George Farthing: Let’s think about development

Regarding the Oct. 26 news article “Another North Raleigh rezoning faces obstacles”: The Raleigh Planning Commission voted 9-0 to affirm the Raleigh’s planning department staff report that deemed the rezoning inconsistent with Raleigh’s policies and vision for the Falls of Neuse corridor, and incompatible with the property and surrounding community.

Regarding the applicant’s comments in The N&O story, clearly the city should seek diverse housing options wherever possible, including at this site. Such development, in fact, is allowed under current zoning. Unfortunately, the applicant apparently is not interested in that. Instead, they want to build something far larger than every other shopping center in the area.

At the planning commission meeting this week, the applicant even used the term “food desert.” An unfortunate characterization, given that grocery services are not nearly so prevalent in other parts of Raleigh. Meanwhile, there are two grocery stores less than a mile from the site, and the same developer is building another grocery store also within a mile.

The planning commission and the city planning department have judged this rezoning as inconsistent and incompatible with the city’s goals. Let’s seek development that meets our needs and benefits the community and all Raleigh.

This story was originally published November 1, 2016 at 8:34 PM with the headline "George Farthing: Let’s think about development."