Archive for the ‘Raleigh Planning’ Category

Transition Workshops: Help Define the New Code

Friday, June 11th, 2010

On the week of June 21, 2010, you’ll have a chance to participate in several workshops regarding Raleigh’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) on the topic of transitions. The was a big issue during the 2030 Comprehensive Plan update, Raleigh code currently does a poor job of defining how to transition from intense / dense types of development to areas like residential neighborhoods where single families home dominate the landscape.

Consider this: if we start to attract some of the neighborhood mixed use development to the edges of the Lineberry neighbrohoods and they would be 3-5 stories in height, what are the rules, regulations, and code that would dictate how those developments transition to structures like single family dwellings? The answer is two-fold: (more…)

Have you ever made a law?

Monday, May 10th, 2010

Last week, Raleigh City Council decided to move forward with the drafting of the new development code that is an action item from the adoption of 2030 Comprehensive Plan. The Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) provides the opportunity to rehash and rethink the current approach to development and will remove existing barriers to infill development, allowing the city to curb urban sprawl and build for a more transit-friendly city.

There are lots of opportunities for citizens to participate in the new development code process, but not many are taking advantage of it. One barrier is the complexity of the issues. Another is the fact that making law and code just isn’t sexy to most people. Since the new development code will become law, you have a chance to have a say in it. Essentially, you have a chance to make a law for the city of Raleigh. Look for announcements about future workshops, public hearings, and charrettes that you can participate in.

A citizen panel is trying to help bridge the gap between complex planning code and draw attention to big issues, (more…)

Eric Lamb Talks Raleigh Rail, Resurfacing Avent Ferry, and More

Monday, April 12th, 2010

I got a chance to catch up with Eric Lamb, Manager, Transportation Services Division, City of Raleigh Public Works Department or as I like to call him, guru of all things transit-related. If he doesn’t know the answer to something, he’ll be sure to find out. Eric is probably one of the most outgoing and knowledgeable city staffers I’ve had the pleasure of working with. When I asked him to do a five questions interview for the blog, he was on it. I was curious about a few things from all the chatter about rail in Raleigh to Neighborhood Traffic Management (does this mean speed bumps on your neighborhood streets?). Let’s see what Eric has to say:

Image provided by Eric Lamb

Image provided by Eric Lamb

1) There is a lot of talk about rail. Is the City of Raleigh ready for rail? What are the current financing options being discussed?

First, some full disclosure: I love trains.  When I travel to other cities, I spend part of my free time exploring their transit systems (and my generous family puts up with me).  I recently had the pleasure of exploring the London Underground system, which was both spectacular and overwhelming.  (more…)

DDNA Meeting Notes March 2010

Saturday, March 20th, 2010

The monthly District D Neighborhood Alliance (DDNA) meeting was held on March 20, 2010 at the Wade Avenue Whole Foods community room. We continued discussion around the UDO (Uniform Development Ordinance) process and the urgent need for citizen comments. The new code is of greater importance than the review of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan.

Great schools in Wake County also held an event this morning where many of our DDNA members were. There was no special guest today, it’s been busy at city hall with the Lightner Center, pre-budget preparation, and the new Raleigh Code development review. (more…)

UDO – Community, Not Subdivisions

Monday, March 15th, 2010

I attended one of the UDO (Unified Development Ordinance) public learning and review sessions this evening, it lasted about 30 minutes. I only know this because as I was heading in, the session was wrapping up. I was bummed to be late and miss the session, but got a chance to catch up with Ken Bowers, Deputy Director, Department of City Planning and Lee Einsweiler, Principal-in-Charge, Code Studio.

Talking with other folks afterwords, the session was a good update on the project and a time to get questions answered. Comments on the Diagnostic & Approach Report are due by March 31, 2010. Anyone (that includes you) can comment directly on the report by logging into the Limehouse web portal at http://raleigh-consult.limehouse.com/portal (more…)

UDO Public Meetings March 15 & 16, 2010

Sunday, February 28th, 2010

Participate in the Citywide Learning and Review Sessions on

Raleigh’s New Development Code Diagnostic & Approach Report

Same meetings, different locations for your convenience.
(more…)

DDNA Meeting Notes February 2010

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

District D Neighborhood Alliance meeting held on February 20, 2010 at the Wade Avenue Whole Foods community room. Phil Poe provided a thorough and insightful update of the ongoing UDO (Uniform Development Ordinance) process.

The New Development Code DIAGNOSTIC & APPROACH REPORT was issued February 1, 2010.  Those present at the meeting agreed to divide up the report into chapters for analysis. (more…)

Form-Based Zoning Q&A

Monday, February 8th, 2010

I attended the educational workshop on Form-Based Zoning held in City Council chambers on February 3, 2010 hosted by Code Studio. The workshop provided an overview of the uses of form-based zoning, but left many more questions. Some of these questions were addressed during the Q&A session, but one question remains, what type of zoning code is right for Raleigh?

Special thanks to Betsy Kane for her review of this before posting to ensure it was technically accurate with all the planning and zoning jargon.

Form-based zoning example, credit: http://oceanfrontasbury.com/

Form-based zoning example, credit: http://oceanfrontasbury.com/

Thanks to Ken Bowers for helping find this example of form-based zoning.

(more…)

Can Form-Based Zoning Save Raleigh’s Growth?

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

I attended the educational workshop on Form-Based Zoning held in City Council chambers on February 3, 2010 hosted by Code Studio. The workshop provided an overview of the uses of form-based zoning, but left many more questions. Is Raleigh ready for form-based zoning? Can it help us plan for and accommodate growth? Can this type of zoning help us have predictable growth, infill, and development? Here are my notes and insight on the subject.

Special thanks to Betsy Kane for her review of this before posting to ensure it was technically accurate with all the planning and zoning jargon.

Example Zoning

Example Zoning

(more…)

5 Questions with Mitchell Silver and Ken Bowers for Raleigh planning in 2010

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

With the new year starting, I thought it was a good time to find out what’s going on at Raleigh’s Department of City Planning for 2010. Lots of folks spent countless hours on the 2030 Comprehensive Plan last year and Raleigh’s New Development Code is ramping up. I sent Mitchell Silver, Director, Department of City Planning & Urban Design Center and Ken Bowers, Deputy Director, Department of City Planning the following questions to see what’s on tap for 2010.

1) Why is Raleigh’s New Development Code so important?

Planning and development regulations should be regularly reviewed and updated due to such things as new development trends and new environmental legislation. Although the City’s Zoning Code and Subdivision Regulations have been (more…)