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.

June 6 City Council Meetings

June 6 City Council Meetings

by | Jun 6, 2023 |

June 6 City Council Meetings HIGHLIGHTS Several councilors asked that rezoning case schedules be managed to limit the number at each meeting so that each case receives appropriate time and attention. Planning staff will come back with schedule suggestions. Unanimously...

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.

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.

May 2 City Council Meetings

May 2 City Council Meetings

by | May 2, 2023 |

HIGHLIGHTS Unanimously approved moving public comments to the second Tuesday of the month at 7pm, following a 4-6pm work session, starting in September  Unanimously approved funding for 292 affordable units at $7.05M Fund reallocation and donations for Dix Park...

Why would the city do this?

Why would the city do this?

by | Apr 30, 2023 |

Should the 30-story zoning case at Peace and West (Z-54-22) be approved by city council?  Is it needed?  Is it good for the surrounding residents of an historic residential neighborhood?  Is it good policy for the city and its residents?  The simple and most straight-forward answer is, no.  It is not reasonable and it is not in the public interest. City council should vote to deny Z-54-22.

Supply, demand, and poorly focused density planning are causing a shortage of truly affordable housing – not zoning.

Supply, demand, and poorly focused density planning are causing a shortage of truly affordable housing – not zoning.

by | Apr 5, 2023 |

Missing Middle will not repair our history of racist redlining. With all the discussion of zoning’s racist past, there is surprisingly no discussion to ensure that zoning changes will result in more equitable and truly affordable housing choices. It appears that our racist past has been weaponized to support changes that in the end may do nothing to repair it other than providing more opportunities for the building industry. 

April 4, 2023 City Council Meetings

April 4, 2023 City Council Meetings

by | Apr 4, 2023 |

HIGHLIGHTS Councilor Patton absent and excused Voted unanimously to appropriate $10,000 from Council Contingency to support the United Arts Council's Annual Gala Voted unanimously to approve $492,231 from ARPA funds for Legal Aid of North Carolina,...