RCAC Friends,
First I need to thank you for the for wonderful honor of the RCAC 2012
Citizen Award. It was a surprise, it means a lot and I am grateful to the
leaders of the RCAC for our many years working together. In continuing the
quest to live up to that honor ;-), I send the following request.
Several years back the RCAC adopted a Resolution to support creating a Park
on the remaining 306 acres of remaining Dorothea Dix Property. Our City
Council has been trying to make this happen for many years (please thank
them). Unfortunately all mental health services have ceased and now the
question before our elected leaders is simply:
Create a Central Park for NC or Sell the land for development è and the time
for action is now.
The Council of State members will make the decision to lease the land to the
City of Raleigh to become a Park this coming Tuesday and they need hear from
you that we support the Park.
This is the one decision that I believe will shape the future of NC for
generations to come
Imagine NY without Central Park now try to imagine NC with one.
I think that this issue will be of immense interest for our neighborhoods so
I ask that you please post to your lists as appropriate.
Also if you are advocates for the Park personally please forward this email
to friends, ask folks to post this on their Facebook page, etc.
The decision will be made in 5 days and the decision with impact the future
of NC for centuries and our citizens need to be heard.
306 thanks! to everyone and especially thanks for all that you do for the
City of Raleigh!
Bill Padgett
President of Dix306
Past RCAC/CAC Chair
Friends of Dix Park,
WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW! to make the 306 acres of Dix Park a reality for NC.
This Tuesday the NC Council of State will meet and before that meeting they
need to hear your support for the Park.
Thanks so much for being a part of this very long journey and everything you
can do to help now!
Friends of Dorothea Dix Park & Dix306
Dix306.org <http://www.Dix306.org>
PS Please forward this message to your friends, neighbors & colleagues!
Once its gone, its gone forever.
URGENT ACTION ALERT: Make Dix Park a reality.
Please: Email, phone, Facebook and/or tweet your Council of State members.
Tell them: As a citizen of NC, I urge you to support the immediate creation
of a 306 acre park on the Dix campus.
Lets create a world-class Central Park in the heart of North Carolina.
Beverly Perdue - Governor <http://www.governor.state.nc.us/>
Phone: (800) 662-7952 or (919) 733-2391 Fax: (919) 733-2120
Email: <mailto:governor.office@nc.gov> governor.office(a)nc.gov
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bev-Perdue/109744035711698?fref=ts
or
Twitter: @BeverlyPerdue <https://twitter.com/ncgovoffice>
Janet Cowell - State <https://www.nctreasurer.com/Pages/ContactUs.aspx>
Treasurer
Phone: (919) 508-5176
Email: Janet.cowell(a)nctreasurer.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NCDST
Twitter: @JanetCowell <https://twitter.com/JanetCowell>
June Atkinson - Supt. <http://www.ncpublicschools.org/statesuperintendent/>
of Public Instruction
Phone: (919) 807-3430
Email: june.atkinson(a)dpi.nc.gov
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/june.s.atkinson
Twitter: @DrJuneAtkinson <https://twitter.com/DrJuneAtkinson>
Beth Wood - State Auditor <http://www.ncauditor.net/pub3/>
Phone: (919) 807-7526
Email: Beth_Wood(a)ncauditor.net
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BethWoodNCStateAuditor
Twitter: @BethWoodNC <https://twitter.com/BethWoodNC>
Cherie Berry - Commissioner of Labor <http://www.nclabor.com/>
Phone: (919) 733-7166
Email: Commissioners.Office(a)labor.nc.gov
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cheriekberry
Twitter: @NCDOL <https://twitter.com/NCDOL>
Steve Troxler - Commissioner of Agriculture <http://www.ncagr.gov/>
Phone: (919) 733-7125
Email: Steve.Troxler(a)ncagr.gov
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/steve.troxler.7
Twitter: @NCAgriculture <https://twitter.com/NCAgriculture>
Roy Cooper - Attorney <http://www.ncdoj.com/> General
Phone: (919) 716-6400
Email: <mailto:info@roycooper.com> info(a)roycooper.com
Webpage: http://www.ncdoj.com/Home/ContactNCDOJ.aspx
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/NC-Attorney-Generals-Office/157759274279900
Twitter: @NCAGO <https://twitter.com/NCAGO>
Elaine Marshall - Secretary of State <http://www.secstate.state.nc.us/>
Phone: (919) 807-2005
Email: info(a)elainemarshall.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Elaine4NC
Twitter: @Elaine4NC <https://twitter.com/Elaine4NC>
Wayne Goodwin - Commissioner of Insurance <http://www.ncdoi.com/>
Phone: (919) 733-3058
Email: Commissioner(a)ncdoi.gov
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NCDOI
Twitter: @NCInsuranceDept <https://twitter.com/NCInsuranceDept>
Walter Dalton - Lieutenant Governor <http://www.ltgov.state.nc.us/>
Phone: (919) 733-7350
Email: lt.gov(a)nc.gov
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WalterDaltonNC
Twitter: @WalterDalton <https://twitter.com/WalterDalton>
All the emails of the Council of State:
"Bev Perdue" < <mailto:governor.office@nc.gov> governor.office(a)nc.gov>,
"Walter Dalton" <lt.gov(a)nc.gov>, "Janet Cowell"
<Janet.cowell(a)nctreasurer.com>, "June Atkinson" <june.atkinson(a)dpi.nc.gov>,
"Beth Wood" <Beth_Wood(a)ncauditor.net>, "Cherie Berry"
<Commissioners.Office(a)labor.nc.gov>, "Steve Troxler"
<Steve.Troxler(a)ncagr.gov>, "Elaine Marshall" <info(a)elainemarshall.com>,
"Wayne Goodwin" <Commissioner(a)ncdoi.gov>, Roy Cooper <info(a)roycooper.com>
2012 Holiday Tour of Homes
1 - 5:00 pm, Saturday, December 1, 2012
Adults $15 Children ten and under $10
Tickets may be purchased as early as 11:00 am
Jenkins Memorial United Methodist Church
725 North Boylan Avenue, Raleigh
Live music and art sale begins at 9:00 am
Jenkins Memorial United Methodist Church.
WHAT: The Planning Staff is bringing back four (4) deferred items for
discussion and will then provide an overview of Chapter 8, Subdivisions and
Site Plan Standards.
WHEN: Monday, November 26 at 4:00 pm.
WHERE: 222 West Hargett Street, City Council Chamber.
LIKELY HOT TOPICS:
* None
DEFERRED ITEMS:
* Tree conservation + amenity open space. The Planning Commission
reduced the aggregate requirement from 15 to 10%. There are also concerns
about what counts as amenity open space.
* Residential garages. It is felt the language needs to be clearer.
* Additional Housing Patterns. The discussion about backyard
cottages, accessory apartments and cottage courts has been moved to the
Comprehensive Planning Committee. This will give the public the opportunity
to make comments.
* Building Heights in Residential Districts: The Planninf Staff has
been asked to validate the proposed height change for buildings in
residential districts by testing the heights for a list of existing
buildings.
* Community Gardens: City Council needs to understand the rationale
for special use permits in residential districts R-2 through R-10.
* Residential Densities: City Council needs to understand how
infrastructure capacity will affect residential density in mixed use
districts.
MEETING DOCUMENTS: Planning Commission's Recommendations
<http://www.raleighnc.gov/content/PlanCurrent/Documents/DevelopmentPlansRevi
ew/NewRaleighCode/UDO_Planning_Commission_Recommendations.pdf> | November
26 Staff Report (
<http://www.raleighnc.gov/business/content/PlanCurrent/Articles/NewRaleighCo
de.html> watch for posting)
For additional information, click here
<http://raleighudo.com/blog/raleigh-city-council-continues-review-raleighudo
%E2%80%A6-meeting-10> .
Philip W Poe
Five Points CAC co-chair
919.410.6772 one number dialing
<http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html>
pwpoe(a)att.net <mailto:pwpoe@att.net>
www.fivepointscac.org <http://www.fivepointscac.org/>
<http://www.facebook.com/FivePointsCAC>
<http://www.twitter.com/FivePointsCAC>
Has anyone tried to run the DVD? I don't recognize the file formats.
Philip W Poe
919.410.6772 <http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html> one number
dialing
<mailto:pwpoe@att.net> pwpoe(a)att.net
Attached is the agenda for the Comprehensive Planning Committee meeting
on Wednesday at 2 PM.
I have spoken with Russ Stephenson who agrees that a vote should not be
taken at this meeting. However, he is only one vote of three on the
committee and this would need the support of at least one other
committee member.
I have reached out to Bonner Gaylord and Randy Stagner this morning but
have not heard anything back from them. If you are able to contact
Bonner and Randy please ask them to hold off on any action on this until
after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Russ told me fully supports public participation and public comment is
welcome at and any all meetings.
Thanks!
Regards,
Mark
RCAC Chair
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: CP Committee Agenda
Date: Mon, 19 Nov 2012 08:39:19 -0500
From: Eldredge, Leslie <Leslie.Eldredge(a)raleighnc.gov>
To: 'jmarkturner(a)gmail.com' <jmarkturner(a)gmail.com>
Leslie H. Eldredge, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
City of Raleigh
P.O. Box 590
Raleigh, NC 27602
919-996-3040
919-996-7620 (fax)
leslie.eldredge(a)raleighnc.gov<mailto:leslie.eldredge@raleighnc.gov>
<http://www.raleighnc.gov>
>From Linda Wilson.
Regards,
Mark
RCAC Chair
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Please post to Rcac list
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2012 10:53:31 -0500
From: Linda Watson <watsonwao(a)gmail.com>
To: Dwayne Patterson <Dwayne.Patterson(a)raleighnc.gov>,
"jmarkturner(a)gmail.com" <jmarkturner(a)gmail.com>
I too am out of town and see that my compromise petition link has been filtered off my blog posts on the Raleigh UDO site. Would you please post this?
Here's the link for the new petition asking for cottages to be opt-in so neighborhoods who want the can have them. Please sign it ASAP- the planning committee meets today at 2pm ( yes, the afternoon before Thanksgiving!)
http://www.change.org/petitions/raleigh-city-council-and-comprehensive-plan…
I apologize if this is a duplicate ... the link did not appear in the first email.
Linda
Note the attachment with proposed changes to the backyard cottage UDO
item. I've copied the staff recommendations here:
/*"Recommendations*/
The discussion at the previous Committee meeting raised some questions
regarding the UDO regulations. Staff proposes the following for discussion:
*
*Increase the rear yard setback requirement to 20 feet.* This is
consistent with the standard for a primary structure.
*
*Decrease the building separation to 10 feet.* The building
separation between the primary dwelling and accessory dwelling is
currently based upon the lot size. This can be reduced to a static
number for all lots.
*
*Cap the number of unrelated persons per lot regardless of the
existence of an accessory dwelling unit, and retain the cap on the
number of unrelated in the cottage at two. *Staff suggests that a
maximum of four unrelated persons could occupy a lot. This would
permit a family to occupy the primary dwelling and two unrelated
persons to occupy a backyard cottage. Conversely, a family of two
could occupy the backyard cottage and up to three unrelated persons
could occupy the primary dwelling.
*
*Modify the PROP ordinance to include accessory dwelling units.
*This would ensure any violations of the ordinance would be subject
to the PROP regulations.**Owners of rental properties that include
backyard cottages would also be required to register with the City’s
Rental Dwelling Registration program.
*
*Increase parking design standards for accessory dwelling units.
*Require impervious surface for the required parking space.
*
*Require similar building materials and roof form for the backyard
cottage. *This would ensure compatibility with the primary dwelling.
*
*Insert primary entrance standards*. Require that the primary
entrance face the front property line. If the primary entrance faces
the side property line, the side yard setback should be increased to
15 feet. In no event should the entrance face the rear property line.
*
*Modify the NCOD characteristics to include accessory dwellings.*
The built environmental characteristics can be expanded to include
accessory dwelling units. This would allow neighborhoods to select
the characteristic to be analyzed by staff. If the characteristic is
not prevalent in the neighborhood, accessory dwellings would not be
permitted.
If these suggestions are acceptable, staff will present the revised
language to the City Council for review and approval."
Mark Turner
RCAC Chair
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: CPC Backup for 11/21/12
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2012 09:19:34 -0500
From: Eldredge, Leslie <Leslie.Eldredge(a)raleighnc.gov>
To: 'jmarkturner(a)gmail.com' <jmarkturner(a)gmail.com>
FYI.
Leslie H. Eldredge, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
City of Raleigh
P.O. Box 590
Raleigh, NC 27602
919-996-3040
919-996-7620 (fax)
leslie.eldredge(a)raleighnc.gov<mailto:leslie.eldredge@raleighnc.gov>
<http://www.raleighnc.gov>
WHAT: The rescheduling of the last meeting from Monday to Thursday will
limit the agenda at this meeting. No Q&A or discussion of deferred items are
expected. The only major agenda item will be an overview of Chapter 7,
General Development Standards. This includes regulations related to parking,
landscaping and signs.
WHEN: Monday, November 19 at 4:00 pm.
WHERE: 222 West Hargett Street, City Council Chamber.
LIKELY HOT TOPICS:
* None
DEFERRED ITEMS:
* Tree conservation + amenity open space. The Planning Commission
reduced the aggregate requirement from 15 to 10%. There are also concerns
about what counts as amenity open space.
* Residential garages. It is felt the language needs to be clearer.
* Additional Housing Patterns. The discussion about backyard cottages,
accessory apartments and cottage courts has been moved to the Comprehensive
Planning Committee. This will give the public the opportunity to make
comments.
* Building Heights in Residential Districts: The Planninf Staff has
been asked to validate the proposed height change for buildings in
residential districts by testing the heights for a list of existing
buildings.
* Civic Buildings: The Planning Staff has been asked to review parking
and driveway standards, pedestrian access and parking locations.
MEETING DOCUMENTS: Planning Commission's Recommendations
<http://www.raleighnc.gov/content/PlanCurrent/Documents/DevelopmentPlansRevi
ew/NewRaleighCode/UDO_Planning_Commission_Recommendations.pdf> | Novembr 19
Staff Report
<http://www.raleighnc.gov/content/PlanCurrent/Documents/DevelopmentPlansRevi
ew/NewRaleighCode/UDO_CC_Review_November_19.pdf>
More information available here
<http://raleighudo.com/blog/raleigh-city-council-continues-review-raleighudo
%E2%80%A6-meeting-9> .
Philip W Poe
Five Points CAC co-chair
919.410.6772 one number dialing
<http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html>
pwpoe(a)att.net <mailto:pwpoe@att.net>
www.fivepointscac.org <http://www.fivepointscac.org/>
<http://www.facebook.com/FivePointsCAC>
<http://www.twitter.com/FivePointsCAC>
I tried to capture the spirit of a compromise on backyard cottages in a new
petition asking for them to be allowed on an opt-in
basis<http://www.change.org/petitions/raleigh-city-council-and-comprehensive-plan…>.
The best language in it was lifted from a note by Councilor Crowder.
Please circulate it widely and sign it if you feel so inclined.
I've also linked this new petition and my original one against the
cottages<http://raleighudo.com/blog/sign-compromise-petition-backyard-cottages-adus>in
this post on the UDO website.
Thanks for the lively discussion at our retreat on Saturday. It's an honor
to work with so many people who care so deeply about the future of Raleigh.
Best wishes,
Linda Watson
Chair, Glenwood CAC
Dear Chairman Stephenson and Comprehensive Planning Committee Members:
Thank you for holding the hearing on Backyard Cottages on Wednesday. Today,
the Raleigh Citizens Advisory Council held a five-hour workshop on the UDO,
including the backyard cottages.
*We unanimously voted to request that the Comprehensive Planning Committee:*
- *not vote on backyard cottages during its meeting on 11/21, which is
the afternoon before Thanksgiving*
- *accept additional input at a meeting after Thanksgiving and before
you vote
*
Personally speaking, I was very surprised to get an email after 6 pm on the
Friday before Thanksgiving week announcing that this topic would be
discussed. At the meeting on Wednesday, Chairman Stephenson told us that it
would not be discussed again until after the holiday weekend. Delaying the
vote will give the RCAC members time to share with our CACs what we learned
in our very productive session and provide your committee feedback as
appropriate. It will also give people who are traveling or preparing for
the holiday a chance to see the video of your meeting and provide input
before the vote.
I applaud Council for sending this topic to your committee and you for
holding such a useful hearing on Wedneday. Both are fine examples of open
government. Please continue setting this example by delaying your vote.
Sincerely yours,
Linda Watson
Chair, Glenwood CAC
On Sat, Nov 17, 2012 at 12:39 PM, Thomas Crowder <tcrowder(a)architekturpa.com
> wrote:
> **
>
> Chairman Stephenson and Comprehensive Planning Committee Members:
>
> Thank you for holding the hearing on Backyard Cottages (BYC) and Accessory
> Dwelling Units (ADU) Wednesday afternoon. As you heard during the
> hearing, this is a very divisive issue with substantive pros and cons
> acknowledged by our citizens.
>
> Research of other cities in the country that allow BYC’s and ADU’s
> indicates they require an extremely high level of design standards andaccountability, including
> requiring the principal residence be owner occupied. Many such standards
> are prohibited, or limited in Raleigh due to North Carolina Case Law, or
> pending legislation in the North Carolina General Assembly. In Raleigh,
> it was also noted that most new residential subdivisions (post 1990)prohibit such units by way of restricted covenants,therebylimiting them to
> our older and often low and moderate wealth, or at-risk communities.
> Regardless, I believe there may be a solution.
>
> I have spoken to a number of opponents and believe a compromise exist that may
> satisfy both them and those in favor such units. I would like to propose
> that BYC’s and ADU’s/apartments (with high standard requirements of course
> ) be allowed as an entitlement option under the City’s Neighborhood
> Conservation Overlay District (NCOD) only. Rather than this entitlementbecoming the rulefor
> all neighborhoods within the city without restrictive covenants, it none
> the less becomes an exception for both old and new neighborhoods who wish
> to have this housing option. It also allows our citizens to have a say in
> , and control over, the future of their individual neighborhoods. As
> noted above, all of the high standards recommended by Mayor Pro-Tem
> Stephenson during the hearing should still be implemented as conditions for
> allowing BYC’s and ADU’s within an NCOD to protect these neighborhoods
> long term.
>
> While many residents have spoken on this subject, the majority of Raleigh’s
> citizens are totally unaware of this provision within the proposed code. By
> making this entitlement an option under NCOD’s, each individual
> neighborhood resident will be made aware through public notice of the
> communities intent to allow them and before they are implemented. There
> will be no surprises and democracy at the highest level will prevail.
>
> Thank you all for seriously considering this compromise proposal to allow
> backyard cottages and accessory apartment units where they are wanted and
> prohibited where they are problematic and not desired.
>
> I look forward to further deliberation by the committee at their meeting
> this Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 2pm.
>
> Have a great weekend!
>
> Thomas G Crowder
>
> Raleigh City Councilor | District D
>
> 222 West Hargett Street
>
> Post Office Box 590
>
> Raleigh, North Carolina 27602
>
> O 919.996.3040
>
> H 919.852.1297
>
> "Best City in America" *********** Businessweek.com, 2011*
>
> *******Please consider the environment before printing this email. Thank
> You!*
>
>
