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 The previous submission in 2021 was withdrawn due to concerns from City Councilors and considerable public comment that did not support the request without further addressing the inconsistencies with the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

Glenwood-Brooklyn Group Establishes Legal Fund

Glenwood-Brooklyn Group Establishes Legal Fund

by | Dec 15, 2025 |

The Glenwood-Brooklyn Legal Fund has been established and opened a GoFundMe account to support professional and legal efforts related to land-use, zoning, and community-impact issues affecting the Glenwood-Brooklyn neighborhood. 
This Fund operates independently from the plaintiffs and from legal counsel. Please donate what you can now.

Z-12-25 and the Decision-Making Process

Z-12-25 and the Decision-Making Process

by | Dec 7, 2025 |

At the October 7, 2025 public hearing at 7 PM there were a few comments made during the hearing on rezoning request Z-12-2025 to which I would like to respond, in addition to general comments on the overall procedure of the public hearing process.

Glenwood-Brooklyn Group Notifies City of Lawsuit

Glenwood-Brooklyn Group Notifies City of Lawsuit

by | Nov 30, 2025 |

The Glenwood-Brooklyn neighborhood group has hired The Brough Law Firm, PLLC to challenge this rezoning case. The firm is investigating what we believe are several defects in how the City has handled the situation. The City has laws and policies that are designed to create gentle transitions from slow, quiet neighborhoods to the busy downtown area. We believe that the City has ignored basic principles and is overrepresenting developer interests. There is no precedent for this rezoning at all. You can’t find a single high-rise this close to a historic district ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE.

Don’t let Raleigh bulldoze our forests!

Don’t let Raleigh bulldoze our forests!

by | Nov 25, 2025 |

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. 

Don’t we want to increase our housing supply, not decrease it?

Don’t we want to increase our housing supply, not decrease it?

by | Nov 23, 2025 |

Every day of the year, tourists visit Oakwood to see our old houses that we work so hard to take care of. There are guided tours several times a week, and even tours by horse and carriage. We work very hard to be an amenity for the whole city. If you want a vibrant city, we are vibrant! This is only possible because we are a neighborhood, with people living in these old houses. Yet the Planning Department has been gradually rezoning our homes into office and commercial use. It’s no longer vibrant; it’s dead most of the time.

Raleigh’s Christmas Parade – Let the Children Participate!

Raleigh’s Christmas Parade – Let the Children Participate!

by | Nov 17, 2025 |

I plead for your assistance in preserving one of Raleigh’s greatest cultural events—the Raleigh Christmas Parade. Christmas and Christmas Parades are for CHILDREN. I sat next to Hailey Brooks’ father in 2022 as he pleaded that you not eliminate the parade following his daughter’s tragic death. I am here to ask you to reconsider the banning of participation by the under-8 set unless they are on a vehicle. By doing so, you have effectively closed the opportunity to many children who don’t have a ride.
LET THE CHILDREN participate.

Council showed a complete lack of interest for residents’ concerns

Council showed a complete lack of interest for residents’ concerns

by | Nov 16, 2025 |

It was hard to process the complete lack of interest or support by this City Council for the concerns repeatedly raised by residents. Countless emails, phone calls, meetings, and petitions were met with silence. Council was misled—partly by a Planning Department analysis that failed to identify any policy inconsistencies, and partly by Council member Silver’s one-sided defense that dismissed legitimate concerns raised by residents.