Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting – August 24, 2026
Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting – August 24, 2026
The Fayetteville City Council met on August 24, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting included the approval of consent items, two public hearings, presentations from the Fire and Police Departments, and authorization for Fire Station 4 site preparation. Several items were discussed in detail, including a rezoning for SteelFab and a special use permit for a junkyard.
Consent Calendar
- Approved meeting minutes from multiple August 2026 sessions.
- Fields Road Solar Facility Lease Authorization (26-0486).
- Rezoning 1928 Progress Street (P26-29).
- Rezoning 1324 Fort Bragg Road (P26-30).
- Watershed Master Plan for Beaver Creek 1.
- Installation of two speed cushions on Courtney Street ($7,000).
- Amendment to lease with Signature Flight Support.
- Passenger Boarding Bridge Replacement Project contract award.
- Demolition recommendations for uninhabitable structures (230 Grady St, 504 Longview Dr, 509 School St, 521 Ramsey St, 5536 Deep Hollow Ct).
- Resolution rescinding demolition ordinance for 3634 Thorndike Drive.
- Resolutions authorizing condemnation of easements for sidewalk projects on Skibo Road, Morganton Road/South Herndon Street, and Old Wilmington Road Phase II.
- Items 7.0A5 (SteelFab rezoning) and 7.0A6 (Special Use Permit) were pulled for separate votes.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public speakers signed up for either public hearing.
Discussion Items
- 7.0A5 – SteelFab Rezoning (P26-31): Councilmember Jones explained the revised proposal to rezone 61 acres (from an original 123) to Heavy Industrial (HI) while retaining the existing Conservation District (CD) and not affecting Roses Lake bed. The applicant does not currently own the property but provided an affidavit, a common practice. The change will move some operations away from the Wish Spring Pines community. Councilmember Jones moved to approve the amended map amendment; motion carried unanimously.
- 7.0A6 – Special Use Permit for Salvage/Junkyard at 610 E Russell Street (SUP26-02): This item was a continuation. Councilmember Hondros moved to approve the findings of fact and the permit. After discussion, the motion carried 7-3, with Councilmembers Thompson, Colvin, and Davis voting in opposition.
- 8.01 – Signage Text Amendments (UDO Section 30-5.L): Staff presented four options to modify wall-mounted signage, window signage, and the DT2 district. The Planning Commission recommended approval of options B (increase signage area calculation) and C (DT2 district standards). Councilmember Hondros moved to approve options B, C, and F (window signage coverage). The motion carried 8-1, with Mayor Pro Tem voting in opposition.
- 8.02 – Can Do Performance Financing Program Funding: Staff recommended approval of $125,000 for Camden Cleaning Solutions, owned by Carlos Godwin. The funds will purchase utility vans, floor care equipment, and specialty equipment, supporting the creation of five jobs over five years. Councilmembers asked about the applicant's basis and program verification. The motion to approve was unanimous.
- 9.01 – Fayetteville Fire Department 2026 2nd Quarter Report: Chief Kevin Dove presented highlights: international accreditation for the fourth time, 7,359 calls responded to (increase from 2025), average response time 7:31 (under 8-minute goal), one civilian fire fatality, nine civilian injuries, and 57% of fires confined to room of origin. The report was received unanimously.
- 9.02 – Fayetteville Police Department 2026 2nd Quarter Report: Chief Brian reported overall crime down, homicides decreased 54%, rape down 29%, but simple assaults up 18%. The department has a 100% clearance rate for homicides. Juvenile contacts increased 43%, with weapons seized up 105% and motor vehicle theft down 52%. Staffing improved to 32 vacancies (from 64). The report was received unanimously.
- 10.01 – Fire Station 4 Phase 1 Site Preparation Authorization: Dan Lamontane presented plans to use $1.53 million from bond premiums and remaining project funds for site clearing, grading, and preparation. The project website was announced. Council approved the phase, with items to return for construction pricing. Motion carried unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- SteelFab Rezoning (P26-31): Approved amended map amendment (unanimous).
- Special Use Permit (SUP26-02): Approved 7-3 (Thompson, Colvin, Davis opposed).
- Signage Text Amendments: Approved options B, C, and F (8-1, Mayor Pro Tem opposed).
- Can Do Program Funding: $125,000 awarded to Camden Cleaning Solutions (unanimous).
- Fire Department 2Q Report: Received (unanimous).
- Police Department 2Q Report: Received (unanimous).
- Fire Station 4 Phase 1: Authorized site preparation (unanimous).
Meeting Transcript
If y'all give us just a minute. Oh, there we go. All right. So we will we'll call our August 24th meeting to order. We welcome those who join us in the audience, those who also uh. Those who also joining us remote, we welcome you. At this time, as with every meeting, we would like to start with our invocation to prayer. We have Apostle April High Tower of the New Salem International Ministries. Gracious Father, we pause at the beginning of this gathering to recognize the responsibilities, duties, and assignment given to our mayor and the city council. May those who serve in this chamber be guided by wisdom, integrity, fairness, and courage. Give them the ability to listen carefully, consider diverse perspectives, and make decisions with the well-being of our entire community in mind. May they remember that behind every policy and every decision are people, families, children, seniors, veterans, workers, business owners, students, neighbors, and individuals from many cultures, backgrounds, and traditions that rely on their decision-making ability to enhance the future of our great city. Help us to build a city where every person is treated with dignity and respect, where differences do not divide us, but broaden our understanding, where opportunity is pursued with fairness and where compassion guides our response to those who are experiencing difficulty. Grant our elected leaders patience when challenges are difficult, humility when perspectives differ, and wisdom to seek common ground without compromising the principle of justice and human dignity that represents our creator. Bless the mayor, the city council, city officials, employees, and all who contribute to the life and future of our community. Give them clarity when decisions are difficult, patience when opinions defer, and discernment to recognize solutions that strengthen the entire community. Amen. Amen. Very good. I pledge allegiance to the United States of America. And to the Republic. Under God, individual with liberty. Justice for all. I've known you for a long time. You're doing great work in your ministry on Marchison Road with the after school care and some of the other things that you're doing. Tell uh the audience a little bit about yourself and your ministry. Yes, sir. My name is Apostle April Hightower. Um, I bring your greetings on behalf of New Salem International Ministries, located at 4006 Murchison Road, right here in the God Blessed City of Fairville, North Carolina. The focus and purpose of our ministry is to teach biblical principles and strategies that's going to challenge you to change in order to improve your quality of life in four specific areas, spiritual growth, community and economic development, housing, as well as educational excellence. On this weekend, our community and we are inviting the entire city of Fairville to come out. We're having a community give back to school program where we're going to have free um haircuts. We're giving away school supplies, we're also giving away food, clothing, and we're also going to have information concerning our upcoming um private school, New Salem Christian Academy that will be open up in the 2027-2028 school year. So we'll be giving our information concerning that. So you all are welcome to come if you're not busy this Saturday from 10 to 3. All right, thank you. Can we give Pastor High Tower Apostle High Tower a round of applause? Apostle Hightower. What time would that be? 10 o'clock to 3 o'clock. Okay. All right. All right. Well, thank you so much, Apostle. Thank you for that wonderful prayer. Uh, Council, as we move to uh the next item, we have um the announcements. I will go to Councilmember Jones. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just want to take a few moments to uh acknowledge my other half.
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