Planning Commission

More Information

The Commission typically meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 9 a.m. Meeting agendas are published on BoardDocs the Thursday before the meeting date. Planning Commission public meetings are broadcast live on RTN 11 and on the City of Raleigh YouTube. 

Location: 
City Council Chamber
222 West Hargett Street
Raleigh, NC 27601

Public Participation

The Planning Commission bylaws provide that those in favor of the application will be allowed a total of 10 minutes to explain their support, and those opposed to the application will be allowed a total of 10 minutes to explain their opposition. The amount of time allotted to each speaker will be determined based on the number of persons attending the meeting who wish to speak. Therefore, attending the meeting does not guarantee the opportunity to speak, due to these limitations. 

Community members with shared interests are encouraged to choose one or two spokespersons to present comments on behalf of the group. To display a presentation during their comments, members of the public should send electronic files in advance, no later than 5 p.m. the Friday before the meeting. Additionally, the Planning Commission reviews comments via email. 

If you would like to send a mailed letter to the Commission, please send it to the address below. 

City of Raleigh Planning Commission
Attn: Bynum Walter
P.O. Box 590
One Exchange Plaza - 3rd Floor
Raleigh, NC 27601-0590

Meeting Process + Agenda Structure

Agenda items are listed sequentially in the order they will be discussed. However, the chairperson can adjust the order of the agenda during the meeting. Members of the public are welcome to provide comments to the Planning Commission via email or in person at their meetings. 

Agenda Structure

Public Comment
Every Planning Commission meeting includes a time at the beginning of the agenda for any person to make comments on any item not appearing on the agenda. 

Consent Agenda
These items require a routine action, such as a request for a time extension or referring a discussion item to a subcommittee. Items that appear on the consent agenda are typically not discussed, nor is any final recommendation offered by the Planning Commission. 

Old Business or Committee Report
These items have typically been discussed at previous Planning Commission meetings or committee meetings. When an item appears as “Old Business” or “Committee Report” on a Planning Commission agenda, public comment requires a three-fourths vote of the commission members.

New Business
"New Business” items will begin with a staff presentation. The staff does not provide a recommendation for the items; rather, they provide basic facts and analysis of city policy. The applicant and proponents of the request will be provided a total of ten minutes to comment. All opponents of the request are also provided a total of ten minutes, with individual speakers provided with a total of two minutes to provide comments. With a three-fourths vote of the Commission, these time limits can be increased.

Members

The Planning Commission is composed of 10 members, nine appointed by the Raleigh City Council and one appointed by the Wake County Board of Commissioners. The County-appointed member must reside in the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) of the City.  All members are appointed to serve terms of two years and may be appointed to serve up to three consecutive terms or six consecutive years. Members also serve on various subcommittees, as listed below.

Committees

Committees meet on an as-needed basis to discuss items that the Planning Commission has referred to them for discussion. Committee meetings are held in the Raleigh Municipal Building, 222 W. Hargett Street. 

Committee of the Whole (COW)

The Committee of the Whole is an informal special meeting of the full Planning Commission to have further discussions on specific referral items. The Planning Commission bylaws state that rezoning requests that are deemed inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan and future land use map are automatically referred to the Committee of the Whole. Additionally, requests for Planned Development or Campus District are also automatically referred to this Committee.

• Members: All Members of the Planning Commission
• Meeting Schedule: As needed, on the fourth Thursday of the month at 4 p.m.
• Meeting Location: Room 305

Text Change Committee (TCC)

The Text Change Committee discusses changes to the zoning code, known as the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). 

• Members: To be announced August 12, 2025
• Meeting Schedule: As needed, on the third Wednesday of the month at 4 p.m.
• Meeting Location: Room 305

If you are interested in participating, please email Justin.Bucher@raleighnc.gov. Please include your name, address, and the case you would like to comment on. 

Strategic Planning Committee (SPC)

The Strategic Planning Committee discusses policy issues related to land use and development. 

• Members:  Members to be announced August 12, 2025
• Meeting Schedule: As needed, on the second Wednesday of the month at 4 p.m.
• Meeting Location: Room 303

If you would like to participate, please email Hannah.Reckhow@raleighnc.gov. 

Infrastructure and Mobility Committee (IMC)

The Infrastructure and Mobility Committee discusses issues related to transportation, transit, and infrastructure policies and improvements, and connections related to land use or large transportation planning efforts. 

• Members: Members to be announced August 12, 2025
• Meeting Schedule: As needed, on the fourth Thursday of the month at 3 p.m.
• Meeting Location: Room 303 

If interested in participating, please email Hannah.Reckhow@raleighnc.gov.

Past Meetings

The minutes for the Planning Commission and Planning Commission subcommittees are contained on the BoardDocs agenda management portal. If you would like to obtain meeting minutes prior to 2017, please send an email to Chenetha Eason. To watch past meetings, visit the video services page. 

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