Raleigh City Council Rejects Rezoning Request for 30-Story Downtown Building

The Raleigh City Council recently voted on a contentious rezoning proposal that would have allowed for the construction of a 30-story building on the northeast corner of Peace and West streets in downtown Raleigh. The 2.6-acre site, which is located near a future city park and the Smoky Hollow development, is currently zoned for industrial use and up to 12 stories, but the developer sought to change the zoning to downtown mixed-use and to build a significantly taller structure.

Despite efforts by the developer to win over the council and nearby residents, the rezoning request was ultimately denied by a vote of 6-2. The decision surprised some members of the council, as few rezoning requests are typically denied, and it marks the first denial since four new council members were elected last fall, some of whom have been critical of the previous council’s relationship with developers and its management of growth and community engagement in the city.

The proposal had been under consideration by city leaders since January and had been sent to the council’s Safe, Vibrant & Healthy Community Committee for negotiation with the developer, Raleigh Development Co. The city was also in talks with the developer to build a nearby park, with the city partially reimbursing the developer from the city’s parks bond. However, some residents of the nearby historic Glenwood-Brooklyn neighborhood opposed the rezoning and were in attendance at the council meeting to voice their concerns.

City Council member Jane Harrison, who represents the Smoky Hollow area, made the motion to deny the rezoning request, which was seconded by Council member Stormie Forte. Harrison expressed appreciation for the site’s potential under its current zoning, which allows for a 12-story building, and emphasized her desire for a partnership with the developer on the park. Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin and Council member Jonathan Melton were the only two members to vote in favor of the rezoning.

After the vote, Mayor Pro Tem Corey Branch expressed his support for the decision but called for more meaningful conversation between council members on future cases. Baldwin expressed concern about the potential impact on the nearby Glenwood South community, which has been advocating for the park for 10 years, and emphasized the need for a development agreement. Meanwhile, Harrison noted that the applicant had been in talks with various council members and that the proposed building’s height was unlikely to change.

The council’s decision is a sign of the city’s evolving priorities and approach to growth and development. With concerns about the impact of tall buildings on neighborhoods and a renewed focus on community engagement, it remains to be seen how future rezoning requests will be handled by the council.