Raleigh City Council Regular Meeting - May 6, 2025
Raleigh City Council Regular Meeting - May 6, 2025
The Raleigh City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, with an afternoon session at 1:00 PM and an evening session at 7:00 PM in the City Council Chamber, 222 West Hargett Street. The meeting covered a consent calendar, planning commission reports, special items including the Capital Boulevard tolling study, an affordable housing project adjustment, the 2024 community survey results, public hearings on zoning cases, and approvals of schematic designs for two park projects. Mayor Janet Cowell presided.
Consent Calendar
- Donation of Equipment – Police Greenway Unit: Accepted four electric motorcycles from the Raleigh Police Foundation.
- NCDEM Designation – Authorized the city to serve as applicant agent for FEMA grants.
- Petition Annexations – AX-04-25 (9440, 9500 Durant Road) and AX-06-25 (6325 Rock Quarry Road) approved.
- Public Hearing Requests – Set a hearing for Historic Landmark Designation (Bill and Betty Weber House, 1514 Delmont Drive).
- Contracts and Consultant Services – Approved lease renewal for 1601 Cross Link Road (Police Southeast District Station), utility construction agreement for NCDOT intersection improvements (Old Stage Road/Ten Ten Road), change order for Durant Nature Preserve Training Lodge renovation, and amendment for Convention Center security services.
- Street Closing – Approved STC-08-2024 for Clover Lane right-of-way.
- Bid Awards – Stormwater rehabilitation (Applied Polymeric, Inc.) and Dillon Building HVAC replacement (MSS Solutions, LLC).
- Traffic – Approved all-way stops as recommended.
- All consent items were approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- TCZ-41-24 (3616 Louisbury Road) – Applicant Carlos Cahill stated he worked with neighboring property owners; neighbors on the side emailed council indicating satisfaction. No other public testimony.
- Z-46-24 (4349 & 4353 Pearl Road) – Applicant Worth Mills described added conditions (fence, evergreen shrubs, traffic calming). One resident, F.J. Hale, was present but did not speak after the hearing was closed.
Discussion Items
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Planning Commission Report – Staff presented three items:
- Rezoning Z-43-24 (Athens Drive) – Two lots (under 3 acres) from R-4 to R-3 mixed-use with conditions. Planning Commission recommended approval (split vote) with an additional recommendation for setbacks. Council debated setting the public hearing for June 3 vs. allowing applicant to add buffer conditions beforehand. Councilmember Harrison moved to set public hearing for June 3; applicant preferred that date despite not being able to add conditions until after the hearing. Motion passed 7-1. The public hearing set for June 3 evening session.
- Text Change TC-10-2024 (Cottage Court Garages) – Amends maximum size of principal structures to regulate conditioned vs. unconditioned space, allowing attached two-car garages. Recommended for public hearing on May 20.
- Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (NCOD) Process Modification – Planning Commission proposed a text change to improve community engagement after issues in Forest Park and Mordecai. Council requested staff bring back more information as a special item on June 3.
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Special Items –
- Council Contingency – Appropriations to various organizations approved unanimously after brief presentation by Evan Raleigh.
- NCDOT STIP – US 1 North/Capital Boulevard Tolling – Kenneth Ritchie (Transportation) presented four tolling scenarios for a 10-mile segment from I-540 to Wake/Franklin County line. Key statistics: project first programmed in 2012, current draft start year 2031, completion after 2035. Council discussion focused on regional impact, equity, and future transit options. Councilmember Lambert-Melton opposed all tolled scenarios on behalf of constituents preferring no build. Councilmember Branch and Mayor Pro Tem Forte supported scenarios 1 or 2 for regional benefits and financing capacity. Council voted 7-1 to recommend Scenario 2 (tolled expressway added to the Triangle Expressway system).
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City Manager’s Report –
- Affordable Housing – Cottages of Idlewild – Erica Brant (Housing) and Rhett Fussel (Raleigh Area Land Trust) requested modification to allow income limits to rise to 80% AMI in case of foreclosure only, due to a $938,000 funding gap created by State Employees Credit Union reallocating funds to western NC hurricane recovery. The city subsidy totals ~$3 million (land value $1.8M + $1.26M gap financing). The change was needed for Self-Help Ventures Fund to provide construction financing. Council approved the modification unanimously. Construction completion expected end of 2026.
- 2024 Community Survey Results – Macy Rush (Strategy & Innovation) and Jason Morato (ETC Institute) presented. Survey administered to 1,108 residents (margin of error ±2.9%). Key findings:
- Overall satisfaction with city services: 73% (national average for large cities: 41%).
- Customer service satisfaction: 66% (national: 32%).
- Top priorities: Affordable housing (first), pace of growth (second), transportation (third) – consistent across demographics.
- Housing cost burden: 30% of residents experienced financial burden; 57% of those are renters.
- Transportation: 73% never used GoRaleigh bus; 19% cited routes not serving needed areas. A planned Route 32 in 2026 would address an identified gap.
- Direction of city: 55% positive (up from 52% in 2022). Council noted the data’s alignment with other public input and highlighted the need for action on housing, growth, and transit.
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Parks, Recreation, and Greenway Advisory Board –
- River Cane Wetland Park Schematic Design – Emma Lyles presented. Funded by 2022 Parks Bond ($8.94M). Features include a boomerang boardwalk, food forest, basketball half-court, nature play, and removal of invasive species. Community engagement included public art events. Council approved the design unanimously.
- Sertoma Arts Center Schematic Design – Terry Naranjo presented. Budget $15.275M (bond) plus $85,000 for public art. New construction with expanded ceramics, painting, jewelry, fiber studios, elevator, accessible parking, and enhanced gallery. Construction expected summer 2026 to summer 2027. Council approved unanimously.
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Committees – Updates from Growth and Natural Resources (May 27, tree items), Safe, Vibrant, and Healthy Community (May 27, nightlife/residential intersection), and Transportation and Transit (May 20, street closure process).
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda approved unanimously.
- Z-43-24 (Athens Drive) set for public hearing on June 3 (7-1 vote).
- TC-10-2024 (Cottage Court Garages) set for public hearing on May 20.
- NCOD process – Staff to return with information on June 3.
- Council Contingency appropriations approved.
- Capital Boulevard tolling – Council endorsed Scenario 2 via resolution (7-1).
- Cottages of Idlewild – Contract modification approved unanimously.
- TCZ-41-24 (Louisbury Road) – Zoning amendment approved unanimously.
- Z-46-24 (Pearl Road) – Zoning amendment approved unanimously.
- River Cane Wetland Park and Sertoma Arts Center schematic designs approved.
- Appointments and Nominations:
- Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission: Ethan Gallagher and Amy Newabike appointed.
- Design Review Commission (alternates): Rachel Derrian Bodyn appointed.
- Fair Housing Hearing Board: Quanta Monique Edwards appointed.
- Hispanic and Immigrant Affairs Board (alternate): Nomination deferred to next meeting.
- Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau: Shira Nagaraj term extended one year; Max Houseworth appointed.
- Parks, Recreation, and Greenway Advisory Board: Gregory Etheridge and Douglas Johnston reappointed; Councilmember Patton nominated Stephen McGuinness for one vacancy.
- Planning Commission: Reeves Peeler reappointed; Mark Shelburne and Nick Neptune appointed as new members.
- Raleigh Historic Development Commission: Jonathan Anderson, David Serxner, Melissa Todd, and Lauren Woodard reappointed; two vacancies deferred.
- Closed Session – Council entered closed session to consult with the city attorney on pending litigation (City of Raleigh v. Kirby LLC and City of Raleigh v. 10 F 3301 Atlantic Avenue).
Note: Meeting adjourned after closed session at approximately [time not specified].
Meeting Transcript
Oh, no, no. He's got the cut thing, it's not a four pair. That's got the cut thing, they don't get it. All right. Good afternoon. We will call the meeting to order. And first item of business is the Pledge of Allegiance. I'll ask with Councillor Harris. I move in to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which you stand one nation under God and indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Okay. Consent agenda. I do not believe we had any items polled. Turn to staff. Is that correct? Move for approval. Okay. Second. Aye. All opposed, nay. All right. So that completes that. All right. Next we have the report and recommendation of the planning commission. Yes, ma'am. Good afternoon. By them Walter, Riley Planning and Development. With the report and recommendation of the Planning Commission. Review of upcoming holidays for you through May and June. I don't believe any of Shavuut uh the end of Chivut uh conflicts with your upcoming schedule. Um you do have some items already scheduled for public hearing at your next meeting. There are a couple of demolition of unfoot building questions, a petition annexation and three rezonings already scheduled for the one p.m. meeting uh on the 20th. And then in June, I believe these are actually at the 7 p.m. meeting. I apologize for the error. The proposed budget for the new fiscal year will be in front of you, as well as the contract for services for both of the municipal service districts in the city. We have three items coming out of planning commission. Two of them are being recommended for public hearing. The first is a text change about cottage garages and cottage court development. That's being suggested for a May 20 public hearing. And then the other item coming out with a recommendation for public hearing is a rezoning on Athens Drive. That's being suggested for an evening public hearing on June 3rd. So let's dive a little deeper into those. The Athens Drive request is two lots. This is under three acres. It's going from residential four with the special residential parking overlay district to residential three mixed use with some conditions and the overlay would remain. It is consistent with the plan, but inconsistent with the future lanes map. Planning commission recommended approval by a split vote with an additional recommendation that council consider additional set packs, again, suggesting a public hearing here of June 3. The votes in opposition here were largely concerned about conditions that were applied to the property when it was rezoned previously that are not being changed that prohibit uh this property being able to take advantage of FTD, the frequent transit development option, which would allow a little bit more density if affordable units were included. And generally would prohibit really limit the density that could be achieved on the transit corridor.
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