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This is a reminder that the City of Raleigh now offers a great service - online appointment scheduling for residential construction. It became available starting January 4th, 2021. This was in response to requests we made for "office hours" with the staff. These appointments are via conference/videoconference for new Residential Single-Family Construction, Detached Accessory Structures, and Accessory Dwelling Units and Additions. Please click here for additional information.
Or visit their website below to schedule your appointment: Residential Booking | Raleighnc.gov On December 1, 2020 Raleigh City Council approved, 7-1, TC-4-20 that Amends the Part 10 Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance to modify how average grade and building height are determined, the applicability of residential infill compatibility and setback standards and how side wall plane height and setbacks are determined. These changes are effective 12/31/20. This text change was brought to City Council by the HBA in January of 2020 and has been pursued through virtual platforms all the way to its adoption. We are very proud and pleased for its passage. TC-4-20 will: 1. Clarify how average grade is determined and how it relates to determining building height. 2. Clarify the applicability standards and street setbacks for residential infill development. 3. Allow an increase in the maximum permitted side wall plane height and clarify how that height is determined. OVERVIEW AND PURPOSE PER CITY OF RALEIGH STAFF REPORT: The proposed text change would determine average grade as the grade that shall be considered to be average post-development grade above sea level along the building elevation most parallel and closest to the primary street setback, however, for any building subject to the standards of Sec. 2.2.7., average grade shall be determined by averaging the four points consisting of the highest and lowest elevations of both pre-development and post-development grade. When the average post- development grade is lower than the average pre-development grade, then height shall be measured from the average post development grade. When a property slopes upward toward the rear of the lot building height is measured from the average grade above sea level of the front and rear wall plane utilizing the same averaging approaches in Sec. 1.5.7.A 2. above, in order to calculate the average grade between the pre-development average grade and the post-development average grade. When the average post-development grade utilizing both the front and rear wall planes is lower than the average pre-development grade, then height shall be measured from the average post-development grade. The text change will revise the applicability standards for residential infill compatibility. For establishing infill principal building setbacks, the UDO uses a comparative sample of the surrounding properties. The intent is that infill development should be compatible with the surrounding properties and the neighborhood. As proposed, the comparative sample will be derived by the four closest principal buildings, or three for a corner lot, along the same block face of the street within 300 feet of and oriented toward the same street as the subject lot. The sample need not be equally distributed on either side of the subject lot. When a comparative sample of four principal buildings, or three for a corner lot, cannot be derived, then the minimum setback of the underlying zoning district would apply. The proposed standards would not apply to properties located in Historic Districts, Street Side Historic Overlay Districts, or to Historic landmarks. The text change will also revise the maximum allowable side wall plane height and its relation to the side setback. The maximum allowed wall plane height adjacent to the side property line will be revised to 25 feet or the average height of the 2 abutting neighboring wall planes, whichever is greater. The wall plane height may be increased 1 foot for each foot of horizontal distance the wall is moved from the side setback line, not to exceed the maximum height allowed within the district. When a side wall incorporates a recession or projection of 2 feet or more, multiple side wall plane heights shall apply. Each side wall plane’s height is determined by averaging the four points consisting of the highest and lowest elevations of each of pre-development and post-development grades along that side wall of the building. In the event the average post-development grade along the side wall of the building is lower than the average pre-development grade along that wall, then side wall plane height shall be measured from the average post development grade. A copy of the approved text change can be found here: TC-4-20. The City of Raleigh is proposing changes to their floodplain regulations. Currently, the comment period is open
until January 31, 2021 and you can click here for a copy of the proposed regulation changes and click here for a link to the survey/comment section. The proposed changes would extend building restrictions for new development to the entire floodplain.
The City of Raleigh Planning and Development Department has made some changes in response to our requests that will take affect on January 4th, 2021.
Beginning Monday, July 20 the City of Raleigh will open its revenue counter to the public at the Raleigh Municipal Building from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Development Services Customer Service Center at One Exchange Plaza will also resume in person services by appointment. Individuals and contractors are still encouraged to use virtual services available online. Appointments can be scheduled online as well or by calling 919-996-2500. For all other City services, please check the City website for updates or call to make an appointment. The City of Raleigh has a text change that is up for public hearing on Tuesday, September 17th. This text change, TC-4-19, looks to add a requirement that if a builder/developer has 2 or more notices of violation (NOV) for sedimentation and erosion control within the last 2 years, then they will be required to submit a sedimentation and erosion control plan on subsequent permits pulled, even for lots under 12,000 square feet that do not currently require them.
The HBA attended meetings on this and was able to get the requirement changes to be 2 or more NOV's instead of the original 1 NOV that was suggested. Also, the "clock" for the 2 years starts from the date of the first NOV and then once 2 years passes from that, assuming no additional NOV's are acquired, there is no longer a requirement for a SEC plan for lots under 12,000 sq. ft. Click here for more information on TC-4-19. Raleigh has kicked off an Infill Residential Development Study and you NEED to participate. At the most recent Governmental Affairs Committee meeting we had the City of Raleigh and consultants join us to discuss the newly kicked off Infill Study along with the Survey.
This survey will remain open until the end of September and it is IMPERATIVE that you take the time to do it. You DO NOT need to be a Raleigh resident to complete it. They want to hear from the residential housing industry as well! We were encouraged by the staff to get as many folks engaged in taking the survey as possible. They want to hear from you!! Please take the time and help the industry out by expressing (in the notes section of the survey) just how restrictive, encumbering and stifling the current infill regulations are on the ability to provide quality housing at affordable prices. You can find the survey at the following link: http://dsinsider.com/blog/31-planning/260-help-us-make-smart-policies-to-manage-infill-development-in-existing-neighborhoods That's right! Believe it or not, Raleigh has kicked off an Infill Residential Development Study. I'd love to say they are responding to our concerns of how out of whack everything has become with the onslaught of text changes over the last few years, but sadly I believe the impetus for this study is yet to look at additional ways to preserve the "character of the neighborhood". That is EXACTLY why we need to have all the voice we possibly can at the table while this discussion takes place. The City has kicked off things with a survey where they are collecting information.
PLEASE take the time to complete this survey to make sure our industry's voice is heard. The survey can be found here: http://dsinsider.com/blog/31-planning/260-help-us-make-smart-policies-to-manage-infill-development-in-existing-neighborhoods The City of Raleigh has a text change that will be discussed soon in the Text Change Subcommittee of the Planning Committee. This text change, TC-4-19, looks to add a requirement that if a builder/developer gets a notice of violation (NOV) for sedimentation and erosion control, then they will be required to submit a sedimentation and erosion control plan on any permit pulled for the next 2 years, for lots under 12,000 square feet that do not currently require them. This could means thousands of additional dollars given the SEC Plan permit fee, added time and engineering costs.
We believe, and spoke at the Planning Commission meeting, that the punishment does not properly match the offense and have asked for more discussion and consideration on the topic. Please let me know if you would like to be involved in this issue. I will be notifying builder members when this item has been calendared with the Text Change Committee. Click here for more information on TC-4-19. |
