Councilor Harrison reverses course on making decisions based on policy

Councilor Harrison reverses course on making decisions based on policy

by | Jun 22, 2023 |

Councilor Harrison parted ways with the other three new members of Raleigh’s City Council (Black, Patton and Jones). The group usually forms a coalition that is more skeptical of intense development outside the Central Business District and close to established neighborhoods. Instead Harrison provided the swing vote for the pro-developer faction of Council and voted to approve the controversial rezoning of Shaw University. Minutes after being instructed by the City Attorney that this case is a LAND-USE decision, Harrison tossed out the land-use policies that should have guided her decision and based her decision on an irrelevant point about the Prince Hall Overlay District.

Raleigh must refocus its vision for affordable housing

Raleigh must refocus its vision for affordable housing

by | Jun 6, 2023 |

Intentional or not, staff’s interpretations of the Comp Plan and Missing Middle rules are not promoting affordability. Instead they promote the destruction of existing affordable units in favor of market rate and luxury units that drive up land and housing costs. Over 4,000 units lost each year according to the city’s own data, making Raleigh’s affordable housing crisis worse, not better.

Shaw rezoning, use your Head and your Heart

Shaw rezoning, use your Head and your Heart

by | Jun 4, 2023 |

Last week we explained why you know in your heart that the Shaw rezoning application should not be approved. Now we will explain how in your head you can understand the proposal is not in line with the policies of Raleigh’s Comprehensive Plan.

Shaw University: An historic campus in trust? Or just another downtown development play?

Shaw University: An historic campus in trust? Or just another downtown development play?

by | May 30, 2023 |

Years of Jim Crow segregation and neglect have given way to a new era of gentrification. Unimpeded, it will soon sweep away any sense that freed African-Americans were here, emerged from slavery here, lifted themselves up by their bootstraps here, created communities here, and mattered greatly to the Raleigh we became and the Raleigh we hope to be. Unimpeded, it’s entirely possible that Shaw will be swept away too, or moved to a distant place not central to the city to make room for “higher value” development.

Councilor Melton promotes “Alternative Facts”

Councilor Melton promotes “Alternative Facts”

by | May 21, 2023 |

Every month Councilor Jonathan Melton publishes a newsletter summarizing the actions of City Concil for that month. In his April report, he included a bonus from the May 2nd meeting which was an explanation for his vote on the zoning case Z-54-22, Peace & West Streets. It’s filled with misinformation.

Stick to the plan.

Stick to the plan.

by | Apr 2, 2023 |

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.

Do City Plans Matter?

Do City Plans Matter?

by | Mar 19, 2023 |

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.

Downtown South Needs a Makeover

Downtown South Needs a Makeover

by | Dec 21, 2020 |

During the holidays we are re-posting some of our favorite guest blogs while we take some time away from our normal hectic schedules. Here is a recent message from Jane Harrison. Jane Harrison, Ph.D., works at North Carolina State University for NOAAs Sea Grant...