Potential for more development coming to Falls of Neuse / Dunn Road (Bedford) Area (Raleigh: neighborhood)

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

I just found out that the North CAC (Citizens Advisory Council) Meeting to be held this Thursday will include a presentation about a rezoning issue concerning a piece of undeveloped land located adjacent to the Bedford Community entrance at the Intersection of Falls of Neuse Road and Dunn Road. It is that 4-acre parcel on your right as you enter Bedford (See Map Below).

It looks like somebody want to put some retail/commercial development in there. I am a little torn on this one. On the one hand I like the idea of having stores and shops to walk to, but on the other I think having stores at that location on Falls of Neuse may be a traffic nightmare! I am withholding my judgment until I see the presentation at tomorrows meeting. It looks like the land owners are trying to get the zoning changed from "Buffer Commercial - Conditional Use" to "Neighborhood Business Conditional Use".

Does anybody know the difference between those two zoning categories?
Boring Details about the Zoning petition can be found here

Map of land proposed for development (In Red) located adjacent to the Bedford Entrance on Dunn Road

[underPSI]

but on the other I think having stores at that location on Falls of Neuse may be a traffic nightmare!

A traffic nightmare for who? Bedford residents? GOOD!!! The Bedford residents have already made Falls of Neuse a traffic nightmare for the rest of us. What's worse is the stoplight that Bedford people demanded be installed is now constantly being ran by the Bedford residents. I have seen it ran multiple times. In fact, just yesterday morning I was southbound Falls of Neuse approaching the Dunn Rd. intersection and I had the green light but got cut off by an "untouchable" Bedford resident running the red light!

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

Originally Posted by underPSI

A traffic nightmare for who? Bedford residents? GOOD!!! The Bedford residents have already made Falls of Neuse a traffic nightmare for the rest of us. What's worse is the stoplight that Bedford people demanded be installed is now constantly being ran by the Bedford residents. I have seen it ran multiple times. In fact, just yesterday morning I was southbound Falls of Neuse approaching the Dunn Rd. intersection and I had the green light but got cut off by an "untouchable" Bedford resident running the red light!

Actually I was thinking more along the lines that this would be a traffic nightmare for anyone and everyone who uses Falls of Neuse Road in that area. Being that it is located so close to the light you mention, I imagine things will only get worse at that spot.

FYI - I only used Bedford as a point of reference so people would know what part of the road I was speaking of. My post isn't about Bedford residents one way or another.

[dansdrive]

I guess there were just to many mature green trees around the entrance of Bedford. It looks so nice the way it is. I for one vote for green ways over retail ways. How many cell phone, nails, haircut, tax service places do we need? There was a time when trees were needed to supply oxygen for us to breath, somewhere along the development cycle the need for trees(oxygen) has ceased to be needed.

The area heading north on Falls of Nuese and Old Rt 98 and Rt 98 is looking like swiss cheese heading into a cheese slicer, all in the name of progress. Sad.

Sorry for venting but just get bummed when I see trees by the thousands get cut down and only replanted in the 10's or 100's. Sad. Soon Wake forest will have to drop the Forest from its name and be called Wake Forest-less. Sad.

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

I just got back from the CAC meeting where the developers explained to citizens what they wanted to do to the property and why they needed it rezoned.

The meeting got a tad UGLY.

There were a lot of residents there with a lot of questions.

Apparently the way that land is currently zoned they could only have retail shops that were no bigger than 3,000 sq/ft. The developer wants to get it rezoned so they can have a store with a maximum of 20,000 square feet so they can bring in an "anchor" store. He said they were thinking something along the lines of a boutique grocery store like a Whole Foods / Trader Joes / Freshmart type store.

Most of the audience was concerned about traffic. Seems to me it is a little premature to talk about developing this land when we still don't know the fate of the Falls of Neuse widening plan and what it will look like in the end.

I plan to keep my eye on this piece of land. It could end up being the best or the worst thing to happen in that area. I haven't yet decided which one I think it will be.

[raleighjayne]

Thanks for the info, NRG. I can't even imagine having a Whole Foods type place there. I know that the residents of Woodspring and/or River Oaks had a petition going a while back to limit what could be put there.

What's really really sad to me is that I remember reading the minutes from a WCPSS community engagement meeting where it was mentioned that the school system was in talks with the owners about buying the land for a school. They got somewhat into discussions with them and then they decided to sell to a commercial developer instead. I'd much rather have a school there than more retail. It would still be extra traffic but at least it would be something we actually need in the area instead of more shops.

[dansdrive]

Originally Posted by raleighjayne

Thanks for the info, NRG. I can't even imagine having a Whole Foods type place there. I know that the residents of Woodspring and/or River Oaks had a petition going a while back to limit what could be put there.

What's really really sad to me is that I remember reading the minutes from a WCPSS community engagement meeting where it was mentioned that the school system was in talks with the owners about buying the land for a school. They got somewhat into discussions with them and then they decided to sell to a commercial developer instead. I'd much rather have a school there than more retail. It would still be extra traffic but at least it would be something we actually need in the area instead of more shops.

I'm not big on more development but I agree that if the land is used for a school it would be a good thing. At least we will know it will be used. I'm just concerned with all the so called 'shops' being built around the area there will be a lot of empty ones. Just drive around the shops around BJ's near triangle town center, most are empty! up on New Falls of Neuse there are shops that are over 1.5 years old and never had a tenant yet. And what are they doing, building even more next to Kerr's drugs. Who finances these things?