Gastonia City Council Meeting - February 20, 2024

The Gastonia City Council met at 6:00 p.m. on February 20, 2024, in the Public Forum Room at the Gaston County Courthouse. The council unanimously adopted the agenda and the February 6, 2024 meeting minutes, then heard ceremonial presentations, public comment, and five regular agenda items. All action items were approved unanimously, and the meeting ended with a closed session and adjournment.

Ceremonies and Awards

• The council adopted a proclamation recognizing the 70th anniversary of the Gastonia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Vice President Renee Knight accepted on behalf of President Lisa Clark Reynolds and thanked the council; the chapter also gave a presentation of appreciation to the Gastonia Police Department.
• Chief Phil Welch presented the Gastonia Fire Department Medal of Valor to Captain Barron Summey and Firefighter Michael Chafin for the January 14, 2024 rescue of a female subject from a cell tower on Burlington Avenue. Fire Chief Welch said the rescuers climbed beyond the ladder's 100-foot reach, secured the subject around 175 feet, and lowered her to safety; he also noted the department had submitted a Carnegie Hero Fund application. Ranlo town officials attended and thanked the Gastonia crews.

Consent Calendar

• The council unanimously approved the consent agenda, including G.1 after discussion: a $167,966 agreement with Branch Construction Group, LLC, using Community Development Block Grant funds for substantial reconstruction of 608 N. York Street as affordable single-family housing. City housing staff said the projected sale price was roughly $189,000-$205,000, with subsidies, deed restrictions, and mandatory homebuyer counseling intended to keep it affordable.
• G.2 awarded the Fiscal Year 2024 audit contract to Martin Starnes & Associates, CPAs, P.A.
• G.3 recognized $45,000 in CARES Act revenue for Gastonia Municipal Airport operations/maintenance with budget amendment 2420035.
• G.4 approved the sole source justification for N Harris Computer Corporation.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Dwight Holland and Chad Huskins, Eagles Walk residents, raised concerns about aircraft noise from the Academy of Aviation at the Gastonia Municipal Airport. They said weekend flights begin around 7:00 a.m. and can continue until 10:00 p.m., with flight paths directly over their homes. Both said they understood the airport is a business but asked the council to consider weekend restrictions, particularly on Sundays.
• Clinton Feemster, a resident of the Historic Highland community, asked whether a withdrawn rezoning proposal, which he said was for 59-70 apartment units on about seven acres, was permanently withdrawn or only temporary. He requested a permanent withdrawal and voiced opposition to rezoning that would bring apartments into the single-family neighborhood. The city manager said staff would prepare a response to his question.
• Mike Tamborella addressed consent agenda item G.1, saying the proposed rebuilt home would sell for more than $250,000 and would not be affordable for Gastonia residents earning around the average income of $40,000; he urged the council to do more to create affordable housing.
• In the H.1/H.2 public hearing, Holly Burr Stowe, owner of a nearby farm and speaking also on behalf of neighboring landowners, said the area was historically farmland and expressed concerns about traffic, school crowding, environmental changes, elevation work, and potential impacts to neighbors' wells. Robin Armstrong, a member of an adjacent 100-year family farm, said her main concern was density, along with traffic, farm equipment safety, flooding, and construction impacts, and suggested lower-density development would be less impactful.

Discussion Items

H.1/H.2 - Union Mill Annexation and Rezoning

• City Attorney L. Ashley Smith and Assistant City Manager Quentin McFadder presented the request by owner Walton North Carolina, LLC, to voluntarily annex approximately 219.178 acres on Union New Hope Road and rezone it from Gaston County R-1 to PD-RRDD. The planning commission recommended approval 5-0 on February 8, 2024.
• The applicant, Meritage Homes, represented by Kimley-Horn's Sarah Shirley and Meritage's Reed Owen, proposed a maximum of 526 single-family homes on the site, developed in four phases over roughly 4-8 years. They identified 50-foot perimeter buffers, a 100-foot buffer along Union New Hope Road, stream/wetland buffers, stormwater ponds, clubhouse/pool amenities, and estimated price ranges of high-$300s to low/mid-$400s for ranches and the $400,000s for two-story homes.
• Council members asked about traffic mitigation, fire protection, floodplain protection, stormwater runoff, and school system coordination. Staff stated the traffic impact analysis would require developer-funded improvements; the city had invested roughly $50 million in water/sewer infrastructure in the area; and the fire chief indicated fire service would be adequate. Councilman Kellogg expressed concern that school system representatives were not responding to project notifications.
• The council voted unanimously to close the public hearing and approve the annexation and PD-RRDD zoning.

H.3 - Municipal Services District Management Contract

• Economic Development Director Kristy Crisp presented a proposed one-year, $60,000 contract with the Gaston Business Association (GBA) to manage the downtown municipal services district, replacing a vacant city position. GBA representative Steve D'Avria said GBA would serve as the point of contact, hold monthly stakeholder meetings called "Caffeine and Conversation," and provide quarterly reports. Council members voiced strong support for the partnership, and the contract was approved unanimously.

H.4 - CaroMont Health Park Exclusive Use Area Lease

• The council approved a 15-year exclusive use area lease for approximately 2,984 square feet of CaroMont Health Park (the Fuse District stadium) with the new team operator. City Attorney Smith explained the rent is $35,808 per year for years 1-5, with 5% increases in years 6-10 and 11-15. The operator may spend up to $25,000 on non-structural alterations inside the leased space without city council approval, and lease revenue will be deposited into the stadium capital repair, maintenance, and improvements account. The vote was unanimous.

H.5 - Rolling Stock Equipment Purchase

• City Manager Michael Peoples requested approval to appropriate $4,860,728 from the general fund and solid waste fund balance for rolling stock, with budget amendment 2420036. The mayor initially misstated the amount as $5,329,240 before correcting to $4,860,728.
• The purchase covers 31 police vehicles (27 replacements plus 4 for the new civilian crash investigator program), two fire apparatus plus a support truck, an automated side loader, and a leaf collector for solid waste. Officials noted fire apparatus lead times of 24-36 months, and that ordering now would help ensure equipment arrives in time. Council discussion noted the existing pumper was about 17 years old, the aerial truck about 25 years old, and 25% of police vehicles were more than 10 years old. The resolution passed unanimously.

Reports and Announcements

• City Attorney Smith asked the council to enter closed session at the end of the meeting for a brief report on pending litigation.
• City Manager Peoples announced upcoming North Carolina League of Municipalities events, stated staff were in budget development, and gave updates on the Firestone Sewer Project, Cox Road public meeting, Garrison Boulevard grant application, and other ongoing projects.
• Council members announced upcoming community events, including a neighborhood dinner at Mountain View Apartments on March 5, 2024, the baseball team name contest for the new Gastonia club, Cox Road intersection improvement public input, and continued work on regional transportation and housing partnerships.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimously approved the agenda and February 6, 2024 minutes.
• Unanimously approved the consent agenda items and all regular agenda items: the 219.178-acre Union Mill annexation and PD-RRDD rezoning, the $60,000 management contract with the Gaston Business Association, the CaroMont Health Park exclusive use area lease, and the $4,860,728 rolling stock appropriation with budget amendment 2420036.
• The council entered closed session under G.S. 143-318.11; no report was given after returning, and the meeting adjourned.