Greenville Board of Adjustment Meeting – March 27, 2025
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Greenville Board of Adjustment Meeting – March 27, 2025
The Greenville Board of Adjustment met on March 27, 2025, at 6:02 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. Due to the absence of a chair and vice chair, the board first elected a chair pro tem and vice chair pro tem for the meeting. The board then approved the agenda and minutes from February 27, 2025, before conducting two public hearings for special use permits for drop-in child daycare facilities. Both applications were approved unanimously with staff-recommended conditions.
Consent Calendar
- The board approved the agenda and the minutes from the February 27, 2025 meeting by unanimous voice vote.
Election of Officers (Pro Tem)
- Attorney Phillips explained the need for a special election for chair pro tem and vice chair pro tem because the regular chair and vice chair were absent. The seniority order was determined, and nominations were taken.
- Chair Pro Tem: Jermaine McNair was nominated by William McCurry and elected by voice vote (majority aye).
- Vice Chair Pro Tem: Sterling Ruffin was nominated by Jermaine McNair and elected by voice vote (majority aye).
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke for or against either item.
Discussion Items
1. Public Hearing – Request for Special Use Permit by Crystal Smith (1871 Allen Road)
- Staff Presentation: Brian (staff planner) presented the application for a drop-in child daycare facility on a 0.34-acre lot zoned Office Residential. Surrounding properties are R6 residential and RA20. The use is defined under NC General Statutes as short-term care where parents are off-site but accessible. Staff recommended conditions: compliance with NC statutes, no expansion to a full daycare without a new permit, all activities indoors, a change of occupancy permit, and meeting fire and building codes.
- Applicant Testimony: Crystal Smith described her existing drop-in daycare business started in 2022, which allows parents four-hour visits for errands or mental breaks. She noted positive community feedback and experience. She stated she relocated due to a building sale.
- Board Discussion: No questions or concerns were raised beyond a brief inquiry about interior requirements, which staff confirmed are handled by building codes.
- Decision: The board approved the findings of fact and then approved the special use permit with staff-recommended conditions unanimously by voice vote (all ayes).
2. Public Hearing – Request for Special Use Permit by Andrew Davis (4125 Old Tar Road, Suite B)
- Staff Presentation: Brian presented the second application for a drop-in child daycare in an existing commercial building on a 2-acre lot zoned General Commercial, near Winterville. Surrounding uses include a convenience store, car wash, multi-family, and Winterville jurisdictions. Staff noted the same NC statute definitions and similar conditions: compliance with all laws, no evolution to a full daycare, indoor activities, change of occupancy permit, and building/fire codes.
- Applicant Testimony: Andrew Davis explained his inspiration came from community requests, particularly from churches and schools in the area (Mike Church, Winterville Charter Academy). He emphasized providing affordable drop-in care for low-income families, for date nights, church, or errands. He stated this is a new venture; his background is in HVAC and ministry. He plans to open more facilities.
- Board Discussion: No questions or concerns were raised beyond a brief exchange about the applicant's experience. The board member (Jermaine McNair) shared personal positive sentiment as a new parent, but no formal discussion.
- Decision: The board approved the findings of fact and then approved the special use permit with staff-recommended conditions unanimously by voice vote (all ayes).
Key Outcomes
- Crystal Smith (1871 Allen Road): Special use permit for drop-in child daycare approved with conditions (all ayes). Staff will prepare the written permit; the applicant will be notified when ready.
- Andrew Davis (4125 Old Tar Road, Suite B): Special use permit for drop-in child daycare approved with conditions (all ayes). Staff will prepare the written permit; the applicant will be notified when ready.
- Both permits require compliance with NC General Statutes, all activities indoors, a change of occupancy permit, and adherence to building and fire codes.
- The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:15 PM after announcements regarding board training (deadline for sign-up by March 28) and distribution of board/commission expectation forms.
Announcements
- Brian reminded board members to sign up for training (in-person May 5 or virtual May 7) by March 28.
- Two forms were distributed: an agreement of expectations and an attendance policy for board and commission members; members were asked to sign and return them to Latoya before leaving.
- The board welcomed back Jermaine McNair (chair pro tem) who had missed two prior meetings due to the birth of his child in December.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome to the March 27th, 2025 Greenville Board of Adjustment Meeting. We are located in City Hall Council Chambers, 200 West Fifth Street. It is 602 p.m. And you were probably wondering why I am making the announcement and calling the meeting to order, which I am doing now, call the meeting to order. And it is because we are without a chair and a vice chair, and so we will have to have a special election pro tem for both of those to hold the meeting for tonight. So Madam Clerk, if I could get a roll call. Simon Swain. Here. William McCurry. Here. Jeremy Jordan. Thank you, Madam Clerk. So again, we're going to be holding a special election for the chair pro tem and uh the vice chair pro tem. And the reason why I think it's probably necessary to do both is because if we just elect the chair pro tem just to hold the meeting for tonight and to run the meeting tonight, what if that chair has a recusal uh on one of the matters? So we'll go ahead and handle both of those. So with your rules of procedure, the board member having seniority will be given first consideration for nomination. And so what I'll do is I'll run through a little bit about how the election will run. The election for the office of uh chair, pro tem will proceed as follows. I will call for nominations. Nominations will be made. No second is required for a nomination. I will repeat repeat the nomination and ask for further nominations. After no more nominations are forthcoming, I will declare that the nominations are closed. After the nominations are closed, the board will proceed to vote starting with the first nominee. When there is more than one nominee, the board votes in the order in which the nominees were nominated. As soon as one of the nominees received the receives a majority vote, I will declare him or her elected, and no votes will be taken on the remaining nominees for that office. Regarding the seniority, the senior member of the uh Board of Adjustment at tonight's meeting is Jermaine McNair, uh, then Sterling Ruffin, and then Mr. Simon Swain. Um with regard to that. Uh and then following that would be Clayton Self, um, who is our regular county, uh Nicholas White, McKenzie Burr, uh Burns, and then William Arch Curry. Do I pronounce that right? Hopefully, sorry. Uh so we'll begin with the um election of officers for uh the election of chair pro Tim. Nominations are now in order for the Office of Chair Pro Tim. Do I hear any nominations? I'll nominee Jermaine McNair. Mr. Curry has nominated Jermaine McNair. Are there any other nominations? I'll actually nominate Sterling. Okay. Sterling Ruffin has been nominated by Jermaine McNair. Are there any other nominations? Hearing none, we will begin by the first vote of uh Jermaine McNair. All those in favor of Jermaine McNair, or before I do that, I'm gonna declare the nominations are closed. Those in favor uh of Jermaine McNair uh for the office of chair pro Tim, I declare uh or say aye. Aye. All those opposed. Madam Clerk, I believe the ayes have it. Um and Mr.
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