RALEIGH — If the Centennial Authority gets its way, the landscape around Carter-Finley Stadium will change dramatically. The authority, which is planning Raleigh's entertainment and sports arena, wants 140 adjacent acres rezoned so that hotels, restaurants and bars can be built.

The acreage is now zoned for office and institutional use. If the City of Raleigh gives the okay, the land would be classified as a thoroughfare district, which permits denser and more varied development.

The tract is south of Wade Avenue, west of Blue Ridge Road, north of Trinity Road and east of the Edwards Mill extension, which is now under construction.

The West Raleigh Citizens Advisory Council opposes allowing any development on the 140 acres other than sports facilities and parking lots.

"Thoroughfare district, without any conditions, is essentially a blank check for development," said Matt Andrews, the council's chairman. "If it were on US 70, 140 acres, it would never be approved."

The authority declined the advisory council's request to restrict development of the site voluntarily.

The Raleigh Planning Commission endorsed the rezoning in an 8 - 2 vote last month.