WHY WE'RE OPPOSED
Raleigh Neighbors United stands in opposition to the Z-54-22 issue for four key reasons ALL rooted in city plans and policies.
SUMMARY OF OPPOSITION
RALEIGH NEIGHBORS UNITED'S SUMMARY OF OPPOSITION
VIOLATES CITY PLANS & POLICIES.
All major city plans support a 3-12 story height limit adjacent to Historic Glenwood Brooklyn (HGBN). The 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2030CP), area plans like the Capital Boulevard Corridor Study (CBCS) and the Equitable Trasit-Oriented Development Guidebook (ETOD) are thoughtful well-developed plans that offer clear guidance on height, density, transitions, historic preservation and neighborhood protection. They promote smart, balanced growth that benefits all of Raleigh, not just a few, and they create a clear path towards a growing vibrant city. Follow the plans and protect all neighborhoods. Avoid a dangerous precedent that would affect every neighborhood. (See 2030CP Analysis and ETOD, CBCS, DP Plans Analysis)
UPZONING FORCED WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT
The area was already upzoned 3X from 4 to 12 stories in 2015—without community involvement. The area was upzoned during UDO development and Remapping in 2015 without public input. The site was zoned for 4 Stories, Staff and Planning Commission recommended 5 stories, Council approved 12 stories at the lobbying of the current landowner and based on false information (see: Zoning Height Historical Analysis) .
This was a baseless increase in entitlement already not to mention no plan or policy supports any more height. It is imperative community input is heeded not silenced or ignored, we need to make sure our voices are heard and Raleigh City Council takes notice.
PUTS PRESSURE ON NEIGHBORHOODS & INFRASTRUCTURE
Selling out neighborhoods for developer-driven projects—especially when existing plans and policies are ignored—places an unnecessary burden on residents
The future of our city is at stake and hanging in the balance are “unique”, “scarce”, “fragile”, “distinguishable” (2030CP) neighborhoods and family homes along with a balanced and diverse urban fabric which is critical to a thriving growing city. It is imperative that the Mayor and City Council embrace the totality of their responsibility and engage in executing existing, well-developed, thoughtful plans that will result in a vibrant and growing city that benefits all of its citizens. Ignoring these plans and policies would set a dangerous precedent that once established – fair or unfair – sets a policy framework that will guide future decisions and directions for similar situations no matter how misguided. All Raleigh neighborhoods would be at risk.
RALEIGH HAS SMARTER GROWTH PRIORITIES
We support density, but it must be planned, not driven by developer interests.
Smart growth means affordable housing & transit-oriented development engaging existing neighborhoods—not unchecked high-rises. Raleigh already has ~150,000+ approved housing units that should be built before ignoring plans and marginalizing neighborhoods and historic resources. It is wrong to disregard existing, well-developed, thoughtful plans and policies, and set a precedent that puts ALL Raleigh neighborhoods at risk