Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting – November 10, 2025

The Fayetteville City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, November 10, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting included announcements, a public forum, approval of the consent agenda, a quarterly update from the Office of Community Safety, a legislative public hearing on the Stadium View Downtown Development Agreement, and administrative reports. The council recognized Dr. Ron Godbolt with the Key to the City, passed all consent items unanimously, received the OCS quarterly report, and voted 8–1 to authorize the City Manager to execute the Amended and Restated Downtown Development Agreement.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Meeting Minutes – Minutes from October 22, 2025 (Agenda Briefing), October 27, 2025 (Discussion of Agenda Items), and October 27, 2025 (Regular Meeting) were approved.
• Rezoning (P25-46) – Approved the rezoning of 2.36 acres at 5236 Murchison Road from Community Commercial (CC) and Light Industrial (LI) to Light Industrial/Conditional Zoning (LI/CZ), consistent with the 2040 Future Land Use Plan.
• Watershed Master Plan – Approved final deliverables for Beaver Creek 2 and Little Rockfish Creek 1 watershed studies.
• Opioid Settlement Funds – Adopted Special Revenue Fund Project Ordinance 2026-11 and resolution appropriating $163,800 in opioid settlement funds.
• Damaged Fire Apparatus Replacement – Approved the purchase contract for replacement.
• Deputy Finance Officers – Adopted resolution appointing the Assistant CFO-Procurement and Assistant CFO-Financial Reporting as deputy finance officers.
• Surplus Property (434 Old Wilmington Road) – Adopted resolution declaring the property surplus and authorizing upset bid process and sale.
• PWC Granular Carbon Media Bid – Approved purchase award to Calgon Carbon Corporation in the amount of $15,213,853.35 for P. O. Hoffer & Glenville Lake Water Treatment Facilities.

Public Comments & Testimony

Ten individuals signed up for Public Forum; eight spoke.

• Lorraine Anderson (on behalf of Tasha Lindsay, Outlaw Horse Club) thanked the council for the Community Safety Grant and described a successful outreach event on October 4, 2025, hosting over 400 people with horse rides, agricultural lessons, and community activities.
• Matthew Jones delivered a message about the power of positive thinking, referencing Matthew 15:19, and urged the council and community to control their thoughts for good.
• Chad McGallen (owner of Crack & Skulls, near Sycamore Square) expressed concern over the closure of Shannon Drive by a private investor, stating it has caused four accidents at Bragg Boulevard and Shannon Drive, and is harming his business and a neighboring veteran-owned business. He requested assistance from the city.
• Melvin Harley (disabled veteran, Fayetteville native) spoke about his desire to help reduce crime and youth violence, and asked how he could get funding to reopen shelters and support community programs.
• Conchan Kamone appealed to the council to save his house at 206 Campbell Avenue from demolition, stating he has invested significant money and intends to turn it into a group home for stroke survivors. He warned demolition would cause him severe financial hardship.
• Ben Holtquist (Fayetteville Freedom for All) advocated for improved public transportation, urging better crosswalks near major bus hubs (especially the mall), elimination of parking minimums within a quarter-mile of bus stops, and more walkable areas around transit.

During the Public Hearing on the Downtown Development Agreement, two speakers testified:

• John Malzone (President, Downtown Alliance) expressed support for the project but asked for transparency and a seat at the table during planning to avoid disruptions to downtown businesses and deliveries.
• Bobby Burgess did not oppose the project but urged the inclusion of income-restricted units at percentages of Area Median Income (AMI), citing high rents in Fayetteville and a similar model in Chapel Hill (Homestead Housing Collaborative).

Discussion Items

Office of Community Safety (OCS) Quarterly Update

Director John Jones presented the first quarterly report for the Office of Community Safety, covering July 1 – September 30, 2025. Key statistics included:

• 59 community engagements (meetings, events, outreach)
• 3 youth night out events engaging over 100 youth aged 12–17
• 20 community safety microgrants awarded, totaling $84,500
• 214 rapid response calls (homelessness and mental health) – 84 on-site outreach visits, 52 referrals to behavioral health partners
• Community violence intervention partner PROVE Project hosted 13 events, engaged 600+ residents, distributed 425 backpacks, and successfully interrupted 3 conflicts. Director Jones outlined future initiatives: a community-facing quarterly update meeting (November 20, 2025), a behavioral health response model (working with Campbell University, Fayetteville State, and Harvard Kennedy School), a behavioral health summit, and a strategic plan with the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform.

Councilmembers asked about coordination with Cumberland County, the process for 911 call referrals, youth engagement with the Fayetteville-Cumberland Youth Council, and the role of the new strategic plan. The council praised the report and voted unanimously to receive it.

Stadium View Downtown Development Agreement – Legislative Public Hearing

City Manager Dr. Hewitt presented the Amended and Restated Downtown Development Agreement with Fayehe Master Venture LLC (LMG). The project will complete two towers above the Hay Street parking garage: 124 residential units, 119 hotel units (Hyatt flag), and ground-floor retail. The city will provide a $5.7 million loan for deck capping, elevators, and public improvements. The developer’s total investment is estimated at over $70 million. Performance milestones include financial commitments by February 2026, permits by April 2026, construction start in June 2026, and substantial completion by May 2028.

Following public testimony, councilmembers discussed the agreement. Councilmember Green noted her thorough review of the 23-page document and said the developer had been forthright about community engagement. Councilmember Benavente asked several clarifying questions: ownership of the deck land (city retains ownership; developer acquires air rights and prior developer’s interests), the purpose of the $5.7 million loan, and possible bonding for public infrastructure. The developer, Mr. Floats (via Teams), confirmed no specific plans for affordable housing, but indicated they have included workforce housing in past projects at 10-15% of units. He also expressed openness to coordinating with the Downtown Alliance and Cool Springs District.

During the vote, Councilmember Benavente explained his no vote, citing concerns about accountability for the prior developer’s breach and the lack of transparency. The motion passed 8–1.

Additional Motion on Downtown Engagement

Councilmember Benavente made a subsequent motion directing city staff to work with the Downtown Alliance (DTA) and Cool Springs Downtown District to coordinate regular meetings with LMG for ongoing communication. The motion passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda – Approved unanimously.
• Office of Community Safety Quarterly Update – Received unanimously.
• Stadium View Downtown Development Agreement – Motion to authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement passed 8–1. Councilmember Benavente voted no.
• Downtown Engagement Motion – Unanimously passed to facilitate regular coordination between the city, DTA, Cool Springs, and the developer.
• Recognition – Dr. Ron Godbolt was presented with the Key to the City for decades of community service.
• Next Steps – The city manager will execute the development agreement. The next OCS quarterly community meeting is set for November 20, 2025, 6–8 PM at Senior Center East. An Outfront meeting on transportation will be held November 13, 2025, at Lewis Chapel Middle School at 6 PM.