Where is Height Transition to Neighborhoods?

Where is Height Transition to Neighborhoods?

by | Jan 8, 2026 |

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?

City Policy is Clear on Appropriate Heights for North Hills

City Policy is Clear on Appropriate Heights for North Hills

by | Jan 4, 2026 |

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

Development without Infrastructure Planning

by | Jan 3, 2026 |

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

Residents say input and infrastructure falling behind at North Hills

by | Dec 30, 2025 |

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 The previous submission in 2021 was withdrawn due to concerns from City Councilors and considerable public comment that did not support the request without further addressing the inconsistencies with the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.

Council must uphold plans they unanimously approved

Council must uphold plans they unanimously approved

by | Dec 16, 2025 |

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!

July 5 2022 Raleigh City Council Meeting

July 5 2022 Raleigh City Council Meeting

by | Jul 5, 2022 |

HIGHLIGHTS Roberta Fox re-elected as Chair, Planning Commission, and Blannie Miller elected as Vice Chair, Planning Commission. New rules adopted for public participation including “loud noises such as singing, disruptive clapping, shouting, playing instruments,...

Plan the work; work the plan

Plan the work; work the plan

by | May 13, 2022 |

To be clear, we support development, but we do not support the scale of development that would result from this Rezoning Application. At both of the neighborhood “meetings” held by Parker Poe on behalf of the Applicant, there was a consensus among residents that the Rezoning Application was simply too much. These comments have not been provided to the Commission in any materials I reviewed. However, the public comments included in the Staff packet echo many of these comments and concerns. In addition, I am a proponent of the idea that you “Plan the Work and Work the Plan.” In this instance – that “Plan” is the Walkable Midtown plan.