Council began with the recognition of outstanding community members and organizations. Mayor Colvin declared April 30, 2022 in honor of Ms. Demetria Davis who was recently named one of American Mothers' 2022 Mother of the Year. A second proclamation recognized the 201 years since Greece gained Independence. The acknowledgement was presented by Mayor Pro Tem Jensen to representatives from Fayetteville's Greek community including Father Alexander Papagikos and Mr. Steve Goodson, president of Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church. Mayor Colvin also prepared a proclamation presented to Ms. Angela Tatum Malloy, Ms. Jasmine Johnson, Ms. Maya Jackson, and Ms. Shatara Het Heru Bey in support of community-based doulas for their important work on maternal and child health in Fayetteville. Finally, Council Member Banks-McLaughlin recognized five dedicated community leaders who serve as members of the Community Watch for District 8 including Mr. Montia Harris, Mr. John Wells, Dr. Lionel Cartwright, Mr. Herbert Scott and Mr. Marion Garvin.
Items passed on the March 28 Consent Agenda include:
Council approved the rezoning of a 0.33 acre lot on the northeast corner of Owen Drive and Friendly Road from Office & Institutional to Limited Commercial following the recommended approval of the Zoning Commission. Read more about this agenda item.
The owner of a property on Cumberland Road requested annexation into the City of Fayetteville with initial zoning of Community Commercial following the recommended approval of the Zoning Commission. Read more about this agenda item.
A Special Use Permit was granted for 611 Law Road to allow for the construction of four townhome-style units on the property. The Council previously voted in favor of granting the Special Use Permit during an evidentiary hearing on February 28. Read more about this agenda item.
A second Order of Approval was issued by Council for a Special Use Permit regarding property located at 5473 and 5487 Grimes Road for the construction of two duplex style units. The Council previously voted in favor of granting the Special Use Permit during an evidentiary hearing on February 28. Read more about this agenda item.
One additional Order of Approval was issued by Council for a Special Use Permit regarding property located at 6322 Raeford Road for the construction of nine townhome units. The Council previously voted in favor of granting the Special Use Permit during an evidentiary hearing on February 28. Read more about this agenda item.
On this consent agenda item, Council approved the award of the contract to add vehicles to the fleet with the purchase of 35 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility Vehicles for a total cost of $1.49 million. Read more about this agenda item.
City Council accepted a federal Concessions Rent Relief Airport Rescue Grant Offer in the amount of $185,768. This funding, part of federal COVID relief, for FAY can be used to provide relief from rent and minimum annual guarantees to on-airport tenants such as rental car or in-terminal concessions. Read more about this agenda item.
This agenda item authorizes the Mayor and City Manager to sign a submission for an NC Department of Commerce Rural Economic Development Grant Application through Fayetteville-Cumberland Economic Development Corporation on behalf of Dedicate North Carolina Holding, LLC. The grant will allow for the substantial rehabilitation of an existing commercial facility. Read more about this agenda item.
A Budget Ordinance Amendment was adopted to appropriate $220,000 in support of Murchison Road redevelopment, specifically to eliminate blight and prepare property referred to as Catalyst Site 1 for development. Read more about this agenda item.
This agenda item directs funding received from the State of North Carolina to be made available through several Capital Project Ordinance Amendments. Through this action, State funds will be made available for work on the following projects: $250,000 for the renovation of Old City Hall; $1.7 million for City trail and greenway upgrades; $2.7 million for renovations to historic buildings like Orange Street School, E.E. Smith House, MLK Park, Umoja Wall and Market House; and $1 million for the Day Resource Center. Read more about this agenda item.
In an added agenda item, Council authorized the sole source purchase by PWC of fuel cell generating system and ancillary gas conditioning equipment in the amount of $8.88 million. The purchase and operation of this equipment will allow PWC to generate electricity from various renewable energy resources cost-effectively.
In a second added agenda item, Council approved a Special Use Permit to allow the construction of a halfway house on 2.97 acres located at 901-905 Cain Road currently zoned as Office & Institutional.
During the first item under Staff Reports, Mr. Dion Lyons from the Department of Justice's Community Relations Service provided Council an overview of the City SPIRIT process conducted in Fayetteville to identify possible solutions for the repurposing of the Market House. After hearing the report from DOJ and the Human Relations Commission, Council requested staff to create opportunity for additional community involvement and input. During this report Council also discussed and directed staff to remove the fencing around the Market House. Read more about this and view a copy of the report.
In a second Staff Report, Council heard an update from Cool Spring Downtown District and Circa 1865 on the planning of Fayetteville's first Juneteenth festival. The Fayetteville Juneteenth Jubilee will be held June 18-19 in Downtown Fayetteville and throughout Cumberland County. Planned events throughout the two days include sporting events, artists, local talent, food, appearances by national headliners and a Praise in the Park event. Read more about this report.
In the first public hearing of the meeting, the City Council considered proposed text amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance to allow for the construction of multiple single-family, detached dwellings on a single lot. At the end of the hearing Council adopted the proposed text amendment as written. Read more about this hearing.
The second public hearing originated with a request to rename a portion of Coalition Boulevard within the City limits to Beaver Street. The request is necessary due to the construction of the new Amazon facility which divides the existing Coalition Blvd. into two dead-end streets with the same name. At the end of the hearing Council approved the renaming of the street as proposed. Read more about this hearing.
For the third hearing, a petition was received requesting the satellite annexation of approximately 0.47 acres on Cumberland Road less than 100 feet from the current City limits to allow the business occupying the lot to be placed on the City of Fayetteville Police Department Wrecker Rotation. The applicant requests an initial zoning of Community Commercial which was approved by the Zoning Commission and is recommended by professional staff. At the end of the hearing Council adopted the annex ordinance with an effective date of March 28, 2022. Read more about this hearing.
The Council's final public hearing was for a proposed installment financing agreement in the amount of $9 million that would be used for the construction and equipping of a new fire station, Fire Station 4 off Bragg Blvd. At the end of the hearing Council approved the resolution as presented authorizing staff to make the application to the Local Government Commission. Read more about this hearing.
The next regular City Council meeting will be held on Monday, April 11 at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers in City Hall. Meetings also air live on Spectrum Channel 7, the City of Fayetteville YouTube Channel and on the FayTV app available on your streaming device. City Council will hold their monthly Work Session on Monday, April 4 at 5 p.m. in Council Chambers in City Hall. Meeting agendas, supporting documentation and minutes are publicly available here. For more information about the Fayetteville City Council, please visit fayettevillenc.gov/citycouncil.
