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Dear City Councilor Silver
I am very concerned with losing the current firehouse at the corner of Rowan Street and Six Fork Road. I googled a map of all the Raleigh fire stations, and there really is no other fire station anywhere close to the North Hills area. The removal of this station will put lives and property in significant danger as the timing to attend to fire and life emergencies will be greatly lengthened.
North Hills rezoning has THREE Critical Inconsistencies
The rezoning has three critical inconsistencies with the Midtown area plan and the Comprehensive plan that Raleigh is supposed to use for policy guidance that is intended to shape how the city grows and develops through the year 2030. However, recent approvals by Council indicate that they follow their own rules and create greater building heights without considering consequences.
WHAT’S THE RUSH? – WHY must North Hills be rezoned NOW?
On January 6 rezoning case Z-34-25, the rezoning of North Hills, was presented to Council for approval. Council chose to hold the hearing open for a vote at their January 20 meeting. This is not a new conversation for the city. A nearly identical rezoning request was submitted in 2021 but was ultimately withdrawn after City Council members and residents raised substantial concerns. Both elected officials and the public made it clear that the proposal did not adequately address inconsistencies with the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, particularly around building heights, density transitions, and the absence of meaningful affordable housing commitments.
HELP REACTIVATE THE SOUTH CAC – GET INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY – RESCHEDULED
The Raleigh Citizen Advisory Council (RCAC) has received a request to restart the South CAC in Raleigh`s District C. Since 1974, the primary role of CACs is to provide a vital link between residents and local government. By participating in your CAC, you have a say in decisions affecting your community.
January 13, 2026 City Council meetings
Work session on Triangle Bikeway initiative. Public comments focused on Rezonings, Noise Ordinance, Glenwood South, Greenways, Smoke free ordinance, and engagement
Nothing less than a FARCE
Poll results show that Raleigh is failing miserably in community engagement. Allotting an extra four minutes per side at the public hearing was insignificant compared to the potential impact of the proposal. Discussing Six Forks Road traffic issues on January 29, more than a week after the proposed January 20 vote on the rezoning proposal, is a real slap in the face to Raleigh residents. What good does it do to hold further discussion AFTER a decision has been made? The neighborhood meetings held by the developer did not meet the requirements of neighborhood meetings as outlined on the City’s website. An Open House style meeting does not allow the public to consider all input from all attendees. This case is just the most recent example of shutting the people out of the process in favor of developer/donor interests.
Warning! Why bother having a Comprehensive Plan to simply ignore it?
Ignoring the current Small Area Plan should not be an option under any circumstances. It’s very easy to say as some councilors have that it’s just a guide and has no real meaning. If you really believe that then why bother having a Comprehensive Plan?
Event Materials Published – Election Changes and Poll Results
If you weren’t able to attend our Community Conversation on January 7, 2026 for the discussion of Raleigh’s Election Changes and Polling Results, the video and slides are now available on our “Community Conversations” page where you can find all of our previous events as well.
Where is Height Transition to Neighborhoods?
The applicant is requesting height everywhere that is inconsistent with the zoning recommendation of the Midtown area plan, which recommends heights between 4 and 20 stories, inconsistent with the Future Land Use Map, which recommends heights between 2 and 20 stories, and inconsistent with Table LU-2, which recommends height for Regional Mixed Use at a maximum of 20 stories. So, how can the staff review determine that this application is consistent with the Future Land Use Map, the Urban Form Map, and the Zoning map of the Midtown area plan, when it clearly is not?
January 6, 2026 City Council Meetings
Highlights from January 6, 2026 Council meetings
CBS 17 Covers Lawsuit Against City of Raleigh
As the downtown Raleigh skyline continues to grow upward to meet housing demand, a group of downtown neighbors is asking a judge to step in, arguing the city ignored its own rules and residents’ concerns when they approved a controversial rezoning in Glenwood South in October.
City Policy is Clear on Appropriate Heights for North Hills
The core issues with this rezoning remain excessive height and insufficient conditions. This request seeks more than double the recommended height for these properties without providing the significant public benefits required by the Comprehensive Plan.
Development without Infrastructure Planning
This is not the first time that this case is being presented. The only thing that has changed is the composition of the Council and Mayor. You are again being asked to judge the elements of the application with the same guidance that was in place when this case was previously presented five years ago. The same inconsistencies exist now that existed then. It is not a complicated case unless you choose to create guidelines beyond those already clearly defined in the Midtown – Saint Albans area plan and 2030 Comprehensive plan.
Residents say input and infrastructure falling behind at North Hills
On January 6, 2026, rezoning case Z-34-25, the rezoning of North Hills, will again be presented to Council for approval. The previous submission in 2021 was withdrawn due to concerns from City Councilors and considerable public comment that did not support the request without further addressing the inconsistencies with the 2030 Comprehensive Plan for building heights, density transitions, and affordable housing. CBS 17 spoke with Larry Helfant about the case and the lack of attention paid to both community input and local infrastructure that is falling behind.
Off to the Races for Raleigh City Council
CANDIDATE FILING HAS ENDED, WHO’S RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL? To learn more about the new election process which features a March 3 Primary before the November 3 General Election, please register to attend Livable Raleigh’s Zoom Meeting on January 7 at 7pm.
Council must uphold plans they unanimously approved
An Area Plan drafted by residents and approved by Council. This Mayor and Council need to be reminded that they unanimously supported the Midtown – Saint Albans Area Plan in December 2020 and have a contractual obligation with the public to support adherence to that policy!
Glenwood-Brooklyn Group Establishes Legal Fund
The Glenwood-Brooklyn Legal Fund has been established and opened a GoFundMe account to support professional and legal efforts related to land-use, zoning, and community-impact issues affecting the Glenwood-Brooklyn neighborhood.
This Fund operates independently from the plaintiffs and from legal counsel. Please donate what you can now.
Time to File for City Council Election is N O W !!!
The next election for Raleigh Mayor and City Council will be held Nov 2026. But there’s a brand-new primary election first, in March 2026. With a deadline for candidates to file and get on the ballot THIS YEAR by Dec 19 at NOON. That’s right: To run in 2026, you must file with the Board of Elections NOW.
Poll Results on Election Issues in 2026 Raleigh City Council Races
New Citywide Poll of Raleigh Voters Reveals Council is failing on Affordable Housing, Transportation and Citizen Engagement
Z-12-25 and the Decision-Making Process
At the October 7, 2025 public hearing at 7 PM there were a few comments made during the hearing on rezoning request Z-12-2025 to which I would like to respond, in addition to general comments on the overall procedure of the public hearing process.