Raleigh’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan establishes a vision for the City of Raleigh and is supposed to provide long-range policy guidance for growth and development.
But recently, residents have complained that proposals from developers have strayed from the guidelines set forth in the comprehensive plan, and that city planning staff and the City Council have been content to let that slide.
Now, in an effort to clarify the definitions of what kinds of developments are appropriate for neighborhoods, the body that advises the City Council on future growth and development issues is considering a number of changes to the Comprehensive Plan for approval from the Council.
At a meeting Tuesday, Raleigh’s planning and zoning administrator Travis Crane presented the proposed changes to the Planning Commission. A Council committee recommended the changes with substantial citizen input this summer, in response to a citizens’ petition.
The changes address seven issues in the Comprehensive Plan and its counterpart, the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), a comprehensive, citywide zoning code, which have been problematic. These issues deal with building heights, transitions, zoning designations and the language used to describe new development in the comprehensive plan.
A handful of residents from North Raleigh, who oppose the rezoning of a parcel of land at the intersection of Falls of Neuse and Dunn roads for a Publix supermarket in their neighborhood, attended the Tuesday meeting but were not allowed to comment on the proposed changes.
David Cox, a North Raleigh resident and founder of Grow Raleigh Great, said he has concerns that Crane and city planning staff are misrepresenting what Raleigh residents have asked for regarding the future development of their neighborhoods.
Members of the Planning Commission requested more information about the suggested changes for further review before making a recommendation to the City Council.
“I would just like to say for the record, I’m glad to see this process taking place,” said Planning Commission member Joe Lyle. “It’s refreshing.”
