The Raleigh City Council has approved the North Hills rezoning by a 6–2 vote, a decision that has generated strong reactions from residents, neighborhood advocates, and community stakeholders across Raleigh.
Councilors Harrison and Jones voted against the rezoning, citing concerns echoed by many residents during public comment. Despite widespread community input, the majority of Council moved forward with the proposal—raising questions about traffic impacts, housing affordability, and quality-of-life issues for nearby neighborhoods.
What Residents Are Concerned About
Traffic & Infrastructure
Many residents argue that the rezoning underestimates existing and future traffic congestion in and around North Hills. With increased density and commercial activity, neighbors worry that road capacity, transit options, and pedestrian safety were not adequately addressed.
Affordable Housing—But Not Where It’s Needed
While the project includes an affordable housing contribution, critics describe it as insufficient and disconnected from the North Hills area itself. A central concern remains unanswered:
Where are the people who work at North Hills supposed to live?
When workers are priced out of nearby housing, they are often forced into longer commutes—fueling traffic congestion, regional sprawl, and higher transportation costs.
Impacts on Nearby Homes
Residents living near the proposed development raised alarms about shadowing and scale, noting that taller buildings could leave neighboring properties in shade for much of the day, affecting livability, property enjoyment, and long-term value.
A Broader Question of Community Engagement
Opponents of the rezoning say the vote reflects a troubling pattern: resident input acknowledged but ultimately ignored. Public hearings drew passionate feedback, yet many feel their concerns were dismissed in favor of development priorities that benefit the district without fully mitigating neighborhood impacts.
Councilors Harrison and Jones’ dissenting votes highlighted these issues and underscored the ongoing debate about how Raleigh balances growth with equity, infrastructure, and neighborhood preservation.
What Happens Next?
With the rezoning approved, attention now turns to:
Site plan reviews and implementation details Continued advocacy for stronger affordability requirements Transportation and transit mitigation measures Ongoing engagement with affected neighborhoods
For many residents, the North Hills decision is not just about one project—it’s about how Raleigh grows, who benefits from that growth, and whether working families can afford to live near where they work.
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2 responses to “Raleigh City Council Approves North Hills Rezoning in 6–2 Vote, Sparking Community Concerns”
The concrete jungles of North Hills in what used to be a quite neighborhood community, ruined for ever. Used to frequent area the for years, but now avoid it for not just the traffic but lack of the type of business that used to be there, not to forget the atmosphere.
So for more than 10 years the City of Raleigh has spent tens of millions of our taxpayer dollars to “study” the widening of Six Forks Road. Ultimately late last year after buying millions of dollars of homes and Rights of Way along Six Forks, the plan was abandoned with nothing to show but 6 empty houses that the City does not even maintain or demolish as planned. With 4 new 37 story towers at North Hills surely we will need Six Forks brought to 6 lanes (not 4 lanes and 2 bike lanes).