Forty years ago, the City accepted a Conservation Easement from Anderson Forest developers that specifically prohibits the building of greenway trails in the area now being proposed for Segment 1B. Yet, after reaping the easement’s benefits for decades, the City now wants to break its very terms.
I have been asked why we continue to speak to oppose Council’s decision to approve greenway routing through Anderson Forest backyards. City staff had numerous opportunities to influence Council and the public with written materials, glossy presentations and surveys. We have been largely restricted to three-minute comments like this to make our case to you and the public.
We are not opposed to greenways. We support connectivity and conservation. What we oppose is a decision that sacrifices a group of homeowners and their safety, violates conservation commitments and environmental protections, and increases costs—when less harmful alternatives exist.
In the meetings where the Council voted for the 1B West Streamside route, I was amazed at the complete misrepresentation of the FACTS by the Greenway Advisory Committee and the apparent predetermined outcome of this route.
For 18 months, Parks and Rec has repeatedly presented false or misleading claims to steer the public and this Council toward a predetermined outcome. Falsely claimed that it held a greenway construction easement. Falsely claimed this project has been a 50-year priority. Produced erroneous cost estimates.
Highlights of November 18, 2025 Work Session and Afternoon Session
Highlights from the November 4, 2025 Afternoon and Evening Raleigh City Council meetings.
The “streamside” option along the Big Branch creek would route the connector across city and little used private pieces of land. It already looks like a greenway and avoids car and truck traffic. The two other options the city lists would bring greenway users into regular contact with cars, trucks and service vehicles. If the city selects either of the two options going through this neighborhood, it will be devastating for a long surviving Raleigh neighborhood and it will be a radical, very un-greenway greenway project. Either of these two options would be more of an urban path than actual greenway as the trail would move along roads, across one street, and require the cutting down of many of the currently surviving trees and bushes in the neighborhood, leaving a pavement-centric greenery-bare trail.
Highlights from the May 6 Council meetings
Highlights from the 4/7 Budget Work Session and the 4/8 Afternoon Work Session and Evening Public Comment Session