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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Greenville Board of Adjustment Meeting - March 26, 2026

Board of Adjustment — Thursday, March 26, 2026

BodyGreenville, North Carolina

SessionBoard of Adjustment

DateThursday, March 26, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 51:21

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:00

About utilizing that source in business development, and we had an amazing person to help us uh get our social media to to a good brand standard.

0:09

I met with the owners.

0:11

We sat there and figured out what they wanted to accomplish with the social media, what they were looking for, and we kind of figured out what kind of brand thing we were looking for.

0:20

Um, and in doing so, we were able to create content itself.

0:23

We were able to make a marketing campaign where we have with straightway consulting motivational Mondays.

0:30

We have polls that we asked and grant uh spotlights.

0:33

Malaysia was amazing, and she was able to really capture our ideas and put them, you know, visually, and so we thought that she would be very um valuable to our organization to kind of keep that momentum going around social media and its consistency that we needed to be out there in the social media community.

0:52

It was very exciting.

0:53

Um, towards the end to be able to speak with the business owner, Miss Bridget, and we offered an opportunity to continue doing what we were doing.

1:00

Um it gave me a sense of accomplishing it to show that what we're doing, we're working, we were seeing real-time results and and a leaded was showing that she was getting more leads.

1:10

So it was pretty much just like I said, a pat on the back and like a little inside and to know that what I was doing was able to help and the things that I learned throughout the program, and that school was able to help us as well.

1:35

On behalf of everyone behind uh the 50 and 10 affordable housing initiative, and there are a lot of us.

1:41

Uh, I want to warmly welcome you to this groundbreaking celebration.

1:46

Uh this isn't just the start of a project, it is the continued realization of a promise to uplift, to build together, and to believe in what's possible when vision meets action.

2:00

Today marks a very special moment for the city of Greenville.

2:03

As we break ground on the 50 and 10 Affordable Housing Initiative, we're not just moving soil, we're moving forward with a commitment to construct 50 new houses in the next 10 years.

2:14

This initiative is about more than building a couple of good evening.

2:52

This meeting will now come to order.

2:54

Welcome to the March 26th, 2026 meeting of the City of Greenville Board of Adjustments.

2:58

Ms.

2:59

Clerk, can you give us a roll call, please?

3:01

Ryan Purdle.

3:02

Here.

3:02

Carol Bass.

3:03

Jermaine McNair.

3:05

Present.

3:05

Sterling Ruffin.

3:07

Nicholas White.

3:08

Here.

3:09

Jeremy Jordan.

3:10

Here.

3:10

Clayton Sell.

3:11

Here.

3:11

John Southworth.

3:13

Here.

3:13

David Newman.

3:14

Here.

3:15

Sebastian Cresley.

3:16

Here.

3:16

We're McCurry.

3:17

Here.

3:18

We have forum.

3:19

All right.

3:20

Thank you, Miss Clerk.

3:21

Uh, Mr.

3:21

Attorney, will you give us who the voting members are in your statement, please?

3:25

Yes, sir.

3:28

To hold the mics while we approach.

3:30

And apologies for the four pages that are about to be read.

3:33

Alright, so this hearing is an evidentiary hearing.

3:36

That means it is like a court hearing.

3:37

State law sets specific procedures and rules concerning how this board must make its decision.

3:41

These rules are different from other types of land use decisions like rezoning cases.

3:45

The Board of Adjustment is a quasi-judicial body that makes a decision concerning the application, petition, or appeal based on the evidence presented by those in favor as well as those in opposition.

3:53

Members of the Board of Adjustment are laypersons.

3:55

As such, the rules of evidence that are followed in court are relaxed for cases heard before this body.

3:59

Though the rules of evidence are relaxed, it does not mean that they are ignored.

4:02

The board's discretion is limited.

4:04

The board must base its decision upon confidence, material and substantial evidence in the record.

4:07

A quasi-judicial decision is not a popularity contest.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Community Engagement███████████████████████████████31%

Procedural████████████████████20%

Zoning And Land Use███████████████████19%

Code Enforcement███████████11%

Affordable Housing███████7%

Youth Programs██████6%

Technology and Innovation███3%

Public Safety███3%

Summary of Proceedings

Greenville Board of Adjustment Meeting - March 26, 2026

The Greenville Board of Adjustment held a regular meeting on March 26, 2026, at 6:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The board conducted two evidentiary public hearings: a special use permit for a child daycare facility and a request to modify an existing special use permit for a hookah café to allow amplified audio entertainment. Both applications were approved unanimously.

Consent Calendar

Approval of Agenda – Approved by voice vote.
Approval of Minutes – Minutes from January 22, 2026, approved by voice vote.
Board Member Disclosure – One board member disclosed that the director of Building Hope Community Life Center previously served as chairman of a board where the member serves as director, but stated no personal stake. The board determined to proceed.

Public Comments & Testimony

No members of the public spoke for or against either item during the open comment periods.

Discussion Items

1. Special Use Permit for Building Hope Community Life Center

Application: Building Hope Community Life Center sought a special use permit to operate a child daycare facility at 215 W 9th Street (parcel 06716), moving from an adjacent location. The property is zoned Downtown Commercial and the use is consistent with the future land use plan.
Staff Report: Presented by staff. Noticing requirements were met. Staff opined the request could meet all development standards upon proper board findings.
Applicant Testimony: Scott Elliott (board member), Tina Weldon (president), and Sheena Parker (executive director) spoke. The organization has operated for 25 years, currently runs an after-school program and a suspension intervention program. They intend to relocate to enhance services.
Board Questions: None. No opposition.
Board Discussion: No discussion. The board approved findings of fact and the petition with staff-recommended conditions via voice vote (all ayes).

2. Modification of Special Use Permit for Nejah Jabbar (Area 22 Hookah Lounge)

Application: Nejah Jabbar, represented by Jamel Blunt (owner/operator of Area 22) and the building owner, requested removal of a condition from a 2019 special use permit that prohibited live entertainment and amplified audio entertainment (specifically to allow a DJ). The property at 3016 S. Memorial Drive (parcel 27149) is zoned Heavy Commercial.
Staff Report: The original permit had eight conditions; removal of condition (c) was proposed. Staff noted 15 calls for service to GPD from 2022–2026 and included social media posts provided by the regulatory compliance coordinator. Staff deferred to the board on whether the modification was appropriate.
Applicant Testimony: Mr. Blunt stated he was unaware of the condition and has operated with a DJ for five years. He described the business as a seated hookah lounge with strict rules, no alcohol, and strong security. He argued a DJ is essential to his clientele and culture, and that removing the condition would not increase noise levels. The building owner expressed support, noting the tenant is responsible.
Board Questions: Board members asked about security staffing (2–10 depending on night), past incidents (a shooting in an adjacent parking lot), and noise complaints (3–4 calls in five years). The board attorney clarified that unverified social media posts and police reports without formal citations should not be considered as substantial evidence.
Board Discussion:
- One member cautioned against policing culture (e.g., colorful flyers, DJs).
- Another member acknowledged the importance of the DJ but noted noise complaints and proximity to apartments as reasons for the original condition.
- The board attorney explained that the decision is whether to modify; denial would subject the applicant to potential violations. No evidence of official zoning violations was presented.
Vote: The board voted on findings of fact and then on a motion to approve the modification. Both votes were roll-called: all seven voting members (Purdle, McNair, White, Jordan, Sell, Southworth, Newman) voted aye. The motion carried.

Key Outcomes

Building Hope Community Life Center: Special use permit for child daycare approved, effective upon signed document. Conditions include compliance with building codes, state licensing, and fire codes.
Area 22 Hookah Lounge: Condition prohibiting live and amplified audio entertainment removed from the special use permit. All other original conditions remain. Permit effective upon signed update.
Next Steps: No further announcements; meeting adjourned by voice vote.

Meeting Transcript

About utilizing that source in business development, and we had an amazing person to help us uh get our social media to to a good brand standard. I met with the owners. We sat there and figured out what they wanted to accomplish with the social media, what they were looking for, and we kind of figured out what kind of brand thing we were looking for. Um, and in doing so, we were able to create content itself. We were able to make a marketing campaign where we have with straightway consulting motivational Mondays. We have polls that we asked and grant uh spotlights. Malaysia was amazing, and she was able to really capture our ideas and put them, you know, visually, and so we thought that she would be very um valuable to our organization to kind of keep that momentum going around social media and its consistency that we needed to be out there in the social media community. It was very exciting. Um, towards the end to be able to speak with the business owner, Miss Bridget, and we offered an opportunity to continue doing what we were doing. Um it gave me a sense of accomplishing it to show that what we're doing, we're working, we were seeing real-time results and and a leaded was showing that she was getting more leads. So it was pretty much just like I said, a pat on the back and like a little inside and to know that what I was doing was able to help and the things that I learned throughout the program, and that school was able to help us as well. On behalf of everyone behind uh the 50 and 10 affordable housing initiative, and there are a lot of us. Uh, I want to warmly welcome you to this groundbreaking celebration. Uh this isn't just the start of a project, it is the continued realization of a promise to uplift, to build together, and to believe in what's possible when vision meets action. Today marks a very special moment for the city of Greenville. As we break ground on the 50 and 10 Affordable Housing Initiative, we're not just moving soil, we're moving forward with a commitment to construct 50 new houses in the next 10 years. This initiative is about more than building a couple of good evening. This meeting will now come to order. Welcome to the March 26th, 2026 meeting of the City of Greenville Board of Adjustments. Ms. Clerk, can you give us a roll call, please? Ryan Purdle. Here. Carol Bass. Jermaine McNair. Present. Sterling Ruffin. Nicholas White. Here. Jeremy Jordan. Here. Clayton Sell. Here. John Southworth. Here. David Newman. Here. Sebastian Cresley. Here. We're McCurry. Here. We have forum. All right. Thank you, Miss Clerk. Uh, Mr. Attorney, will you give us who the voting members are in your statement, please? Yes, sir. To hold the mics while we approach. And apologies for the four pages that are about to be read. Alright, so this hearing is an evidentiary hearing.

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