Raleigh City Council Meeting - April 7, 2026: Affordable Housing, Annexations, Rezonings, and Historic Preservation Debates
Raleigh City Council Meeting - April 7, 2026
The Raleigh City Council met on April 7, 2026, to consider a range of items including the HUD Action Plan, a bond anticipation note for the convention center expansion and Red Hat relocation, and several rezoning and annexation requests. Key topics included affordable housing, traffic safety, historic preservation, and neighborhood conservation overlay districts. The meeting featured public hearings and votes on multiple items.
Consent Calendar
- No consent calendar items were noted.
Public Comments & Testimony
- HUD Action Plan: Octavia Rainey criticized the plan, stating it "sucks" and that the city does not enforce the Fair Housing Act. She referenced a 2007 Southeast Raleigh Assembly plan and demanded a $500,000 project on Newman Avenue to compensate for past injustices. (No other public speakers on this item.)
- Limited Obligation Bond Anticipation Note: No public speakers signed up. Councilmember Patton asked whether the funds could be used for other purposes; staff clarified they are restricted by statute and interlocal agreements to convention and amenities.
- Annexation AX4825 and Rezoning Z4525 (Trailwood Drive):
- Support: Molly Stewart (applicant attorney) argued the proposal provides up to 156 units of affordable housing (39 deeply affordable at 30% AMI, 8 at 20% AMI) with conditions mimicking the NCOD, and would improve road safety. Ryan Fisher (YIMBY) supported, saying it's the right place for housing. Landon Cox (LDG Development) detailed partnership with Raleigh Housing Authority for project-based vouchers.
- Opposition: Paul Moore (adjacent property owner) spoke against annexation, fearing being left as a county enclave and facing water/sewer access issues. John Bagan provided crash data: 124 crashes in 5 years on Trailwood, including 1 fatal and 27 injury crashes, with crash rates above state averages. Sarah Dietrich cited environmental concerns (tree removal, watershed impact) and safety. James Sommervell (50-year resident) noted lack of traffic study and dangerous road conditions.
- TCZ1425 (New South New Hope Road):
- Support: Amy Kraut (applicant attorney) explained the rezoning aims to increase residential density to attract a grocery store (reducing commercial from 360,000 to 285,000 sq ft, residential from 450 to 625 units, with a grocery store trigger).
- Opposition: Zainab Alidina (HOA president) asked for a cap at 550 units, citing doubled residency intensity. Dev Mashwala noted 57 accidents at nearby intersections since Jan 2024 and a crime score drop from B to F. Katie Lee argued the area is already saturated with vacant apartments (11.8% vacancy rate) and called the proposal corporate greed.
- Z2925 (Trailwood Drive, separate case):
- Support: Worth Mills (applicant) highlighted conditions: 32-unit cap, 20-foot setback, screening, and light pollution control. Jen Truman (resident) supported, saying it's a step toward better infrastructure.
- Opposition: John Totten (neighbor) argued the rezoning eliminates an intentional transition zone (R2 to R4 to R6) and violates NCOD protections. He cited safety data and said the site is not truly transit-oriented.
- Z3125 (North Blunt Street):
- Support: Isabel Maddox (applicant) argued the conditions (no amplified outdoor sound, 65-person cap, etc.) are responsive to neighbors and that a restaurant could be operated under current zoning.
- Opposition: Multiple neighbors (Scott Idle, Maggie McDonald, Andy Pettish, Chad Essick) cited noise, visual impacts, shared driveway issues, and a history of noncompliance. The Historic Development Commission recommended denial.
- Z4025 (Wake Forest Road):
- Support: Walker Abbott (applicant) emphasized the need for housing near transit, noting the site is a transition zone and the four-story height is consistent with the comprehensive plan. Tom Barry and Aaron Sterling-Lewis (neighbors) supported.
- Opposition: Shay Denning, John Crue, and Matthew Brown argued the removal of the NCOD would harm the historic Mordecai neighborhood and the Dorch-Andrews House (1918). They preferred preservation or a condition to move the house.
- Z4925 (South King Charles Road):
- Support: Patrick Battigan (applicant) proposed to rezone his .69-acre lot to allow up to 4 detached homes (from 1), with conditions limiting height to 2 stories and 25-foot setback. He argued the NCOD is inconsistently applied (only 7.3% of lots meet all criteria). Andrew Henry and Raymond Ryland (neighbors) supported.
- Opposition: Charles Hassel Jr. (33-year resident) presented 26 neighbors opposed, citing traffic safety on King Charles (speeds 55-60 mph) and Peel Place, lack of affordable housing (specimen homes priced $900k–$1.4M), and the precedent of NCOD removal.
Discussion Items
- HUD Action Plan: Presented by Ashley Tucker (Housing & Community Development). The plan covers affordable housing, homelessness prevention, and stabilization. Comment period is open; feedback will be incorporated for adoption in May. Council opened and closed the public hearing.
- Limited Obligation Bond Anticipation Note: Presented by Alison Bratcher (Finance). Request to draw $32.5M for Red Hat relocation and $125M for convention center phase 1, funded by Wake County hospitality taxes. Council approved unanimously.
- Annexation AX4825 and Rezoning Z4525 (Trailwood Drive): Staff presented details. Annexation: 1415, 1507 Trailwood Dr and 0 Crump Rd. Rezoning: from R4 (with NCOD) to R10 conditional, allowing up to 156 units (all affordable, with 39 deeply affordable). Planning commission recommended approval. Inconsistent with future land use map (low-scale to moderate-scale residential). Council discussed traffic safety, crash data, and environmental concerns. Councilmember Fort noted past denials due to traffic and stormwater. Councilmember Silver emphasized the need for affordable housing. Vote: Annexation passed (2 no's). Rezoning passed 5-3.
- TCZ1425 (New South New Hope Road): Text change to zoning conditions. Increases residential from 450 to 625 units (with grocery store trigger), reduces commercial from 360,000 to 285,000 sq ft. Planning commission recommended approval 8-1. Council discussed the need for a grocery store in a food desert, stormwater delays, and community concerns. Councilmember Branch noted the long history of trying to develop the site. Unanimous approval.
- Z2925 (Trailwood Drive, separate case): Rezoning of 2.8 acres from R4 to R10 conditional, limited to 32 units. Planning commission recommended approval 8-0. Council discussed transit access and sidewalks. Approved with 6-2 vote (exact count not specified but stated "six to vote on that").
- Z3125 (North Blunt Street): Rezoning from OX-3 to CX-3 with conditions (event space, short-term rental). Planning commission recommended denial; Historic Development Commission recommended approval. Council discussed enforcement challenges and historical noncompliance. Unanimous denial.
- Z4025 (Wake Forest Road): Rezoning from OX-3 with NCOD to OX-4 with conditions, removing NCOD. Planning commission recommended approval (split vote); RHDC recommended denial. Council heard concerns about historic preservation. Councilmember Branch noted the salvage condition and that denial does not guarantee preservation. Approved with 7-1 vote (one opposed).
- Z4925 (South King Charles Road): Rezoning from R4 with NCOD to R6 conditional, allowing up to 4 detached homes. Planning commission recommended approval 9-1. Council discussed NCOD inconsistencies and traffic safety. Approved with one opposed.
Key Outcomes
- HUD Action Plan: Public hearing held; no vote taken. Comment period continues; plan to return for adoption in May.
- Limited Obligation Bond Anticipation Note: Approved unanimously.
- Annexation AX4825: Approved (2 no's). Effective date April 7, 2026.
- Rezoning Z4525 (Trailwood): Approved 5-3. Includes conditions for affordable housing at 60% AMI, with 39 units at 30% AMI via RHA vouchers. Future land use map amended to moderate-scale residential.
- TCZ1425 (New South New Hope): Approved unanimously. Allows up to 625 residential units (with grocery store trigger), commercial cap 285,000 sq ft, and open space conditions.
- Z2925 (Trailwood): Approved (6-2). Conditions include 32-unit cap, 20-foot setback, screening, and light pollution controls.
- Z3125 (North Blunt Street): Denied unanimously.
- Z4025 (Wake Forest Road): Approved (7-1). Conditions include historic documentation and salvage, height stepback, and frontage requirements.
- Z4925 (South King Charles Road): Approved (one opposed). Conditions limit to 4 detached homes, 2-story height, 25-foot setback.
Meeting Transcript
I just hope it is Bill I'm too low. All right. All right, welcome everybody. We're gonna play a video just around the microphone. Not that this is rocket science, but it is a little tricky at times, so we've got a video that we'll play just to make sure everybody knows what's happening. Hi, Raleigh. Welcome to Council Chambers. At today's meeting, your elected leaders will have the opportunity to hear from you. Before the gavel, let's make sure everyone can hear you here in the room and watching online and on TV. When you step up to the podium, adjust the microphone so you're speaking right over it. If you lean in too close or pull back too far, or turn your head, we'll lose your voice. Just speak clearly, and we'll hear you. If the podium mic is out of reach, no problem. Our staff will bring you a handheld microphone. Want to speak at a future session? Head to Raleigh NC.gov and search public comments. Or sign up to speak when your item comes before council as a public hearing. Thank you for sharing your time and ideas with us. We're glad you're here. The meeting starts now. Okay. First item, we have the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development Action Plan, and we have Ashley Tucker from Housing and Community Development. So today we'll be talking about the funding priorities, accomplishments, and next steps for the annual action plan. So increasing affordable housing options, preventing and reducing homelessness, and increasing housing stabilization and supportive services. Under increasing affordable housing options. And these are where our grants, community enhancement grant, and human service agency grants, as well as home buyer counseling fall. So to conclude, I just want to briefly outline our timeline. We're currently in the comment period phase, which includes a combination of in-person and virtual meetings as well as a 30-day comment period. The next step is to incorporate the feedback that we receive into the plan that'll come back to council for adoption in May. That concludes my overview, and we just ask that council over the public hearing. Great. Thank you. We will go ahead and open the public hearing, and we have two uh members of the public signed up. Octavia Rainey is the first, and we have uh three minutes per speaker. Good afternoon. I'm gonna start off and I'm gonna stick to my three minutes. First of all, the NRSA. The plan sucks. It really sucks. Larry did not follow any fair housing guidelines. Number two, the city don't enforce the fair housing act. So I don't even think how you can move forward with any of your policies and housing without enforcing the act. It's terrible. Number three. This is a report from North Carolina State University on Newman Avenue. I was the co-chair of the Newman Avenue Alliance. So I know what went on and I know what happened to the city. So it was Edison Street and College Park. I went through my storage and bought this personally tonight because I wanted you to know that you didn't follow any of the guidelines in this either. Something is wrong with that picture.
openpublica.com