Raleigh City Council Public Hearings – September 1, 2026

This summary is based solely on the supplied transcript; no agenda or minutes were available. The meeting included public hearings and votes on a historic landmark designation, a HOME-ARP amendment, three rezoning cases, and a continuation to September 1, 2026.

Landmark Designation – Lustron House

• Colette Canaan of Planning and Development presented the request to designate the 1949 George and Jesse Morris Lustron House, a two-bedroom all-steel post-World War II manufactured dwelling at 314 Haywood Street. The house was relocated about seven miles from Buffalo Road to Haywood Street in 2017 and restored with authentic Lustron parts.
• She said process changes under TC 373? No, TC 324: the Raleigh Historic Development Commission now sends designation reports directly to the State Historic Preservation Office, the joint public hearing was replaced by separate hearings, and City Council can adopt the ordinance immediately after the public hearing.
• No member of the public signed up for or against the designation.
• The designation was approved unanimously.

HOME Investment Partnerships Amendment

• Will Hardy of Housing and Community Development reported the city received approximately $5.3 million through the Home American Rescue Plan Program. HUD accepted the city’s allocation plan in April 2023, and staff now propose moving $3.6 million from non-congregate shelter acquisition and development to HOME-ARP supportive services, primarily rental assistance.
• Eligibility would remain for people experiencing homelessness, people at risk of homelessness, people fleeing domestic violence or human trafficking, and others at greatest risk of housing instability. A new preference would prioritize people experiencing homelessness, with referrals based on vulnerability and service needs.
• The public hearing was opened and closed. Max Pollard was signed up but was not present.
• Council took no approval action; staff will return the final amendment for consideration on September 15, 2026.

Rezoning Z1925 – Heritage Park

• Matthew Burns with Planning and Development described a request to rezone just under 12 acres from residential mixed-use three stories with transit overlay to downtown mixed-use 12 stories with conditions and transit overlay. The site is owned by Raleigh Housing Authority and includes Heritage Park. Planning Commission recommended unanimous approval.
• Proposed conditions would prohibit payday lending, vape and tobacco shops, and electronic sweepstakes cafes; require 122 affordable units for households earning 50 percent AMI for at least 30 years after issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the 700th unit; and cap peak-hour trips.
• Jason Barron of Morningstar Law Group spoke in support on behalf of the Raleigh Housing Authority, citing comprehensive plan consistency and an opportunity to provide affordable housing near transit and downtown.
• Jeff Durkin spoke in support, urging continued investment in affordable housing and praising Raleigh Housing Authority's care in relocating existing residents.
• A community supporter, Jen Truman, said the increased density and height made sense near downtown, Dix Park, and transit connections.
• Will Choi spoke in support, stating land is finite and this is how to connect downtown to Dix Park and support affordable housing.
• Asked about the 700th-unit trigger, Kenya Pleasant of the Housing Authority said HUD requires one-for-one replacement, is part of the approved HUD Section 18 application, and is required regardless of the rezoning.
• Council approved the rezoning unanimously.

Rezoning Z1926 – Glenwood Avenue

• Matthew Clem presented a request to rezone a rear 0.43-acre portion of a 2.02-acre split-zoned site on Glenwood Avenue to community mixed-use three stories with parking limits and frontage, matching the rest of the site. The front portion is about 1.59 acres; the rear is currently zoned R-4 and wooded. Planning Commission recommended approval 6-1? No, 6-3.
• Will Quick, attorney for JDV Commercial, said the applicant initially sought to extend the parking lot, heard neighborhood concerns, and now no parking expansion is planned. He said the blood connection tenant had leased another space in Cary.
• Tim Martin spoke in opposition on behalf of Glen Forest, Oak Park, and Crabtree Swim and Tennis Club. He opposed removing the residential buffer, opposed general, no-condition rezoning, raised stormwater concerns, and requested denial unless conditions included enforceable protections, completed stormwater studies, bus-operation limits, buffer preservation, and real transitions.
• Council discussion addressed stormwater treatment, split-zoned history, setbacks, and neighborhood transition standards. Councilmember Jones expressed concerns about whether removing the residential zoning was not in the public interest. Councilmember Silver supported the case as consistent with the comprehensive plan, noting required neighborhood transitions protect residential uses.
• The rezoning was approved by a 7-1 vote; the transcript records one no vote but does not identify the dissenting council member.

Rezoning Z1426 – Gorman Street Assemblage

• Matthew Clem presented a request to rezone about 3.5 acres from RX-3 with transit and special residential parking overlays to RX-7 with conditions, increasing height from three to seven stories. The site currently has 48 occupied residential units and is near NC State with access to future bus rapid transit. Planning Commission recommended approval 6-0.
• Applicant representative Colin Marsh of Parker Poe said the comprehensive plan supports higher residential density and height here, with conditions: additional prohibited uses, a high-visibility crosswalk with a rectangular rapid-flashing beacon at Sherman Avenue, tenant notice and relocation assistance, and an affordable housing payment of $40,000 per unit for one percent of units above 187 units. Proposed redevelopment would be about 300 units.
• Discussion included Councilmember Patton questioning whether the one percent affordable housing contribution should apply to all units, not only the overbuild, and whether relocation assistance amounts based on staff data ranged from about $1,400 to $4,500.
• Councilmember Lambert Melton said redevelopment could occur without rezoning, and the conditions help displaced residents while adding more housing in a transit-rich area.
• The rezoning was approved unanimously.

Rezoning Z1826 – Pool Road

• Staff noted the consent agenda scheduled the related annexation for September 15, but the concurrent rezoning was scheduled for tonight, so council needed to open and continue the hearing to September 15.
• Council voted unanimously to continue Z1826 to September 15, 2026.

Key Outcomes

• Landmark designation for the Lustron House/George and Jesse Morris House: approved unanimously.
• HOME-ARP substantial amendment: public hearing held; no council vote; final amendment scheduled for September 15, 2026.
• Z1925 Heritage Park rezoning: approved unanimously.
• Z1926 Glenwood Avenue rezoning: approved 7-1.
• Z1426 Gorman Street Assemblage rezoning: approved unanimously.
• Z1826 Pool Road rezoning: continued unanimously to September 15, 2026.