Durham City Council Meeting – October 4, 2022 (Note: Transcript states August 3, 2022)
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Durham City Council Meeting – October 4, 2022 (Note: Transcript states August 3, 2022)
This meeting of the Durham City Council included ceremonial proclamations, approval of a consent agenda, and four public hearings on zoning and annexation requests. The council voted on several items, with some split votes on annexation and rezoning related to a 219-unit apartment development. A discrepancy exists between the user-provided meeting date (October 4, 2022) and the date stated in the transcript (August 3, 2022); this summary uses the user-provided date but notes the conflict.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda (items 1–8) was approved unanimously (7-0). It included approval of city council minutes, August 2022 B.E. report, contract amendments, and an interlocal agreement with Durham County for a low-income homeowners relief program.
Ceremonial Items & Proclamations
- Minority Enterprise Development Week (October 3–7, 2022) proclaimed. Sidney Anderson, manager of Underless Business Compliance, accepted.
- Chicken Hut Day (October 3, 2022) proclaimed, with a key to the city presented to Trey Tapp, third-generation owner of Chicken Hut, the second oldest continuously operating and oldest Black-owned restaurant in Durham.
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October 2022) proclaimed. Carolyn Moore, Vice Chair of Durham Crisis Response Center, noted that nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the U.S., and 35 domestic-violence-related homicides occurred in North Carolina from January 1 to September 11, 2022.
- Digital Inclusion Week (October 3–7, 2022) proclaimed. Laura Fogle of Digital Durham highlighted that Durham and Durham County were recognized as 2022 Digital Inclusion Trailblazers by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance.
Council Announcements
- Councilmember Williams celebrated Black SEL Day and noted NC School of Science and Math was ranked #1 public high school in the U.S.
- Councilmember Caballero recognized National Cybersecurity Month, Indigenous Peoples' Day, and Manufacturing Day.
- Councilmember Johnson announced a Hispanic Heritage celebration on October 17.
- Mayor Pro Tem Middleton reported on Google's Black Founders Week and a Women Veterans Support Services luncheon addressing domestic violence and breast cancer.
- Mayor O'Neill thanked Duke Energy for restoring power after weekend storms.
Public Hearings
Item 10 – Zoning Map Change, 812 North Mangum Street
- Applicant Dan Jewell (CJTPA) requested rezoning from Commercial General (CG) to Commercial Infill with a text-only development plan (CID) to allow retail, food/beverage, or office uses. The planning commission recommended approval 11-0. No public speakers. Council approved both motions unanimously (7-0).
Item 11 – Consolidated Annexation, Wendale at Crescent (Farrington Road/Crescent Drive)
- Applicant Neil Ghosh (Morningstar Law Group) sought annexation and rezoning of 10 parcels (~11 acres) from Residential Suburban-20 (RS20) to Residential Compact (RC) with a development plan for up to 219 apartments. The planning commission recommended approval 7-4. Public speaker Ethan Tyler (neighbor) expressed reservations about lack of affordable housing and insufficient environmental commitments (tree canopy, light/heat/sound pollution). He urged inclusion of affordable units and environmental mitigations. Council discussion focused on the lack of tools to require affordable housing in compact neighborhoods after the light rail project was canceled. The applicant increased voluntary contributions to $200,000 for affordable housing and $39,000 for Durham Public Schools. Votes: Motion 1 (annexation) passed 5-2 (Mayor O'Neill and Councilmember Freeman voting no); Motion 2 (zoning) passed 5-2 (same); Motion 3 (consistency statement) passed 7-0.
Item 12 – Consolidated Annexation, 637 & 641 Conover Road
- Applicant Jay Galese (engineer, representing the Lee family) requested annexation and rezoning from Residential Rural (RR) to Residential Suburban-8 (RS8) to subdivide two lots into four single-family lots. The planning commission recommended approval 11-0. Public speakers Donna Stanback and Pam Williams raised concerns about traffic congestion on NC 98 and cumulative impacts of over 10,000 approved dwellings in southeast Durham. Staff clarified RS8 refers to 8,000 sq ft minimum lot size, not eight units. Councilmember Freeman voted no on the first two motions. Motion 1 (annexation) passed 6-1; Motion 2 (rezoning) passed 6-1; Motion 3 (consistency) passed 7-0.
Item 13 – Consolidated Annexation, 216 Curlew Drive
- Applicant Roy Lagarde requested annexation of 0.46 acres to build a single-family home. No rezoning proposed. Public speaker Melanie Jones (online) asked about easements and an unopened road. The Lagardes clarified the driveway will be on their property. Both motions passed unanimously (7-0).
Key Outcomes
- All four public hearings received approval, though items with major developments saw divided votes.
- The 219-unit Wendale at Crescent project was annexed and rezoned despite concerns about affordable housing and environmental features; contributions to affordable housing and schools were increased.
- The Conover Road subdivision was approved over traffic and cumulative impact concerns.
- The Curlew Drive annexation was approved for a single-family home.
- The consent agenda and ceremonial proclamations were adopted without opposition.
Meeting Transcript
One minute to air. We are now streaming. Recording in progress. Recording in progress of the city of the house. Good evening. Good evening. Welcome to our city council meeting tonight, this Monday, August 3rd of 2022, at 7 p.m. here in City Hall Plaza in our council chambers. I'd like to welcome those who have adjoined us here in person, and also welcome those who are joining us virtually at this moment. We would have a silent meditation, if you would. Thank you all. Liberty and Tempest. Mayor O'Neill. I am present. Mayor Pro Temple Middleton. I am here. Councilmember Caballero. Here. Councilmember Freeman. Present. Councilmember Holsey Hyman. Present. Councilmember Johnson. Here. Councilmember Williams. Present. Thank you. Thank you so much. We will now turn to our ceremonia items, and we have three celebrations tonight. We'll start off first with our minority enterprise development week proclamation by Mayor Pro Tim. Thank you, Madam Mayor, for this great opportunity to read this proclamation kicking off Minority Enterprise Development Week. Good evening, everyone in the chamber, everyone watching on television and online. Proclamation in celebration of Minority Enterprise Development Week. And this is going to be presented to Mr. Sidney Anderson. I'm going to ask if he would come up. I'm sorry, come on up. Whereas one of the city of Durham's primary goals is to have a strong and diverse economy which reduces poverty and enhances the quality of life of its citizens. And whereas, through ingenuity, innovation, and tenacity, many minority and women entrepreneurs have courageously met the challenges posted by the pandemic. And whereas minority and women-owned businesses are helping to power the engine of economic recovery for the city, state, and nation. And whereas the city of Durham is committed to the ongoing evaluation of its policies, procedures, and practices so that so that its business is conducted in a manner that ensures minority and women businesses receive equitable access to all available opportunities. And whereas minority and women entrepreneurs are to be honored, not only as valued resources for the provision of goods and services, but as vital to our economic success. Now, therefore, I, Elaine M. O'Neill, mayor of the City of Durham, North Carolina, do hereby proclaim the week of October 3rd through the 7th, 2022 as Minority Enterprise Development Week in Durham, and hereby urge all residents to fully utilize the wide array of minority and women business enterprises in our community. Witness my hand in the corporate seal of the city of Durham this third day of October 2022, Elaine M. O'Neill, Mayor. Thank you. I'm Sydney Anderson, and I work in the Fighters Department with the I'm the manager of the Underless Business Compliance. First of all, thank you for uh reading this, and then secondly, uh I'd like to thank the finance leadership and a kind thank you for the mayor this morning who read some comedy guards for us. Uh kickoff.
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