Posts Tagged ‘growth’

Form-Based Zoning Q&A

Monday, February 8th, 2010
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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…)

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Can Form-Based Zoning Save Raleigh’s Growth?

Thursday, February 4th, 2010
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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

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2030 Plan Amended and Adopted

Friday, October 16th, 2009
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We reported earlier when the 2030 Comprehensive Plan was approved by City Council. Last week, the plan was amended and adopted.

COUNCIL AMENDS AND ADOPTS THE 2030 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

The Raleigh City Council on Wednesday [October 7, 2009] adopted the 2030 Comprehensive Plan after agreeing to make three minor amendments to the document.

The first amendment changes the Wilmont/Vann/Lundy Drive area from moderate density to low density residential on the future land use map. The Council also approved an amendment to the Cameron Village area that will allow retail on both sides of Oberlin Road between Clark Street and Everette Street. The amendment requires a lower intensity of use on the west side of Oberlin Road. Finally, the Council approved minor edits to the text of the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Element.

The Council considered amending the designation of a parcel of land located at Women’s Club Drive and Glenwood Avenue that is designated Neighborhood Mixed-Use. However, the Council made no changes.

Source: http://bit.ly/1cxTJy

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WiFi in Downtown Raleigh

Friday, October 16th, 2009
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From City of Raleigh news:

Downtown Raleigh WiFi map

Downtown Raleigh WiFi map

Get connected to downtown Raleigh’s FREE WiFi – a service brought to you by the City of Raleigh for the downtown business professional, visitor, or patron. Now online access in the center city is easy and convenient in designated outdoor public spaces such as City Plaza, Fayetteville Street, Moore Square and beyond.

To Get Connected:

  1. Turn on the WiFi on your laptop or handheld device.
  2. Connect to the “Downtown Raleigh Free WiFi” network in a designated FREE WiFi area.
  3. Open your web browser and “You R Connected.”

Quick Tips:

  • The WiFi network is for outdoor use only.
  • There are limits to how much you can download while on the network and how long you can stay connected. For more information on terms of use, visit www.raleighnc.gov.
  • You are responsible for your device on the network. You should maintain your own antivirus or personal firewall.

For technical support, call 1-877-822-1214.

Source: http://bit.ly/1e2GLh

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Renaissance Park 2009 Candidates Forum

Monday, September 28th, 2009
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At last evenings candidates forum, September 27, 2009, hosted by Renaissance Park in their cozy club house, almost 50 citizens attended to learn more about Raleigh City Council District D and At-Large candidates for the upcoming election on October 6, 2009. Each District D candidate gave a brief introduction to themselves and why they are running for City Council. Moderator Moe Johnson then presented each candidate with five questions. At-Large councilors were then introduced and provided their platform. Questions from those in attendance followed.

Candidates in attendance

At-Large

District D

Questions and answers

Disclaimer, the following is my best effort attempt to capture the questions and answers from the candidates. I invite anyone in attendance or the candidates themselves to post any updates or corrections by contacting me or in the comments. The questions (after the first five) are paraphrased to get right to the topic.

Opening remarks from Renaissance Park resident and moderator, Moe Johnson. Renaissance Park is a new neighborhood, which means they are new at community activism. There is a desire to get involved in city government and this is one of the first projects to start that involvement for their community. (more…)

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UPHA 2009 Candidates Forum Q&A

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009
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At last evenings candidates forum, September 14, 2009, hosted by University Park Homeowners Associations (UPHA), over 50 citizens attended to learn more about Raleigh City Council At-Large, District D, and Mayoral candidates for the upcoming election on October 6, 2009.  Each candidate gave a brief introduction to themselves and why they are running for City Council.  Moderator Mike Reider then presented each candidate with questions from the audience.   Don’t forget to see the additional resources at the end (or share your own tools to help others in the comments).

Candidates in attendance

At-Large

District D

Mayor

Questions and answers

Disclaimer, the following is my best effort attempt to capture the questions and answers from the candidates.  I invite anyone in attendance or the candidates themselves to post any updates or corrections by contacting me or in the comments.  The questions are paraphrased to get right to the topic.

Q: Transportation: What are the first steps needed to bring light rail and bus services to Raleigh (to catch up to with Charlotte)?
A: Meeker

  1. Approve the first phase plan for additional bus services (75 new buses)
  2. Get the ½ cent sales tax passed (a county decision) which will probably occur this time next year

Q: Financing: How does Raleigh raise funding for the Little River reservoir project?
A: Enloe
Bring economic develop to downtown and all of Raleigh; it’s a shame that we have minor league baseball in Durham and Zebulon [and not Raleigh].  What about pursuing an NBA franchise for downtown Raleigh?  Sports are businesses.  General increase in revenues in downtown Raleigh can help raise the needed funds.

Q: Financing: How do we improve roads, pay down debt, save money, and lower taxes at the same time?
A: Hudson
Focus on looking through goals to cut areas in public works, i.e. look for things like no idol policies to cut fuel costs.  Look for cheaper vehicles (extend the use of vehicles where we can).  Not just use bonds to fund parks, look for state/federal money to use a mixture of funds.

Q: Entrepreneurship:  How will your entrepreneurial experience serve Raleigh?
A: Kunz
Had a privileged upbringing.  Had a dream, to start his own business.  There is risk involved.  The  entrepreneur spirit is not dead, but it’s not being cultivated.  One objective is to look more in-depth at the budget.

(more…)

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2030 Plan Approved, N&O Covers Change Flurry

Thursday, September 10th, 2009
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Our plan, our city, and our future

On September 8, 2009, the City of Raleigh website reported City Council Conceptually Approves Comprehensive Plan. I want to first start by commending Mayor Meeker and City Council for approving the plan. Next, a round of applause to the city staff, particularly Mitch Silver and Ken Bowers from the Planning Department, for their dedication and numerous hours put into this project. I was extremely impressed with the level of engagement from the District D Neighborhood Alliance (DDNA) and the expertise, patience, and perseverance they provided during the entire 10-month process.

2030 plan approved

City Council approved the 2030 Comprehensive Plan

However, I was not impressed with recent News & Observer coverage of the 2030 plan which belittled the free consulting work that DDNA provided over the past 10-months to City Council and the citizens of Raleigh. (Reference: Council adopts new vision for growth, Late tweaks add conflict to city plan)

These articles fail to mention 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 the process the Mayor prescribed at the conclusion of the public hearing.

Unlike the N&O, I’ve been providing updates for DDNA on our participation with the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. This started in December 2008 when DDNA started to organize into citizen lead focus groups to review the plan. This was shortly after the plan was being rolled out and numerous public sessions were in the works. We started setting dates to meet, taking advantage of the many public sessions. We set milestones for the short time frame we had to review the plan during the holiday season. (more…)

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DDNA Meeting Notes from August 2009

Saturday, August 15th, 2009
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District D Neighborhood Alliance (DDNA) August 15, 2009 meeting (Raleigh, NC) — The room was packed for our August monthly meeting of the District D Neighborhood Alliance. Twenty citizens from around the district attended the meeting and helped review the District D proposed land use map. We started in Boylan Heights and went counter-clockwise around the district, getting consensus from those in attendance who know their neighborhoods best and identifying any additional changes.

Meeting notes

The notes below will highlight most of the areas we’ve changed from the existing future land use map (FLUM) [PDF, ~5MB]. They are shown on the proposed land use map, specific for District D [PDF, ~5.5MB]. The changes are outlined in a bold, black line and the underlying land use (color) has been updated to reflect what DDNA thinks it should be. The changes mostly are proposing better transitions of land use types between existing neighborhoods and other land uses that surround our neighborhoods.

District D Proposed Land Use Map

District D Proposed Land Use Map

View the more detailed version of the proposed land use [PDF].

  • Boylan Heights outlines the boundaries for the Gateway Plan [PDF] and pushes the Central Business District (CBD) east while introducing Neighborhood Retail Mixed Use and Medium Density Residential to transition from downtown to the neighborhood
  • West Morgan should be made into a Special Study Area / Small Area Plan for future analysis to eliminate the CBD infringement on their neighborhood
  • Cameron Village area includes the recommendations presented at Thursday’s public hearing and shows the Small Area Plan included
  • Wade Ave updated the area to the east of Ridgewood Shopping Center for better transition
  • The two Hillsborough Street proposed transit stops (west) have updated density to promote better land use than the current FLUM represents.
  • Hillsborough St / Western Blvd / Buck Jones (malfunction junction) should be converted to a Special Study Area / Small Area Plan for future analysis due to concerns about the Western Blvd extension and redevelopment of the shopping center
  • Gorman Street / I-40 concerns about the intension of Community Retail Mixed Use (which is the same designation as Cameron Village)
  • Lineberry area needs to add the park at Sierra Drive and Lineberry Drive and discussed the need for more Neighborhood Retail Mixed Use and Office & Residential Mixed Use, which is reflected in the Stewart Drive update
  • Peach Road has some updated neighborhood retail mixed use areas
  • Caraleigh has updated the Green Street area to provide better transition from the Office & Residential Mixed Use to the neighborhood

Additionally, many people are having trouble finding the Certified Recommendations (CR) from the Planning Commission (PC) and other documentation. We’ve added links here to help you:

Attendees

  • Connie Crumpler, Caraleigh / SWCAC
  • John G. Reaves, Jr., Caraleigh / SWCAC
  • Benson Kirkman, Avent West / West CAC
  • Chris Weedy, Boylan Heights
  • Jimmy Creech, Boylan Heights
  • Russ Stephenson, University Park
  • R. Bethea, Historic Method
  • Ted Shear, Avent West / West CAC
  • George Adler, Cameron Park
  • Jim Paumier, Fairview Acres
  • Bill Padgett, Wade CAC
  • Tom Erwin, Cameron Village
  • Phil Poe, Glenwood-Brooklyn
  • Jean Salter, Wade CAC
  • Sophia Katheriou, Glenwood-Wade
  • Shelby Gainer, Roylene Acres
  • Mary Belle Pate, Fairway Acres
  • Ana Duncan Pardo, West Morgan / Hillsborough CAC
  • Jason Hibbets, Lineberry Alliance / SWCAC
  • Thomas Crowder, City Council District D
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District D Dominates 2030 Hearing

Friday, August 14th, 2009
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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. (more…)

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Final Stretch for 2030 Plan

Wednesday, August 5th, 2009
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Raleigh City Council has started to review the Draft 2030 Comprehensive Plan during a retreat this week A public hearing will be held for South West and District D residents on August 13, 2009 in City Council Chambers at 6:30 PM to allow residents to weigh-in with any last comments. Additional details regarding the Council review process are below. (more…)

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