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Category: The Gateway

Draft Master Plan Development Areas

The following illustration show the Private Development plans put forth in the Dec. 2018 Draft Master Plan. These recommendations were changed to “Future Study” in the January update. Thus, while these development plans aren’t enumerated in the final plan they are “being studied” and we must continue to watch for and oppose these private development plans. It is particularly important to prevent private development along the approximately 800 ft deep strip of property along Lake Wheeler Road, because this is the Gateway to Raleigh’s Downtown. The words have changed from the Dec. Draft Master Plan, but the desire to develop has not. Note that the phases have been renamed to numbers and the 4’6 acre parcel shown in Phase C is now slated as a Temporary Parking in Phase Now This next illustration shows all the areas planned for development. This includes parking, buildings and areas being studied for Private Development.

Lake Wheeler Road – The Gateway to Downtown

Phase 1 includes the bike lane along Lake Wheeler Road and the main park entrance with playground, fountain and other stuff that hasn’t been designed in detail yet. Next to it along Lake Wheeler Rd. there is a large field with trees, some benches and a grill. This is one of the parcels the Master Plan labels for future study. Even though it is grassy field they have colored it gray on the plan and in “Phase 1” they label it as “Temporary Parking” Map from the Master Plan | Red annotation by JHuberman One of the Master Plans “Core Values” is “Open Up and Connect”. On page 18 it says, Work with neighboring communities and institutions to maximize local and regional connections to the park Create new physical connections that invite activity at park edges and expand upon existing landscape experiences Improve existing entries and create new ones, welcoming visitors from all directions in as many ways as possible The Lake Wheeler Road park earmarked for “Temporary Parking” This “Future Study”, “Temporary Parking” area is one of the best opportunities to connect Fuller Heights into the park. By locating the Lake Wheeler greenway slightly into this area and plantingRead More

Private Development

Definition of “Private Development” “Private Development” Includes All the various ways of describing opportunities for a person or corporation to use part of the park for their own private use when that use does not directly support the park visitor.  Use of park property that is not open to the public solely to raise revenue to support park purposes.Terminology such as “Value Capture”, “Land Lease”, Park Supporting, and “Revenue Generating Development”, as well as other creative terms that obscure the meaning to the public.Condominiums, rental apartments, business office space and facilities that charge excessive membership or use fees and similar businesses. “Private Development” does not include: The kitchen section of a restaurant or the storage and repair areas of a bicycle rental shop, because the business is open to the public and the private areas directly support the service to the public.  Facilities that groups can temporarily rent in ways similar to those rented in other Raleigh Parks like meeting rooms or picnic shelters. Development by private corporations or individuals for public amenities like fountains, play areas, bike paths or stream remediation. “Open and accessible to everyone” includes: ADA compliant access to facilities.  Some trails and landscapes may not beRead More