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.

UDO Review Continues in Planning Commission

WHAT: Meetings #2 and #3. The Planning Commission will complete its review of Chapter 1: Introductory Provisions and then begin its review of Chapter 2: Residential Districts.

WHEN: Tuesday, March 20, 9:00 am to noon and 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm.

WHERE: 222 West Hargett Street, City Council Chamber (map).

STAFF REPORTS: Chapter 1 Staff Report includes public comments for Chapter 1 only; Chapter 2 Staff Report also includes comments from Chapter 1 that were not completed at the March 13th Planning Commission meeting.

You can continue to submit comments to Christine Darges…

E-mail: Christine.Darges@raleighnc.gov
Phone: (919) 516-2634

Please avoid submitting duplicate comments.

Other References:

• UDO webpage on the City of Raleigh website
• Video of Initial public hearing for the UDO (RTNSV)
• Planning Commission’s review schedule
• 2030 Comprehensive Plan

RALEIGH UDO REVIEW FEB 21-2012

FROM THE FIVE-POINTS CAC

* * *

The City of Raleigh released the 2nd draft of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), the new development regulations proposed for the City of Raleigh, on January 3rd. This is the “official “ public hearing draft.

The initial public hearing for the UDO, a special joint meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission, is scheduled on Tuesday, February 21st at 6:30 pm in the City Council Chamber. Following the public hearing, the draft is automatically referred to the Planning Commission. It has the obligation to return its recommendations back to City Council no later than early June.

The City recently uploaded two new documents to Raleigh’s New Development Code webpage…

·        An overview of the public hearing draft

·        A summary of revisions included in the public hearing draft

The UDO will determine how well Raleigh grows during the 21st century. If you don’t have time to review the draft, consider reading these documents


Philip W Poe
Five Points CAC co-chair
Be Informed! Be Heard!

POV: Raleigh UDO Review

Point of View | June 21, 2011 | newsobserver.com

A new model for Raleigh neighborhoods

BY PHILIP LETSINGER
Tags: news | opinion - editorial | point of view
RALEIGH -- The Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) currently under review is the proposed tool to implement goals and policies of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan for the City of Raleigh. As a resident of one of Raleigh's longer established neighborhoods, my focus in reviewing the UDO is identifying issues most directly impacting established neighborhoods such as mine.

One major Comprehensive Plan objective is accommodation of the inevitable growth within Raleigh's limited resources while avoiding the well-documented negative aspects of urban sprawl. Another objective that must be addressed through the UDO is maintenance and preservation of Raleigh's established neighborhoods. These two frequently conflicting objectives - maintenance of established neighborhoods and increased density - present serious challenges to neighborhoods.

The draft UDO is considered "zoning district neutral" for residential neighborhoods. Residential districts R-2 (two units per acre) through R-10 (10 units per acre) are to be brought forward as currently zoned without changes in the zoning map, with some exceptions, and the UDO will apply upon adoption. In the UDO, residential uses, yards, building heights and minimum lot sizes are generally the same as or similar to the present ordinance.

However densities increase in several ways. Minimum lot sizes would be reduced by 8 percent in R-4 districts (10,890 square feet to 10,000 sf), by 17 percent in R-6 districts (7,260 sf to 6,000 sf) and by 20 percent in R-10 districts (5,000 sf to 4,000 sf). These reductions in minimum lot sizes would not have a great impact on established neighborhoods except where built-out lot sizes are much larger than the zoning district minimum. For example, many areas inside the Beltline are zoned R-6 and even R-10 but developed at R-4 standards.

In neighborhoods built out at a density lower than currently zoned, there is economic incentive to recombine lots and subdivide to the zoning district minimum lot size, possibly resulting in development out of character with the established neighborhood. The proposed reduction of minimum lot sizes renews and provides increased incentive in all neighborhoods to recombine and subdivide. Residents and city officials must carefully evaluate whether current residential zoning is congruent with actual development and, if not, is it in the best, long-term interests of the neighborhood and the city.

Raleigh's current policies generally support preservation of sound existing residential neighborhoods with changes limited to compatible infill, but this has the potential to change with the UDO as drafted.

The UDO effectively doubles the potential density of R-2 through R-10 districts for single-family detached dwellings by permitting either "accessory dwellings" or "backyard cottages" as-of-right (no conditions) for each detached dwelling. Currently "utility apartments" are permitted as a conditional use in single-family detached dwellings and are limited to one-fourth of the area of the total dwelling and occupation by no more than two people. When there is a utility apartment, the primary dwelling must be owner-occupied.

The UDO includes neither the owner-occupancy requirement nor an occupancy limit for accessory dwellings and backyard cottages. These omissions could encourage speculative development of rental units without the on-site supervision that an owner-occupant would typically provide. Accessory apartments and backyard cottages provide possible diversity of dwelling types, but there must be adequate standards to maintain neighborhood character.

The UDO includes a new housing type for R-10 and R-mixed-use districts. The Cottage Court is a group of small detached or attached houses centered around a common open space. A minimum site of 18,000 sf allows five dwellings, an effective lot size of 3,600 sf per dwelling.

Some established neighborhoods are already zoned R-10 but developed with large lots, and as few as two lots could be combined for a Cottage Court. While providing diverse housing types, this proposed configuration is an incentive to change the character of a neighborhood through teardowns, recombinations and establishment of a new housing pattern.

The UDO includes compatibility standards providing some protection for established residential neighborhoods through contextual design standards regulating front setbacks, height and side wall length. The UDO carries forward the Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District and the Historic Overlay District and adds the Limited Historic Overlay District as resources for neighborhood preservation.

In recent years first two types of overlay districts have often been challenging, expensive and sometimes impossible for neighborhoods to bring to completion. The Limited HOD, while intended to provide a lower level of protection and to be less difficult to implement, does not yet appear to be any more workable.

The UDO attempts to address some of the current zoning problems while also looking toward the future as expressed in the Comprehensive Plan. Citizens and elected officials need to carefully examine and evaluate the potential effects of changes in the UDO and related zoning map changes. Individuals and neighborhood groups would be well advised to review existing zoning and determine how proposed standards in the UDO will impact their specific neighborhood - positively or negatively. How would increased density affect an area - property values, stormwater, street parking, traffic, noise and demands for public services such as schools and parks? Where would increases in density be most appropriate?

The initial comment period for the public review draft of the UDO closed June 6. Fortunately, opportunities to comment on a revised draft continue. The website at www.RaleighUDO.com offers an opportunity to view others' comments and respond concerning Raleigh's proposed Unified Development Ordinance.

Philip Letsinger a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners. Now retired, he worked as both an architect and planner in the Triangle area.

Help Wanted Immediately ... UDO

A dedicated resource has been developed for review of the UDO. Please help spread the word.

The schedule has only allocated two months for the public's review of the initial draft of the UDO.
Read more at …

http://raleighudo.com/content/udo-help-wanted

Get involved with UDO -- what we decide this spring will shape Raleigh's future.

Hello Raleigh, It's UDO time

THIS JUST IN -- from the City of Raleigh Planning Department

- - - -

Learn and ask questions about the Public Review Draft
Unified Development Ordinance

Three meeting times to choose from—
SAME MEETING, DIFFERENT TIMES FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE

Wednesday, April 20, 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts, Fletcher Opera Theater, 2 East South St.
Consultant’s Presentation begins at 12:00 noon

Wednesday, April 20, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts, Fletcher Opera Theater, 2 East South St.
Consultant’s Presentation begins at 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, April 21, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Optimist Community Center, 5900 Whittier Drive
Consultant’s Presentation begins at 7:30 p.m.

In addition to the three sessions offered by the Department of City Planning, the Triangle Community Coalition will sponsor a Unified Development Ordinance discussion and workshop that will immediately follow the Luncheon Learn Program. The event will be held April 21, 2011 at the Urban Design Center, 133 Fayetteville Street, Suite 100, Raleigh, NC. You must register in advance for the Triangle Community Coalition luncheon.

ATTEND one of the three upcoming open house sessions for the Public Review Draft of the Unified Development Ordinance.

HEAR a presentation on the Public Review Draft of the Unified Development Ordinance.

LEARN . . . about how the Unified Development Ordinance will provide the framework for implementing the 2030 Comprehensive Plan.

Learn how the Unified Development Ordinance will help to create a city of lasting value.

Learn how the new development regulations will address market trends, incorporate best practices and address contextual issues throughout the City.

ASK questions of the consultants.

Hosted by the City of Raleigh, for more information contact Christine Darges at 919-516-2634 or christine.darges@raleighnc.gov

http://raleighnc.gov/ keyword search “New Development Code” to learn more.

Committee of the Whole / June 23 AM meeting

June 23, 2009 Agenda
Agenda for the Planning Commission special Committee of the Whole meeting to continue their review of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. June 23, 2009, Raleigh Municipal Building City Council Chambers, Room 201, immediately following the regularly scheduled PC meeting (approximately 10:45 a.m.).

PLANNING COMMISSION’S
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE AGENDA
June 23, 2009 – Immediately following Planning Commission
Room 201 – Municipal Building
The following items will be discussed in the order in which they
appear on this agenda, unless otherwise determined by the Chairman.

• CP-1-09 2030 Comprehensive Plan. The proposed changes to the Comprehensive Plan update existing System Plans as Plan Elements; add new Elements addressing Land Use, Environmental Protection, Urban Design, Arts and Culture, and Regional and Interjurisdictional Coordination; replace the Urban Form Map and related guidelines with a Future Land Use Map; and reduce the number of Area Plans from 67 to 21. The Committee will begin review of the elements during this meeting. General topics related to the elements will be discussed. A number of area-specific future land use designation requests were made at or after the Public Hearing on March 19, 2009. The Committee will discuss the following listed requests; however, items listed in Section 1 of this agenda are the subject of a pending rezoning petition. The following itemized list contains a general location, reference number, draft land use designation for the parcel(s) in question and the requested land use designation.

1. Deferred/Site of Current Zoning Case

A. *East of I-440, south of Lake Boone Tr. (PH-18.2) Draft designation on the Future Land Use Map is Moderate Density Residential and Public Parks and Open Space. Commenter requests a change to Office & Residential Mixed Use and Public Parks and Open Space.

B. *Millbrook Rd. and Creedmoor Rd. (LT-011) Draft designation on the Future Land Use Map is Office & Residential Mixed Use. Commenter requests a change to Neighborhood Mixed Use.

C. *World Trade Blvd. south of Globe Rd. (LT-013.5; PH-13) Draft designation on the Future Land Use Map is Business Commercial Services. Commenter requests a change to Office/Research & Development.

2. Land Use Policies

A. Staff has drafted for consideration a policy addressing retail in the vicinity of freeway interchanges for inclusion in to Section A.11 “Retail Land Uses” of the Land Use Element.

3. Deferred Future Land Use Comments

A. Hillsborough St. to Morgan St. west of St. Mary’s St. (PD-11) Draft designation on the Future Land Use Map is High Density Residential. Commenter requests that a portion be designated Central Business District. Staff recommends this item be deferred.

4. Discussion of Comprehensive Plan Elements Pending Items Not Scheduled for Discussion:

• Z-4-09 Buffaloe Road, north side, west of I-540. 48.08 acres is requested to be rezoned from Conservation Management (CM) & Manufactured Housing (MH) to Conservation Management, Residential-10 CUD & Neighborhood Business CUD.

URGENT: Latta House ALERT

FOR PRESERVATION’S SAKE!
The Latta House Foundation, its supporters and the community of Oberlin Village realize that change is inevitable. We have learned to take the bitter with the sweet. We can appreciate the diversity and opportunities it may bring, but not at the expense of completely losing our history and character of our community. We urge you to attend Raleigh’s City Council meeting this Tuesday, 9/7 /09 at 1pm. We are asking City Council to vote NO to Rezoning Case Z-040-08.

Email City Council today with the following letter. Just cut and paste. If you’re not a resident, simply omit the sentence in bold print. You can send this as a group (and/or) individual. Let the city know that we are a village with a voice! Visit www.savecameronvillage.com for updated information and to post a comment. Pick up your free yard sign at 2506 Van Dyke. Please share this attachment.

Judith Guest,
Executive Director
Latta House Foundation

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Mayor & Council,

Re: Rezoning Case Z-040-08

This proposed Cameron Village streetscape plan amendment requiring a zoning change will have serious consequences for Oberlin Village and needs to be studied further to understand the impact of traffic on the surrounding neighborhoods and the city's infrastructure. I am requesting an infrastructure/traffic study before the zoning change to insure proper growth for Cameron Village that will not negatively impact Oberlin Village. I do not want this zoning change to set a precedent that everyone will regret and ask that the city put forth proper planning to ensure this does not happen. Further, University Park Homeowners Association does not represent me or my neighbors here in Oberlin Village. Please send this case to committee on Tuesday so the impacts can be adequately examined and addressed for the entire Cameron Village/Oberlin Road area.

Sincerely,

____________________________


Email the Entire City Council
Citycouncilor@ci.raleigh.nc.us

Of interest this week Sept 15-19

From the N&O:

VOTES COMING UP ON RALEIGH PROPOSALS

Two historic areas in Raleigh are the subjects of votes this week.

Today, residents of the Glenwood-Brooklyn neighborhood across from Fletcher Park near downtown will be watching how Wake County commissioners vote on the George's Mews apartment proposal. Many residents oppose an effort to convert the 26-unit complex into low-income housing, including eight units for people with physical and mental disabilities. The $2.14 million project is to be funded by the city, Wake County and state agencies.

On Tuesday, the Raleigh City Council will consider the Wake schools' plan to make a parking lot out of the front lawn of 79-year-old Broughton High School. This is an appeal of the Planning Commission's 6-3 rejection of the school's plan last week.

Fragile Neighborhoods on CPC Agenda 08/13/9AM

The following agenda is supplied by the City of Raleigh.

Raleigh SCALE is invited and encouraged to attend.

COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING COMMITTEE AGENDA

The Comprehensive Planning Committee will meet on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 9:00 a.m.

Location: Room 201, City Council Chambers, Raleigh Municipal Building, 222 West Hargett Street, Avery C. Upchurch Government Complex, Raleigh, North Carolina. For information call 890-3040 (City Clerk’s office) or 516-2626 (Planning Department).


All the following items are pending in Committee; however, only those items that are shown in bold print will be discussed during this meeting.

II. 03-29 Development Standards - Fragile Neighborhoods (6/1/04)
03-79 TC-10-05 – Surfacing Requirements of Existing Front Yard Parking for Single Family Detached and Duplex Dwellings (4/19/05)
III. 05-41 Pawn Shops – Regulations for Location (10/3/06)
05-42 Sustainable Urban Landscapes and Hillsides (11/21/06)
07-02 TC-5-07 – O&I Districts/FAR/Density Limitations (12/4/07)
07-03 Text Change – Prohibit Industrial Facilities in Residential Areas (12/4/07)
07-10 Tree Conservation Ordinance – Proposed Text Changes (1/22/08)
07-15 TC-1-08 – Building Lot Coverage Within O&I Districts (4/1/08)
07-25 Paula Street Night Clubs – Problems/Violations (7/15/08)

The following items were referred from the August 5, 2008 City Council meeting:

I. 07-26 TC-11-08 – Open Space Requirements – DOD/PBOD (8/5/08)


***Council Chamber is Assistive Listening System equipped. Deaf and hearing impaired individuals needing interpreter services should provide 48-hour notice by calling 890-3100 (voice) or 890-3107 (TDD).***

NCOD VOTE at City Council: July 1, 1:00 pm

SCALE supports this NCOD. Notes to the City Council and Mayor, and/or attendance at the meeting, are needed.

A. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING COMMITTEE
1. TC-4-08 - Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District
The Committee recommends upholding the Planning Commission's recommendation for approval of TC-4-08 as outlined in CR #11209 with the following changes:
a. In paragraph (2)b. on page 5 of the ordinance, removed the underlined language so as to reflect the original proposal as presented at the March 18 public hearing. (To not require immediate notification to all property owners if the Council initiates a neighborhood analysis, at the applicant's expense.)
b. In paragraph (2)f. on page 6 of the ordinance, revise the text to reflect the original proposal as presented at the March 18 public hearing. (To not require the property owners of an existing NCOD to file a new rezoning if the neighborhood built environmental regulations are revised or amended.)
A copy of the revised ordinance is included in the agenda packet.

NCOD on City Council Agenda: June 17, 1:00 pm

NCOD on the agenda for this meeting. Neighborhood support needed.

1:00 P.M., TUESDAY / JUNE 17, 2008 / THE COUNCIL CHAMBER

. . .

D. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
1. The Planning Commission recommendations on the following items were unanimous. The Council may wish to consider these items in the same manner as items on the consent agenda. Items marked with one asterisk (*) beside the Certified Recommendation number are located within flood-prone areas. Items marked with the pound sign (#) beside the Certified Recommendation number are located within the Falls Basin or the Swift Creek Watershed Protection Area. Items marked with the plus sign (+) beside the Certified Recommendation number indicate special conditions for stormwater management. Items marked with (VSPP) beside the Comment indicate that a Valid Statutory Protest Petition has been filed. **Denotes Drainage Basins
CR Number Subject Vote Recommendations Comments
1 CR-11206 Z-15-08, 30-day Time Extension 9-0 Approval Lake Boone Trail, north side
2 CR-11207 CP-3(A)-07 10-0 Approval US-70 West Collector Streets
3 CR-11208 CP-4-08 11-0 Approval Interim Downtown Framework
4 CR-11209 TC-4-08 11-0 Approval Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District
5 CR-11210 SP-12-08 10-0 Approval Powerhouse Plaza

(THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS WERE TAKEN BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT THEIR JUNE 10, 2008 MEETING, BY UNANIMOUS VOTE)
1. Z-15-08 - Lake Boone Trail, north side, west and east of Landmark Drive intersection - 30-day Time Extension
This request is to rezone approximately 34.29 acres, currently zoned Residential-10. The proposal is to rezone the property to Office & Institution-1 Conditional Use District.
CR-11206 from the Planning Commission recommends that the City Council grant a 30-day Time Extension for additional review by the Planning Commission.

2. CP-3(A)-07 - US-70 West Collector Streets
This Comprehensive Plan amendment is to consider the appropriate location of collector streets between Lumley Road and Toyota Drive in US-70 West Corridor Plan in the Umstead Planning District. Amendments may also include the Arterial, Thoroughfares & Collectors Plan of the Transportation Systems Plan.
CR-11207 from the Planning Commission recommends eliminating the collector street network between Lumley Road and Toyota Drive south and southwest of Glenwood Avenue.

3. CP-4-08 - Interim Downtown Framework
This Comprehensive Plan amendment proposes to supplement the body of approved existing plans, policies, and guidelines until the new Comprehensive Plan is adopted in 2009. As a milestone in the Comp Plan Update process & scope, the Interim Downtown Framework (IDF) provides an overview of existing land uses, current development patterns, plans/policies, and policy gaps. The IDF builds upon these existing policies and conditions to guide development downtown through new policy proposals related to the designation of retail streets, public realm improvements, and parking structure design.

CR-11208 from the Planning Commission recommends that this Comprehensive Plan amendment be approved.

4. TC-4-08 - Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District
This text change proposes to amend the Zoning Code and Subdivision Regulations by revising the process for individual neighborhoods proposing to establish zoning and lot size regulations specific to their neighborhood. The ordinance proposes to eliminate the lengthy Comprehensive Plan element (creation and adoption of a Neighborhood Plan) from the process and replace this with a neighborhood built environmental characteristics analysis. Additionally, the ordinance proposes to include within the Zoning Code the previously adopted and future built environmental regulations specific to the individual neighborhoods.
CR-11209 from the Planning Commission recommends that this text change be approved, as revised.

3 meetings in 3 nights / plus a few in daylight

The following meetings are directly related to residential infill redevelopment. We hope you can make one or more of these valuable opportunities for input.

. . .

UNIVERSITY PARK CAC:
Tues night, May 27, 7:30 pm
Jaycee Center / Wade Ave.
Univ Park has a lot-division case pending in Comprehensive Planning Committee on Wed morning.
. . .

COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS:
Wed night, May 28, 7:00-9:00 pm
St. Augustine's College Chapel, Oakwood

Topic: Teardowns: Finding the Right Balance
Speaker: Adrian Scott Fine, National Trust for Historic Preservation
Sponsored by the RALEIGH HISTORIC DISTRICTS COMMISSION

. . . .

RALEIGH PLANNING DEPT INFILL STUDY – Public Workshop II
Thursday, May 29, City Council chambers, 7 pm
Topic: residential infill construction data discussion
Presented by: Travis Crane, Senior Planner, Raleigh Planning Dept.

. . .

ALSO: expedited NCOD proposal has been referred back to Planning Commission with some restrictive recommendations. This will be heard at 9 am Tuesday in City Council chambers.

Raleigh Infill Debate

The links to the recent articles about the upcoming City Council considerations.

From the Indy Weekly by Bob Geary:
http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A165765

and an update from N&O's Sarah Lindenfeld Hall:
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/850146.html