Correction: A Page 1A story Friday about a bill that strips Raleigh of its zoning power over state-owned property within a six-block radius of the Capitol inaccurately described efforts to reach state Sen. Janet Cowell of Raleigh on Thursday. Cowell did return a phone call but was unable to be reached to comment for the story.

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After city planners delayed a state parking deck near the Capitol, state officials quietly rammed through the legislature a bill that stripped the city of its power to approve -- or deny -- the project.

The bill, which has yet to be signed by Gov. Mike Easley, would allow the state to build a parking deck and ignore Raleigh's desire for downtown parking garages that look better than conventional concrete and steel structures. Wake County's elected lawmakers supported the bill, and its passage has left city leaders steamed.

"It's just the typical finger in the eye to the city of Raleigh," Councilman Philip Isley said. "[That happens] each time the state has an opportunity to do it."

The bill could have implications far beyond a single parking deck. The state owns about 60 parcels in the area affected by the bill, and multimillion-dollar projects are in the works. State officials promise they won't build anything Raleigh wouldn't approve. But city leaders aren't satisfied.

Mayor Charles Meeker said he learned of the bill the day after it was ratified Aug. 2.

"The Wake County delegation should have called us to tell us what was going on and consult us about the bill," Meeker said.

The bill, which was introduced at the behest of the governor's office and the Department of Administration, passed unanimously in the House and Senate. Its sole sponsor was Sen. Janet Cowell, a former Raleigh City Council member. Rep. Ty Harrell of Wake County handled the bill on the House floor.

Britt Cobb, the Department of Administration's secretary, said his department lobbied for the bill after Ra-leigh's Planning Commission deferred action on the proposed rezoning of a four-acre piece of land just two blocks from the Capitol.

Raleigh's Comprehensive Plan calls for the ground floor of buildings along Jones and Dawson street to be pedestrian-friendly and attractive. They should include offices, stores or shops, or have art-filled facades.

During its July 31 meeting, the Planning Commission asked that city staff members meet with state designers to improve the ground-floor appearance. Cobb said the deferral would have delayed the project at least 30 days.

"We're in a situation where we need to move forward," Cobb said. "We have assured the city that we are not going to build something that is not in keeping with downtown Raleigh."

Meeker said that if the bill becomes law, the city has no power to enforce such a pledge. "If they're going to meet our standards, then there was no need for the legislation," he said.

The area covered by the bill -- a six-block radius from the Capitol -- includes most of downtown. Under the bill, a Raleigh zoning ordinance would apply only if the Council of State gives Raleigh the right to control what is built.

The state is already planning several large developments on property it owns downtown. The $118.25 million Green Square project calls for construction of a Department of Environment and Natural Resources building, an expansion of the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences and an underground parking facility. The state also plans to build a $28 million Capitol visitors center, public plaza and underground parking deck downtown.

Cowell could not be reached for comment about the bill. Rep. Deborah Ross and Harrell both said the governor's office and the Department of Administration asked them to support the bill.

"I think it's really an issue between the Department of Administration, the governor's office and the city," Ross said.

Harrell said he was vaguely familiar with the language in the bill when he managed its passage on the floor.

"I think I'm going to have to take a look at where the problems lie and roll from there," he said.

A day after the bill passed, members of Raleigh's Planning Department sat down with state officials to try to reach a compromise on the parking deck. Mitchell Silver, Raleigh's planning director, said the city has not heard from state officials since the meeting.