At the public hearing for the 2030 Comprehensive Plan (Aug 13, 2009), District D Neighborhood Alliance (DDNA) dominated the podium with their expertise, passion, and dedication to Raleigh’s future. Over the course of the evening, DDNA had almost 15 neighborhood leaders speak on behalf of their neighborhoods, District D, and the City. They expressed their thanks, their concerns, and their suggestions.
District D neighborhood leaders spoke for over an hour and clearly showed their unification on issues and knowledge of the 2030 plan. The theme that developed over the course of the DDNA’s involvement in the comp plan was evident tonight, “our plan, our city, and our future” resonated in City Council chambers.
As you may recall, DDNA formed 2030 focus groups in December 2008 to begin reviewing the Comp Plan. Our approach was to divide into specialties and make recommendations. Our focus groups were Arts and Culture, Environmental Protection, Parks and Greenways, Transportation Systems, and Urban Form and Land Use. Over the course of the public process, DDNA collectively submitted several hundred comments. Overall the plan is strong, easier to digest, and exciting.
The citizen experts that have been active from District D were well represented this evening. These experts have provided the city council with free consulting hours for the 2030 Comp Plan over the past few months. The purpose tonight was to make sure that our expertise and advice is heard and accounted for.
Jason Hibbets first reviewed the common issues, submitted an updated version of the District D future land use map (FLUM), and then each neighborhood leader provided a tour of District D from their perspective, their concerns. Similar to how a police beat officer knows their beats, these leaders know their neighborhoods.
DDNA found common issues across neighborhoods that apply to the entire city. The top five issues:
- Transitions – concerns about how our neighborhoods land uses transition to other land uses
- Transit-oriented development – the plan seems to have a cookie-cutter approach to transit growth areas; too much density in some places / not enough in others, the plan needs to recognize uses in different areas
- Maintaining stable neighborhoods – not enough language in the plan protects existing neighborhoods
- Institutional impacts – the plan has no language to create a balance between neighborhoods and institutional centers including churches and schools
- Small Area Plans (SAP) - SAP’s were commoditized into the plan and the contextual guidelines were watered-down; these guidelines are important to our neighborhoods
Kicking off the hearing, Ana Duncan-Pardo started the tour of District D with comments from the Raleigh Citizen Advisory Council (RCAC). Phil Poe followed with detailed commentary about the change process following the plan being sent to the Planning Commission. Jason Hibbets provided the overview (stated above) for District D and introduced the neighborhood speakers.
Ted Shear spoke for west Raleigh and highlighted the citizen-updated mapping (FLUM) around the proposed transit centers. Bill Padgett spoke on behalf of the Wade CAC and provided detailed concerns on how citizens (city-wide) are updated when changes are made for the plan. Other speakers included Donna Bailey from University Park, Jason Hibbets from the Lineberry Alliance, and Benson Kirkman, who made several comments regarding Parks & Greenways.
The Hillsborough CAC took center stage and showcased their neighborhoods and their concerns. Ana Duncan-Pardo set the tone for the group and introduced the CAC area to the council. Bob Mosher spoke for Cameron Park, Kevin Bowdin for Cameron Village, Paul Shannon for Pullen Park, Betsy Kane for West Morgan, and Matthew Staton for Boylan Heights.
Karen Rindge of Wake Up Wake County also spoke, highlighting points centered around water and how we plan for future growth and maintain our water supply.
An interesting side note. There was numerous comments from lawyers and representatives from the Bolton property on the infamous Central Business District (CBD) “monster head” in the plan which splits the West Morgan and Pullen Park neighborhoods on the west side of the CBD. It will be interesting to see how this issue, mostly about transition between neighborhoods and the CBD, will be resolved in the 2030 plan.
The next meeting / workshop is scheduled for August 24, 2009 at 4:00 PM at City Council chambers. The meeting is open to the public.
Tags: cameron park, cameron village, community, district D, growth, hillsborough CAC, neighborhoods, pullen park, raleigh, west morgan
[...] that the DDNA group was following the process made by the planning department and city council. We presented our recommendations at the public hearing on August 13, 2009. Then we finalized those changes at our August meeting and submitted them to Councilor Crowder per [...]