From our keeping on top of things dept.:

The InterNeighborhood Council spent 22 minutes last week debating whether or not to endorse the city's proposed UC-2 zoning for an area near NCCU. It was an earnest discussion.

In time, the delegates voted for a resolution favoring the zoning, but with conditions, and sent the resolution on to City Hall.

In response, City Hall replied that the City Council had approved the zoning three weeks before.

Better late than never, we suppose.
 

While future of 751 South remains to be determined, another subdivision proposal just up the road is also getting a cold reception from some of the neighbors.

"We moved there about four years ago and loved the rural feel," said Melvin G. Fehrenbacker of Oakwind Court. "We don't want it buried under slabs of concrete."

The reception was cold enough that, when the project came to the Durham Planning Commission Tuesday for a rezoning hearing, the developer's attorney asked for, and got, a two-month delay for further conversation.

"I think it's in the best interests to meet again with neighbors," said Ken Spaulding, representing 751 LLC, a company headquartered in Hobe Sound, FL.

The proposition in question, called "Trails at Southpoint," is for 164 residences on a  28-acre tract on N.C. 751 just north of Stagecoach Road. The site is currently zoned "Residential Rural," meaning the densest building allowed is three houses per two acres. On the south and west, it abuts Corps of Engineers land in the Jordan Lake watershed.

"We want to keep our serenity, keep our peace," said Therman Couch, whose home adjoins 751 LLC's property.

With the delay, the rezoning and a change in the county land-use plan come back to the Planning Commission July 10. The commission, a citizens advisory body, will make a recommendation to the county commissioners on approving or disapproving the zoning and land-use changes.

As special as Ninth Street is already, the City Hall set means to make it even more so -- with a special zoning district all its own. There's an open house on the subject Thursday evening, 6 to 8 p.m. at Asbury United Methodist Church at Markham Avenue and Clarendon Street, just behind East Campus.

This special district is an outgrowth of the Ninth Street Plan that the City Council approved, after years' deliberation among various interested parties, in late 2008. It would translate principles in the plan for the area's future development and redevelopment into law.

The City/County Planning Department is hosting the open house, where anyone may drop in at convenience and register an opinion or two; or find out what the whole thing is about.

To get an advance idea what the whole thing is about, see the plan at www.durhamnc.gov/departments/planning/pdf/ninth_street_plan.pdf; or contact planners Lisa Miller (560-4137 ext. 28270; lisa.miller@durhamnc.gov) or Aaron Cain (560-4137 ext. 28226; aaron.cain@durhamnc.gov).

The town of Knightdale is getting ready to review its comprehensive plan.

It’s been six years since the plan was adopted, and the town has seen quite a bit of development since then.

A comprehensive plan is something like the constitution behind the zoning ordinance. Areas in the town are designated according to what type of development the committee thinks should go there. Town Council has the final say.

But as with most matters, the Knightdale residents will be able to weigh in at a public hearing.

Then the ordinance comes into place and rules are adopted. or in this case, changed, to carry out the plan.

A group of Knightdale residents have already volunteered or been selected to take on this mammoth task.

They will meet the first Thursday of every month until the job is complete.

The committee also will look at transportation issues including mass transit.

Durham citizens complain the city-county planning-review process is impenetrable to the average Joe and Josephine. Durham developers complain the city-county planning process is labyrinthine and slow. Both sides agree, though, that it's confusing.

There can be yes, there can be no, and there can be yes and no at the same time.

Take the cases of Boulder/NC 54, which came before the Durham Planning Commission last week.