Answers to the Sierra Club's At-large Candidate questionnaire. Questions are in italics, answers in regular type. Last Questions listed first.

October 7, 2007

LAND USE AND PLANNING

One of the fastest growing counties in the nation, the population of Wake County is expected to double to 1.4 million by 2030 and 27 acres of natural land are being developed daily. Development is already straining our sewage treatment plants and causing increases in storm-water runoff—the leading cause of water pollution in the state.

3. What actions would you take to encourage development within Raleigh’s urban centers, and discourage sprawl?

The Comprehensive Plan update is key to guiding future growth. We should start by identifying natural areas that need protecting and reserve them. New development around those areas should be less dense.

- Areas that are already heavily developed should only be allowed to add new development if the infrastructure -- including transit service, bicycle and pedestrian facilities -- is in place or will be when the development opens.

- I would encourage more neighborhood planning processes such as that used by the Hillsborough Street Partnership.

- I would support TTA's original rail plan. The TTA plan gives an opportunity to focus to growth around the station locations which are in areas where people already want to live. Mixed-use developments have already been approved based on that plan. TTA has public/private partnerships with developers to build appropriate developments around the station locations.

- I would look for ways to encourage people to live near where they work.

- I would seek additional incentives and partnerships to actually implement smart growth.

4. What should be the role of the Mayor and City Council in mediating disputes between a neighborhood group and a developer?

First, as city regulations require, insist that the two groups talk to each other. Council can make that easier by assigning city staff to mediate if needed. Staff will also need to be involved to make sure any promises the developer makes to the neighborhood are binding. Staff can help neighbors do research to evaluate the validity of their concerns. If that process is unsuccessful, then the Council has to get involved.

Many of these disputes can be eliminated by the expansion of the Neighborhood Planning process and by the updating of the Comprehensive Plan. City Council can only do so much without developers challenging their decisions in court, unless the dispute has been dealt with in the Comprehensive Plan. However it is Council's responsibility to make sure that staff is following the Comprehensive Plan, and when required to hold the developer accountable for their actions -- possibly to the point of tearing down a structure. That would only have to happen once before developers realized that the City will honor the Comprehensive Plan as a contract between the City and its citizens.

Council and staff should investigate when watchdog groups such as the Sierra Club, the Neuse River Keeper, People for Parks and Audubon Society make them aware of possible violations.

5. For the first time in nearly 20 years, the City of Raleigh is set to begin updating its Comprehensive Plan. How do you believe the Comprehensive Plan can be improved and how should it be enforced? Do you support incorporating the Urban Design Guidelines into the Comprehensive Plan?

The Comprehensive Plan can definitely be improved. One of the reasons I am running for Council is to make sure that the natural-systems based process (described in the presentation at the Capital Group meeting recently) stays in the plan. The parcel-based approach proposed by the staff should make it easer for staff, developers, and citizens to know what is allowed, without compromising the natural-systems protection. Non-complaint plans should denied.

As far as the Urban Design Guidelines, I'm not sure which version you're referring to. It appears almost every state and city has a set. I think it is safer for the environment and for neighborhoods to focus on the needs of specific neighborhoods and natural areas and not use a one-size-fits-all approach.

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About Me

I ran for City Council because Raleigh is my home and I believe I can help it to stay the healthy, uplifting place that it is. My goal on the City Council will be: first, to help the citizens of Raleigh understand what the city is doing now and why. Second, make it easier for citizens to communicate with the city and to have that communication respected and remembered. I will strive to let Raleigh’s residents to help the city in day-to-day activities -- like running a dog park. I think this will lead to more effective and less expensive solutions to Raleigh’s problems and opportunities. BIO: I'm a native of rural eastern North Carolina, moved to Raleigh in 1975 to attend NCSU, graduated, and never left the city. I worked throughout my education. My husband and I bought our house on Monroe Drive in 1989. I started working for the News and Observer's production department in 1980 and worked there until November 2006. I have participated in numerous public service initiatives, and wish to take my expertise to the next level.