Over the month of January 2009, neighborhoods in District D and around Raleigh scrambled to organize and review Raleigh’s 2030 Draft Comprehensive Plan. Over the weekend, many of them submitted their review of the plan to Raleigh’s Planning Department. Some experienced difficulties with the Limehouse Portal and submitted them via email. Many of the submissions focused on their particular neighborhoods, area plans, or lack of area plan.
I was lucky enough to review comments from Boylan Heights, Roylene Acres, University Park Homeowners Association (which include the University Park, Wilmont, Stanhope, Oberlin Community, Forest Hills, and Mayview Green neighborhoods), and various experts from around the city. The level of detail and time spent on producing these comments was evident. The desire for more time to review the plan was expressed numerous times.
From the Lineberry area, I was impressed with the Trailwood Drive neighbors coming together and understanding how they can maintain rural components for their neighborhood. I was disappointed that no other neighborhoods in the Lineberry Alliance stepped up to the plate to participate or lead the other neighborhoods in a review for our area. There were, however, several individuals that participated on their own. I wonder if folks just don’t understand the importance of this document and how it can impact our future, if they just didn’t care, if they didn’t know what was going on, or if the consensus was that someone else was doing it for them. No matter what the reasoning was, I tried very hard to gather interest from the Lineberry Alliance.
At the last minute, I was able to review the Trailwoods/Lineberry Small Area Plan (which is NOT included in current 203 Draft Comprehensive Plan) and submit the following comments:
Some elements of the “Part 15 Trailwoods/Lineberry Small Area Plan” have not been implemented. Other many items do not fall within the scope of the comprehensive plan, I think the citizens who worked on that document should be provided an explanation as to which elements are completed, which are still on the do list, which to do list they are on, and an expected time frame for completion.
Additionally, looking at the proposed Land Use map, my current observations is that this area has a variety of housing options already (single family home, mixed-income, townhomes, etc.), but lack some commercial and retail mixed use. Although not everyone in this area may agree with me on this and would prefer the neighborhood to remain as-is, I think there are opportunities to improve with retail and other walkable commerce on Lake Wheeler Road (by the beltline & south of Lineberry), Tryon Road (near Trailwood Hills Drive) and Trailwood Drive (south of I-40). Here is a taste of the comments I submitted for this:
…For this area, I’m interested to see how we can generate more urban opportunities, such as walkable neighborhood retail. Currently, there is very little within a 1/2 mile radius. I think it would be interesting to see how we can make the current Raleigh Oaks shopping center connect to the neighborhood, possibly extending the right kind of development towards the neighborhood with good transition of land use...
I’ll close with this – there is still time to participate. Join the conversation and attend the 2030 Comprehensive Plan forum on Wednesday February 11, 2009 in the City Council Chambers 6:30 – 9:00 PM. Address: 222 W. Hargett Street, Raleigh, NC 27601. The forum will include a moderated panel discussion between Planning Staff, Citizen Advisory Council (CAC) Chairs, and team leaders involved in the District D Neighborhood Alliance (DDNA) study groups.
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