Raleigh City Council Approves Vision for Growth

The Raleigh City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday September 8, 2009 to adopt the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, a long-term planning document that will guide development in Raleigh over the next 20 years.  The Plan will go into effect on November 1, 2009. WakeUP Wake County applauds the passage of Raleigh’s comprehensive plan and commends those who worked tirelessly to develop it.  In particular we recognize and thank Mayor Charles Meeker, City Council members Mary-Ann Balwin, Thomas Crowder, Philip Isley, Rodger Koopman, Nancy McFarlane, Russ Stephenson, and James West, Raleigh Planning Director Mitch Silver, and Assistant Director Ken Bowers.  These people and the planning staff put signifiant effort into setting a new course for development in Raleigh, with the help and input of Raleigh's citizens. The comprehensive plan is essential to plan for Raleigh's anticipated population growth in new ways.  The next step is to rewrite the City's ordinances and zoning codes, which will take place over the next year, so that the recommendations in the land use plan can be implemented on the ground.  Raleigh would do well to push for form-based code that encourages the right sized development in the appropriate places. For more information, read the N&O's coverage of the plan's passage, and check out the Comprehensive Plan website.  Also, Jason Hibbets, a WakeUP member, provides additional details and insights into the plan's development on his Lineberry Alliance Blog.