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Planning commission recommends rezoning for community‑owned grocery at 2245 Garner Road
Summary
The Raleigh Planning Commission recommended approval of Z5024 to rezone 2245 Garner Road to allow a community‑owned grocery and ‘health campus’ led by Fertile Ground Food Cooperative; the motion passed unanimously after the applicant agreed to additional use restrictions including prohibition on vape shops.
The Raleigh Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of rezoning case Z5024, clearing the way for a community‑owned grocery and associated health and gathering space at 2245 Garner Road.
Planner Hannah rechow told the commission the request would rezone the nearly 10‑acre parcel from R10 to CX‑5 CU, allow up to five stories and increase potential housing capacity while imposing conditions that would prohibit certain uses and cap entitlements (no more than 150 dwelling units; office capped at 50,000 square feet; retail capped at 47,500 square feet). Rechow said the request is inconsistent with the future land use map but aligns with several comprehensive‑plan policies that encourage compact development and capitalize on nearby transit access.
Applicants Simone Bullock Dillahunt, vice president of Fertile Ground Food Cooperative, and board member Jen Truman described the project as a community‑owned grocery that would locate adjacent to the J.D. Lewis center and include a mezzanine event space and flexible community gathering areas. "Our goal is to create a store that is also a welcoming community asset that reflects southeast Raleigh," Bullock Dillahunt said. Truman emphasized site constraints and the grading differences that motivated the request for additional height to accommodate a two‑story grocery and mezzanine event space.
Commissioners questioned whether subsidized units were guaranteed; staff clarified there is no requirement for subsidized units in the current request. Commissioners also pushed the applicants on use restrictions. After discussion, the applicant agreed to work with staff on clear wording to prohibit vape shops on the site; staff advised liquor‑sales prohibitions are limited by state law. "We'd be willing to exclude vape shops from the uses," the applicant said.
Commissioner Omakai moved to adopt the staff consistency statement and recommend the zoning change; Commissioner Burnett seconded. By a show of hands the motion passed unanimously.
Next steps: the recommendation advances to the City Council process and the city’s July 25 deadline for action applies. The approved consistency statement also includes an amendment to the future land use map described in the staff report.
