I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongue. This is not about what is, it’s about what can become. A vibrant tree canopy to grow 24,000 strong. City of Oaks, Grow them with care. Give them clean water. And feed them fresh air. This is the future we ask you to share.
Work Session covered Energy Usage. Public comments focused on Z-43-25 rezoning, trees, public safety, solid waste services, and bike lanes.
Trees make Raleigh Raleigh. They shape our cityscape, and they define us as the City of Oaks. They’re the first thing visitors notice, and they are a large part of what makes so many people want to stay here. Sadly, Raleigh’s popularity has come at a cost to our trees.
Highlights from the March 17 Work Session and Afternoon Session
The rezoning case Z-11-25 (2230 S New Hope Rd) proposes development on a reforested, environmentally sensitive floodplain area. This forest is one of the last natural buffers remaining along New Hope Road, protecting nearby neighborhoods from flooding, erosion, and extreme heat. The Planning Commission has already recommended denial of this case, recognizing the significant environmental and community risks.
Studies show that areas with fewer trees and more pavement have hotter and more polluted air than areas with trees. And studies show that downtowns and low-income areas tend to have fewer trees than wealthier areas. This is true in Raleigh as well.
n the 1990s and early 2000s, the City was continually planting trees. But now it seems that we are cutting down more trees than we plant, especially in downtown and lower-income areas.
The long-planned expansion of one of Raleigh’s most heavily trafficked thoroughfares just hit a massive roadblock with the projected spend soaring from $56.1M to $93.5M, driven by rising construction costs and a thriving real estate market. Originally part of the city’s 2017 $206.7 million transportation bond, that hefty price tag pushes the project way over the originally allocated $60M budget. It is time to put this project—and maybe a few other CIP programs–on hold for a number of reasons.