Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting - November 24, 2025

The Fayetteville City Council held its regular meeting on November 24, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting was dominated by farewell recognitions for three outgoing council members—Courtney Banks McLaughlin, Mario Benevente, and Kathy Jensen—who received keys to the city and county crests. Proclamations were issued for Kimchi Day and Native American Heritage Month, and the group Faithville Freedom for All presented a community award to Councilmember Benevente for his work on the Office of Community Safety. The Council then addressed the consent agenda, held an evidentiary hearing for a special use permit, and approved a contingent loan for the Central Park Villas affordable housing project.

Recognitions and Awards

• County Commissioner Kurt Devier presented county crests to outgoing council members Courtney Banks McLaughlin, Mario Benevente, and Kathy Jensen, praising their service on homelessness, public safety, and military advocacy.
• Mayor Mitch Colvin presented each outgoing member with a key to the city. Council members and staff delivered heartfelt remarks, highlighting Jensen's 12 years of service (including as Mayor Pro Tem), Banks McLaughlin's six years of advocacy for the underserved, and Benevente's independent thinking and work on the Office of Community Safety.
• Faithville Freedom for All presented Councilmember Benevente with a community award for his leadership in establishing the Office of Community Safety, noting the 2022 deaths of Jada Johnson and Justin Livesay that spurred the effort.

Proclamations and Community Awards

• Kimchi Day: Councilmember Benevente read a proclamation designating November 22, 2025, as Kimchi Day, recognizing Korean cuisine and culture. Members of the Korean Presbyterian Church of Fayetteville attended.
• Native American Heritage Month: The Council proclaimed November 2025 as Native American Heritage Month, honoring the contributions of Native Americans. A representative of the Coharie tribe accepted the proclamation.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes from November 10, 2025 (Work Session, Discussion of Agenda Items, Regular).
• Adopted Council Policy 160.09.2 for residents to request “No Parking” in multi-use lanes (pulled from consent and later moved to public hearing).
• Approved demolition ordinances for uninhabitable structures at 827 E. Orange Street and 4714 Ashton Road.
• Adopted a resolution supporting “No Parking” on Broadfoot Avenue to NCDOT.
• Authorized a contract with Davis Kane Architects for Fire Station No. 9 professional architectural services.
• Approved use of ARPA interest funds for electric bus grant match, Maker’s Space build-out, and grant match reserve.
• Accepted and appropriated the Governors Crime Commission Law Enforcement Equipment Grant.
• Adopted Capital Project Ordinance for Stadium View project ($5.7 million from General Fund or limited obligation debt) – pulled from consent and approved separately.
• Adopted a resolution authorizing acquisition of 920 and 922 Washington Drive for senior center overflow parking – pulled from consent and approved unanimously.
• Adopted a resolution in opposition to Interbasin Transfer (IBT) certificate (PWC item).

Discussion Items

• No Parking in Multi-Use Lanes Policy (7.0A2): Councilmember Green pulled the item and moved to send it to a future public hearing, citing unresolved questions. Councilmember Benevente argued the policy already effectively exists and that a public hearing might increase awareness. Councilmember Thompson warned the policy could reduce property values by up to 25%. The motion to move to a public hearing passed 5-4 (for: Jensen, Banks McLaughlin, Green, Hondros, Davis; against: Benevente, McNair, Thompson, Colvin).
• Stadium View Project (7.0A8): Councilmember Benevente expressed concern about not holding the previous developer (PCH) accountable for breach of contract and questioned why the city was not pursuing damages. City Attorney noted the lawsuit can be refiled until September 2026. Councilmember Thompson emphasized the need for accountability. The Council approved the Capital Project Ordinance 8-1, with Benevente opposed.
• Washington Drive Acquisition (7.0A9): Councilmember Davis asked staff to explain the purpose (overflow parking for Senior Center East and MLK parking). The resolution authorizing acquisition passed unanimously.
• Central Park Villas Affordable Housing Loan (9.0): Staff presented a contingent loan commitment of $2,883,811 (from HOME and Housing Opportunity General Obligation Bond funds) to JBS Development for 84 units (all at or below 80% AMI). Councilmember Green raised concerns about the site location (floodplain, lack of homeownership), but staff noted units would be elevated above 500-year flood levels and the project positions the city for future Choice Neighborhood grants. Councilmember Banks McLaughlin called it workforce housing. The motion passed unanimously.

Evidentiary Hearing

• Special Use Permit for Major Utility Expansion (8.0): Lumbee River Electric Membership Corporation requested a special use permit to upgrade an existing substation at 6787 Bailey Lake Road, including a setback reduction from 100 to 40 feet. The applicant stated the upgrades are needed to relieve capacity (the existing transformer ran at full capacity throughout 2024–2025). Councilmember Thompson moved approval, citing the six statutory findings. The motion passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Vote on agenda amendment: Motion to approve agenda without adding a resolution regarding immigrant protections failed; the agenda was approved 6-3 (Benevente, Jensen, Hondros opposed).
• No Parking policy: Referred to a public hearing in January 2026 (5-4 vote).
• Stadium View project: Capital Project Ordinance approved 8-1.
• Washington Drive acquisition: Resolution approved unanimously.
• Central Park Villas loan: Contingent loan commitment approved unanimously.
• Evidentiary hearing: Special use permit for Lumbee River substation approved unanimously.
• Councilmember Hondros excused: Motion to excuse him from the remainder of the meeting passed unanimously.
• Administrative Report on Downtown Municipal Service District Boundary: Moved to a January 2026 work session.