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1999
- An application was filed to rezone a 28-acre parcel of land by The Crosland Group -- developers of Harrington Grove (“HG”) and owners of the property. The request was for the land to be rezoned Raleigh R-6 with no conditions of use, thus allowing up to 6 units -- either single family or multifamily structures -- to be erected per acre (more than twice the number of structures allowed under its Durham PDR2.27 zoning). The land in question is at the end of North Exeter Way (the main street in The Glen), and is in Durham County. The original plans, surveys, permits, etc. were obtained by The Crosland Group who was going to make it a part of HG.
- 100% of the abutting neighbors in HG signed a petition against the rezoning.
- The Community Action Council (CAC) of Raleigh voted against the zoning proposal.
November 16, 1999
- The protest petition was submitted before the deadline date to ensure its validity and proper representation at the scheduled public hearing during an upcoming City Council and Planning Commission joint meeting.
- On November 16, our group arrived at the joint meeting; it was prearranged that our case be presented at 6:30 PM. Instead, we were told that our protest petitions were “null and void” because of an obscure state statute that prohibits a protest to be brought on property once it has been annexed. Coincidentally, the Mayor and City Council had annexed the “property in question” at 2:00 PM that very afternoon.
- We were told by a planning commission official that our community would be notified of the hearing before any development or construction begins on the property.
August 2001
- Within a two-day period, that property was clear-cut up Sycamore Creek.
- Resident of The Glen scrambled to find out what was going on. In brief, the property had been sold in March 2001 to Steven Eastman (developer of the Meadows and now the Pines). There was no hearing held pertaining to the developers proposal or plans.
- We’re desperately trying to protect Sycamore Creek and prevent North Exeter Way from becoming a thoroughfare from Shady Grove to New Leesville Blvd. (The original owner/developer was going to build a bridge over the creek. This would have the least environmental impact but is the most costly solution.)
September 27, 2001
- Steven Eastman and a builder’s rep (from Colony Homes) attend the HG Homeowners Association meeting. The developer informs us that he also preferred the road not go through, but was told by the City that it must. They reluctantly agree to accompany us to a meeting with city officials to request that the road be stopped.
October 2, 2001
- The 4:30 PM meeting with city officials is almost canceled at 2:30 PM because they felt we were bringing too many people (5). Once we agree that only two HG board members and one resident would attend, they agree to still meet with us.
- Basically, our group was given lip service. We were told to wait and “see how this all turns out” -- i.e., whether the road, one it is put through, does create traffic and safety hazards in our neighborhood. Our attempts to discuss concerns about Sycamore Creek were ignored.
Week of October 7
- The construction site had ongoing visits by environmental inspectors from the city, county and state; there have been violations cited. It has been visited several times by the fire department and NC Air Quality because of the burning they’re doing on the site (apparently without permit).
- On October 12, an article about this situation appeared in the News & Observer (North Raleigh News section).
- On October 14, heavy rains cause the creek to back up and flood onto the banks.
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