housing, and the environment, including stormwater, creeks, and trees.
- Adopted priorities for the City’s legislative agenda for the “short session” of the NC General Assembly focused on housing, transportation, and taxes
- Unanimously approved loan term modifications for The Arbors and Milburnie Road Apartments.
- An increase in affordable apartment exemptions, an increase in large commercial appeals, and an increase in brownfield exemptions could mean a loss of more than half a million dollars in the tax base and possibly up to $4M in lost property taxes in FY26.
- Presentation about The Leaf Out program, a non-regulatory initiative to safeguard existing city trees, plant more trees on public and private land, and engage residents in stewardship and planting.
- Approved the updated Stream Stabilization Policy as recommended by the Stormwater Management Advisory Commission (SMAC) with an effective date of March 24, 2026.
- Approved the updated Drainage Assistance Policy as recommended by the Stormwater Management Advisory Commission (SMAC) with an effective date of March 24, 2026.
- Unanimously approved property liens,and five annexations.
- No committee reports or meetings scheduled.
- Councilor Jones will hold her monthly District E meeting on April 8 from 6-8pm at La Cucina Italian restaurant. Her District E Book Club will meet on April 11 from 9:30-11:30am at New World Café.
- Mayor Cowell will give the State of the City address on March 18 at 5:30pm at the City of Raleigh Museum. She also asked for information on eligibility criteria for receiving council contingency funds.
WORK SESSION
Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Comprehensive Safety Action Plan
During the work session staff presented the findings and recommendations of the Comprehensive Safety Action Plan.
The Comprehensive Safety Action Plan, funded through the federal Safe Streets for All (SS4A) program, identifies the most significant causes and locations of fatal and serious injury crashes in Raleigh. It establishes a data-driven strategy to reduce these crashes and save lives. Using crash data analysis, national best practices, and extensive community and stakeholder engagement, the plan identifies both a High-Injury and High-Risk network and recommends a coordinated set of engineering, policy, education, and enforcement strategies to improve safety for all road users.
Adopting the plan at a future Council meeting will
• Provide eligibility for Federal funding opportunities
• Prioritize projects and school safety
• Align with future transportation investments
• Help direct project decisions and funding
AFTERNOON SESSION
CONSENT AGENDA
- Unanimously approved
PUBLIC COMMENT
- Public comments focused on greenways, preservation, bus station and public safety, homelessness and affordable housing, and the environment, including stormwater, creeks, and trees.
- Two of nine speakers did not show up.
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
The following items are scheduled for public hearing at City Council on April 7, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.:
- Rezoning Z-29-25 – Trailwood Drive (District D upon annexation)
- Rezoning Z-31-25 – 516 North Blount Street (District C)
- Rezoning Z-40-25 – 831 Wake Forest Road & 904 Mordecai Drive (District C)
- Text Change to Zoning Conditions TCZ-14-25 – S. New Hope Road (District C)
The following items are scheduled for public hearing at City Council on April 21, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.:
- None
Rezoning Z-36-25: Page Road, South-East Durham County Line/West Raleigh, at the intersection of Page Road and World Trade Blvd (District E Upon annexation)
- Set 4/21/26 public hearing date
Rezoning Z-45-25: Trailwood Drive, Southwest Raleigh, 650 feet north of the intersection of Trailwood Drive and Tanager St
- Set 4/7/26 public hearing date
Rezoning Z-47-25: Crest Road, east side of Crest Road, 500 feet south of the intersection with Varsity Drive (District D)
- Set 4/21/26 public hearing date
Rezoning Z-49-25: S King Charles Road, at the intersection of S King Charles Road and Peele Place (District C)
- Set 4/7/26 public hearing date
Comprehensive Plan Amendment CP-01-25: 4111 Macon Pond Road, approximately 800 feet east of the intersection of Edwards Mill Road and Macon Pond Road (District D)
- Set 4/21/26 public hearing date
SPECIAL ITEMS
Rezoning Z-37-25: Avent Ferry Road Assemblage (District D)
- Set 4/21/26 public hearing date
Legislative Agenda – “Short Session” of the NC General Assembly
Adopted the following priorities for the City’s legislative agenda for the “short session” of the NC General Assembly:
- Increase opportunities for local governments to purchase, lease, or otherwise use underutilized county or state-owned parcels for private or commercial development.
- Modify the State building code to facilitate the creation of townhomes, duplexes,
triplexes, and other forms of missing middle housing.
- Partner with county, state, and local transportation authorities to assess the feasibility of pursuing a comprehensive transportation plan
- Invest in policies, programs, and strategies that help residents and small businesses remain in neighborhoods that are experiencing growth.
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY MANAGER
Request for Modification of Loan Terms – The Arbors and Milburnie Road Apartments
- Unanimously approved
Property Tax Update
- As Council is aware, revenue from the ad valorem property tax makes up the largest revenue source for the General Fund. During the meeting the Wake County Tax Administrator provided updates on the status of property tax collections, including the three main drivers impacting this revenue source:
.
- Increase in affordable apartment exemptions
- Increase in large commercial appeals
- Increase in brownfield exemptions
These drivers could mean a loss of more than half a million dollars in the tax base and possibly up to $4M in lost property taxes in FY26.
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE PARKS, RECREATION, AND GREENWAY ADVISORY BOARD
Leaf Out: A Plan to Grow Raleigh’s Urban Forest – Program Update
- The Leaf Out program is a non-regulatory initiative to safeguard existing city trees, plant more trees on public and private land, and engage residents in stewardship and planting.
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMISSION
Updated Stream Stabilization Program Policy
- Approved the updated Stream Stabilization Policy as recommended by the Stormwater Management Advisory Commission (SMAC) with an effective date of March 24, 2026.
Updated Drainage Assistance Program Policy
- Approved the updated Drainage Assistance Policy as recommended by the Stormwater Management Advisory Commission (SMAC) with an effective date of March 24, 2026.
MATTERS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING
Public Nuisance Abatement – Property Liens
- Confirmed liens against the following properties:
- 1000 Bunche Drive (C)
- 105 Cooke Street (C)
- 700 Cooper Road (C)
- 614 Tower Steet (D)
Petition Annexation – AX-34-25 – Contiguous, Inside ETJ – 2936 Hodge Road (District C
- Unanimously approved
Petition Annexation – AX-41-25– Contiguous Inside ETJ – 8415 Honeycutt Road (District A)
- Unanimously approved
Petition Annexation – AX-46-25 – Contiguous, Inside ETJ – 6305 Garrett Road (District D)
- Unanimously approved
Petition Annexation – AX-47-25 – Contiguous, Inside ETJ – 6309 Garrett Road (District D)
- Unanimously approved
Petition Annexation – AX-01-26 – Contiguous Inside ETJ – 1225, 1309 Old Milburnie Road (District B)
- Unanimously approved
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION COMMITTEE
- No Report/No Items Pending
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE HOUSING AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
- No Report/No Items Pending
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMUNITY SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE 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 Jones will hold her monthly District E meeting on April 8 from 6-8pm at La Cucina Italian restaurant. Her District E Book Club will meet on April 11 from 9:30-11:30am at New World Café.
- Mayor Cowell will give the State of the City address on March 18 at 5:30pm at the City of Raleigh Museum. She also asked for information on eligibility criteria for receiving council contingency funds.