The Raleigh News and Observer made a lame attempt at addressing the mess created at City Hall in Raleigh, NC, on Tuesday at a huge public rezoning hearing. Over a hundred spoke; hundreds left in frustration.
Governance? Who cares about governance? It's all about, bigger, bigger, bigger to these folks--damn the torpedos, full speed ahead.
Cary, NC, has been there, done that, too. Can you completely turn off the rapid growth Raleigh is experiencing. No, not really, but it can do things to do it right and slow it down. I don't see that as being on the radar of Raleigh Councillors or their planning staff and City management.
And do I dare bring up the Dix Property again? With more than two years to plan after deciding to go forward with the Dix Property purchase, they still deny any need for planning by their staff.
Here is a reply from staff received two days ago by email in response to a Public Documents request from June 3, 2015.
The City of Raleigh has not discussed the future plans of Dorothea Dix Park. Our concentration has focused on acquisition only. When the City decides to initiate a planning process (no timeframe has been established for doing so) for the future of the Park a comprehensive public process will be initiated. A broad array of stakeholders including yourself will be welcome to participate. Because we have not discussed future plans or planning of the Park there is no documentation / emails to provide.
I just left you a voicemail message regarding this. If you have any other questions please give me a call.
Thank you,
Stephen [Bentley]
---------------------------------
NOTE:
Bentley is a top official in the Raleigh Parks and Rec Dept, and both he and his Director claim to have had "no" (repeat, "zero") previous discussions internally or with the State of NC regarding the future of the Dix Property.
This is what I requested in my formal public documents requst to Raleigh's Public Affairs Office in June, after previously asking for documents by phone in May, 2015.
any correspondence and other documents, internal and external, including emails or documents of phone conversations, regarding planning for the Dix Property by the Raleigh Parks and Recreation Dept. and the citizens advisory board for parks and recreation for the City of Raleigh. For the past 3 years, please
.
Can you spell S T O N E W A L L? Again, governance is much less important to these folks than insulating the Raleigh Mayor and the Council from any questioning or petitioning.
Raleigh Citizens. Please pay attention, and remember this is a Municipal Election year. Mayor McFarlane filed for re-election yesterday. No one deserves re-election who is not responsive to the voters and the public in general.
Sat Jul 11, 2015 at 7:39 AM PT: Transparency is a requisite for good governance
I am not going into details about the UDO on BlueNC.com on here on Daily Kos, If you look at the tags, this is more about transparency and governance and less about the actual zoning ordinance itself.
I am concerned that the use of this type of zoning lacks transparency and removes the Council from the public input process.
If you want to read about the UDO go to IndyWeek.com. Sorry if this offends any readers. I don't live in Raleigh, as I tried to make clear. I am just an observer.
Sun Jul 12, 2015 at 1:42 PM PT: From WUNC online
Raleigh Council To Hear More Feedback On Zoning Plan
Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane says much of the pushback came from misunderstandings over language, as with a "mixed use" designation on old houses that have become offices in the Oakwood neighborhood, for example.
"Places like Oakwood have a historic overlay that protect it anyway," McFarlane says. "Overlay really supersedes anything that's a code change, but it is... It is confusing when all the sudden you see a notice that says, 'Oh, we have a three-story office here' and people are just, 'Oh my gosh, I don't want that next to my neighborhood.'"
Read more here: http://wunc.org/...