The Raleigh City Council unanimously approved a ban that would keep some residents in Southwest Raleigh from using their front yards as additional parking.
The Special Residential Parking Overlay District will affect about 8,200 acres and 12,000 residents in Southwest Raleigh near N.C. State University. The overlay will only apply to single-family properties.
The area was targeted because N.C. State students who rent the nearby houses are seen by neighbors as the biggest offenders. But, councilors said at their Tuesday meeting that they hope more neighborhoods around the city will come forward to request this overlay.
Councilor Eugene Weeks said that Southeast Raleigh would also benefit from this overlay.
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- The Southwest Raleigh Overlay District.
Under the law residents will be prohibited from using their front yards for additional parking when there is no driveway or on-street parking available. Those who want to add additional parking would be required to construct a paved, or gravel surface no larger than 40 percent of the front yard or a 380-square-foot parking pad, whichever is less.
Property owners who don’t have the desire or the means to add additional parking can continue to park single file in the driveway or on the street.
While there was little discussion about the overlay during the meeting, neighbors and property owners gave the law mixed reviews at the public hearing earlier this month.
The law will go into effect Nov. 1 to give residents time to make improvements.
City Explores a Regional Bus System
The city will begin working on some joint projects with Triangle Transit, one of which includes exploring a regional branding effort that would link the bus service with the city’s Capital Area Transit system.
The branding would include a new website, logo and marketing materials. They city has held off rebranding its own buses while the projects are taking place.
The issue seemed to cause a lot of confusion among some councilors who said that they support a regional system but didn’t necessarily agree with how it would be moved forward.
Councilor Mary-Ann Baldwin said the city should start creating a regional brand in case Wake County approves a sales tax increase to fund a transit overhaul.
Time Warner Pavilion to Get Solar Panels
After almost of a year of contract negotiations, the city will enter into a contract with Owens Roofing Inc./ESA Renewables to replace the roof of the Walnut Creek Amphitheater and install thin solar panels. The city will sell the power to Progress Energy.
Compared to a standard roof replacement, the city will save $80,000 overall. The contract will not exceed about $323,000.
2012-2013 Traffic Calming Projects Chosen
Each year public works staff creates a priority list of streets that are eligible for traffic calming projects. These streets are petitioned by residents and chosen by staff using a variety of indicators.
In order to slow traffic down on neighborhood streets, city staff could make a simple change, such as lowering the speed limit or increase enforcement. Other streets may see the installation of curb extensions, speed humps or even traffic circles.
- Below is the list of streets prioritized for traffic calming.
- Cross Link Road (North) from Dandridge Drive to Rock Quarry Road;
- Cross Link Road (South) from Garner Road to Dandridge Drive;
- Crest Road from Avent Ferry Road to Varsity Drive;
- Varsity Drive from Avent Ferry Road to Marcom Street;
- Quail Ridge Road from Falls of Neuse Road to Spring Forest Road;
- Harps Mill Road (Middle) from Haymarket Way to Litchford Road;
- Falls River Avenue (South) from Durant Road to Southwalk Traffic Circle;
- Bridgeport Road (West) from Creedmoor Road to Abbottsbury Court;
- Wycliff Road from Lake Boone Trail to Morningside Drive; and,
- Brookside Drive (North) from Glascock Street to Atlantic Avenue
- Delany Drive from Milburnie Road to Glascock Street;
- Johnsdale Road at both of its intersections with Litchford Road;
- Carlton Drive from Fox Road to Bentley Circle;
- North King Charles Road (South) from New Bern Avenue to Milburnie Road;
- Dandridge Drive from South State Street to Cross Link Road;
- Edwards Mill Road (North) from Parklake Avenue to Crabtree Valley Avenue;
- Oak Park Road (East) from Connell Drive to Glenwood Avenue;
- Cardinal Grove Boulevard (North) from the Cardinal Grove Homeowners Association property to Kyle Drive;
- Mars Street from Trawick Road to Starmount Drive; and,
- Cranbrook Drive from Shelley Road to Six Forks Road.
Other traffic changes
- Speed limit reduction on North Exeter Way and Foxtrot Road from 35 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour. Churchill Road will be reduced from 35 to 30 mile per hour between Brooks Avenue and Chester Road.
- No Parking signs will be installed on Chase Court.
- A Two-Hour Meter Zones on Glenwood Avenue will be changed to Two-Hour Time Limit.
- A Stop Sign will be placed at Envoy Drive and Duke Dynasty Drive.
- A Passenger Loading Zone will be established on the south side of Boyer Street near Pettigrew Street.
