Durham City Council Meeting: October 17, 2023 - Comprehensive Plan, Zoning, and Proclamations
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Durham City Council Meeting: October 17, 2023
This meeting included multiple proclamations, adoption of the new Durham Comprehensive Plan (2023), a related UDO text amendment, and decisions on three zoning map changes. The council also heard public comments on the Avaton Harris Farms rezoning and received a citizen request regarding employee bonuses. All votes were conducted by hand due to non-functioning electronic voting units.
Proclamations & Recognitions
- National Arts and Humanities Month: Proclaimed October 2023 as Arts and Humanities Month. The nonprofit arts and cultural sector contributed $233,059,155 to Durham's economy in 2022, supported 3,246 jobs, provided $135,000 in personal income, and contributed over $28 million in tax revenue.
- Eagles HBCU National Tennis Championship Month: Recognized the NCCU women's tennis team as 2023 HBCU national champions. Head coach Sophia Rochi and other staff spoke.
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Proclaimed October 2023. Statistics cited: 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience intimate partner physical violence. Mr. Damian Talley from Durham Crisis Response Center spoke.
- Diligence Month: Proclaimed October 2023 as Diligence Month, encouraging mindfulness, self-control, and community consideration.
Consent Calendar
- Approved by voice vote: items 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16. Item 12 (construction contract for downtown trash compactor) was referred back to General Services. Item 8 (Durham Comprehensive Plan) was pulled by Councilwoman Freeman for discussion.
Discussion Items
- Comprehensive Plan (Item 8): Councilwoman Freeman raised concerns about properties near critical watersheds, fire station timing in the CIP, and a lawsuit regarding Kemp Road. Staff clarified that watershed regulations apply regardless of the plan, and the CIP is independent. The Southeast Future Growth Area was adjusted based on fire response data. The plan passed 4-3 (Johnson, Williams, Middleton, Caballero in favor; Freeman, O'Neal, Cozart-Homan opposed). Councilman Williams noted the plan is aspirational, not a legal document.
- Unified Development Ordinance Text Amendment (Item 17): Aligned UDO with the new comprehensive plan, including changing references to place type map, adding biannual review process, and retaining development tiers. Public speakers (Ms. Stanback and Ms. Wagstaff) criticized late availability of attachments and insufficient notification distance (600 feet). Staff noted a separate amendment would address notification. The amendment passed 4-3 (same split as plan).
- Zoning Map Change – Avaton Harris Farms (Item 18): Proposed 490 apartment units (50 affordable) and 5,000 sq ft office at 8250 Fayetteville Road. 11 public speakers opposed, citing traffic, infrastructure, stormwater, and lack of transit. Developer committed to 60-foot buffer and 30-year affordability. Council voted 4-3 to approve (same split).
- Zoning Map Change – Hillsborough Road Coca-Cola Site (Item 19): Proposed 405 dwelling units, 75,000 sq ft commercial including grocery, with affordable units. Community engagement with Watts Hospital Hill and Dale Neighborhood Association resulted in commitments. Unanimous approval.
- Zoning Map Change – 2610 South Miami Boulevard (Item 20): Proposed 270 multifamily units (5% affordable). No opposition; one supporter spoke. Unanimous approval, including a utility extension agreement.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Avaton Harris Farms (Item 18): Residents from Chancellor's Ridge and surrounding areas voiced concerns about traffic (two-lane roads), school capacity, police staffing, stormwater runoff, and environmental impact. Some requested townhomes instead of apartments. Developer rebutted that Fayetteville Road is 41% under capacity and affordable units will be for 30 years.
- Citizen Comment (Other Matters): Marie Hill Faison, a GoDurham Access employee, requested that GoDurham Access employees be included in city bonuses, noting they worked through COVID and were previously included. Councilwoman Freeman offered to provide information.
Key Outcomes
- Comprehensive Plan Adopted: 4-3 vote.
- UDO Text Amendment Adopted: 4-3 vote; consistency statement unanimous.
- Avaton Harris Farms Rezoning Approved: 4-3 vote; consistency statement unanimous.
- Hillsborough Road Coca-Cola Rezoning Approved: Unanimous.
- 2610 South Miami Boulevard Rezoning Approved: Unanimous, including utility extension agreement.
- SCAD Task Force Meetings Announced: Three special meetings on October 24 (1-3 PM), 25 (5-7 PM), and 27 (5-7 PM) in City Hall Committee Room. Councilmembers Freeman, Williams, and Mayor Pro Tem Middleton to lead. Two additional members appointed: Charlotte Burris and Johnetta Austin.
- Councilwoman Freeman excused from October 19 meeting: Unanimous consent.
- Note on DTB 8 antenna: Equipment issue expected to be resolved by January 2024.
Meeting Transcript
One minute to air. We are now streaming. Recording in progress. About one minute. Waiting for the clock to strike seven o'clock. Good evening, everyone. So glad to see you all here tonight. Happy Monday. Happy Monday. We would like to call the Durham City Council meeting to order for this the sixteenth day of October twenty twenty three at seven PM here. We want to welcome all of you here who have joined us in person as well as those of you who are joining us remotely as well. Please draw me in a moment of silent meditation. Thank you so much. I now invite Councilwoman Freeman to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. I'm here. And whereas the art and humanities embody much of the accumulated wisdom, intellect and imagination of humankind. And whereas the art and humanities enhance and enrich the lives of everyone. And whereas the art and humanities embody so much of the accumulated wisdom, intellect, and imagination of humankind, enhance and enrich the lives of everyone in America, and whereas, despite significant losses due to the coronavirus pandemic, the creative industries remain among the most vital sectors of the American economy, providing new opportunities within our own industry and across sectors. And whereas the nation's art and culture sector nonprofit commercial education is an $877 billion industry that supports 4.6 million jobs, representing 4.2% of the nation's economy. Now, therefore, I, Elaine M. O'Neal, Mayor of the City of Durham, North Carolina, do hereby proclaim the month of October as National Arts and Humanities Month in Durham, and hereby urge all residents upon our community uh residents upon our community members to celebrate and promote the arts in Durham. Witness my hand in the corporate seal of the city of Durham, North Carolina, this the 16th day of October 2023, Elaine M. O'Neill, Mayor. Good evening, and thank you, Mayor O'Neill and Mayor Pro Tem Middleton, City Council members. Thank you for this opportunity to recognize the importance of arts and humanities in our communities and in our lives. We'll have two items this evening in our presentation. I'll give a few um data points from the recently released Arts and Economic Prosperity Six study, which was just released last Thursday to talk about the economic impact of arts and culture right here in Durham. And then following that, we'll hear from our Piedmont laureate, uhsan Ahanu. So last week we found out that here in Durham, the nonprofit arts and cultural sector contributed 233 million fifty-nine thousand one hundred and fifty-five dollars to our economy here in Durham in 2022. It supported 3,246 jobs, provided 135,000 in personal income to our residents, and contributed over 28 million dollars in local, state, and federal tax revenue. We are so excited about the increasing role of arts and culture in our economic life, but also thrilled about the importance of arts and culture in making our city and our communities better places to live and more vibrant for our families and friends and associates. So we've provided this information to our city council members and the mayor, and thank you all so much, and please continue to support arts and culture in Durham. And now I am so proud to introduce Dasan Ahanu. He is an artist, educator, scholar, and cultural organizer, serving as this year's Piedmont laureate. I cannot do justice to his many accomplishments, and they are provided for you in the biography with his book that he is providing for you this evening. His most recent book, his fifth book, a brilliant uncertain rebellion. We celebrate his accomplishments. Please welcome Design. A room full of brokenness together, stuck on my words, the moment I understood a stained glass window. There's an opportunity through the arts to be able to engage people's hearts, minds, and souls. And for everyone to be reminded the breadth, depth, and beauty of our communities, and I'm glad that we are acknowledging the power of arts, especially in a culturally rich city like Durham. Thank you. Good to see you. Good evening. And I will be joined by the coach, Sophia Rochi. Yes, for the proclamation for the Eagles HBCU National Tennis Championship Month. Thank you. Whereas the City of Durham is proud to congratulate North Carolina Central University's women's tennis team as the 2023 HBCU national tennis champions. And whereas the North Carolina Central University remains a leading institution of higher education dedicated to excellence in the classroom, community, and athletic competition. And whereas the Eagles coached by Sophia Rochi and Gabriel Kukalone exhibited extraordinary leadership and commitment to success.
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