Council keeps rezoning for Raleigh Sports and Entertainment District open after lengthy hearing on traffic, stormwater and access

The Raleigh City Council on April 1 recessed a final decision on rezoning case Z‑38‑24, the proposed Planned Development (PD) for the Lenovo Center site and surrounding 80‑acre complex, and voted to keep the hearing open and return to the council on April 15 at 1 p.m. for further consideration.

Planning staff described the request as a PD that would subdivide about 80 acres into four subdistricts (A‑D), with a combined maximum entitlement of up to 4,200 dwelling units and roughly 3.8 million square feet of nonresidential space by staff estimate. The PD as proposed would allow building heights up to 40 stories in most subdistricts (15 stories in Subdistrict B), set an open‑space minimum of roughly 11.42 acres (about 4% of the site), and identify tree conservation areas totaling about 4.37 acres (approximately 5.4%). Staff noted the plan defines parking, pedestrian connections, and phased development expected to take 10–15 years to fully build out.

Jamie Schwedler of Parker Poe presented on behalf of the applicant team and said project partners include Gale Force Sports and Entertainment and investors associated with the Carolina Hurricanes and Pacific‑affiliated developers. Brian Fork of Gale Force told council the redevelopment agreement and the tri‑party agreement amendments bind the developer to two specific public commitments: (1) a requirement that 10% of residential units across all phases be affordable to households earning up to 80% of area median income, and (2) payments of ad valorem taxes (or payments in lieu of taxes) to the city and county after credits for public area improvements the developer funds are exhausted.

“There are 2 things that I want to specifically point out...the development agreement now requires and we are bound by all the residential units, housing that's produced in the development throughout all 4 phases. 10% of all of that has to be affordable for those making households making up to 80% of AMI,” Brian Fork said. “We have agreed to do [payments in lieu of taxes] in the development agreement.”

Public comment included both supporters and neighbors expressing concerns. Representatives of nearby neighborhoods and the Alliance for Reedy Creek asked the developers to provide periodic reports on traffic mitigation, emergency access, and sediment/turbidity monitoring during construction. Cardinal Gibbons High School’s board chair, Tim Thronson, and students urged stronger pedestrian and school‑access protections, including formal conditions requiring the developer to work with the school on crossings and construction‑traffic management. Several speakers asked for protections for Richland Creek, including monitoring and improved stormwater measures.

City transportation staff and the applicant reviewed traffic study recommendations. The applicant said a voluntary Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) at rezoning stage examined a full‑build worst‑case scenario and identified a conceptual set of roadway and intersection improvements — including converting the three‑leg Wade Park/Edwards Mill intersection into a four‑leg intersection with upgraded pedestrian facilities and signalization — that will be coordinated with NCDOT and implemented where and when appropriate during site‑plan review. City staff cautioned that some crossing improvements are constrained by state right‑of‑way and by minimum NCDOT spacing rules: Transportation staff measured about 400 feet between Stephen Stroud Way and Trinity Road and said NCDOT normally requires about 1,200 feet of separation, making a new signal at that location unlikely.

On stormwater, the applicant’s engineer said phased construction and existing on‑site stormwater infrastructure will reduce exposed disturbed area at any one time and increase staged treatment opportunities. City stormwater staff said much of the property falls under North Carolina State University’s MS4 (municipal separate storm sewer) permit and the state’s construction erosion and sediment controls program; they advised residents to pursue monitoring data through the state regulatory authority when appropriate.

Councilors asked the applicant to continue coordination with neighborhood groups, Cardinal Gibbons High School, NCDOT and city transportation staff. Before voting, a councilmember moved to keep the hearing open and continue Z‑38‑24 to the April 15 1 p.m. session; the motion carried.

Actions recorded: the council voted to continue the rezoning hearing and requested additional detail and coordination on pedestrian/bicycle connections, off‑site improvements, stormwater protections and an engagement plan with nearby neighborhoods and schools. No zoning approval was granted on April 1; the case remains active and pending further council review.