Highlights from April 2, 2024 City Council Meeting
Exclude apartment complexes from MSDs
I think the only way this MSD works is if the Alliance redraws the boundaries such that apartment complexes are excluded, or they go to the state legislature and get permission to implement an MSD on a sales tax basis and not a property tax basis. But the onus should be on the alliance to address the problematic aspects of the MSD BEFORE it is implemented and should not be a burden placed on residents AFTER the MSD is implemented.
Developers put a BIG FOOT over existing NOAH communities
Having developers throw us a bone and expect us to say Thank You is an insult. This is not a small step toward more affordability but a big foot over existing NOAH communities.
It’s time to Wake UP to facts.
Tim Niles submitted a Letter to the Editor of the N&O in response to an Op-Ed from the Director of WakeUP Wake County on the topic of the New Bern Avenue upzoning proposal. The LTE wasn’t published so we are printing it.
Token gestures of affordability are not good enough
This is the 3rd TOD case that has come before you with a token gesture of affordability. I have no doubt developers will continue to find ways around providing affordable units needed for BRT to be successful. By far, the most troubling statement in the staff report that you need to pay attention to is, “by adding the TOD, the site will have increased residential entitlement WITHOUT having to incorporate affordability measures.” However you crunch the numbers on the affordable housing condition that’s been provided, it doesn’t add up to a good decision. If you approve this rezoning, you will grant MORE entitlement than the current zoning WITHOUT the affordability requirement.
Meaningful support required before massive upzoning
I think there is a lot of good we can do here. But, I also do want to take abundant caution when it comes to the upzoning pieces.
Is Affordable Housing really Affordable?
Generally affordable is defined as requiring no more than 30% of a household’s income being spent on housing. For the City of Raleigh, affordability is based on a percentage of the Area Median Income (AMI). Housing funded by the city is defined as affordable if it is in reach of those earning between 30% – 80% AMI. Without knowing what Raleigh’s AMI is or what local salaries are, there really is no way of knowing who affordable housing is affordable for. What we learn when we know the numbers is that to truly be affordable, Raleigh needs to focus its housing efforts at 60% AMI and BELOW.
City Council Meetings 2.6.24
Highlights City Council voted unanimously to restore a relationship with Citizen Advisory Councils (CACs) to include free monthly access to meeting rooms, provision of technology to support virtual meetings, and support for capability building for future leaders At...
January 30, 2024 City Council Meeting Highlights
A. 7:00 P.M. EVENING AGENDA B. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY THE MAYOR C. MATTERS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING 1. Comprehensive Plan Amendment CP-7-22: New Bern Station Area Planning 2. Rezoning Z-92-22: New Bern Station Area Planning, 744...
Z-92, a truly deceptive, destructive plan
Please, ask yourself why staff is proposing to put the TOD overlay in place and then, head fake! Wipe it out in the same rezoning case with a totally unrelated and massive up-zoning of 744 properties. Ask yourself why Mayor Baldwin thinks that’s a good idea.