News

It happened on a technicality, but Neuse Riverkeeper Samantha Krop considers it a win — for now.

On Tuesday night, the Raleigh City Council declined to rezone an 8-acre property for higher-density development. The property, on Trailwood Drive near the intersection of Avent Ferry Road, is one of three parcels on which Raleigh-based developer MJM Group/Floresta plans to build residential townhomes.

“This rezoning case is on Walnut Creek, in a floodplain,” Samantha said. “One of these three parcels is almost 100% encumbered by floodplain. This is a forested area and is surrounded by neighbors who are completely opposed to the proposal.”

While the community, backed by Partners for Environmental Justice, has spoken out against the proposal during the public comment period of the rezoning process, it was a request for continuance that put an end to its consideration.

“Each time a case like this is heard, it takes time and effort on the part of city staff, and half the council wasn’t willing to continue it to the next meeting,” Samantha said. “And since the vote was tied, they could not continue the case and the developer had to make his rezoning case at this meeting. The final vote to deny the proposal was 5-3.”

Samantha said she expects the application to rezone the property will be reintroduced rather quickly.

“Until last year, there was a 2-year minimum to reintroduce a rezoning application — a kind of cooling off period — but the state legislature removed it,” Samantha said. “But it’s still a victory, and we appreciate the council members who stood up for the community.”

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