Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting – June 23, 2025

The Fayetteville City Council convened on June 23, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting opened with an invocation by Mr. Rajan Z of the Universal Society of Hinduism, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Council recognized departing IT Director Willie Johnson (2015–2025) with a City Key and Coin, and presented the Key to the City to community advocate Laverne Oxendine. City Manager Dr. Hewitt introduced John Jones as the new Director of the Office of Community Safety. The council unanimously approved the agenda and the consent agenda (items 7.0A1–A28). Public hearings were held for street closures, a sign code update, and an annexation; all were approved unanimously. An evidentiary hearing for a special use permit was tabled. Council deliberated on a utility assessment appeal, a sidewalk exemption text amendment, and a bicycle lane ordinance, resulting in an approved appeal, a remand to staff, and a tabling respectively.

Consent Calendar

• Approved meeting minutes from May 29, June 2, 4, 5, 9 (2025).
• Adopted amended Youth Protection Safety Ordinance.
• Approved rezoning requests: P25-18 (1055 McArthur Rd, SF-6 to MR-5); P25-20 (unaddressed parcel, Planned Industrial (M(P)CU) to Light Industrial); P25-26 (5324 Raeford Rd, SF-10 to LC); P25-27 (230 Pinecrest Dr, SF-6 to MR-5/CZ); P25-28 (5414 Yadkin Rd, OI to LC); P25-29 (3546 Braddy Rd, AR to SF-15); P25-31 (401 Country Club Dr, SF-10 to SF-6).
• Approved Special Use Permits SUP25-04 (ice house separation reduction at 2726 Raeford Rd) and SUP25-05 (animal care uses separation reduction at 4417 Ramsey St).
• Rescinded demolition ordinance for 1083 North Street (already demolished).
• Adopted demolition ordinances for uninhabitable structures at 107 Mary St, 2217 Bragg Blvd, and 2443 Hope Mills Rd.
• Adopted Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan Update and Supplemental Pedestrian Plan Study.
• Approved Watershed Master Plan for Carvers Creek, Bones Creek, and Cross Creek.
• Authorized supplemental agreement with NCDOT for Skibo Road improvements (EB-6030).
• Added certain streets to the city system.
• Issued updated conditional funding commitment letter for Aspen Pointe (Low Income Housing Tax Credit development).
• Adopted Special Revenue Fund Project Ordinance to appropriate $104,000 in opioid settlement funds.
• Approved FY26 Airport Residential tenant rent adjustments (Doc Bennett Rd properties).
• Accepted FAA Grants (Airport Improvement Program 57 & 58) and authorized city manager to execute agreements.
• Extended Reclaiming Futures Youth Mentoring Program agreement with Cumberland County CommuniCare ($30,000 appropriation).
• Adopted budget ordinance amendments, capital project ordinance amendments, and grant appropriations (items 7.0A24–A28).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Arsenal Avenue closure (Item 8.01): Two speakers: John McKeeley and Jimmy Kaiser (project representatives) spoke in favor, noting the closure facilitates construction of the North Carolina Civil War & Reconstruction History Center. No opposition.
• Bullock Street closure (Item 8.02): Pastor Aaron Wilson spoke in favor on behalf of Sapona Road Church of God. No opposition.
• Sign Code update (Item 8.03): No public speakers.
• Annexation AX25-01 (Item 8.04): Three speakers: Rob Patton (Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation) endorsed the annexation for Yeadon Domes; Jimmy Kaiser deferred; Matthew Mahia (CEO of Yeadon Domes) thanked the council and stated the company has already hired about 10 Fayetteville residents, expecting 70 total. He preferred an effective date of June 30, 2025.

Discussion Items

• Sign Code Update (Item 8.03): Consultant Vaughn Henson presented a reorganization of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Section 30-5.L, reducing sign-related pages from 61 to 45. Proposed changes include reclassifying temporary signs by generic type (Type 1–5), allowing wall sign area calculated as greater of 1 sq ft per linear ft or 10% of wall area, and establishing minimum ground sign allowances. Councilmember Hare questioned moral content guidelines; City Attorney confirmed only obscene content is restricted due to First Amendment. Councilmember Hondros asked about complexity; Dr. Newton described the update as a permanent simplification. The public hearing was closed with no speakers, and council unanimously approved the text amendments.
• Annexation AX25-01 (Item 8.04): Staff presented a 12.53-acre parcel at the end of Bridgewood Drive, contiguous to airport property. The annexation aligns with the 2040 Future Land Use Plan. Upon annexation, property taxes increase, but the property remains in county fire and recreation tax districts. Council approved the annexation with an effective date of June 30, 2025 (motion by Councilmember Hondros, second by Councilmember Davis, unanimous).
• Evidentiary Hearing – SUP25-03 (Item 9.01): Applicant for a special use permit to reduce separation for an automotive wrecker service at 3003–3009 Murchison Rd was not present; staff had sent notice but owner may have been out of country. Council tabled the item to August 25, 2025, upon confirmation of contact (motion by Councilmember Hare, second by Councilmember Benavente, unanimous).
• PWC Utility Assessment Appeal – 8038 King Road (Item 10.01): Property owner Stout appealed the assessment of two sewer laterals (one per former parcel) after combining parcels into one. PWC attorney Tim Smith argued the owner had notice since 2018 and work was completed; the assessment is for construction costs only ($5,000 per parcel). Council debated timing and ability to charge later. A motion to deny the appeal failed (no second). A motion to approve the appeal (Councilmember Benavente, second by Councilmember Davis) passed 8–1, with Councilmember Thompson opposed. The appeal was granted, and staff will work with PWC on implementation.
• Sidewalk Exemptions Text Amendment – TA25-02 (Item 10.02): Councilmember Hondros summarized that the UDO committee had sent the item to planning commission, which identified unintended negative consequences and remanded it to staff. Council voted to remand to staff with a timeline: staff work in July, planning commission review August 19, council consideration August 25 (motion by Councilmember Hondros, second by Councilmember Benavente, unanimous).
• Bicycle Lane Ordinance Clarifications (Item 10.03): Council tabled this item to the August work session to allow language revisions (motion by Councilmember Hare, second by Councilmember Benavente, unanimous).

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously.
• Arsenal Avenue Closure: Motion by Councilmember Green, second by Councilmember Davis; approved unanimously.
• Bullock Street Closure: Motion by Councilmember Hare, second by Councilmember Davis; approved unanimously.
• Sign Code Update: Motion by Councilmember Hondros, second by Councilmember Green; approved unanimously.
• Annexation AX25-01: Motion by Councilmember Hondros, second by Councilmember Davis; approved unanimously with effective date June 30, 2025.
• SUP25-03 Evidentiary Hearing: Tabled to August 25, 2025 (pending confirmation of applicant contact).
• PWC Utility Assessment Appeal: Appeal approved 8–1 (Councilmember Thompson dissenting).
• TA25-02 Sidewalk Exemptions: Remanded to staff with specific timeline.
• Bicycle Lane Ordinance: Tabled to August work session.
• Recognition: Tony Brown’s youth mentor program to be recognized at the August 11 council meeting.