Tuesday, May 15, 2012

REMINDER: INFILL STANDARDS

Planning Commission will discuss UDO residential infill compatibility standards tonight, May 15, at its evening meeting, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, in the City Council Chamber

Details for these two meetings are posted at…

http://raleighudo.com/blog/raleigh-planning-commission-continues-review-raleighudomeetings-11-and-12

When you visit the page above, you will now find links to videos for each UDO review meeting and links to each chapter in the UDO Draft document in the right sidebar.

Over the weekend, a PETITION in support of the infill compatibility standards went live online.  If you support these proposed standards, you can sign the petition at:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/infill-compatibility-standards/

*    *     *

Before the economic downturn in 2008, many neighborhoods saw an extraordinary number of teardowns replaced with homes that were out of character with the rest of the neighborhood. Some additions to existing homes produced similar results.

The intent of the proposed UDO residential infill compatibility standards is to put rules in place that “accommodate and encourage compatible development in existing residential neighborhoods, while reinforcing the established character of the neighborhood and mitigating adverse impacts on adjacent homes.” The UDO draft document includes specific rules for street setbacks and the height and length of the sides of buildings. The details are available in Chapter 2: Residential Districts, pages 10 – 11.

To receive comparable protection today, neighborhoods are required to go through the laborious process of creating a Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (NCOD) or, if the neighborhood qualifies, a Historic Overlay District (HOD).

If you are concerned about preserving the character of your neighborhood and support more predictability in the City’s development regulations, it’s important that you engage yourself in this conversation. You can do this by attending Tuesday’s meeting or by sending an e-mail to the Planning Commission. If it’s easier for you, you can send your comments to Christine Darges, Christine.Darges@raleighnc.gov. She will ensure your comments get delivered to the Planning Commission.

Philip W Poe - Five Points CAC

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Please register your support for Infill Compatibility Standards on this simple petition, and share the link with others. We need substantial support for these standards to take before the Planning Commission on Tuesday May 15th.

The link to the petition is: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/infill-compatibility-standards/

Please see our site for more information on this important issue.
communityscale.com



Friday, May 11, 2012

Infill compatibity standards in UDO before Planning Commission 5/15/12

Planning Commission will discuss UDO residential infill compatibility standards next Tuesday, May 15, at its evening meeting, 6:30-8:30 pm

Before the economic downturn in 2008, many neighborhoods saw an extraordinary number of teardowns replaced with homes that were out of character with the rest of the neighborhood. Some additions to existing homes produced similar results.

The intent of the proposed UDO residential infill compatibility standards is to put rules in place that “accommodate and encourage compatible development in existing residential neighborhoods, while reinforcing the established character of the neighborhood and mitigating adverse impacts on adjacent homes.” The UDO draft document includes specific rules for street setbacks and the height and length of the sides of buildings. The details are available in Chapter 2: Residential Districts, pages 10 – 11.

To receive comparable protection today, neighborhoods are required to go through the laborious process of creating a Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (NCOD) or, if the neighborhood qualifies, a Historic Overlay District (HOD).

If you are concerned about preserving the character of your neighborhood and support more predictability in the City’s development regulations, it’s important that you engage yourself in this conversation. You can do this by attending Tuesday’s meeting or by sending an e-mail to the Planning Commission. If it’s easier for you, you can send your comments to Christine Darges, Christine(dot)Darges(at)raleighnc.gov. She will ensure your comments get delivered to the Planning Commission.

Philip W Poe
Five Points CAC co-chair
pwpoe@att.net
www.fivepointscac.org



_ _ _ _ _

SCALE has created a one-click email form which you can use here.

Our Message Packet on Infill can be found here.

The deadline for comments this round is Tuesday May 15th. 



Wednesday, May 9, 2012

ACTION NEEDED: Infill Standards

Community SCALE has created this information packet to quickly inform and educate residents and policy-makers of the issues facing Raleigh neighborhoods.




WHAT YOU CAN DO:

  1. Please write the Planning Commission to let them know of your support.
  2. Please share this alert with your neighbors.
  3. Stay informed and try to participate at May 15 evening meeting at City Council chambers.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

ACTION: UDO / Infill Compatibility Standards

Infill Compatibility Standards are being discussed in the Planning Commission this month.

Staff reports on cluster development, garage placement, and streetscape interpretations will be presented today after the adjournment of their 9 am meeting. (Staff Report HERE)

Planning staff and Commission Members need to near from you and your neighbors that you support Infill Compatibility Standards in the Unified Development Ordinance
  • Infill standards
  • Compatibility standards
  • Height Compatibility
  • Setback compatibility
  • Parking standards

A simple "I support Infill Compatibility Standards" email is all that is needed. Please try our link below.
 
Write the Planning Commission to let them know of your support.

If the above pre-addressed link does not work with your browser, you may use this email link.

You also can continue to submit comments to Christine Darges, Development Services Manager. Department of City Planning, City of Raleigh.
E-mail: Christine.Darges(at)raleighnc(dot)gov 


"We welcome growth and diversity through policies and programs that will protect, preserve and enhance Raleigh's existing neighborhoods, natural amenities, rich history, and cultural and human resources for future generations."
-- from City of Raleigh Mission Statement

Monday, May 7, 2012

ALERT: Raleigh Planning Commission / UDO meeting #10

Details for this meeting are posted at…

http://raleighudo.com/blog/raleigh-planning-commission-continues-review-raleighudomeeting-10

This meeting will be recorded and archived in the RTN Streaming Video library under “Other Government Meetings.”

The review of the UDO will begin immediately after the adjournment of the regular Planning Commission meeting. The "best guess" for a start time is 10 am. The agenda is limited to the following deferred items:
  • open space requirements for cluster developments, 
  • location of garages for residential buildings, 
  • transparency requirements for different building types, 
  • procedures for amending the master plans of Planned Develop districts, 
  • streetscape treatments for a Parking Limited frontage, 
  • and remapping process for existing conditional use zonings.

WHEN: Tuesday, May 8, 9:00 am to noon.

WHERE: 222 West Hargett Street, City Council Chamber

STAFF REPORT FOR MEETING: click here. (The staff report now lists the deferred items at the end of the report)

You can continue to submit comments to Christine Darges.
E-mail: Christine.Darges(at)raleighnc(dot)gov
Phone: (919) 516-2634

Please avoid submitting duplicate comments.

Raleigh Television Network Coverage (RTNSV)
These meetings are not televised live. They are recorded and archiveded only.
Other References:


Thursday, May 3, 2012

ACTION ALERT: UDO in Planning Commission


Because of pressure from some in the development community, the Planning Commission has requested more information from city staff about certain elements of the UDO. At this stage of the process, the PC is being asked to remove INFILL COMPATIBILITY standards from the UDO. SCALE has been monitoring and contributing to the UDO process, as have many neighbors, and has issued the following statement to the Planning Commission. Your support of this position is vital at this point. 


SCALE stated our support of the UDO Infill Compatibility Standards during the City Council Public Hearing on February 21st. We reiterate that we believe compatibility standards will be extremely important to ensure predictable infill development in Raleigh’s established neighborhoods. SCALE is monitoring the Planning Commission meetings on RTN, and we are concerned about an effort to completely remove Infill Compatibility Standards from the UDO. We continue to see the need for these standards as part of the UDO and encourage you to approve standards that show respect for adjacent property owners, maintain the positive character of our neighborhoods, and allow for responsible updating of our communities.


Please contact the Planning Commission let them know you support the Infill Compatibility Standards (and other standards being challenged at this time). Thanks for all you do to protect the quality of living in Raleigh. 


. . .


Links and further information follow. The most direct link to all things UDO can be found at RaleighUDO.com. Twitter stream available. 



View and Download January 3rd UDO Draft Documents(also includes links to 1st public draft and other supporting documentation)

Raleigh Planning Commission continues review of RaleighUDO ... meeting 9

WHAT: Although the Planning Commission announced the cancellation of tomorrow's Commuity of the Whole meeting,  the review of the UDO will continue starting at 9:00 am. The agenda includes Chapter 4: Special Districts and several deferred items.
WHEN: Tuesday, May 1, 9:00 am to noon. 
WHERE: 222 West Hargett Street, City Council Chamber

STAFF REPORT FOR MEETING: click here. (The staff report now lists the deferred items at the end of the report)
You can continue to submit comments to Christine Darges…
E-mail: Christine.Darges@raleighnc.gov 
Phone: (919) 516-2634
Please avoid submitting duplicate comments.
Raleigh Television Network Coverage (RTNSV)
These meetings are not televised live. They are recorded and archiveded only.
Other References: