South Park neighbors deserve to know what we are being asked to give up before we know exactly what will replace it. Removing the overlay first – without a specific development plan showing our neighbors what will actually be built – asks our community to surrender protections now and evaluate the consequences later.
honor the process, honor the public plan. Protect our publicly identified Historic and Neighborhood Character districts. Stay off of the thin ice of spot zoning.
Raleigh’s Comprehensive Plan is designed to handle growth from 450,000 in 2015 to 580,000 by 2030. We may get to a population of 530,000 by 2030. There is no urgent need to upzone properties. We can handle the growth if you encourage development where you planned for it.
Is everyone in South Park aware of what is happening with Z-22-26 and the potential removal of our neighborhood’s existing height restrictions? “The sole purpose of this rezoning request is to remove the subject site from the 28.7-foot height limitation restriction of the South Park NCOD.”
What began as concerns over one rezoning proposal has developed into a much larger concern about the transparency and integrity of the process itself. Over the course of this case, neighbors have documented 14 separate issues involving public notice, procedural decisions, access to information, public records delays and communications surrounding the case.
A healthy neighborhood is a vital resource. When a community succeeds, it builds a legacy that our elected city council ought to protect. While growth is necessary for Raleigh, it should not come at the expense of any community’s well-being. I look up many site plans and see a concerning focus on short-term profit over livability—no yards, without internal sidewalks, inadequate driveways, insufficient common areas, and a lack of safe pedestrian access to basic amenities. Why are ALL of these things being cut out of communities in exchange for maximizing density profits?
I grew up believing Raleigh was a city that valued neighbors, thoughtful planning, and fairness. That’s why this process has been so disappointing. This isn’t just about one rezoning. It’s about whether ordinary residents still have a meaningful voice when the future of their neighborhoods is being decided.
Our housing crisis is not going to be solved by the wonton demolition of naturally existing affordable housing to turn it over to luxury housing. Our public transportation goals are not going to be supported by creation of more luxury housing with large off-street parking pads and two or three car garages occupying the first floor.
Growth should not become a blank check for developers or a tax burden for existing residents. We must respect neighborhood voices. Public input should not be treated as an obstacle. It should be part of better planning.
Some might say we want density on the bus line. But that is a joke!! Nobody who is paying half a million dollars for a condo will ever set foot on the bus! They will get in their car, which is parked in the parking garage in the building! I’ll bet even the people in the two tiny units making 60K a year won’t ride the bus. The City is using the excuse of a bus line to allow developers to knock down our neighborhoods.