Highlights
- Christina Jones was absent and excused
- Rezoning Z-92-22: New Bern Station Area Planning
- Unanimously approved adopting staff height recommendations except modified seven-story recommended heights to five-story heights along Eastern stations in the TOD corridor.
- Unanimously approved authorizing a text change to align GreenPlus infrastructure along Eastern stations in TOD overlay district
- For Middle Stations — unanimously approved removing King Charles NCOD from several parcels that front along New Bern, but applying TOD elsewhere and allowing GreenPlus frontage
- For Middle Stations — also unanimously approved base and height recommendations
- Will consider other items on June 4
- Rezoning Z-40-23: 13120 Strickland Road — public hearing set for June 4
- Downtown Investment Opportunities — Mayor Baldwin suggests using $750k for downtown improvements and the remainder for homelessness services. City Manager says staff will bring back recommendations.
- Downtown Municipal Service District Expansion — Began reviewing exclusion requests
- Municipal Election Changes — Council (except for Councilors Black and Patton) reneged on the understanding that they would put four-year terms on the November ballot and unilaterally approved staggered four-year terms with a primary beginning in 2026. This, despite every public poll and meeting showing significant public opposition to four-year terms. The full Council also reneged on adding more District seats. They acknowledged that citizens could collect 5000 signatures within 30 days if they wanted the issue to be a ballot referendum. Livable Raleigh is gathering information about the specifics for a referendum petition and will mail out that information as soon as possible.
- Interlocal Agreement — unanimously approved.
- Grants to Human Services Agencies — unanimously approved.
- Initiatives to Address Homelessness — unanimously approved about $5M for a pilot program to move at least 40 households into permanent housing.
- Mine Creek Trail Improvements — unanimously approved moving forward with exploring ways to fit the replacement of the two bridges into the existing budget
- Extension of Bond Orders – 2017 Transportation Referendum — Unanimously approved extension from 7 to 10 years.
- Rezoning Z-35-23: 0 Gorman Street, 0.27 mi south of the intersection of Gorman Street and Avent Ferry Road and west of the intersection of Gorman Street and Shire Lane (District D) — Approved 6 to 1 with Councilor Black opposed.
- Rezoning Z-36-23: 1230 & 1234 South Saunders Street, being Wake County PINs 1703338024 and 1703329817 — Unanimously approved.
- Rezoning Z-39-23: On the east side of Nowell Road, approximately 0.2 miles north of Chapel Hill Road (District D) — Deferred until May 21 at applicant’s request to allow for further discussion.
- Parks, Recreation, and Greenway Advisory Board recommendations on Smoky Hollow Park Schematic Design Approval — unanimously approved.
- Raleigh Historic Development Commission recommendations on Prince Hall Overlay District — RHDC recommended no changes to Prince Hall HOD, but Council moved to send it to the June meeting of the Economic Development & Innovation Committee for more discussion.
- Economic Development & Innovation Committee will meet on 6/25 at 1:30pm.
- Growth & Natural Resources Committee will meet on 5/28 at 4pm to discuss Strickland Road rezoning and litter; will meet on 6/25 to discuss tree protection ordinances and tree-planing goals
- Safe, Vibrant and Health Communities Committee and Transit and Transportation Committee will not meet in May.
- Councilor Patton is holding a community meeting on 5/30 from 6-8pm
- Councilor Black moved to discuss possible partnership with “Level the Playing Field” at the Economic Development & Innovation Committee. It will be scheduled for the June meeting. She is holding a clean-up on 5/12 in Brentwood. She is holding a community meeting on 5/18 at 12:30pm at Millbrook Exchange Park. She appreciated all the support from people reaching out to her after the Zoom bombing of the Midtown Advisory CAC meeting.
- Councilor Branch will hold a community meeting on 5/18 at 10am at 1214 East Lenoir Street
- Councilor Harrison will not have a DDNA meeting in May; the next will be June 15. She also announced that Councilor Jones will hold a District meeting on May 10 from 6-8pm at The Mix.
- Blue Ridge Municipal Service District — Council heard from speakers and staff will bring back exclusion requests at next meeting.
- Petition Annexation – AX-38-23 Non-Contiguous, Inside ETJ – 5116 Needham Road (District B) — unanimously approved effective June 30, 2024.
- Petition Annexation – AX-39-23 Contiguous to Satellite, Inside ETJ – 5101, 5121, 5225, 5221 Forestville Road (District B) — unanimously approved effective June 30, 2024.
- Rezoning Z-46-23: North Boylan Assemblage, at the intersection of North Boylan Avenue and West Lane Street (District D) — unanimously approved, including removal from the North Boylan NCOD.
- Text Change TC-7-23: Mordecai Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (-NCOD) – Amendments — unanimously denied.
A. 1:00 P.M. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY THE MAYOR
1. Pledge of Allegiance
B. RECOGNITION OF SPECIAL AWARDS
1. North Carolina Public Transit Association – Driver of the Year Award – GoRaleigh Transit Employee — Bruce Holloway
C. CONSENT AGENDA
- Details at end of report
- Unanimously approved
K. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
1. Planning Commission Report
The following items are scheduled for public hearing at the City Council Meeting on May 21, 2024, at 1:00pm:
- Rezoning Z-72-22 — 423 S Blount Street, north of E Cabarrus Street (District C) (Held open from April 2 meeting)
- Rezoning Z-28-23 — Harden Road (District E) (Held open from April 2 meeting)
- Rezoning Z-54-23 — S Saunders St (District D) (Deferred to May 21 for revised conditions)
The following items are scheduled for public hearing at the City Council Meeting on June 4, 2024 at 7:00pm:
- City Manager’s Proposed FY 2024-25 Budget
2. Rezoning Z-60-23: Tryon Road, approximately 400 feet from the intersection of Tryon Road and Lake Dam Road, having frontage on both roads (District D) — held at Councilor Patton’s request so she could discuss with applicant
3. Rezoning Z-61-23: 2210 Spring Forest Road, ¼ mile west of the intersection of Spring Forest Road and Atlantic Avenue (District A) — public hearing set for June 4
4. Rezoning Z-02-24: 3400 Barwell Road; 1/2 mile north of the intersection of Rock Quarry and Barwell Roads (District C) — public hearing set for June 4
5. Rezoning Z-05-24: 4216 Holden Road, 500 feet west of the intersection of Holden Road and Forestville Road (District B) — public hearing set for June 4
L. SPECIAL ITEMS
1. Rezoning Z-92-22: New Bern Station Area Planning, 744 properties along New Bern Avenue between Downtown and Hedingham Boulevard / Freedom Drive (Districts B & C)
- Unanimously approved adopting staff height recommendations except modified seven-story recommended heights to five-story heights along Eastern stations in the TOD corridor.
- Unanimously approved authorizing a text change to align GreenPlus infrastructure along Eastern stations in TOD overlay district
- For Middle Stations — unanimously approved removing King Charles NCOD from several parcels that front along New Bern, but applying TOD elsewhere and allowing GreenPlus frontage
- For Middle Stations — also unanimously approved base and height recommendations
- Will consider other items on June 4
2. Rezoning Z-40-23: 13120 Strickland Road, south of I-540, near Exit 7 at Leesville Road (District E)
- Public hearing set for June 4
3. Downtown Investment Opportunities
- Considered various funding opportunities for downtown improvements
- Interested in considering two-hour free parking in City parking decks but asked staff to bring back how revenue loss could be offset
- $1.35M in FY23 General Capital Reserves — sidewalks, downtown investments, and Raleigh Fire investments were recommended as priorities by at least three council members. Asked staff to bring back cost proposals in these areas. Several councilors said it was important to spend these funds across the City and not just in Downtown.
- Mayor Baldwin suggests using $750k for downtown improvements and the remainder for homelessness services. City Manager says staff will bring back recommendations.
4. Downtown Municipal Service District – Expansion of Boundary – Public Hearing Follow Up and Owner Requests for Exclusion
- Began reviewing exclusion requests
5. Municipal Election Changes
- Council (except for Councilors Black and Patton) reneged on the understanding that they would put four-year terms on the November ballot and unilaterally approved staggered four-year terms with a primary beginning in 2026. This, despite every public poll and meeting showing significant public opposition to four-year terms.
- The full Council also reneged on adding more District seats. They acknowledged that citizens could collect 5000 signatures within 30 days if they wanted the issue to be a ballot referendum.
- Livable Raleigh is gathering information about the specifics for a referendum petition and will mail out that information as soon as possible.
M. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY MANAGER
1. Interlocal Agreement – Tri-Party between Raleigh, Wake County, and the Centennial Authority – Use of Hospitality Tax Funds
- Unanimously approved
2. FY2025 Human Service Agency Grant Recommendations
- Unanimously approved
3. Unsheltered Homelessness Response – Pilot Program Funding Request
- There are approximately 900 unsheltered individuals in Raleigh, which is a 200% increase since 2020.
- Studies have shown that unsheltered people benefit more from access to housing than to social services. Homelessness is more about affordability than mental illness.
- It is 3-4 times less expensive to put someone in permanent housing than it is to leave them unhoused.
- The pilot aims to house at least 40 households and will cost about $5M.
- Unanimously approved.
4. Mine Creek Trail Improvement Project
- $5.6M for Mine Creek Trail improvements originally did not include replacing the two bridges that need to be replaced. That will cost about $1.35M, so staff will be looking at areas to cut back in the overall project and will engage the public.
- They also noted that they may need easements on three neighboring properties because the trail may need to move closer to the residences because of stream bank erosion.
- Unanimously approved moving forward.
N. MATTERS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING (AFTERNOON SESSION)
1. Extension of Bond Orders – 2017 Transportation Referendum
- Unanimously approved extension from 7 to 10 years.
2. Rezoning Z-35-23: 0 Gorman Street, 0.27 mi south of the intersection of Gorman Street and Avent Ferry Road and west of the intersection of Gorman Street and Shire Lane (District D)
- This case attempts to balance the need for affordable housing for seniors with environmental concerns.
- Approved 6 to 1 with Councilor Black opposed.
3. Rezoning Z-36-23: 1230 & 1234 South Saunders Street, being Wake County PINs 1703338024 and 1703329817
- Unanimously approved.
4. Rezoning Z-39-23: On the east side of Nowell Road, approximately 0.2 miles north of Chapel Hill Road (District D)
- Deferred until May 21 at applicant’s request to allow for further discussion.
O. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE PARKS, RECREATION AND GREENWAY ADVISORY BOARD
1. Smoky Hollow Park Schematic Design Approval
- Unanimously approved.
P. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE RALEIGH HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
1. Prince Hall Historic Overlay District
- RHDC recommended no changes to Prince Hall HOD, but Council moved to send it to the June meeting of the Economic Development & Innovation Committee for more discussion.
Q. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION COMMITTEE
1. No Report
2. Items Pending
- Next meeting on 6/25 at 1:30pm to discuss Prince Hall HOD; no meeting in May.
R. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE GROWTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE
1. No Report
2. Items Pending
- Next meeting on 5/28 at 4pm to discuss Strickland Road rezoning and litter.
- June 25 meeting will be about tree protection ordinance and tree planting goals
S. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE SAFE, VIBRANT AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY COMMITTEE
1. No Report
2. Items Pending
- No meeting scheduled
T. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSIT COMMITTEE
1. No Report
2. No Items Pending
- No meeting scheduled
U. REPORT FROM THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
1. Individual Reports from the Mayor and Council Members
- Councilor Patton is holding a community meeting on 5/30 from 6-8pm
- Councilor Black moved to discuss possible partnership with “Level the Playing Field” at the Economic Development & Innovation Committee. It will be scheduled for the June meeting. She is holding a clean-up on 5/12 in Brentwood. She is holding a community meeting on 5/18 at 12:30pm at Millbrook Exchange Park. She appreciated all the support from people reaching out to her after the Zoom bombing of the Midtown Advisory CAC meeting.
- Councilor Branch will hold a community meeting on 5/18 at 10am at 1214 East Lenoir Street
- Councilor Harrison will not have a DDNA meeting in May; the next will be June 15. She also announced that Councilor Jones will hold a District meeting on May 10 from 6-8pm at The Mix.
V. APPOINTMENTS
1. Environmental Advisory Board – One Regular Vacancy
2. Hispanic and Immigrant Affairs Board – One Alternate Vacancy (Professional Category)
W. NOMINATIONS
1. Design Review Commission – Two Regular Vacancies
2. Planning Commission – One Regular Vacancy
3. Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Centers Authority – One Regular Vacancy
4. Raleigh Historic Development Commission – Six Regular Vacancies
X. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
Y. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY CLERK
1. Minutes – Various
Z. CLOSED SESSION
1. Enter into Closed Session
AA. OPEN SESSION
1. Return to Open Session
2. Recess Meeting
BB. 7:00 P.M. EVENING AGENDA
CC. MATTERS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING
- Blue Ridge Municipal Service District — Council heard from speakers and staff will bring back exclusion requests at next meeting.
- Petition Annexation – AX-38-23 Non-Contiguous, Inside ETJ – 5116 Needham Road (District B) — unanimously approved effective June 30, 2024.
- Petition Annexation – AX-39-23 Contiguous to Satellite, Inside ETJ – 5101, 5121, 5225, 5221 Forestville Road (District B) — unanimously approved effective June 30, 2024.
- Rezoning Z-46-23: North Boylan Assemblage, at the intersection of North Boylan Avenue and West Lane Street (District D) — unanimously approved, including removal from the North Boylan NCOD.
- Text Change TC-7-23: Mordecai Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (-NCOD) – Amendments — unanimously denied.
DD. ADJOURNMENT
1. Adjourn Meeting
C. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Consent Agenda Process
2. Housing Assistance – City Employees
3. Omnibus Text Change Item – Rezoning Process Timeline
4. Sewer-only Utility Accounts – Policy Revisions and Update
5. Partnership Policy Update
D. CONSENT AGENDA – PETITION ANNEXATIONS
1. Petition Annexation – AX-06-24 Contiguous, Inside ETJ – 6701 Town Center Drive (District B)
E. CONSENT AGENDA – GRANTS
1. Federal Aviation Authority Grant Offer – Raleigh Durham Airport Authority – Replacement Runway 5L-23R Project
2. Federal Transit Administration Section 5339 Grant – Craig Building Upfit at GoRaleigh Station
3. Grant Award- USDA Forest Service Urban & Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Grant
4. 2024 GHSP Traffic Enforcement Grant Application
5. 2024 BikeSafe (Motorcycle Safety) Coordinator Grant Application
F. CONSENT AGENDA – EASEMENTS
1. Sanitary Sewer Easement Request – 4808 Pearl Road
G. CONSENT AGENDA – CONTRACTS AND CONSULTANT SERVICES
1. Professional Services – Raleigh Police Evidence Facility – Becker Morgan Group, Inc.
2. Professional Services – E.M. Johnson Water Treatment Plant Chemical Campus Expansion – CDM Smith, Inc.
3. Professional Services – Crabtree Valley Sewer Replacement – McKim & Creed, Inc. – Amendment Number Three
4. Contract Services – Asphalt Rejuvenating Service – Pavement Technology, Inc.
5. Contract Services – Biosolids Landfill Services – Waste Industries, LLC dba GFL Environmental
H. CONSENT AGENDA – ENCROACHMENT REQUESTS
1. 900 Marlowe Road – Sidewalk
I. CONSENT AGENDA – BUDGET AMENDMENTS AND TRANSFERS
1. Climate Action Fund Projects
J. CONSENT AGENDA – TRAFFIC
1. Speed Limit Reductions