Neighbors in north Raleigh are pressing the city to stop a rezoning request that would let a developer pack more homes onto a 3.79-acre lot just east of Millbrook High School. Residents at recent meetings and on the city's engagement portal argue that the only realistic entrance for the site is Johnsdale Road, a narrow, mostly sidewalk-free street that already handles school drop-off and heavy foot traffic. They warn that denser housing on the parcel would clog the road and put students at greater risk. The Planning Commission was scheduled to take up the case on Tuesday morning.
What the rezoning would change
The applicant wants to rezone 6309 Litchford Road from Residential-4 to Residential-10 Conditional Use, which would increase residential entitlement while capping principal dwelling units at 54 and prohibiting boardinghouses and apartment building types, according to the City of Raleigh. The portal also outlines proposed site conditions that include requirements for historic-preservation documentation and stricter erosion controls during construction.
Neighbors cite safety and infrastructure concerns
At Planning Commission meetings and in written comments, neighbors told city staff that Johnsdale Road is too narrow, lacks sidewalks and has limited sight lines, conditions they say make the street unsafe for the many students who walk to Millbrook, according to the City of Raleigh. Several residents urged commissioners to require a different access plan or to withhold any approval until the city commits to road upgrades and better pedestrian infrastructure.
Developer argues for more housing
Representatives for the applicant and planning staff have framed the rezoning as a way to add missing-middle housing and boost the area's housing supply, an argument developers repeated in public comments, according to WRAL. Opponents counter that limits on building types and unit counts still do not fix what they see as the core problem: local streets and sidewalks that, in their view, are not ready for more residents.
What's next
The Planning Commission was scheduled to consider rezoning case Z-43-25 at its 9 a.m. meeting on Tuesday, June 23, and the request comes with baggage: commissioners previously recommended denial on an 8-1 vote, according to the city's planning calendar and the council packet. Even if the commission defers or changes course and recommends approval, the proposal would still need a City Council public hearing and final vote.
Neighbors say they plan to keep pressing staff for traffic mitigation and clear access commitments, while city officials are directing residents to the rezoning engagement portal for the staff report, meeting materials and instructions on how to submit comments. The application's documents and public comments are posted on the city's rezoning portal for anyone who wants to dig into the full record.
