The region’s rapid growth and high housing costs are prompting a contentious debate over zoning changes that would boost density.
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The cities of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, known locally as the Triangle, are all debating changes to their zoning codes, reports Zachery Eanes in Axios.
The reforms are a response to the region’s rapid growth and the attendant rise in housing costs. “The median sales price in the region in March 2020 was $287,000, according to numbers from Triangle Multiple Listing Services. Three years later, the median sales price was $387,000 — a 43.4% increase.”
Raleigh upzoned in 2021, but is considering revising those zoning changes amidst opposition from local groups. In Durham, a proposal to change the city’s unified development ordinance would streamline development and create incentives for affordable housing. “And Chapel Hill is considering upzoning many of its single-family neighborhoods to allow for more accessory dwelling units and duplexes.” All of the upzoning proposals face pushback from local residents concerned about traffic, parking, and neighborhood character.
FULL STORY: The Triangle's growing debate around neighborhood zoning
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