Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting - August 25, 2025
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Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting - August 25, 2025
The Fayetteville City Council held a regular meeting on August 25, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting included multiple recognitions and proclamations, reports from the Police and Fire Departments, public hearings on rezoning and annexation, and an evidentiary hearing for a special use permit. Key decisions included approval of a contested rezoning for a 7-Eleven at 549 Stacy Weaver Drive, unanimous approval of a voluntary annexation, and unanimous approval of a special use permit for a tow yard with additional conditions.
Announcements & Recognitions
- Dr. Hank Parfitt presented a bronze medallion on behalf of the Lafayette Society, highlighting the successful bicentennial celebration of Lafayette's visit. The event was funded entirely by private donations.
- Carolyn Justice Henson from the Rotary Club presented a commemorative silk scarf from the Lafayette Rotary Club of Metz, France, to the city.
- Taliq Whitfield and the World Mission Society Church of God (ASEZ group) discussed their volunteer efforts, including clean-ups and crime reduction initiatives.
- Proclamations were issued for: Amfratrite Constantelos Manuel Day (recognition of her cultural contributions), Stacey Park Milburn Day (honoring the disability rights activist and her quarter being minted), and Black Breastfeeding Week (August 25–31).
- Stacey Buckner, a CNN Hero, received the Key to the City for her work with homeless veterans.
- Stephanie Kegler, founder of Dancing Without Sin, received a Certificate of Excellence for promoting health and wellness.
Consent Calendar
- Approved meeting minutes from August 4, 11, 2025.
- Adopted a city-wide loitering ordinance (second reading).
- Approved lease space at 472 Hay Street to Subway Real Estate, LLC.
- Approved demolition ordinances for four uninhabitable structures.
- Rescinded a demolition ordinance for 3121 Fort Bragg Road.
- Adopted text amendment to sidewalk regulations (Article 24).
- Approved bid for resurfacing various streets (Powell Bill FY26) to Highland Paving Co., LLC for $4,604,169.65.
- Authorized a professional services contract for stormwater asset inventory to Freese and Nichols for $1,000,000.
- Adopted capital project ordinance amendments for NCDOT funding correction, FTA grant funds, and radio core upgrades.
- Approved PWC bid for a stator vane kit ($275,000) and a preliminary resolution for bond issuance.
- All consent items were approved unanimously via a single motion.
Staff Reports
- Fayetteville Police Department 2025 Second Quarter Review (Chief Bryan): Reported overall crime down 13% (1,205 fewer incidents). Homicide clearance rate at 92% (national average 58%). Traffic stops increased 9%; 487 firearms seized. ShotSpotter data presented: 250 alerts, 850 rounds detected, 8 weapons recovered, 9 arrests. Juvenile crime trending up; department currently has 344 officers (64 vacancies). Motion to receive the report carried unanimously.
- Fayetteville Fire Department 2025 Second Quarter Review (Chief Dove): Responded to 7,335 calls; medical responses accounted for 4,740. Installed 634 smoke alarms and 99 CO alarms for free. Head count at 358, fully staffed. Fire inspections down due to retirements but recovering. Motion to receive the report carried unanimously.
Public Hearings
- 9.01 – Rezoning 2211 Rosehill Road (Cross Creek Refuse LLC): This item was tabled until October 27, 2025, after the applicant requested a delay due to a medical emergency. Motion passed 8-2.
- 9.02 – Rezoning 549 Stacy Weaver Drive (Paul Thompson Development Corp.): Request to rezone from SF-10 to Limited Commercial Conditional Zoning for a 7-Eleven with gas pumps. Three speakers in favor (including attorney Jonathan Charleston) and six opposed. Opponents cited traffic, environmental, and health concerns; supporters argued the property is already commercial in nature and conditions (fencing, buffer, lighting) mitigate impacts. Following a motion to deny (failed 6-3), a motion to approve was passed 7-3.
- 9.03 – Voluntary Annexation of Carvers Falls Road property (city-owned 40.54 acres): Approved unanimously with an effective date of August 25, 2025.
Evidentiary Hearing
- 10.01 – Special Use Permit (SUP25-03) for an automotive wrecker service at 3003, 3005, 3009 Murchison Road: Applicant Ali Abdo requested a reduction in the 250-foot separation requirement from residential zones. Staff recommended approval based on conditions. After testimony, the council approved the permit with an added condition requiring a 10-foot buffer along residential lot lines. Motion passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved unanimously.
- Police and Fire Department quarterly reports received unanimously.
- Item 9.01 tabled to October 27, 2025 (8-2).
- Item 9.02 approved (7-3) after a motion to deny failed (6-3).
- Item 9.03 (annexation) approved unanimously.
- Item 10.01 (SUP) approved unanimously with additional 10-foot buffer condition.
- Meeting adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
Well, good evening, everyone would like to call our city council meeting to order on Monday, August twenty fifth, meeting order. Have a full house good to see all of you all who are here, those who are joining us remotely. Uh we welcome you. At this time, as with every meeting, we start with the prayer invocation. We ask that Father Alex Pop Papa Gaias. Papa G goes. I'm sorry. Father. Can we please stand? All right, if we could please stand for the prayer and then immediately follow me if we could repeat the place. Thank you for the invitation to be here, because I'm always uh honored to be with you and the wonderful job you and the council members are doing. Let us pray heavenly king comfort of the spirit of truth. You are in no places for fillest all things. Bless the city council, bless our community, bless our first responders and all of those who come to our need immediately and bless our military who protect and serve daily. These things we ask in your name. Amen. Amen. Thank you. Pledge allegiance to the Father of the United States of America. I'm seeing thank you. Father, you uh you got away. Can you come here for just a moment? And certainly if you can just tell us about yourself and the ministry that you have over at the church, we'd appreciate it. Well, then I'll have to thank everybody behind me because everyone in this room, if they've been to the spaghetti dinner and the festival, have supported our community. And many times we clergy are a little remiss in thanking those who support us. And I've been 17 years now, and I see Mrs. Jensen who's right there, and Mr. Dino Hondras, and a couple of our other parishioners are endeavoring to enter into the political rink. And as I always do, I want to thank you, Your Honor, because it's not easy. And I read all kinds of things online or whatever, and it's a challenge, a constant challenge that you and this council face. I wouldn't want to do it. I would never ever run for any politics and religion. It'll meet they don't say that for nothing. They don't mix together. I really I really mean that. And I've known you long enough now, you've been a the mayor for more time than any more any other mayor has served since I came here. And you and the council continue to do a wonderful job. Thank you. And I'm not one of the first ones to complain, but if anything ever comes up, I'm always the first one to ask if there's anything that our community can do for anyone here in favor. We're small, but we're strong. And sadly, years are going by, and a lot of our first generation uh Greek Americans are going to their final reward, and we have last Sunday, 44 visitors from the military came to our transition. And for a community of 180 to 200 families, that's that's that's a real blessing. Yes, sir. And that's why it's always a pleasure and an honor to be here with her and to thank everyone standing sitting behind me for continuing to support our community. Thank you very much, always. Thank you, Father, for your work in the community. Council, with that, we will move and we'll ask Dr. Hank Parfitt, president of the Lafayette Society emeritus. He is present. Parfit, how are you, sir?
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