SoDu We Watch Our Government: Durham City Council - Oct. 20

The Durham City Council meets Monday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 101 City Hall Plaza, to take up a packed agenda that spans renter safety, parks and trails, clean energy upgrades, and growth on the city’s edges.

Here’s what South Durham residents and other community members should know before the meeting.

🗓️ How to Watch or Participate

• In person: City Hall, first-floor chambers
• Online: Stream via the City of Durham YouTube channel or Durham Television Network (DTN)
• To speak: Register by 2 p.m. Monday at Zoom registration link
• To send written comments: Submit by 2 p.m. through the City Council online form

✅ Consent Agenda: Many Quiet Decisions, One Vote

Most items below move in a single vote unless a council member or resident asks to pull something for discussion.

Board & Committee Appointments

• Participatory Budgeting Steering Committee (one at-large seat)
• Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Commission (two seats, including an NCCU liaison)
• Mayor’s Hispanic/Latino Committee (one seat)
• Discover Durham (DCVB) board — a mayoral reappointment

Trails Project Management (three projects)

Adds project-management capacity for:

• Durham Rail Trail
• R. Kelly Bryant Bridge Trail
• Third Fork Creek Trail II

Rooftop Solar at City Facilities

Authorizes a pre-assessment and design-build contract to install solar PV at multiple sites, including Police Headquarters, Campus Hills, Walltown, and Edison Johnson.

Page Road Apartments (Financing Step)

A federally required “TEFRA” approval so the housing authority can issue tax-exempt bonds for 160 affordable apartments (≤60% AMI) near Page Road.

Note: These bonds are not City debt and don’t use local tax backing.

Police Mobile Reporting – Site License

Converts a per-user licensing model to a site license for CentralSquare mobile reporting, intended to control costs as usage grows.

Southpoint Access Community Questionnaire

Help shape the future of local news in South Durham! Let me know what matters most to you and how you’d like to be involved.

Google Docs

⚙️ General Business: What Deserves a Closer Look

🏡 Affordable ADU Loan Pilot

A three-year pilot to finance roughly 20 affordable accessory dwelling units (backyard cottages/garage apartments). The selected administrator would pair loans + technical assistance, with affordability covenants on each ADU.
Why it matters: Many SoDu lots can host small ADUs - this is a gentle way to add long-term affordable rentals without changing neighborhood character.

🚴 Rail Trail Moves Into Construction Support

An amendment adds construction-phase services for the Durham Rail Trail, complementing the PM capacity in the consent agenda. Staff indicates 75% design is complete.
Why it matters: The Rail Trail’s progress helps the wider greenway network, including Third Fork Creek Trail II in South Durham.

🌳 Biophilic Cities Resolution

Durham would adopt biophilic design principles (think native plantings, shade trees, pollinator habitat) and join the Biophilic Cities Network.
Why it matters: Expect greener streetscapes and nature-forward standards that can shape future SoDu parks, trails, and corridors.

🛠️ Housing Code Update (Renter Safety)

A package centered on a clearly defined list of “imminently dangerous” conditions - the urgent issues that require immediate fixes - and related enforcement tools. City attorneys advise sequencing the policy to clarify definitions first, then tailor any rent-collection limits tied to those conditions to reduce legal risk.
Why it matters: Clearer rules protect tenants across SoDu’s large apartment communities and give landlords a straightforward checklist.

🧭 Growth Cases & Public Hearings

Wake Olive Annexation & Initial Zoning (near NC-98/Olive Branch Rd.)

• Approx. 12.16 acres
• Zoning to PDR 17.270 (up to 210 homes + up to 10,000 sq. ft. non-residential)
• Planning Commission recommended approval (7–4); staff says the case is revenue-positive
  Why it matters: Adds to Durham’s overall housing pipeline, influencing prices and commute patterns that touch RTP and South Durham.

Zoning Map Changes

• Ravenstone Commercial (5204 Wake Forest Hwy.): From CC(D) to CG(D) with a new condition requiring native plantings in required landscaping.
• 1607 E. Cornwallis Rd. (nine parcels): Keeps CN(D) but updates the textual plan to refine allowed uses.
  Why it matters: While not squarely in SoDu, both shape how Durham handles small commercial nodes - use mix, landscaping standards, and utility tie-ins.

Cliff Street Right-of-Way (Rockwood) — Partial Closure

Closes an unimproved 402-foot stretch of ROW and secures a 25-foot easement for the future Rockwood Trail.
Why it matters: Locks in a neighborhood-scale greenway connection in southwest Durham.

💵 Affordable Housing Loan Fund (Self-Help) — Extend & Expand

Amends and restates the City’s 2019 agreement to extend the term to 2045 and increase the City’s 0% loan from $2.0M → $3.5M, aligning with County/Duke participation. The target capitalization could reach $30M, with flexible products for preservation and NOAH (naturally occurring affordable housing).
Why it matters: More preservation capital = fewer “renovictions,” stabilized properties, and a better shot at keeping existing affordable homes in South Durham.

🗣️ How Public Comment Works Monday Night

• Public hearings: You can speak on the annexation/zoning cases and the Cliff Street ROW item after staff and the applicant present.
• Consent items: Ask a council member to pull an item before the vote if you want to comment.
• Not attending? Send written comments by 2 p.m., or contact your district rep with specific feedback.

Why This Meeting Matters for South Durham

• More affordable homes, multiple fronts: Page Road’s 160 income-restricted units, the ADU pilot, and an expanded housing loan fund add both new supply and preservation tools.
• Better everyday connections: Rail Trail momentum + Third Fork Creek Trail II support + Rockwood Trail easement = more walk/bike options across SoDu.
• Greener standards, healthier streets: Biophilic commitments and native-planting conditions nudge projects toward shade, stormwater resilience, and pollinators - small changes that add up.

This report is part of SoDu We Watch Our Government, a civic transparency project covering Durham City Council and local government activity affecting South Durham residents.

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