DoRaleighRaleigh City Council Recap – Housing Bonds, Transit, Growth, Traffic Safety and Major Rezoning Updates
Raleigh City Council met May 5, 2026, to review housing and transportation bonds, traffic safety updates, rezoning cases, Dix Park funding, the former DMV site, and Reflecting Raleigh civic recommendations.
Raleigh City Council Recap: What Happened at the May 5, 2026 Meeting
Raleigh City Council held its regular afternoon and evening meeting on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, inside Council Chamber at 222 West Hargett Street. The meeting covered a wide range of issues shaping the city’s future, including affordable housing, transportation, neighborhood traffic safety, major development projects, parks funding, public art, and upcoming rezoning hearings.
Major Takeaways
One of the biggest items was the next step toward a potential November 2026 bond referendum. Council moved forward with the process for two proposed bonds: $101.5 million for affordable housing and $101.5 million for transportation, totaling up to $203 million. A public hearing is scheduled for May 19, 2026.
Council also considered the city’s Federal FY 2026–27 Annual Action Plan, which guides Raleigh’s use of HUD funding, including Community Development Block Grant, HOME, and Emergency Solutions Grant dollars.
Housing, Growth and Development
Several annexation and rezoning items moved through the agenda. Council reviewed annexation petitions for properties near Jones Ridge Trail, Aquarius Lane, and Strother Road, with future public hearings planned.
The Planning Commission sent multiple rezoning cases to Council, including:
- Z-43-25 on Litchford Road, which the Planning Commission recommended denying.
- Z-44-25 near Jones Ridge Trail, recommended for approval.
- TCZ-02-26 at 4601 Creedmoor Road, recommended for approval.
- Z-37-25 near Avent Ferry Road, revised to allow up to 478 residential units with a proposed five-story limit.
In the evening session, Council held public hearings on rezoning requests involving Trailwood Drive, Blue Ridge Road, and properties near West Martin Street, Commerce Place, and West Davie Street.
Transportation and Traffic Safety
Council reviewed several transportation-related items, including neighborhood speed limit reductions for La Costa Way and Marcony Way, a new all-way stop recommendation at Milburnie Road and North King Charles Road, and curbside changes near 900 West Morgan Street.
The city also reviewed updates to the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program, including future traffic calming projects and policy changes connected to Raleigh’s Vision Zero goals.
Convention Center and Downtown Projects
Council considered major contract updates tied to the Raleigh Convention Center expansion, including commissioning services from RMF Engineering and several contract amendments related to site conditions and environmental remediation.
The city also moved forward with a contract extension for Sodexo Live!, which includes a $2 million capital investment to support food and beverage service at the expanded Convention Center complex.
Parks, Public Art and Community Funding
Council accepted proposed donations into the Municipal Art Collection, including Dan Nelson’s painting “Memorial Auditorium” and Brian Walsby’s “Prayer, 2023.”
A $100,000 sponsorship from WTVD-TV was also included for the July 4th Celebration at Dix Park.
Council contingency funding requests included support for organizations such as We Plant It Forward, Trees for the Triangle, Raleigh Housing Fund, Tamarisk Community, El Centro Hispano, and Gabi’s Workforce.
Former DMV Headquarters Site Update
City staff provided an update on the redevelopment of the former DMV headquarters site on New Bern Avenue. The site is being positioned as a future transit-oriented development along Raleigh’s Bus Rapid Transit corridor. Updates included demolition, abatement, interim construction staging, temporary activations, market study findings, and future steps to gather development partner input.
Reflecting Raleigh Civic Assembly
Council also received recommendations from the Reflecting Raleigh Civic Assembly, part of the city’s process to create the next Comprehensive Plan. The recommendations focused on how Raleigh should manage growth in neighborhoods served by frequent transit. Visit this link to read or watch the Meeting
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