Raleigh's Moves Could Slow Growth

Raleigh, N.C. — The City Council's recent decisions to ban garbage disposals, impose tough water restrictions and consider doubling impact fees on developers could soon begin putting the brakes on the city's growth.

In the last eight years, Raleigh has added 25 square miles and more than 40,000 dwellings. The number of new housing units represented a 33 percent jump since 2000.

"Our concern is that it's going to give us a negative impact on people wanting to buy a home," said Tim Minton, executive vice president of the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County. "If all of a sudden, the perception is it's going to cost you more to buy (and you) can't have a garbage disposal, if you've got a house in Johnston (County) and one in Raleigh, you might be sort of wanting to go in that direction."

Councilman Rodger Koopman said the time for Raleigh to rethink how it grows is overdue.

"I know that's a scary conversation, but we are now beginning to see that areas cannot continue to grow unless we're beginning to see that the physical resources are there," Koopman said. "That is a discussion worth having because, at the end of the day, I did not get elected to represent the people that move here. I got elected to represent the people that live here, and the people that live here are saying, 'Whoa. Wait a minute. How is this growth benefiting me?'"

Mayor Charles Meeker agreed that discussions about Raleigh's growth are helpful, but he doesn't see an effort by the City Council to slow growth.

"I don't think it's really a question of slowing the growth, but looking at the quality of it, being sure that we're very careful about our water," Meeker said. "Raleigh alone really can't slow growth because, if we stop something somewhere, the other folks will just go somewhere else in Wake County or in Johnston County or Franklin County. What we can influence is the quality of growth and where it occurs within the city limits.

"I think it's important our community discuss these things," he said. "I understand it gets heated sometimes – that's part of the public process – but in the end, we'll be in a better situation as a community."

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Latest Comments

I have been here 27 yrs and the "pretty scenery" whipoorwills are things of the past, all we have now are cookie cutter homes, a huge mess on the roads and well-- just an unattractive vast sprawling mess --sorry

seeingthru
March 20, 2008 7:25 p.m.

Thank you!! someone is starting to think!!!

seeingthru
March 20, 2008 7:22 p.m.

Oh escape from wake. Whatya do, move to fancy Johnston County? Give me a break. Raleigh is excellent to live in. So it's growing very rapidly and has some growth management issues. The school system is still great, the roads are still decent (you been to Charlotte?), and water schmater. A once in 100 year drought hardly means that you should have planned for it. Nothing but whining. Being from here it's always been growing. Did I like getting bussed to school downtown? No. Did I whine relentlessly about it and make a sign? No. I got what's considered the best education in the state. If you don't like it then get on the council or school board. Suggest some changes, or, I guess just jet to some "better" place.

PC is for Losers
March 20, 2008 6:25 p.m.

I don't live in wake county, but in general this state is always behind on everything but the larger populated areas are always talking about "growth." How & why push for "growth" when the roadways, schools, and now water supply are not available for such growth. We want the growth, but no casinos along the cost which could provide for more/better roads schools & public transportation. This state simply moves to slow in providing what's necessary for growth before growing!!

tab580642
March 20, 2008 4:44 p.m.

Raleigh's Moves Could Slow Growth? Folks its gone way beyond that... The garbage disposal thing made the news way back here in Phoenix, Az. People thought it was hilarious and said they could understand why we left North Carolina. Lousy school board, lousy roads, inadequate water supply. About all you have left is a nice climate, and pretty scenery.