Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting - January 9, 2023
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Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting - January 9, 2023
The Fayetteville City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, January 9, 2023, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting included announcements, approval of the agenda, consent agenda items, a public forum, three public hearings, and two evidentiary hearings. Key actions included approving a rezoning to Limited Commercial, closing a portion of Butler Street, adopting solid waste ordinance amendments, and granting special use permits for a religious institution and a triplex.
Consent Calendar
- The council approved the consent agenda with the exception of items 7.02, 7.04, and 7.06. Item 7.06 (Request for Legal Representation of City Employees) was tabled to the next meeting. Item 7.04 (Water and Sanitary Sewer Easement for Murchison Road Catalyst Site) was pulled for explanation and then approved unanimously. Item 7.02 (Rezoning from SF-6 to MR-5 on Rim Road) was pulled for discussion; after a motion to deny was withdrawn, the council voted to set it for a public hearing at a later date. The remaining consent items were approved.
Public Comments & Testimony
Nine residents addressed the council during the public forum. Key comments included:
- Ann Schrader (EcoSolutions) urged the update of the city's 2009 sustainability master plan, citing climate crises and federal/state initiatives.
- Rick Iwanski presented data from the Washington Post's Fatal Force database, noting that 97 people were shot and killed by police in the past 12 months nationally, and called for mental health crisis response rather than police involvement.
- Jose Cardona thanked law enforcement for a fallen deputy's ceremony and advocated for a museum honoring fallen officers, firefighters, and EMS.
- Savona Aikins called for unity and urged the council to listen to citizens.
- Chalenko Hearst highlighted homelessness, especially veterans, and criticized recent citations for sleeping in public.
- Sean McMill referenced lawsuits against the city and called for three actions: establishing the Office of Community Safety, passing the Community Review Board, and prioritizing mental health crisis response.
- Angela Taton Millloy criticized the ShotSpotter contract, noting it does not detect shots from inside buildings or moving vehicles, and demanded a written desired outcome from supporting council members. She also called for complete REI training and support for an Office of Community Safety.
- Demetria Murphy emphasized the need for more grant funding and resources for community violence prevention organizations, and announced a family event.
Discussion Items
- Solid Waste Ordinance Amendments (Item 9.03): The council discussed proposed limits on household trash carts (two per household), recycling carts (one per household), yard waste (10-item limit), limbs (10 cubic yards), and changes to service on private streets. Staff explained that private street changes would allow them to request carts be moved to safe locations rather than driving on damaged roads. Councilmember Pro Tem Dawkins expressed concerns about restricting recycling to one cart and about private street changes without more information. Councilmember Hare praised the private street approach. After discussion, the council voted to accept the recommendation for ordinance revisions. The motion included a direction to staff to send a list of recyclable items to council members and to educate the public. The effective date was discussed as potentially July 1, 2023, with a phased education period.
Public Hearings
- Rezoning P22-45 (Item 9.01): Rezoning of 4.4 acres at Hazelwood Drive, Ferndell Drive, and Raeford Road from Agricultural Residential and Limited Commercial to Community Commercial. Staff recommended a more restrictive Limited Commercial zoning, which the applicant accepted. The council approved the rezoning to LC unanimously.
- Closing of Butler Street (Item 9.02): Public hearing to close an unopened portion of Butler Street off Robison Street. No speakers; staff confirmed all required notices and consultations. The council adopted the resolution to close the street unanimously.
- Solid Waste Ordinance Amendments (Item 9.03): See Discussion Items above.
Evidentiary Hearings
- Special Use Permit SUP23-01 (Item 10.01): Request to allow a religious institution at 929 Bragg Boulevard within 500 feet of an adult entertainment venue (Secrets). Staff noted that the church would use part of an existing building and that the distance is about 290 feet across Bragg Boulevard. The applicant testified they aim to build community and mentor Fayetteville State University students. One speaker opposed, citing potential encroachment on residential areas and impact on the existing business. The council approved the special use permit with findings, including a one-year expiration if a building permit is not issued. Vote was unanimous.
- Special Use Permit SUP23-02 (Item 10.02): Request to allow a triplex on a 0.38-acre lot at 206 Post Avenue in an SF-6 district. The applicant sought exceptions for three separate entrances and reduced side yard setbacks (5.33 feet vs. 10 feet). Staff noted that many neighboring homes have nonconforming setbacks. The applicant testified that the development meets all other requirements and will not adversely impact the neighborhood. The council approved the special use permit with the conditions as submitted. Vote was unanimous.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved with exceptions (Item 7.02 set for public hearing; Item 7.04 approved; Item 7.06 tabled to next meeting).
- Rezoning P22-45: Approved to Limited Commercial (LC) zoning district.
- Butler Street Closure: Resolution adopted to close the unopened portion.
- Solid Waste Ordinance Amendments: Motion carried to accept the proposed ordinance revisions, with an education phase and potential effective date of July 1, 2023.
- Special Use Permit SUP23-01: Approved to allow religious institution within 500 feet of adult entertainment.
- Special Use Permit SUP23-02: Approved to allow a triplex with reduced setbacks and multiple entrances.
- Next Steps: Staff will bring item 7.02 (rezoning on Rim Road) to a future public hearing; staff will provide recyclable materials list to council; the solid waste ordinance will be finalized with an education period.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. We would like to call our Monday, January ninth, uh, Fable City Council meeting to order. I welcome all of you all who are joining us uh in person, those who join us remote. At this time, we will have our invocation asked that you'll please stand, ask the pastor just sprangler of the church of the Nazarene if we would come and render the invocation. If we could please repeat the Pledge of Allegiance in unison. No problem at all, Mayor. Thank you. Dear Lord, we first we want to say thank you. Once again, Father, for just taking care of us. For just taking care of our city, our communities. We thank you, Father. Also for answering the the country, the world's prayers for Damar uh Hamlet. We we thank you for that also, Father. As we move forward tonight and as we dig into the City of Fairville's agenda, Father, let our minds be open to hear one another, to hear the citizens also followed with the public forum. And just give us the mind to be open and to hear and to make corrections of where we need to do that. And we just thank you, Father, for each council member that's around the diocese and all the folk that are with us, the citizens that are in the room with us tonight. We ask you to bless them and bless us. Bless our city, help us to make it better as we move forward in 2023. And these things I ask in Jesus' name, amen. And to our public stands on nation. Thank you, Councilmember Hare. Um at this time we'll move to and I think we're joined by phone by Councilmember Ingram, you there. All right, thank you. All right, Council, we will move to announcements. Uh don't have any listed. Ms. Mayor, let me make an announcement. All right. Council. Council member Thompson. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh I was talking to an individual who was going through some channel changes. And I just wanted to be a small PSA that mental health and suicide is prevalent amongst us. Uh all during the holidays, everybody's seen all these kind uh acts. Well, we just don't need them during the holiday. We need them during the entire year. There are some people out there that have anxiety, that have depression, that have helplessness and hopelessness, and feels like they just can't go on. Well, I want them to know that there's help out there. They can call 588, they can call a family, a friend, a pastor, a council member, anybody out there who can give them some help. Uh when Twitch died, uh it sent shockwaves through a lot of neat news media because depression and anxiety doesn't have a face on it. So you never know where it's coming from. But I remember a small thing that uh uh Tyler Perry said, and he said that if he'd have acted on some of uh his emotions, he would have never seen the glory that God had bestowed before upon him. So I just want everybody to know that hope, help, and happiness is just a phone call away. And if he can do it for him, he can do it for you. If he did it before, he can do it again. God bless you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, Mr.
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