Durham City Council Meeting - March 8, 2023
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Durham City Council Meeting - March 8, 2023
The Durham City Council met on March 8, 2023, at 7:15 PM in City Hall Plaza. The meeting included ceremonial proclamations, approval of routine consent agenda items, a resolution recognizing 911 telecommunicators as first responders, and several public hearings on annexations and zoning changes. A key contested item was the Carpenter Falls annexation, where a tie vote defeated a proposed affordable housing proffer. Other annexations and a UDO text amendment on sedimentation and erosion control were approved unanimously.
Consent Calendar
- Approved items on the consent agenda (items 1–4, 6–10) by a 6–0 vote, covering appointments, bid reports, interlocal agreements, attendance reports, crime report, traffic signals, and engineering contracts.
- Item 5 (First Responders Resolution) was pulled for separate discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Carpenter Falls (Item 14): Numerous residents spoke in opposition, citing environmental concerns (erosion, damage to Panther Creek, ineffective stormwater management), insufficient affordable housing, lack of community amenities, and doubts about the conservation subdivision model. Opponents included Rebecca Carpenter, Ricardo Rodriguez, Pam Andrews, Thomas Freeman, Donna Steinback, Pam Williams, Rebecca Freeman, James Chavis, Robin Barefoot, Vicky Johnson, and Tina Motley Pearson. Speakers requested more accountability, stronger enforcement, and a moratorium on development until UDO amendments are adopted.
- Crescent Drive (Item 15): One online speaker, Ethan Tyler, expressed support for new housing but criticized the lack of mixed-use, open space, and transportation infrastructure in the area. Another speaker, John Eden (a neighboring property owner), supported the rezoning as consistent with the Lee Village vision.
- Other items (16, 17, 18) had no public testimony.
Discussion Items
- First Responders Resolution: Mayor Pro Tem Middleton presented a resolution recognizing 911 telecommunicators as "first first responders." Director Randy Beaman and staff from the emergency call center were recognized. The resolution passed 6–0.
- Carpenter Falls Annexation (Item 14): Applicant Jared Edens proposed a 235-unit conservation subdivision on 132 acres with a 50% open space requirement, trails, and a donation of three finished lots to Habitat for Humanity. After extensive debate, Councilmember Freeman moved to amend the first motion to include the affordable housing proffer. The vote on the amended motion was a 3–3 tie (Mayor O'Neill, Councilmembers Freeman and Holsey Hyman voting no), causing the motion to fail. As a result, the annexation did not proceed.
- Crescent Drive Assemblage (Item 15): Proposed 107 multifamily units (including at least 15 townhomes) with a 10-foot multi-use path and improved drainage. Three motions passed 6–0 each.
- Foncomb Annexation (Item 16): 0.91 acres for one single-family home. Three motions passed 6–0.
- 4109 Endor Lane Annexation (Item 17): 0.48 acres for one single-family home. Three motions passed 6–0.
- UDO Text Amendment (Item 18): Amendments to sedimentation and erosion control standards (Section 12.10) and enforcement (Section 15.5) to address soil erosion, particularly in Triassic soils, and provide stop-work order authority. Unanimously approved by planning commission and county commissioners. Two motions passed 6–0.
Key Outcomes
- First Responders Resolution: Approved 6–0.
- Carpenter Falls annexation: First motion (with affordable housing proffer) failed 3–3; no further motions taken.
- Crescent Drive annexation and zoning: All three motions passed 6–0.
- Foncomb annexation and zoning: All three motions passed 6–0.
- 4109 Endor Lane annexation and zoning: All three motions passed 6–0.
- UDO text amendment (sedimentation and erosion control): Both motions passed 6–0.
- Councilmember Holsey Hyman granted an excused absence for March 20, 2023, by a 6–0 vote.
- Councilmember Freeman announced a March 16, 2023, deep dive meeting on real estate and affordable housing.
Meeting Transcript
One minute to air, thirty seconds to live streaming, and the community, and the community, and the country, recording stopped. Not yet. I'm waiting. Good evening, good evening. Welcome to our city council in progress. Good evening. Welcome to our city council uh meeting here on Monday, March 6th, 2023 at 7 p.m. here in City Hall Plaza in our first floor council chambers, we welcome those of you who have joined us in person and those of you who have joined us remotely as well. Please join me in a moment of silent meditation. Thank you all so much. We will now recognize Councilwoman Freeman who will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. It's our practice to stand and salute the flag. Thank you all. Thank you all. We will now have our roll call. I our clerk and I believe that um councilwoman Gillian Johnson has an excuse absence for tonight. Thank you, Mayor. Mayor O'Neill. I am present. Mayor Pro Tem Middleton. I'm here. Councilmember Caballero. Here. Councilmember Freeman. Present. Councilmember Holsey Hyman. President. Councilmember Johnson has an excused absence and Councilmember Williams. I'm here. Thank you. Thank you. We are all in our places with our bright shining faces, and we're going to now move to our ceremonial items. We have four proclamations today, starting with Arbor Day 2023 proclamation by Mayor Pro Tim. The second will be Woman's Women's Day Month proclamation by Councilwoman Freeman. The third will be National Social Work Month proclamation by Dr. Jose Haman. And the last will be the Mayor's Virtue Fortitude Month proclamation, which will be read by Councilman Williams. Mayor Pro Tim. Good evening, Madam Mayor to my honorable colleagues all in the chamber and all watching, wherever you may be, good evening. It's my honor, uh, Madam Mayor to read this proclamation for Arbor Day. And before I do, I'm going to invite Dan Hickey of General Service Urban Forestry, our department to come up, and Tanya Daltlake from Keat Durham Beautiful to please join me. Good evening. Proclamation. Whereas Arbor Day is officially recognized as an annual observance by the state of North Carolina. And whereas trees provide numerous environmental benefits to the Durham community by lending summer shade, buffering winds, moderating year-round temperatures, reducing glare, filtering the air of pollutants, absorbing noises, diminishing erosion by retaining soils and reducing runoff, building soils, providing habitat and food for wildlife, reducing energy consumption, and absorbing carbon dioxide. And whereas trees beautify the city, enhance the value of property and provide pleasant surroundings for residents and for new and existing business businesses, and whereas planting and caring for trees is a living testimony of Durham's commitment to the health and welfare of present and future generations. And whereas involving the community in maintaining and caring for Durham's tree canopy is included in the city's strategic plan. Now, therefore, I, Elaine M. O'Neal, mayor of the City of Durham, North Carolina, do hereby proclaim March 25th, 2023 as Arbor Day in Durham, and hereby urge all residents of Durham to observe this day in recognition of the value and benefits which trees provide and to promote the planting and care of trees within the city of Durham.
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