North Carolina’s Triangle Faces Growing Pains

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.