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.
Ten individuals signed up for Public Forum; eight spoke.
During the Public Hearing on the Downtown Development Agreement, two speakers testified:
Director John Jones presented the first quarterly report for the Office of Community Safety, covering July 1 – September 30, 2025. Key statistics included:
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.
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.
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.
Well, good evening, everyone. We would like to call our November 10th, 2025 City Council Meeting Order. We welcome you, those who are joining us in the audience, those who are joining us uh remotely at this time, as with every meeting. Uh we do have make a few acknowledgments. I saw a couple of our councilmember elects, uh councilmember Jones and McMillan are here. Uh welcome, sir. Uh any others, former council members or council members elect. All right. Uh council, as we do that, we will move to the invocation. We ask that all would please stand for the prayer. Ask that Dr. Ron Godbolt, one church covenant fellowship, senior pastor. Dr. Godboat, good to see you, sir. Good to see you. Let us pray. Gracious Father, we thank you for the today you're blessed to see. And Lord, before we thank you for anything, we want to uh they want to thank you for all things that you've given us. We ask your blessing upon this meeting today as you gave wisdom to Solomon. We pray that you'll give these council members and mayor the wisdom that they need to make decisions that would help your people. We thank you for your goodness and your kindness, and we thank you for bringing us here together. We pray now that everything will be done in decent and in order, and that your name gets all glory and all praise. It's in Jesus' name that we pray. Amen. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. I'm sorry. Where the Girl Scouts at Sorry, ladies. Scouts. Oh, yeah. Oh, yes, all right. Well, thank you all for joining us. And I'll turn it over to Councilmember Green. Good evening, everyone. Thank you for being here, girls. We have the Troop 740G of Scouting America. They range in ages of 11 to 15 years old. And they're gonna lead us in the pledge tonight, and then they're gonna say their oath and laws. So whenever you're ready, you leave. And to the Republic, for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and perfect. On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God in my country to obey the scout law to help other people at all times to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. Thank you. Dr. Godbolt, if if you could, we thank you. Many of us know you, but uh if you could spend just a few moments and tell us about yourself and your ministry. Yes, sir. Be glad to uh a few things have changed, uh brother mayor, since we met, since we taught my brother and I, we opened one church covenant fellowship officially in the year 2021. But since that time, we have stepped aside as advisors, and we have a new group that's in in charge, most of my family members, and that they are running things, and we're kind of on the side uh offering advice and help.