Council members Tuesday granted a controversial 30-day permit to close part of Kinsey Street for the Rebus Works Saturday markets.
Shonna Greenwell, representing Rebus Works, requested the road closure on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. beginning Nov. 9 for a weekly farmers market.
Greenwell also requested permission for food trucks to park on the street, a waiver of all city ordinances concerning the consumption of alcohol on city property and permission to allow amplified sound.
Area residents have recently opposed the closure, complaining about noise, traffic and parking problems. Some area residents have filed objections with the Raleigh Police Department.
After speaking with many area residents, Councilor Mary-Ann Baldwin said neighbors wanted to try to work out their differences at an upcoming homeowners meeting.
“The neighborhood would like the opportunity to work it out amongst themselves,” Baldwin said.
The original road closure request, which extended through Nov. 8, 2014, will be addressed at the December City Council meeting after the 30-day permit expires.
Mini “Oases” Coming to Downtown Parking Spaces
Downtown parking spaces will soon be filled with small, “urban oases” known as parklets.
Councilors approved a pilot program that allows the installation of miniature public open spaces called parklets. Parklets provide room for different types of seating, plants, artwork and activities for the public to enjoy. They are created to be long-lasting, but can be easily removed, stored or repurposed.
According to the city’s website, parklets were introduced in San Francisco in 2005. The Rebar design group selected a parking space in an area lacking open public spaces, and transformed it into a place for people. After rolling out turf, setting up a bench and a tree in a planter, and roping off the parking space from the street, they found that people began flocking to the little parking-space oasis.
It is not clear where Raleigh’s first parklet will appear.
Toilet Rebate Program Finished
Residents can no longer receive a $100 rebate for replacing their toilets; Councilors voted to end the program at the end of 2013.
A cost-benefit analysis of the program conducted by the Public Utilities Department revealed that it is not a cost-effective investment.
The Toilet Rebate program was created in 2009 as a water conservation incentive. It gave a $100 rebate to residential and commercial customers within the utilities service area that replaced their high flow toilet fixtures with a Water Sense labeled toilet model.
Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program Updated
Councilors approved several changes to the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program.
These changes include updated scope, traffic data and accident data. New streets have been added to the project list, and proposed projects have been separated into major and minor project categories.
The policy on how area residents are notified of traffic calming project has also been updated. Residents of the top streets on each list will now receive brochures and invitations to an informational meeting prior to petitions of support.
This change was made to promote citizen awareness of potential traffic calming projects on their streets.
