Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting - May 27, 2025
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Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting - May 27, 2025
The Fayetteville City Council met on May 27, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting included recognitions, a public hearing on the FY2025-2026 budget, evidentiary hearings on two special use permits, reports from the Cool Spring Downtown District and the UDO Committee, and adoption of a Youth Protection Safety Ordinance (curfew). The consent agenda was approved, and several items were pulled to future meetings.
Consent Calendar
- Approved consent agenda items unanimously, including approvals of minutes from multiple meetings, rezoning requests (P25-12, P25-14, P25-15, P25-19, P25-21, P25-22, P25-23, P25-24), demolition recommendations for uninhabitable structures, settlement authorization for the Senior Center East Project, adoption of the revised Historic Resources Commission Charter, authorization to apply for an ICMA grant, and PWC bid recommendations for sodium hypochlorite and magnesium hydroxide.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Budget Public Hearing: One speaker, Pastor Rita McMillan (New Life Covenant Fellowship Church, District 2), petitioned for a splash pad at North Street Park (Blueberry Park) to be included in the budget, presenting a petition with signatures. She stated the need has been overlooked for at least seven years.
Discussion Items
- FY2025-2026 Budget Public Hearing: City Manager Yates presented the recommended budget, which includes a 13-cent tax reduction (lowest in 30 years), a total budget $8.5 million less than the revised 2025 budget, over $114 million for public safety, and stable stormwater/solid waste rates. The schedule for remaining budget work sessions and adoption on June 9 was outlined. Councilmember Benavente expressed concern about limited public input opportunities; a motion to schedule an additional public hearing failed for lack of a second.
- Evidentiary Hearing – SUP25-04: Applicant Bill Allen (Two Cams Ice) requested a 14-foot reduction in the 100-foot setback from the right-of-way for an ice house at 2726 Raeford Road. The ice house was mistakenly placed 86 feet from the right-of-way. The applicant stated the machine has been operating for 17 months without issues, and the business has invested $15,000 in upgrades. Council approved the special use permit unanimously (Councilmember Thompson did not vote due to evidentiary hearing rules).
- Evidentiary Hearing – SUP25-05: Applicants Christy Bennett and Eric Allen (Houndstown USA) requested a reduction in the 75-foot separation requirement for an outdoor dog play area at 4417 Ramsey Street (old Cape Fear Drugs). The required separation from the lot line is 75 feet, but the property width allows only 23 feet. The business is an indoor dog daycare and boarding facility; the outdoor space is for supervised, limited play time. The applicants noted a 20-year lease and over $1 million investment. Council approved the special use permit unanimously.
- Cool Spring Downtown District Quarterly Report: Interim President Ashanti Bennett presented highlights, including 5 new businesses (total 17 for the year), progress on the Ammons Infill project, and the Safety and Engagement Ambassador Program (currently 1 full-time and 1 part-time ambassador). The report was received by unanimous consent. Councilmember Benavente moved to support expanding the ambassador program to 3 full-time positions, but the motion lacked a second.
- UDO Committee Biannual Report: Chairman Hondros reported on the committee's work over the past six months, including reviews of TAP fees, stormwater requirements, the IDT portal, sign ordinance, and higher-density zoning. The committee recommended receiving a development incentives presentation at the June work session and referring two sidewalk standard amendments to the Planning Commission. The report and recommendations were approved unanimously.
- Youth Protection Safety Ordinance: Attorney Sweeney presented the draft ordinance establishing a curfew for juveniles 16 and under from 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM, with exceptions (e.g., accompanied by parent/guardian, emergencies, First Amendment activities, etc.). Extensive discussion followed regarding enforcement, parental responsibility, and potential unintended consequences. Councilmember McNair moved to adopt the ordinance with conditions including increased funding for youth programs and marketing. The motion was amended to defer to June 9, but that amendment was withdrawn. A motion to adopt the ordinance tonight passed 6-4 (Councilmembers McNair, Green, Hondros, and Benavente voting no). The ordinance will take effect after further implementation details are presented on June 9.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously.
- Item 8.01 (Appeal): Pulled to June 9 regular meeting per applicant request.
- Item 9.01 (Special Use Permit): Pulled to June 23 regular meeting per applicant request.
- SUP25-04 (Ice House Setback): Approved unanimously.
- SUP25-05 (Dog Daycare Setback): Approved unanimously.
- Cool Spring Downtown District Report: Received unanimously.
- UDO Committee Report: Received and recommendations approved unanimously.
- Youth Protection Safety Ordinance: Adopted (6-4 vote). Implementation details to be presented June 9.
- Administrative Report (Temporary Use Standards): Moved to next work session.
Meeting Transcript
Good good afternoon, everyone. I'd like to call our Tuesday, May twenty-seventh February City Council meeting to order. We welcome those who are joining us in the audience, those who are logging in virtually. At this time, as with every meeting, we will start with the invocation. Ask the Pastor Brett Johnson of the Galatia Presbyterian Church. Pastor would come if we could all stand for the prayer. Immediately following the prayer, if we could repeat the Pledge of Allegiance. Good evening, Pastor. Good evening, sir. Let's pray. Almighty and loving Father. As we turn to you now in prayer, we give you thanks for your gracious mercy and for your many blessings on all who have gathered here this evening. We are especially thankful for these dedicated servants who serve our city and our community so faithfully. Father, we are grateful that you have called, equipped, and empowered our mayor and each member of this city council to serve in this most important role. We are truly blessed to have them represent us and the needs of our community. And as this meeting comes to order, we pray that you will guide our thoughts and our discussions, that you will grant us all discernment and wisdom as items are discussed and decisions are made. Enable us to see the actions that would truly serve the greater good as we seek the very best for our great city. Father, in your loving mercy, bless now our time together. Bless the work that will be accomplished. Bless those who labor to accomplish that work, and bless all who have come to share their thoughts, their wisdom, and their concerns with this wise council. We ask these in all things in your precious name. Amen. Amen. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. Thank you, Pastor. We uh, if you can just a moment tell us a little bit about yourself and your church. I know council former council member and late uh Bill Chris used to uh attend your church and I've been out there with him on a few occasions. You want to tell us a little bit about yourself and your ministry. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, we're about as far west as you can go and still be in the city of Fayeville, but uh, we're very much a part of the city. We have uh, in addition to our English and Spanish speaking services on Sunday, we also have a very strong local mission. We're partner with Second Harvest Food Bank, and um every Friday we distribute food. I think this last Friday, the numbers reported were close to 560 people were fed, and we're very proud of that local ministry. Yes, sir. Well, thank you for the work that you're doing. Uh let's give the pastor in Galatia Baptist Church a round of applause. Thank you. Thank you for joining us. At this time, Council, we would like to ask uh Miss Ryland Mack, Fedville Cumberland Youth Council President. Uh, she's going to come with her team and deliver us a five-minute year in review. How are you? Youth Council. And just uh before before she gets started, um, you may want to uh just take a moment, introduce your team. But we do want to say that our our youth council, uh, which uh consists of students throughout Cumberland County, um, future leaders and and uh uh aspiring leaders in this community has been nationally recognized on multiple occasions uh for being uh the best of the best. And so we thank you for what you're doing, and just want to introduce your team. Well, thank you. I'm Ryland Mack. I'm the chair of the Federal Common Youth Council, and these are just some of our seniors. They're gonna share at the end just their future plans and what they are going to despire in college.
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