Calling on Community Support for Successful Rezoning

Your support of our project is among widespread enthusiasm from residents of the area, and both Regency Centers and Whole Foods are excited about bringing their store to North Raleigh. We discussed several items of interest in our meeting, and I’ll add a few additional clarifications that are important, as follows:

• Whole Foods has signed a lease for the market, contingent on us gaining successful rezoning. Now, it’s up to us to make this happen!In order for us to deliver this project, the site will require rezoning from its current Office & Institutional -1 designation to Shopping Center-Conditional Use. Doing so will require a change to the Comprehensive Plan. This process is why we need those who want a Whole Foods Market in North Raleigh to be visibly supportive of the project by attending public meetings.

• The first important public meeting is the Citizen’s Advisory Council-North meeting on Thursday, September 4, at 7 PM at Exchange Park Community Center, 1905 Spring Forest Road. This is a voting meeting, so physical attendance by supporters is essential. Starting at 5:30, Whole Foods and Regency Centers will host a “meet and greet” for supporters of the project at an outdoor public area adjacent to the Community Center. The event will be well-marked so that it will be easy to find, and Whole Foods Market will provide refreshments. We look forward to seeing you and your neighbors there.
  
  
  • The second important meeting will be a joint meeting between Raleigh City Council and the Planning Commission on October 21. This is the meeting at which our case is formally presented to the City, which includes an accounting of the vote of the CAC-North from September 4. I will provide you additional details on this at a later time, but please note it on your calendars.
    
    
  • The third important meeting will be a Planning Commission hearing on October 28. I will provide you additional details on this at a later time, but please note it on your calendars.
    
    
  • There will be additional meetings beyond October 28, and I’ll let you know the subjects, dates and times as we get closer.

• Community participation, in terms of showing up for votes and, at certain time, a “show of hands” in support of the project, is very important. We’ll also seek individuals who are willing to speak out in support of the project. Please have those individuals contact me directly so that we can take advantage of their passion for this effort.
  
  
• If anyone in your neighborhood has questions about the project, especially the rezoning issues, feel free to have them call me directly (my contact information is shown below). To the best of our ability, we want all the neighbors in the area to support our project. The best way to achieve this is by sharing thoughts and making sure that concerned citizens have correct information about it.
  
  
• I’ve attached conceptual site plan and rendered elevation for you to share with your neighbors. The site plan is pretty firm; the building front may likely change, but you should expect a North Hills-like style.
  
  
• We can’t overemphasize the need for neighborhood participation. A vocal minority in opposition will drown out a silent majority in favor every time, so we need the community to join in for us to succeed.

Also, please let your neighbors know that www.bringwholefoods.org is still gathering signatures in support of the project, so please have people sign the petition.