Protect Lake Crabtree Park: Make public comment at Wake Co. Commissioner Meeting

RDU has announced that all trails at Lake Crabtree County Park (LCCP) will close as of 1/Jun/2025. Bottom line, all land between I-40 and the Park road will be closed and ultimately developed.

Per an attorney for TORC, RDU does NOT have to develop Lake Crabtree County Park (LCCP). Wake County Commissioners do have the ability to step in. Please consider using this and other information to speak at the following upcoming public meetings in May (or to submit a written comment):

• 5/May/25, Monday, meeting starts at 5pm, Wake County Commissioners Meeting
• 15/May/25, Thursday, RDU Airport Authority Meeting, Regular Meeting, starts at 1pm.
• 19/May/25, Monday, meeting starts at 2pm, Wake County Commissioners Meeting

The Wake County Commissioners can ensure continuation of the use of the biking and hiking trails as they can:
• Enforce the Wake County R40 zoning they established in 1982 and the Highway Overlay District they established n 1984
• Purchase the land as Commissioner Vickie Adamson has recommended
• Fight for the exemption for Fair Market Value (FMV) that is allowed for Community Use as the attorney for TORC has provided in his legal advice to the RDUAA (currently being dismissed by the RDUAA) - so that the pricing is reasonable for the County to purchase or continue to lease
• Extend current lease between RDUAA and Wake County (Per other sources, there is NO developer yet that has signed a lease with the RDUAA.)

TORC attorney: "In sum, and based only on the information available to us today, we believe that FAA authority should not extend so far as to prohibit the continued use of the Land as LCCP. We believe instead that the community use exception to FAA authority allows continued use of the Land as LCCP, and allows the public’s continued use and enjoyment not only of LCCP but also of the many trials built and maintained by the funds and countless volunteer hours provided by TORC and its membership. We would be pleased to speak with the Authority and its counsel regarding any specific bases it believes FAA has to compel the Authority otherwise..."

RDU does NOT own the land; they simply manage it. Lake Crabtree and recreational use of the land was planned BEFORE RDU took management control of the land in 1967. In fact, RDU knew of these plans but took the land anyway!! The 1975 FAA approved RDU Airport boundary did NOT include the Lake or any land south of I-40, basically saying that RDU did NOT need these lands for Airport use. In fact, RDU designated the land for recreation/agriculture use. As such, for the past 40-ish years, the Lake and land have been used as planned via public money – for a park and recreation.

Procedure to sign-up to speak after 9am on meeting date at: https://boccomment.wake.gov/

You can also send letters to the Wake County Commissioners to be summarized during public comments between 9am and noon date of Commissioners Board Meeting: https://www.wake.gov/departments-government/board-commissioners/meetings-schedules-materials/meeting-procedures