Raleigh NC Rental Property Owners Now Required to Register

Beginning March 1, 2009, all rental property owners will be required to register their rental properties under Article H: of the City of Raleigh Code. Properties will then need to renew annually during the same time period. March 1 - April 30.

This rental registration will create a database that will promote responsible management, assist in providing a safe habitat for residents and neighbors of rental dwellings, safeguard property values and expedite repair of residential housing accommodations. The database may also be used to improve contact in case of emergency by Police, Fire, EMS or Inspections.

The fee for registration is $30.00 for the first unit on the property and then $10 per unit for each additional on the same parcel. Those who do not register their rental units could face fines up to $2000 PER MONTH.

An interesting article on WRAL.com illistrates several counterpoints to the program. Councilman Philip Isley feels the program is a way to generate revenue while Mayor Meeker claims the amount is minimal and isn't about generating revenue. The City stands to generate as much as $750,000 per year due to the program.
If you are a rental property owner you must register between March 1 - April 30, 2009. Please visit the City of Raleigh Rental Dwellling Registration for more information and access to online registration.

Wakefield Plantation - HOA Too Strict? You decide.....

Well, another story has come across the wire regarding a Homeowners Association and their reign over a neighborhood. For those of you local it comes as NO surprise that we are experiencing one of the worst droughts on the record books! Those of you out of the state? Trust me - it is a daily topic of discussion among residents!

Wakefield Plantation is a 2,200 acre development in North Raleigh. It is a mixed development community that encompasses condos, townhomes, cluster homes and single family homes that range from the low $200's up to $5,000,000. Some of the community amenities include TPC golf courses, tennis courts, community pools and many other recreational facilities. Wakefield Plantation prides itself on being aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Common areas are constantly maintained, pruned and groomed.

There are restrictive covenants that the residents of Wakefield Plantation must abide by. They address many items such as what kind of fence you can install on your property, where you can park your vehicles, etc. For the most part, these restrictive covenants help the community maintain it's conformity. However.....

Wake County has started encouraging the use of rain barrels of homeowners to capture rain to then be reused for purposes such as landscaping. One current resident of Wakefield Plantation decided that rainbarrels would be a water conserving effort that he and his family could utilize to do their part during this drought. Michael Dadian purchased and installed 8 rain barrels on his property in February. Just this past Friday David learned that most of his rain barrels will need to be removed. Why?

“To maintain the visual impression, especially from the street, for our
community,” Greg Barley, with the Wakefield Plantation Homeowners Association, said of the reason behind the rain barrel limit. (to read the entire article please visit WRAL)

This puzzles me in light of a few other recent decisions that impact Wakefield Plantation such as Wakefield Plantation - Will there be new zoning? It would seem according to that decision that the purpose of re-zoning is to protect the water supply of the Neuse River at the old Burlington Mills textile plant.

While I can argue for HOAs and against HOAs, I personally think that, in light of the current drought, restrictions should be somewhat relaxed IF it is to conserve water. Here is another post that came out a few months ago regarding HOAs and water - Please file this under "You Gotta Be Kiddin' Me!"

Where do you stand on HOAs? I would love to know - again, there are great arguments both for and against.......

Conservatively shucking.....

World Beer Festival Update - TICKETS ON SALE TODAY!

It's Almost Time! This event was HUGE last year and this year proves to be just as exciting! The World Beer Festival makes it's stop in Raleigh on April 26, 2008.

This is the LARGEST celebration of domestic and international beers in the Southeast - there will be over 300 beers from 150 breweries. And, you know what? This years funds will benefit the Downtown Raleigh Alliance - what a great cause.

Tickets for this massive even will go on sale TODAY! General admission is $40 and VIP tickets are $75. With the VIP ticket you will get food, special beers and more. Tickets are limited. There are two sessions available which are Session I - 12pm - 4pm and Session II - 6pm - 10pm.

Local entertainment will be:

• Main Stage 1st Session12:00 - 2:00 Brooks Wood Band(Pop, Rock) / 2:00 - 4:00 Jah Creation (Roots Reggae, Dub, Rock)


• Main Stage 2nd Session6:00 - 8:00 Ascella Vega (Rock) / 8:00 - 10:00 The High & Mighties (Rock, Raggae, Ska)


• VIP Tent 1st session Sean Aitken


• VIP Tent 2nd session Shane Bullis

Numerous vendors will be out - just to mention a few are Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Draughthouse, Blues BBQ and many, many more! Restaurant vendors include The Pit, The Weeping Radish, Raleigh Times Bar and Restaurant and quite a few more delicious choices will be there to tempt you!

Be sure to check out the World Beer Festival Website for the Beer Tasting Line-ups and more information for this exciting event.

Just a little taste of what goes on in My Back Yard....

A little suds and shucking....

NC Hwy 98 Road Project - How Will It Impact Wakefield Plantation

Progress is being made for the 1.5 mile extension of Hwy 98 from US1 to Thompson Mill Road. A few of the highlights of this project are:

• This project is 1.55 miles in length.
• Work involving lane closures, narrowing lanes, and/or stopping traffic will not be permitted between 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• This project will include a re-alignment of Falls of the Neuse Rd and Old N.C. 98.
• A new intersection will be constructed with Old N.C. 98.
• This project will tie in with N.C. 98 just west of Thompson Mill Rd.
• Wakefield Plantation Drive: A new connection to the Bypass will be constructed away from traffic.

For specific lane closures please see the Construction Fact Sheet provided by the NCDOT.

Rocky shucking going on.....

Down The Drain.....NO MORE!

Raleigh NC has become on of the first cities in the nation to BAN garbage disposals in new homes as well as replacing or repairing existing ones! Any towns that receive their water from the City of Raleigh are also included in the ban. Such cities are Rolesville, Wake Forest, Knightdale, Zebulon, Wendell and Garner. This new law becomes effective TODAY and fines are $25,000 per violation!

There have been approximately 99 sewer overflows just since 2005 from putting grease and food down disposals. That waste then filters into the local streams.

For more information on this new law please visit:
Raleigh Says Bye-Bye to Disposals
Council Approves Ban On New And Replacement Garbage Disposals
Raleigh Sends Disposals Down Drain

What say you? From a personal standpoint, I lived in a first floor unit in a condo years ago. My upstairs neighbor was constantly putting grease down the drain. If I could tell you how any times I came home to a nasty, smelly, disgusting mess on my kitchen floor because of the dodo upstairs. It was not pretty!