Falls of Neuse Area Plan Update

The Falls of Neuse Area plan is one of 22 area plans currently incorporated into the City of Raleigh Comprehensive Plan. The Falls of Neuse plan was adopted in 2006. It contains policies that cover land use, roadway improvements, and balancing development in an urban watershed area.

Project Details

Type:: Area Plans
Project Lead:: Jason Hardin

The Planning Commission’s review of the Falls North (Falls of Neuse) area plan report and associated Comprehensive Plan amendments wrapped up on August 14 with a recommendation in favor of the plan to City Council.

The last step of the planning process involved City Council review. Council held a public hearing on the plan on December 4, 2018. Council also referred the plan to its Growth and Natural Resources Committee for further review. The committee considerd the plan on May 15, 2019.

The intent of the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendments (packaged as CP-1A-18) is to align planning policy documents with the area plan’s vision for recommendations for land uses and potential transportation and parks improvements in the corridor.

The Planning Commission voted on August 14 to recommend the plan to Council. The Commission also recommended changes to two plan policies that address height guidance at the Falls of Neuse Road/Raven Ridge Road area and tree conservation throughout the study area.

The recommended changes, as well as other information about the plan, are contained in the recommendation and supporting memorandum.

Raleigh City Council adopted the Falls North Small Area Plan Final Report and associated Comprehensive Plan amendments at its meeting on May 21, 2019. The adoption followed recommendations from the Planning Commission and Council’s Growth and Natural Resources Committee.

The adopted plan will be used to consider whether rezoning requests are consistent with the city’s vision for this area. It also will help prioritize investments for pedestrian and bicycle projects.

Revised draft report available

A revised project report for the Falls of Neuse area plan has been published. The revised report includes a number of changes based on comments received during two public comment periods.

The creation of the report followed a series of public workshops and involved the assistance of project consultants. Two comment periods followed, the most recent ending in early January 2018.

Comments received during those review periods have been incorporated into the revised document. Responses to all comments received, as well as a summary of changes from the first and second comment periods are available for review.

Next Steps

Confirmation Group

A “Confirmation Group” – a body of 15 residents, property owners, and representatives of institutions along the corridor – has been selected by City Council. The group will provide oversight of the planning process to ensure that it reflects the input of community stakeholders. The group’s orientation meeting took place on May 1. The first formal meeting, as well as a tour of the area with the group and project consultants, took place on May 18, 2017, with subsequent meetings on June 21, June 29, August 7, November 6, January 8, 2018 and most recently November 27, 2018. Meeting minutes are available at the links in the “Confirmation Group” box on the right side of the page.