WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST
Raleigh Neighbors United is actively working to educate our community members about Z-54-22: a zoning overreach that has ignored public input and sets a dangerous precedent.
WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST
Zoning Overreach & Ignored Public Input
1. Zoning Overreach: The proposed upzoning under Z-54-22 seeks to allow buildings taller (30 stories) than 12 stories at West St. and Peace St. adjacent to Historic Glenwood-Brooklyn Neighborhood, despite policies restricting height to 3-12 stories and calling for proper transitions.
2. Ignored Public Input: In 2015, City Council tripled height limits from 4 to 12 stories without public comment—now, developers want even more. No policy supports more.
Setting A Dangerous Precedent
3. Setting a Dangerous Precedent: If this change goes through, it opens the door for unchecked upzoning across Raleigh, disregarding carefully crafted plans and policies that affect Glenwood-Brooklyn, South Park, Mordecai, Oakwood, Boylan Heights, Forrest Park, Hayes Barton, and others.
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Issue Background & Timeline
2015
RE-ZONED WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT
City Council tripled height limits from 4 to 12 stories without public comment—now, developers want even more. The 2030 CP, ETOD Guidebook, CBCS and RDP all emphasize the need for thoughtful density transitions to protect neighborhoods, and the current proposal ignores these recommendations.
2022
DEVELOPER FILED PROPOSAL
Requested zoning: rezone 2.6 acres from Industrial Mixed Use-12 stories (IX-12) to Downtown Mixed Use-30 stories-Urban General-Conditional Use (DX-30-UG-CU)
2023
CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO DENY
In May of 2023 Council voted 6-2 to deny the rezoning. This meant that the developer had to wait 2 years to refile or they could request a waiver based on substantial changes to their proposal or materially changed conditions affecting the area of the proposed rezoning.
2023
NEIGHBORHOOD TAKES ACTION
In June of 2023 HGBN filed an amendment petition to the 2030CP to have a transition area added along the Peace Street and West Street edges of HGBN. This was to provide additional policy protection against plan-inappropriate height and density, and incompatible land uses.
2023
TRANSITION AREA RESISTENCE
On September 12, 2023 the Planning Commission recommended denial based on flawed analysis presented by Mitch Silver on behalf of the Raleigh Development Group. On November 7, 2023 Mitch Silver again lobbied against the Transition Area - there are video links of him saying he was not acting as a private citizen: Raleigh City Council Evening Meeting.
2023
NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING HELD
On October 23, 2023 a neighborhood meeting was held for the rezoning by the developer at McAdams and facilitated by Mitch Silver. They were working to make a case for materially changing the rezoning request so they could bring it back early. Many neighbors and Jane Harrison were in attendance.
2024
GROWTH & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE AND APPROVAL
On January 23, 2024 the case went to the GNR committee where the Glenwood South Portion was tabled Raleigh Growth & Natural Resources Committee. It came back to Council and was approved in February.
2025
CITY COUNCIL PASSED A WAIVER
On February 18, 2025 City Council passed a waiver to allow the developer to refile the rezoning request BEFORE the two year waiting period. Stormie Forte changed sides to join Mayor Cowell, Mitch Silver, Jonathan Melton and Corey Branch in voting for it.