October 7, 2025 City Council Meeting
HIGHLIGHTS
- Council approved the controversial Peace & West Street rezoning (Z-12-25) by a vote of 6 to 2, with Councilors Harrison and Jones voting against. Mayor Cowell cited an example from Atlanta in explaining her support for the rezoning.
- The City will hold a special public hearing on Tuesday, 10/14, from 6-7pm to get public input about the new proposed noise ordinance.
- Authorized Seaboard Station Social District
- Approved the remit for the Raleigh Civic Assembly as part of the development of the next Comprehensive Plan
- Approved Work Plan for the Environmental Advisory Board, including Council Harrison’s amendment that the EAB hold a public educational event re forever chemicals
- Approved Special Committee on Council Advisory Boards and Commissions recommendations, including disbanding of Community Engagement Board and merging of Hispanic & Immigrant Affairs Board into Human Relations Commission (HRC). HRC will also include African-American Affairs.
- Economic Development & Innovation Committee will meet at 1:30pm on 10/28
- Mayor Pro Tem Forte asked for a study to address issues with firefighters, including staffing levels, potential shift modifications, potential changes to hours, and burnout. Staff will see if these issues can be folded into the existing staffing and compensation study
- Councilor Lambert-Melton asked that staff address an issue with regular bus stop cleanliness, especially in high-frequency areas
- Councilor Patton will hold a Town Hall on 11/6 from 6-8pm at Marsh Creek. Focus will be on Traffic, Trees, and Taxes
- Councilor Silver will hold a District A meeting on 10/29 from 6-7pm at the Anne Gordon Senior Center
- Mayor Cowell asked that staff look into partnering with outside agencies interested in working on the 250thUS anniversary celebration
- Councilor Jones will hold her District meeting on 10/8, from 6-8pm at La Cucina Italian Kitchen and her Book Club on 10/18 from 9:30-11:30am at La Cucina
- Councilor Branch will hold a District meeting on 10/27 at 6:30pm. Location TBD
- Councilor Harrison will hold a District meeting on 10/18 at 9:30am at the Crowder Center.
- Municipal Election Filing fees remain at $250 for mayor and $200 for council members
AFTERNOON SESSION
- Raleigh Parks has achieved accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies and the National Recreation and Park Association
- Consent Agenda unanimously approved except for item about Lake Johnson pool. This will be held for two weeks to get more clarity about terms of proposed public/private partnership with Wolfpack Elite and to see if additional public access could be negotiated.
- The following items are scheduled for public hearing:
October 21, 2025, 1:00 p.m.
- Public Nuisance Abatement – Property Lien – 5311 Dillard Drive (ETJ)
- Petition Annexation AX-21-25 – 3101 Watkins Town Road (District B)
- Petition Annexation AX-23-25 – 7703 Ray Road (District B)
- Rezoning Z-05-25 – Rock Quarry Road (District C upon annexation)
- Rezoning Z-08-25 – 1011 Cross Link Road (District C)
- Rezoning Z-16-25 – 6100 Creedmoor Road (District A)
- Rezoning Z-22-25 – 3101 Watkins Town Road (District B)
November 4, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
- Application for Historic Landmark Designation – State Capitol Holiday Inn – 320 Hillsborough Street (Joint hearing with the Raleigh Historic Development Commission)
- Application for Historic Landmark Designation – Morley and Carol Kare House – 2204 Barfield Court (Joint hearing with the Raleigh Historic Development Commission)
- Rezoning Z-11-25: 2230 South New Hope Road – applicant requested this item be held until October 21 before setting public hearing due to concerns about flooding
- Text Change TCZ-13-25: 2230, 3219 Poole Road – public hearing scheduled for 11/4
- Rezoning Z-17-25: Louisburg Road – public hearing scheduled for 11/4
- Rezoning Z-18-25: 5209 Kyle Drive – public hearing scheduled for 11/4
- Text Change TC-3-25: Greenway Amendments – public hearing scheduled for 11/4
- Council Contingency Funds – Approved $1000 to Wake Audubon Society for their Leave Your Leaves Program (Patton), $1000 to US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants NC for their Fly With Me Event (Harrison), and $1000 to HIS Daughter’s Legacy, Inc. for their STEM & Leadership Mini-Camp (Silver). In future these items will become part of consent agenda.
- Authorized Seaboard Station Social District by a vote for 6 to 2
- Presentation on proposed noise ordinance amendments to include specific decibel limits and additional enforcement options. Much discussion leading to Mayor Cowell proposing a public hearing from 6-7pm on Tuesday, October 14, before a second reading of the proposed ordinance on October 21. This passed by a vote of 5 to 3.
- Approved the remit for the Raleigh Civic Assembly as part of the development of the next Comprehensive Plan
- Patrick Young presented an overview of the Development Review Process
- Approved Work Plan for the Environmental Advisory Board, including Council Harrison’s amendment that the EAB hold a public educational event re forever chemicals
- Approved Design for Mine Creek Greenway Improvements
- Rezoning Z-52-24: Tryon Road approved by a vote of 7 to 1 with Councilor Harrison opposed
- Approved Special Committee on Council Advisory Boards and Commissions recommendations, including disbanding of Community Engagement Board and merging of Hispanic & Immigrant Affairs Board into Human Relations Commission (HRC). HRC will also include African-American Affairs. Vote was 5 to 3, with Councilors Patton, Jones, and Harrison voting against.
- Economic Development & Innovation Committee will meet at 1:30pm on 10/28
- Growth & Natural Resources Committee currently has no meeting scheduled
- Safe, Vibrant, & Health Community Committee met on 9/28 to discuss hospitality, nightlife, and noise which was taken up earlier in the meeting
- Transportation & Transit Committee discussed pavement marking and anticipate federal guidelines impacting design
- Mayor Pro Tem Forte asked for a study to address issues with firefighters, including staffing levels, potential shift modifications, potential changes to hours, and burnout. Staff will see if these issues can be folded into the existing staffing and compensation study
- Councilor Lambert-Melton asked that staff address an issue with regular bus stop cleanliness, especially in high-frequency areas
- Councilor Patton will hold a Town Hall on 11/6 from 6-8pm at Marsh Creek. Focus will be on Traffic, Trees, and Taxes
- Councilor Silver will hold a District A meeting on 10/29 from 6-7pm at the Anne Gordon Senior Center
- Mayor Cowell asked that staff look into partnering with outside agencies interested in working on the 250thUS anniversary celebration
- Councilor Jones will hold her District meeting on 10/8, from 6-8pm at La Cucina Italian Kitchen and her Book Club on 10/18 from 9:30-11:30am at La Cucina
- Councilor Branch will hold a District meeting on 10/27 at 6:30pm. Location TBD
- Councilor Harrison will hold a District meeting on 10/18 at 9:30am at the Crowder Center.
- Municipal Election Filing fees remain at $250 for mayor and $200 for council members
EVENING SESSION
- Unanimously approved Street Closing STC-02-2025: Swinburne Street Right-of-Way
- Council approved the controversial Peace & West Street rezoning (Z-12-25) by a vote of 6 to 2, with Councilors Harrison and Jones voting against. Mayor Cowell cited an example from Atlanta in explaining her support for the rezoning.
- Rezoning Z-13-24: S. New Hope Road — applicant asked for deferral until 10/21 to allow for more discussion with Partners for Environmental Justice regarding mitigation of impacts to Walnut Creek
- Rezoning Z-10-25: 8125 Leesville Road approved 6 to 2 with Councilors Jones and Silver opposed
- Rezoning Z-51-24: Fairbanks Drive approved