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
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 and accountability, 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, thereby limiting 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 entitlement becoming the rule for 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
"Best City in America" Businessweek.com, 2011
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