Fayetteville City Council Meeting – October 28, 2024: Rezoning, Tobacco Ordinances, and Reports
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Fayetteville City Council Meeting – October 28, 2024
The Fayetteville City Council met on October 28, 2024, at 11:45 AM. The meeting included proclamations honoring a sister city delegation and an Olympic gold medalist, approval of consent items, adoption of the quarterly performance report, a public hearing and vote on a controversial rezoning request, and a vote to amend the city’s tobacco/hemp retail regulations. The council also heard updates from the Airport Commission and the city manager.
Consent Calendar
- Item 7.0A4 (Broadell Historic Preservation Grant): Councilmember Hare pulled this item for separate discussion. The council unanimously approved authorizing the city manager to execute a grant contract and adopt SRO 2025-11 to appropriate matching funds for a National Register of Historic Places nomination for the Broadell community. The item was approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Rezoning Public Hearing (Ocarina Circle Rezoning):
- In favor: Jonathan Charleston (applicant representative, 201 Hay Street) argued the rezoning to MR5 fits city priorities for revitalization and housing, that the site has two egress points, and that traffic concerns will be addressed through normal development review. He reserved time for rebuttal.
- In opposition: Christine Main (4236 Deadweiler Drive) spoke for the neighborhood, citing incompatibility with existing single-family homes, traffic congestion (NCDOT data showing daily counts of 12,000–13,000 on MacArthur Road, not 10,500 as in the application), safety concerns (including prior shootings and drug paraphernalia), and the lack of affordable housing guarantees. She also noted that the site plan shows 260 parking spaces and three-story buildings adjacent to one-story homes. The opposition presented a packet with maps and photos.
Discussion Items
- Airport Commission Annual Report: Director Andrew Legala and Chairman Nanesh Meetah reported completing phases 1 and 2 of terminal renovations, a 1.9% year-over-year passenger increase in calendar 2023, pursuit of an international arrivals facility, and airline recruitment. Council expressed appreciation and asked for a future vision presentation.
- FY25 First Quarter Performance Report: Strategic Performance Analytics Manager Chris Lowry and Senior Analyst Andrew Brayboy presented progress on five strategic priorities: 1) Violence reduction/mental health (62 individuals served via mental health liaison; 20 collaborative initiatives; OCS director interviews beginning soon), 2) Affordable housing (approved building reuse grants, progress on three affordable housing projects, new demolition policy, and Broadell grant), 3) Youth engagement (Orange Street School fiber network operational, computer installations, STEM programs), 4) Economic growth (surplus property database, GIS mapping, RFPs for affordable housing on city-owned lots), 5) City branding (weekly manager report reaching 1,000+ audience, 1M+ social media impressions, 67% positive/neutral media coverage). Councilmember Hare questioned the “no-cost demolition” policy and was assured it is funded through limited federal CDBG funds and applies only to properties not on the council-approved demo list.
- Tobacco/Hemp Retail Text Amendment (Item 10.02): Councilmember Hare proposed changing the required separation from 1,500 feet to 1,000 feet to match Cumberland County’s ordinance, and adding religious institutions and group quarters as sensitive uses. Chief Braden detailed “Operation Vapor Trail” (64 search warrants, 60,000+ pounds of marijuana/THC products seized, $3M in assets, 25 weapons). Council debate included concerns about small business impacts (Councilmember Hondros), education for business owners (Councilmember McNair), and whether the density restriction addresses youth access (Councilmember Benavente). The amendment was passed 7-3.
Key Outcomes
- Rezoning of Ocarina Circle (7.1 acres from SF10 to MR5): Approved unanimously (8-0) on a motion by Councilmember Benavente, seconded by Green. The zoning commission had recommended approval. The council encouraged the neighborhood to organize as a community watch and continue addressing traffic and safety issues with city staff and NCDOT.
- Tobacco/Hemp Retail Amendment: Approved 7-3. The amendment reduces the required distance between new tobacco/hemp retailers and schools, parks, daycares, religious institutions, and other sensitive uses from 1,500 feet to 1,000 feet, effective for new retailers only. Convenience stores, grocery stores, and gas stations are exempt.
- Other Approved Items: Consent calendar (except 7.0A4) approved unanimously; Airport Commission report received; Quarterly Performance Report received; proclamation for Saint Avold, France sister city delegation; key to the city presented to Olympic gold medalist Quanera Hayes.
Meeting Transcript
And we're just glad that uh we live in a place where our faith is allowed to grow uh not simply in our adults but in our youth. And so uh having set where you're sitting, I know that this uh is a great city for faith walkers and for people who truly love God to be in. We we appreciate you, man. Thank you for the work you do public for public service as well as uh in your ministry. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Council continue to brief you guys. Yes, sir. Thank you. So, council, as we move to uh announcements, we also have council member Thompson on the line. Councilmember Thompson, can you hear us? Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor I hear you very well. All right, thank you. All right, Council. We have uh a couple special presentations. We have a proclamation, we have a visiting delegation from Saint Eval, France. If they could please stand, uh had a wonderful opportunity to meet them. Let's give them a can do city welcome. So they have been with us for several days, if a week maybe. Uh so uh Miss Chris, is she if she's there or someone from uh the Saint Evolve committee, uh if you'd like to come and uh whoever would like to come and receive the proclamation that has been prepared, I'll meet you at the podium. Okay, welcome everyone. Come on. Yeah, everybody come on up to the podium. Whereas the City Council adopted Saint of Old, France as an international sister city in September 27th, 1993. Saint of old is the home of Lorene American Cemetery, which serves as the final resting place for 22 North Carolinians who gave their lives for freedom and liberty during World War II. Among 22 is Private William Shaw, a son of Fateville, who lost his life September twelfth, nineteen forty-four, near Nancy, France. And whereas over 31 years of this sister city relationships, many cultural and educational exchanges have been shared between the citizens and our two cities. And whereas the Fateville Saint of Old Friendship Alliance was created in 2021 to further enhance and deepen the ties between Faithville and Saint of Old to re-establish the educational and cultural exchanges as well as seek opportunities for business and economic exchange. And whereas the Faithville Saint of Old Friendship Alliance on behalf of the City of Faithville is honored to host nine teachers and three students from Le C Jean Victor Ponchette in Saint Evold of from November 18th through the 30th, 2024, during which they experienced Faithville's Southern Hospitality and learned about the educational opportunities and diverse and rich culture and history of Faithville. And whereas the bond between Faithville and Saint Oval will further be strengthened and enriched by future opportunities for educational, cultural, and business exchanges. Now, therefore, I'm Mitch Colvin, mayor of the City of Faithville, North Carolina, and behalf of the City Council and more than 208,000 citizens do hereby proclaim in Faithville on October 28, 2024, in honor of Faithville NC, Saint of Old France, Friendship Alliance, in witness thereof, I hear on to set my hand on the great seal of the City of Faithville to be fixed this 28th day of October 2024. And welcome. Yeah. And we have some coins for you as well. So uh I think they want to take pictures of this question. Uh and in addition to the proclamation, we have prepared uh some of the city coins that we have prepared for each of you. So I'd like to also present that to you so you'll always remember us here. Thank you. Thank you very much. Give him another round of applause. On behalf of all my colleagues, I would like to thank you all for your hospitality and generosity. The council wanted to take a picture. I know uh you all were here before, but you mind standing in front of Dad so we can all stand and get a picture with with you all? So that we can yes, please, if you would. Sorry about that. So we get to use this response. Uh oh. All right, I'll use vertically challenged folks. Okay.
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