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Residents press Wake County on Lake Crabtree Park lease, zoning and replacement trails
Summary
Multiple residents urged Wake County officials to preserve Lake Crabtree County Park and enforce existing zoning after learning parts of the park may be leased for non-park uses. Chair Evans said the county is negotiating to retain the lakefront 33 acres but cannot control RDU-owned portions of the site.
Dozens of residents told the Wake County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday that they want the county to preserve the forest, multi-use mountain-bike trails and open space at Lake Crabtree County Park after airport-owned land at the park became the subject of lease and zoning questions.
The park spurred multiple speakers during the general public comment period, with several asking the county to enforce existing zoning, maintain trails and avoid deforestation or commercial development on land long used for public recreation. "The whole park is not closing," Chair Susan P. Evans said during the meeting, but added the county————does not own all the land and that the RDU Airport Authority controls leasing of property it owns.
Why it matters: Lake Crabtree draws families, trail users and local birders; speakers warned that converting forest and trails would harm public recreation and habitat and could increase flood and stormwater risks if large areas were paved.
Public comments and claims - Residents representing community groups and outdoor users asked the county to enforce the "airport district" zoning they said governs parts of the site and to require adherence to Chapter 160D if rezoning is proposed. One speaker said she reviewed historical county and RDU records and cited a 1982 zoning decision affecting the area. - Multiple speakers warned that replacing forested acreage and soft-surface trails with commercial development would reduce recreational access, damage habitat for migrating birds and worsen stormwater runoff. - Local trail advocates urged the county to find temporary or permanent replacement trails nearby if airport-owned leases remove existing mountain-bike trails.
County response and next steps Chair Evans said Wake County staffs and legal advisers have been working with RDU and that the county negotiated to retain the primary 33-acre park portion that includes the lakefront, picnic areas and boating access. She said the county was not able to continue leasing some airport-owned portions at the previous $1-per-year lease rate when leases expired; county staff are pursuing alternatives and a "more robust statement" from the county will be released later in the week.
Speakers named organizations including 1 Wake, Save Crabtree, and Raleigh Boots on the Ground and referenced the RDU Airport Authority and the FAA. Some commenters urged enforcement of airport-area zoning and asked county officials to use county zoning authority under Chapter 160D.
What officials said they can and cannot do County officials said RDU owns portions of the land and controls its lease and certain land-use permissions; county staff and legal advisers are exploring options for replacement trails and other ways to preserve public access. Residents disputing that RDU controls all zoning said they had reviewed archival planning documents and maps; the county said it will clarify the facts in a forthcoming county statement.
Ending: Commissioners acknowledged the public concern and said staff would continue negotiations with RDU and explore replacement trail options while preparing a public statement to clarify lease and zoning details.
