Families worry about development disrupting safety at Raleigh park
Some families in a Raleigh neighborhood are worried about the safety of a popular mini-park and playground.
That's because a new development could be going up across the street. The owner of the property on the corner of Bickett Boulevard and Fairview Road wants to rezone it.
It would lead to dozens of apartments or condos above shops and a parking garage.
Right now, the corner is home to a few one-story shops. This would all be torn down.
The couple that owns this property wants to rezone it for a building up to four stories tall here with as many as 48 apartments or condos.
It's right across from Roanoke Park, a popular spot for families with young children.
This "toddler time" group meets here in the toy park and playground every day. The park is not fenced in.
A curb that's barely a bump separates it from the streets that loop around on both sides. There are no sidewalks.
Some neighbors are concerned the development will funnel more traffic and overflow parking onto those streets, especially with a parking deck entrance right across from the park.
"If they end up rezoning over there and building more stuff and have increase traffic, then it just becomes more and more unsafe and makes us a little more nervous to come at all," said Nina Reece.
Chuck Walker is representing the landowners. He said they've done two traffic studies that show the development would actually reduce the number of car trips during peak morning and evening times.
"We are really, really really trying hard to find a way not to have to have that driveway on Bickett," said landowner Chuck Walker. "As far as providing a lot of extra parking spaces for the neighborhood, we simply just can’t do that."
City council will hold a public hearing on this rezoning Tuesday night. Four people are signed up to speak in support of the rezoning. Four people are signed up against it.
Council could vote on the rezoning or send it back to a committee to work out some of the concerns.
