Raleigh's growth plan draws crowd of hundreds

RALEIGH -- Several hundred residents showed up at the convention center on Wednesday night to get their first glimpse of city planners' vision for Raleigh's future.

The event marked the official debut of an updated version of the city's comprehensive plan, a 380-page document that maps out how the city should grow in the future.

"I'd say it's a pretty impressive turnout for a planning document," said Ken Bowers, the city's deputy planning director.

Given the plan's size, most attendees admitted that they were still digesting the document's major points. The city tried to help by offering summaries of the plan's key topics.

Walter Taylor, a Boylan Heights resident, said he supports the plan's overall goal of stopping urban sprawl. But he said the real test would be whether elected officials are willing to adhere to the plan's call to funnel the majority of Raleigh's growth to specific areas over the next 20 years.

"Are they really going to stop things like Brier Creek?" he asked.

John Nottingham, who lives in West Raleigh, said he wants the plan to improve pedestrian safety in his area of the city and elsewhere.

He said he liked the fact that planners have promised to provide annual updates on whether the plan is being followed.

"That way the plan doesn't just sit there and not be utilized," he said.

The last time Raleigh updated its Comprehensive Plan was in 1989. Residents can comment on the current draft from now until the end of January.

Wednesday night's unveiling represented a major milestone for all those involved in creating the latest draft.

"It's like I've given birth," said Raleigh Planning Director Mitchell Silver. "It's been two years in the making."