Highlights from April 2, 2024 City Council Meeting
City Council takes the right first steps for New Bern Ave corridor
With this decision, Council has aimed to make the New Bern corridor more transit-friendly, but without displacing the residents of the historic neighborhoods along the corridor.
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.
New Bern Ave Public Hearing Comments
Several members of the public spoke in opposition to the mass upzoning proposed for New Bern Ave through the city-initiated case Z-92-22. We are publishing a selection of those comments made by speakers who have given us permission to print their comments.
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.
New Bern TOD – Redo the map – apply it strategically
On January 30th, City Council should vote against the current rezoning case and send City Planners back to the drawing board to redo the map. Wide support of the TOD can be accomplished by strategically applying it to commercial properties and open lots. You cannot reduce the displacement pressure on the existing neighborhoods when you include those very neighborhoods in the TOD!
Video from our New Bern Ave Forum is Available NOW!
Video from our New Bern Avenue Public Forum is available! If you weren’t able to attend, you can watch the video here NOW!