OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Raleigh City Council Meeting - May 5, 2026: Consent Agenda, Traffic Management, Comprehensive Plan, and Former DMV Site Update

City Council — Tuesday, May 5, 2026
BodyRaleigh, North Carolina
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, May 5, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 4:12:54

Transcript — Verbatim
10:46

All right, everybody, we will call the meeting to order.

10:52

Councilor Jonathan Lambert Melton will uh is absent and excused uh today, and we will start with the Pledge of Allegiance, and I can lead us.

11:24

We uh did not have anything pulled from the consent agenda, and that also included the donation from the Raleigh Police Foundation who is sitting here in the in the front row, so we appreciate that donation.

11:37

Um is there a motion to move the consent?

11:42

Second.

11:43

All in favor of that motion aye.

11:45

Aye.

11:46

All opposed, nay.

11:48

And that passes.

11:50

Thank you very much.

11:53

Uh report and recommendation of the Planning Commission.

12:01

Good afternoon, Mayor and Council.

12:03

Matthew Clem, Planning and Development here with Dwight Otwell, the Chair of the Raleigh Planning Commission.

12:09

So a look at our upcoming holidays uh for May and June.

12:12

We have Mother's Day this weekend.

12:13

So don't forget Mama.

12:15

Uh and then uh Juneteenth uh at the end of June, June 19th.

12:20

Um your scheduled public hearings uh for May uh nineteenth.

12:25

There are currently none scheduled for June 2nd.

12:28

Um we have the suggested public hearings here for the items I'll go over now.

12:32

Um first report of the planning commission is the uh text change.

12:37

This is a privately uh petition text change to the school lot area um minimum.

12:43

And uh planning commission has requested a sixty-day time extension to complete their review.

12:49

We have rezoning Z forty three twenty-five.

12:52

Uh this is a request to rezone three point seven nine acres from residential four to residential ten.

12:58

Uh Planning Commission recommends denial eight to one.

13:01

Uh we have suggested a public hearing date of June 2nd.

13:04

Uh Z forty four twenty-five, Jones Ridge Trail.

13:07

This is uh in the northeast of Raleigh on our boundary with uh town of Rollsville.

13:13

Uh your planning commission recommends approval eight to zero.

13:16

Uh we're suggesting a June 16th public hearing.

13:19

And then we have uh text change to zoning conditions uh for a property uh just across from Crabtree Valley Mall.

13:26

Uh 4.7 acres currently developed with uh uh commercial uses, retail uses on the site, Plan Commission recommends approval eight to zero uh with the suggested public hearing date of June two.

13:38

Um that's the report of the planning commission.

13:40

Uh myself and Chair Alwell are here to answer questions.

13:44

Questions for Mr.

13:45

Clem or Mr.

13:46

Otwell.

13:48

Okay, seeing none, is there a motion?

13:59

All in favor of the motion, aye.

14:01

Aye.

14:01

All opposed, nay.

14:03

All right, so that passes.

14:17

Any uh you want to come up for your next item?

14:20

Yep.

14:20

This is uh special item for rezoning Z thirty-seven twenty-five.

14:25

So this was before you in April.

14:27

The applicants have requested uh another public hearing.

14:30

They made a revision to the rezoning petition that made it less restrictive.

14:34

Um when that occurs at the council table, a second public hearing is required to decide the case.

14:40

Um we have a suggested public hearing date of May 19th.

14:44

This is uh along Avant Ferry Road.

14:47

Uh on the south side, uh existing zoning conditions for the site um have not changed.

14:53

There are two new zoning conditions uh related to building height and unit count.

15:00

So the applicants have requested an additional story and height going from an RX4 to an RX5 zoning district.

15:09

Zoning condition number five limits building height in feet to the height for the four-story district.

15:15

So in their site plan preparations and deliberations, discovered that the topography of the site may put them in a position where a five-story building is needed to have that occupied basement level.

15:29

So the experience from the street side of the development would be a 68-foot tall building, which is the maximum building height for a four-story uh development in the residential mixed use zone.

15:41

And the residential units are limited to 478, which was our estimate for a four-story building.

15:47

So effectively the request is changing in that they have an additional story for development, but the resulting development should appear and act like a four-story development.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████56%
Transportation Safety████████████15%
Community Engagement█████████11%
Affordable Housing█████████11%
Engineering And Infrastructure██2%
Personnel Matters██2%
Rezoning█1%
Economic Development█1%
Active Transportation█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Raleigh City Council Meeting - May 5, 2026

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM. Councilor Jonathan Lambert Melton was absent and excused. The Pledge of Allegiance was led, and the consent agenda was passed unanimously, including a donation from the Raleigh Police Foundation. The meeting covered reports from the Planning Commission, City Manager, and special presentations on the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP), the Comprehensive Plan update (Reflecting Raleigh Civic Assembly), and the former DMV site redevelopment.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent agenda was approved unanimously, which included a donation from the Raleigh Police Foundation.

Planning Commission Report

  • Text change (school lot area minimum): Planning Commission requested a 60-day time extension. No public hearing scheduled yet.
  • Rezoning Z-43-25 (3.79 acres, Residential-4 to Residential-10): Planning Commission recommended denial (8-1). Public hearing set for June 2, 2026.
  • Rezoning Z-44-25 (Jones Ridge Trail): Planning Commission recommended approval (8-0). Public hearing set for June 16, 2026.
  • Text change (zoning conditions, Crabtree Valley Mall area): Planning Commission recommended approval (8-0). Public hearing set for June 2, 2026.
  • All items were approved unanimously.

Special Item: Rezoning Z-37-25 (Avant Ferry Road)

  • The applicant requested a second public hearing due to a revision that increased building height from 4 to 5 stories (RX-4 to RX-5 zoning) but with conditions to maintain a four-story appearance (height limited to 68 feet, 478 residential units). The applicant stated it is a student housing project with a critical permitting timeline. Council set the public hearing for May 19, 2026, despite schedule concerns, after a motion by a council member.

Discussion Items

Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP)

  • Will Shoemaker (Transportation) presented the annual report, work plan, and program recommendations. Key points:
    • 16% year-over-year increase in requests.
    • 17 projects completed in March 2026; 15 streets ready for bid.
    • Speed reductions achieved on all completed streets; typical driver speed within 1 mph of posted speed limit.
    • Six school zones were prioritized and starred on the project list.
  • Balloting results: 15 of 20 projects met thresholds; 5 failed. Staff recommended approving 14 projects plus waiving policy for Glenwood Forest (due to multifamily land use), and approving 20 projects for the 2026 priority list.
  • Council discussed the five failed projects (Pasquatank, Northwood, Laurel Hills, St. James Church, Rainwater) and the reasons for failure (neighborhood opposition, lack of participation). A motion was made to approve 14 projects, plus Glenwood Forest, and four of the five failed projects (excluding Rainwater), plus the 2026 priority list. The motion passed unanimously.
  • Policy update: Staff presented three options for future NTMP policy (no change, two-tiered automatic approval for high-risk streets, full automatic project). Staff recommended Option 3 (automatic project). Council decided to send the topic to the Transportation and Transit Committee for further discussion on May 28, 2026.

Comprehensive Plan Update (Reflecting Raleigh Civic Assembly)

  • Sarah Shaughnessy (Planning and Development) presented the outcomes of the Civic Assembly, a representative group of 40 residents selected through a lottery who participated in 40 hours of learning and deliberation. The assembly produced 29 recommendations grouped into seven themes. Key findings:
    • Endorsed current growth framework (focus development on transit corridors and growth centers).
    • Supported housing density, multimodal connectivity, and preservation of neighborhood character.
    • Recommendations included leveraging greenways, activating transit stops, and planning for complete neighborhoods.
  • Council received and acknowledged the recommendations, directing staff to carry forward land use policies into the next comprehensive plan.

Former DMV Site Update

  • Ken Bowers (Planning and Development) provided an update on the site:
    • Demolition and abatement about 50% complete; expected completion by end of November 2026.
    • The site will serve as a laydown area for New Bern Avenue BRT construction.
    • Interim activation plans: community cookout on May 30, 2026; quarterly anchor events in 2027; community-led programming beyond 2028.
    • Market study findings: mid-rise multifamily has weak financial feasibility under current market conditions (high interest rates, construction costs). Lower-density townhomes are more viable. Three scenarios were modeled:
      1. 9% tax credit project: 60 affordable units, 209 market-rate apartments, 20,000 sq ft retail/community space; positive land value of $4.3 million.
      2. 4% tax credit project: 110 affordable units, townhomes, and market-rate apartments; requires substantial city subsidy (estimated $6-11 million).
      3. City-built parking deck: reduces subsidy but costs $11.2 million.
    • Staff recommended issuing an RFI to gauge market interest and fast-tracking an RFP for two State Street parcels (small-scale infill).
    • Councilmember Ford emphasized the need for community-serving retail and affordable housing, and suggested consulting Martin Street Baptist Church regarding the State Street parcels.
  • The update was received as information.

Councilmember Reports

  • Councilmember Ford: Moved to direct staff to bring a UDO text change to facilitate child care. Motion passed unanimously.
  • Councilmember Jones: Announced that an employee satisfaction survey is already being developed by HR; no formal motion needed. Also promoted a book club and District D community dinner.
  • Councilmember Silver: Requested a future report on Hillsborough Street improvements for multimodal safety, especially for cyclists.

Appointments

  • Arts Commission: Three nominees (Jay Campbell, Austin Fovort, Nardra Johnson) will return for a vote.
  • Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission: Elijah Geist nominated.
  • Environmental Advisory Board: Two nominees (O'Kee Louie Okpoli, Margot Shrift).
  • Planning Commission: Three nominees (Devon Murray, Sanford Baird, Anna Willis).
  • Substance Use Advisory Commission: Jean Hammer nominated.
  • Police Advisory Board: Council accepted removal requests for two members and elevated an alternate.
  • Stormwater Management and Advisory Commission: Resignation accepted; vacancy will be filled. Councilmember Jones nominated Dr. Zainab Ali Dinah.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda passed unanimously.
  • Planning Commission report approved unanimously.
  • Public hearing for Z-37-25 set for May 19, 2026.
  • NTMP: Approved 15 construction projects (14 plus Glenwood Forest) and 20 priority projects for 2026; policy discussion referred to Transportation and Transit Committee on May 28, 2026.
  • Civic Assembly recommendations received and acknowledged; staff to incorporate into comprehensive plan.
  • Former DMV site update received; RFI to be issued; community engagement to continue.
  • Motion to direct staff to develop UDO text change for child care passed unanimously.
  • Employee satisfaction survey development confirmed.
  • Appointments: various nominations and removals approved.

Meeting Transcript

All right, everybody, we will call the meeting to order. Councilor Jonathan Lambert Melton will uh is absent and excused uh today, and we will start with the Pledge of Allegiance, and I can lead us. We uh did not have anything pulled from the consent agenda, and that also included the donation from the Raleigh Police Foundation who is sitting here in the in the front row, so we appreciate that donation. Um is there a motion to move the consent? Second. All in favor of that motion aye. Aye. All opposed, nay. And that passes. Thank you very much. Uh report and recommendation of the Planning Commission. Good afternoon, Mayor and Council. Matthew Clem, Planning and Development here with Dwight Otwell, the Chair of the Raleigh Planning Commission. So a look at our upcoming holidays uh for May and June. We have Mother's Day this weekend. So don't forget Mama. Uh and then uh Juneteenth uh at the end of June, June 19th. Um your scheduled public hearings uh for May uh nineteenth. There are currently none scheduled for June 2nd. Um we have the suggested public hearings here for the items I'll go over now. Um first report of the planning commission is the uh text change. This is a privately uh petition text change to the school lot area um minimum. And uh planning commission has requested a sixty-day time extension to complete their review. We have rezoning Z forty three twenty-five. Uh this is a request to rezone three point seven nine acres from residential four to residential ten. Uh Planning Commission recommends denial eight to one. Uh we have suggested a public hearing date of June 2nd. Uh Z forty four twenty-five, Jones Ridge Trail. This is uh in the northeast of Raleigh on our boundary with uh town of Rollsville. Uh your planning commission recommends approval eight to zero. Uh we're suggesting a June 16th public hearing. And then we have uh text change to zoning conditions uh for a property uh just across from Crabtree Valley Mall. Uh 4.7 acres currently developed with uh uh commercial uses, retail uses on the site, Plan Commission recommends approval eight to zero uh with the suggested public hearing date of June two. Um that's the report of the planning commission. Uh myself and Chair Alwell are here to answer questions. Questions for Mr. Clem or Mr. Otwell. Okay, seeing none, is there a motion? All in favor of the motion, aye. Aye. All opposed, nay. All right, so that passes. Any uh you want to come up for your next item? Yep. This is uh special item for rezoning Z thirty-seven twenty-five. So this was before you in April. The applicants have requested uh another public hearing. They made a revision to the rezoning petition that made it less restrictive. Um when that occurs at the council table, a second public hearing is required to decide the case.

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