Upcoming Raleigh Events
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Partners for Environmental Justice Community Project Expo
Partners for Environmental Justice Community Project Expo
SW Raleigh Community Engagement Holiday Social
SW Raleigh Community Engagement Holiday Social
Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting: 8020 Litchford Rd.
Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting: 8020 Litchford Rd.
District E Meeting in conjunction with RPAC
District E Meeting in conjunction with RPAC
Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting: 4601 Creedmoor Rd.
Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting: 4601 Creedmoor Rd.
Voice Your Ideas for a More Accessible Raleigh
Voice Your Ideas for a More Accessible Raleigh
District D Neighborhood Alliance (DDNA) meeting
District D Neighborhood Alliance (DDNA) meeting
Read up on our latest news…
April 4, 2023 City Council Meetings
HIGHLIGHTS Councilor Patton absent and excused Voted unanimously to appropriate $10,000 from Council Contingency to support the United Arts Council's Annual Gala Voted unanimously to approve $492,231 from ARPA funds for Legal Aid of North Carolina,...
Shaw University belongs to all of us
Several council members have been totally non responsive to our meeting requests. Mary Ann Baldwin has blocked our emails and the City Attorney for the planning commission has not responded to our concerns about a serious conflict of interest issue regarding a commissioner and Shaw University Board of Trustee member. We need to remind City Council about the importance of true community engagement.
Stick to the plan.
Contrary to comments by planning staff, the Comprehensive plan is the guide today, regardless of whether it gets amended in the future. The same is true for the Future Land Use map but, if this application is approved, the area zoning will be changed to accommodate the new building heights for anything being proposed in the future. As a local land use attorney has said, “you have the facts to come to a proper decision on this case without waiting for the details on a future Development Agreement that, in itself, will be controversial and an anchor on the City Budget for the next ten years.
Suppression, Displacement and Conflicts of Interest
When residents are telling you that your project is causing gentrification and displacement, your response should not be to double down and steamroll the people.
March 28, 2023 Safe, Vibrant, & Healthy Community Committee Meeting regarding Z-54-22 (Peace and West Streets)
Request is to go from 12 stories to 30 stories City Planning staff emphasize that they are providing guidance and context, but it is up to the Council, legally and otherwise, to make decisions on consistency with the Comp Plan. Council is not obligated to defer to...
Raleigh facing issues similar to Durham
As density increases, the need for conscious, deliberate stormwater and other utility planning also increases. Instead, three years ago, the city decided to allow individual developers to do as they please “as of right.” Now the city denies any responsibility for the predictable mayhem that is resulting. My neighbor’s flooding is just one real-world example of the problems that occur when the city abandons its responsibility for strategic growth planning and oversight, and instead deregulates development.
It’s time to reassess the impacts of BRT and TOD on neighborhoods
It’s time to step back and re-assess the likely impacts of BRT and TOD on established neighborhoods and identities instead of relying on the desired, but unproven outcomes pitched by those who stand to make a business profit.
March 21, 2023 City Council Work Session and Afternoon Session
HIGHLIGHTS Longtime City Clerk Gail Smith was honored at her last meeting upon her retirement Public Comments focused on negative impacts of Missing Middle and other rezoning actions that will harm existing neighborhoods, difficulties in engaging with the City,...
Do City Plans Matter?
With the implementation of the new comprehensive plan and UDO, Phil believed there was a real opportunity for a more predictable and efficient process. Today, unfortunately, rather than following approved plans, everything seems negotiable. This undermines the whole idea of predictability and erodes the trust in the review processes and in city leadership.
A framework for building affordable housing
In the More Homes, More Choices presentations, Patrick Young admits that the Missing Middle will not create housing that becomes affordable until at least one to two generations after it is built.
Tonight, I have given Council members a draft framework for creating housing that will be more affordable than what is being built under the guise of the Missing Middle.
Raleigh should use a Primary to ensure majority elections
In the last election for Raleigh City Council, only 2 out of 8 races resulted in a winner that received 50% or more of the vote. This isn’t necessarily the fault of the candidates participating in these races, rather this is the consequence of a plurality election with no chance for a run-off. Raleigh’s home rule charter gives the City Council the power to implement a nonpartisan primary that could be held at the same time as the state and national primaries.
MARCH 13 & 14, 2023 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSIONS
Proposed fee increases for residents – stormwater, water, and solid waste services
Proposed fee adjustments (50% decreasing and 42% increasing) for developers
An $8-$12M deficit predicted in FY26 for GoRaleigh bus service; fares brought in about $3.5M so even if fares are re-introduced, there would still be a significant gap
There has been much activity to address issues with Glenwood South, but problems remain
We are frustrated with the obvious loopholes that allow this
I know you are frustrated. Every police captain assigned to this area has been frustrated. WE are frustrated. We are frustrated because the Sahara appears to be operating legally within current laws and zoning parameters. There are obvious loopholes in existing laws that allow this type of business to remain open until 5:30am.
Neighborhood Meetings, the Fox is Guarding the Hen House
First, the neighborhood meetings that are run by the applicant or their attorneys are not working. Since the developers run the meetings, the information that is being given is often very biased and not accurate coming from the applicant or their attorney. One attorney said in a neighborhood meeting that the Comprehensive Plan was no longer relevant. There was a city staffer there but they were silent.
INDY Week’s Best of Wake County 2023
The readers of INDY Week have nominated us as the “BEST OF” in two categories. We are humbled. It’s an honor just to be nominated. Also…WE WANT TO WIN. Voting is open NOW thru March 29
March 7 2023 City Council Meeting
HIGHLIGHTS Councilor Patton’s request to defer Shaw rezoning due to her unavailability on April 4 was voted down; public hearing will be April 4. Rezoning Z-55-22: Johnson Street, held open until April 4 for further negotiation. Rezoning Z-75-22: Edwards Mill Road,...
Safe, Vibrant & Healthy Community Committee Report – February 28, 2023
Safe, Vibrant & Healthy Communities: Mayor Baldwin (Chair), Councilor Forte (Vice Chair), and Councilor Patton. Councilor Jones was absent and excused. Subject: Rezoning Z-54-22 - Assemblage at Peace and West streets, next to Smokey Hollow proposed City park. ...
Event Materials Published – What’s Next for Democracy in Raleigh?
If you weren't able to attend our Community Conversation on March 4, 2023 for the discussion of Democracy in Raleigh, the video, slides and Q&A are now available on our "Community Conversations" page where you can find all of our previous events as well. Hear from...
Improve engagement by bringing the information to the people
CACs were important resources because they provided a one-stop-shop for staying informed. At monthly meetings attendees would hear a police report, a Parks & Rec report and City Staff reports about current issues. You would hear Planning Department topics. All the information brought to one meeting for you.
Will Raleigh & Wake Co join Durham City & County in supporting their LGBTQ+ communities?
These two bills may not pass the legislature. Governor Cooper may ultimately veto them if they do pass. And, the vetoes may withstand Republican attempts to override them. But, in any case, the LGBTQ+ residents of Raleigh and Wake County deserve to hear full-throated support from their elected leaders instead of the timid silence they are being presented.