Raleigh City Council Meeting – September 1, 2026
Raleigh City Council Meeting – September 1, 2026
The meeting opened with a ceremonial presentation of the Stanley Cup by Brian Fork, CEO of Carolina Hurricanes Holdings, who thanked the city for its long‑standing support. After the Pledge of Allegiance, the council addressed a pulled consent‑agenda item, received reports from the Planning Commission and City Manager, conducted public hearings on two rezoning cases, heard council member reports, and approved routine items.
Consent Calendar
- CiveB – Funding Transfer: Councilor Silver pulled this item, which moves $5 million from the Old Wake Forest Road widening project to the Lake Wheeler Road project. Staff (Byron Sanders, Engineering Services; Kenneth Ritchie, Transportation) assured the council that the Old Wake Forest project would not be delayed: the funds can be replaced through a 50‑50 federal‑matching request to the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) within 60–90 days after bidding in early 2027. Councilor Silver asked for a written commitment that the city would exhaust all options to fully fund the project. Staff confirmed that commitment. The council then voted unanimously to approve the consent agenda, including this item.
- Other Consent Items: Including additional ADA parking spaces downtown, master service agreements for invasive species removal, and routine approvals – all passed unanimously.
Public Hearings
Zoning Case Z 826 – Rock Quarry Road (Carried Over)
- The applicant (represented by Hunter Winstead, Morningstar Law Group) added a condition limiting hours of operation for non‑residential uses to 6 a.m. – 11 p.m. and provided an illustration of neighborhood transition buffers. No opposition speakers appeared. Councilor Branch noted that he had requested the applicant meet with residents and thanked them for the added condition. The council voted unanimously to approve the rezoning.
Zoning Case Z 5125 – Spring Forest Road (Carried Over)
- The applicant added further prohibited uses (payday lending, internet sweepstakes, vehicle‑oriented uses) and an hours‑of‑operation condition (6 a.m. – 11 p.m.). Hunter Winstead spoke in support, highlighting the walkable, mixed‑use design. Opposition speakers included:
- Scott Ayers – expressed belief that the community does not want commercial; argued it would decrease property values, increase crime, and cause environmental problems.
- David Bender – noted the city’s stated housing shortage and urged that the site remain residential (R‑6) as per the future land‑use map.
- Councilor Patton stated the constraints made the proposal reasonable and in the public interest, and asked staff to explore mid‑block crosswalks. Councilor Silver noted that the transition zones in the comprehensive plan effectively protect nearby residential areas. The motion to approve carried 7‑1 (one opposed).
Discussion Items
Planning Commission Report
- Bynam Walters (Planning & Development) and Chair Dwight Otwell presented upcoming rezoning cases and recommended public‑hearing dates (September 15 and October 6). Notable discussion:
- Z 43 (Lichford Road): Planning Commission recommended denial 4‑3 over concerns about rural character and safety. The applicant reduced density from R‑10 to R‑6 and added a gate condition. Councilor Silver and Chair Otwell clarified the vote and reasoning.
- Z 50 (Capitol Boulevard): Recommended approval despite inconsistency with the future‑land‑use map. Council set public hearing dates as staff suggested. The motion passed unanimously.
City Manager Report
- Fourth Ward Entertainment District: Carrie Painter (Complex) announced the new branding (purple and gold colors) and 44 street signs going up starting September 2, marking the entertainment district that arose from community input. Council members praised the intentional place‑making and atonement for past harm.
- Convention Center Naming: The facility is now the Atlantic Union Bank Convention Center. The bank also tripled its initial donation to $15,000 for Meals on Wheels/Wake County Caring Center.
- Youth Engagement Forum: Taisha Mosley (Community Engagement) announced a community forum on October 12 at the Five Point Center to discuss curfew, youth resources, and gaps. Councilors Ford and Silver stressed the need to reach at‑risk and marginalized youth who may not attend typical programs, and to work with the school system to identify them. Councilor Jones inquired about cross‑jurisdictional police collaboration.
- Federal Grant: Raleigh Water received a $38.7 million federal grant (from the Buy Your Energy project). A spending plan will be brought forward.
- Police Collaboration: Chief Boyce updated that ongoing discussions with Durham and Morrisville police address juvenile crime and vehicle break‑ins; a Wake County chiefs meeting is scheduled.
Mayor and Council Reports
- Councilor Patton: Highlighted ADA parking and invasive‑species removal approvals; announced community office hours September 16 at Bedford Food and Drink.
- Councilor Ford: Thanked the mayor for a Haitian‑of‑the‑Triangle proclamation; raised concerns about low‑hanging branches ("branch slapping") obstructing sidewalks and asked for review of landscaping standards.
- Councilor Silver: Announced district E community conversation on September 9 (location changed to Laurel Hills) and a "Decoding Democracy" book club on September 12.
- Councilor Jones: Reminded of Labor Day weekend and the African American Cultural Festival.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda (including CiveB funding transfer) – Approved unanimously.
- Public hearing dates set for September 15 and October 6 – Approved unanimously.
- Zoning Z 826 (Rock Quarry Road) – Approved unanimously.
- Zoning Z 5125 (Spring Forest Road) – Approved 7‑1.
- Annexation AX 0626 – Withdrawn by applicant, no hearing needed.
- Minutes from August 18 meeting – Approved unanimously.
- Sale of 1115 S. Wilmington Street for $17,500 – Approved unanimously (no upset bids).
- Appointments: Arts Commission and Design Review Commission vacancies carried over; Councilor Silver nominated Andrew Osterlund for Design Review (late submission, to be revisited); Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Commission vacancy carried over.
- Closed session held; no reportable action.
Meeting Transcript
The Stanley Cup winning Carolina Hurricanes. And we have Brian Fork here, the Chief Executive Officer of Carolina Hurricanes Holdings. If he just wants to say a few words, and we really appreciate you, Brian, coming to City Hall, allowing all of us to get up close and personal with the cup. Going back 30 years, it was this body that had the vision to step up and say we want to bring an NHL team to Raleigh, which was not as obvious of an idea as it is right now. And so we want to thank that crew from this body that did that. But then going back as recently as two and a half years ago and all along the way, you all in particular are stepping up and reinvesting and doubling down on having the hurricanes here, the arena that we play in, and giving us the opportunity to do these things, and then our ownership being able to partner with the city and say we want to do this and we want to do this for the long term. And if not for the vision of this body 30 years ago, and you all stepping up and having that vision to continue to believe two and a half, three years ago, we wouldn't be here doing this. And that's why I think the the watch parties that we had during the finals when the team was on the road and we've got 18,000 people in the arena, 12,000 people outside watching on a screen, red hats full, watch parties all around, and then 200,000 people showing up together at the parade downtown. Like what's that happened because what's special about this is yeah, we have an amazing hockey team that got it done and amazing staff, but that doesn't happen without the city and city councils for the last 30 years, the county, the county commission, the state, the hundreds of thousands of fans that we have that invest in the team on their own, our business partners. So this really doesn't happen without you guys. It doesn't happen without our community. It really is our community's championship, the city, the county, the state's championship. And so I just we're excited to be able to take it around town and the county and and let everybody see it because it is the collective win for all of us. So thank you very much. Obviously, worked and uh uh as an attorney and uh worked in the General Assembly, um, understands uh the politics of our state as well, and now is doing important work at Lenovo Center with this major renovation, uh you know, the concerts, and of course uh the hurricane season, which starts September twenty-ninth again. And uh so we just appreciate you. I do have a letter just uh uh of appreciation for you and everything you're doing for the city of Raleigh and the state of North Carolina, and then um would love if we could get a photo. Diving for the photo. Uh no. I'll come down here. Put them in the middle yard. Yeah, this is coming out a little bit. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. Do we need I know the uh the couple exit the chamber, so do we need to pause for a moment while they the handlers come in? Okay, well, that is the handler right there. Other duties as assigned. All right. Well, uh, next we have the Pledge of Allegiance. Um Council Branch, if I can ask you to the United States of America. And to the Republic, for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay. Uh next, uh, we had one item pulled from the consent agenda by Councillor Silver on uh CiveB, I believe it was, right? Um does is there a motion on the remainder? Say. All in favor, aye. All opposed, nay. Okay. And then do we want to take up that item? Yes. Uh I appreciate staff of supplying a response. I know this is uh in terms of specifically, we understand the needs of Lake Wheeler. We understand that there was some additional work required by Department of Environmental Uh Quality. The concern that I have is that there is a transfer of five million dollars that's going from a project that money went from six forks into this project, and now uh some of the money from the old Wake Forest Road widening in particular is now being moved uh to the Lake Wheeler project. Uh I guess from my con the constituents who are very concerned about the traffic issues in that area. We've had many members of the public coming here. Just want to understand in terms of that five million. I understand the project for Wake F uh for Olwick Forest and Road may be moving forward at early 2027.
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