OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Greenville City Council Meeting - October 19, 2023: Special Recognition, Rezonings, and Controversial Land Use Amendment

City Council — Thursday, October 19, 2023
BodyGreenville, North Carolina
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, October 19, 2023
StatusFILED
Video Record
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0:41

All right, good evening.

0:42

I'd like to call the October 19, 2023 meeting of the Greenville City Council to order.

0:47

I'm Mayor P.

0:48

J.

0:48

Connolly, and I'll be presiding over the meeting.

0:50

First, I'd like to call on Councilmember Blackburn for the pl or excuse me for the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:57

Thank you very much, Mayor.

0:58

Tonight uh I think we're witnessing a lot of violence in the world right now in many places, and I think we're so fortunate to be uh shielded from it here in our country, but there are many people who are suffering, and um because of what we're all experiencing, I thought I would uh read a pro a poem from Rumi.

1:17

Rumi is a Persian mystic and uh spiritual master, and um this is called um prayer for change.

1:27

I prayed for change, so I changed my mind.

1:31

I prayed for guidance and learned to trust myself.

1:34

I prayed for happiness and realized I am not my ego.

1:38

I prayed for peace and learned to accept others unconditionally.

1:43

I prayed for abundance and realized my doubt kept it out.

1:48

I prayed for wealth and realized it is my health.

1:52

I prayed for a miracle and realized I am the miracle.

1:56

I prayed for a soulmate and realized I am the one.

2:00

I prayed for love and realized it's always knocking, but I have to allow it in.

2:07

And that was Mommy rooming.

2:09

Thank you.

2:10

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

2:23

Under God.

2:33

There's left.

2:42

Yeah.

2:50

All right.

2:51

Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll?

2:53

Yes, sir.

2:53

Mayor Connelly.

2:54

Here.

2:54

Mayor for Tem Glover.

2:56

Here.

2:56

Councilmember Daniels.

2:57

Present.

2:58

Councilmember Blackburn.

2:59

Present.

3:00

Councilmember Smiley.

3:01

Councilmember Robinson?

3:02

Here.

3:03

Councilmember Bell.

3:04

Here.

3:05

All right.

3:05

Mayor Connelly, you have quorum.

3:07

Thank you very much.

3:07

We'll now move on to the approval of tonight's agenda.

3:10

Madam Manager, any recommended changes.

3:12

Thank you, Mayor.

3:12

I would like to remind the council that on last Monday night that the council continued item number nine, which was the work that's requested by Ren's sports vote.

3:26

Other than that, Mayor, the agenda is can be approved as second.

3:31

Move to approve is second.

3:35

I'd like to um I'd like to uh add to the okay, I'm sorry.

3:41

I'd like to add to the agenda, the um presentation of resolutions and appreciation to the city manager on the spectral recognition.

3:52

Say are you withdrawing your motion?

3:55

I do.

3:56

Okay.

3:56

All right.

3:56

Motion's been made by uh Mayor Pro Tem Glover, second by Councilmember Bell.

4:01

All those in favor say aye.

4:02

Aye.

4:03

Those opposed say nay.

4:04

Motion passes 6-0.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use█████████████████████████████████████████████52%
Procedural██████████████████21%
Personnel Matters████████9%
Community Engagement███████8%
Public Engagement███████8%
Public Safety█1%
Public Comment█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Greenville City Council Meeting - October 19, 2023

The Greenville City Council met on October 19, 2023, at 6:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting featured a special recognition for retiring City Manager Ann Wall, unanimous approval of most consent and public hearing items, and a contentious debate over a future land use map amendment for a RaceTrac Petroleum site, which was ultimately tabled. The council also approved a motion to cancel the October 23 meeting.

Special Recognition

  • Council unanimously approved a resolution (vote 6-0) honoring City Manager Ann E. Wall for her 36 years of local government service, including 6 years as Greenville City Manager. The resolution highlighted her leadership during crises (storms, ransomware, pandemic, civic unrest), creation of the Greenville ENC Alliance, the Good Neighbor Initiative with ECU, and the Little League Softball World Series. Wall expressed gratitude to the council, staff, and city employees.

Consent Calendar

  • Resolution Approving Lease Agreements for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Properties – Approved unanimously (6-0) without discussion or pull.

Appointments

  • Council appointed or reappointed members to multiple boards and commissions, all votes 6-0:
    • Board of Adjustment: Sterling Ruffin
    • Human Relations Council: Tom Farley, Logan Harris, Procopio Serrano, Ty Lika Harris
    • Multimodal Transportation Commission: Dr. Caitlin Levine, Robin Little
    • Planning and Zoning Commission: Kimber Stone
    • Police Community Relations Committee: Stacey Ruffin, Sonny Bass, Diane Coolick (direct appointments)
    • Shepherd Memorial Library Board: Chris Alfers
    • Youth Council: Charles Farley, Carson Farley, George Huo, Morgan Wesley, Alexis Gilford, Michael Brody

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No registered speakers were present for the public comment period; no public comments were made.

Discussion Items

  • Item 5: Rezoning of 12.81 acres at Tipton Road from R9S to OR (High Density Multi-Family) – Staff recommended denial, citing conflict with the future land use plan (low-to-medium density residential and a city-initiated single-family protection effort). The Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended approval (5-1). Councilmember Daniels expressed support, noting developer outreach to neighbors. The motion to approve passed 6-0.

  • Item 6: Rezoning of 13.5267 acres on West Gum Road from RA20 to IU (Unoffensive Industry) – Staff recommended approval, finding compliance with the land use plan; Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval. The applicant, Steve Spruell (North State Steel), noted the unanimous planning board vote. Councilmember Robinson thanked the airport commission for community engagement. Approved 6-0.

  • Item 7: Rezoning of 0.09 acres on Roosevelt Avenue from R6 to CDF (Downtown Commercial Fringe) – Staff recommended approval, citing compliance with the West Greenville Revitalization plan. Approved 6-0.

  • Item 8: Rezoning of 5.158 acres on Old Fire Tower Road from RA20 to OR (Office-Residential) – Staff recommended approval as a transitional use. Councilmember Blackburn asked about floodplain; none present. Approved 6-0.

  • Item 10: Amendment to allow standalone car washes in MCG and MCH zoning districts – Staff recommended approval. Councilmember Smiley moved to deny, arguing no justification for adding non-medical uses. After debate (Councilmember Bell noted other non-medical uses exist), the denial motion failed 2-4. A motion to approve then passed 4-2 (Councilmembers Smiley and Blackburn opposed).

  • Item 11: Amendment to the Future Land Use and Character Map for 3.405 acres from Office/Institutional to Commercial (for RaceTrac Petroleum) – This was the most debated item. Staff recommended approval; Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval. The attorney for RaceTrac (William McKinney) and the property owner (Powell Dew) spoke in favor, noting the declining demand for office space and the property's undeveloped nature. The landowner stated the adjacent mobile home park is stable and had been recently invested in. Councilmember Daniels expressed concern for residents of the mobile home park and moved to table the item for 60 days to allow the applicant to hold a community meeting with residents. After a complex series of votes (including a motion to reconsider), the tabling motion passed 4-3 (Mayor Connolly broke the tie). A subsequent substitute motion to approve with direction to hold meetings also passed. The final outcome: the item is tabled for 60 days, with the applicant directed to conduct a community meeting, mail notices to residents of the mobile home park and adjacent duplexes, and bring the request back to council.

Key Outcomes

  • Special Recognition: Resolution honoring City Manager Ann E. Wall approved 6-0.
  • Consent Agenda: Approved 6-0.
  • Item 5 (Tipton Road rezoning): Approved 6-0, despite staff denial recommendation.
  • Item 6 (West Gum Road rezoning): Approved 6-0.
  • Item 7 (Roosevelt Avenue rezoning): Approved 6-0.
  • Item 8 (Old Fire Tower Road rezoning): Approved 6-0.
  • Item 10 (Car wash in medical districts): Motion to deny failed 2-4; motion to approve passed 4-2.
  • Item 11 (RaceTrac land use map amendment): Tabled for 60 days (4-3) after a motion to reconsider passed 4-3. The applicant was directed to hold a community meeting with mailed notices to residents of the mobile home park and adjacent duplexes, and to provide proof of meeting (e.g., sign-in sheet).
  • October 23 meeting canceled: Approved 6-0.
  • City Manager's Report: Ann Wall thanked the council and staff; council members gave farewell remarks.

Meeting Transcript

All right, good evening. I'd like to call the October 19, 2023 meeting of the Greenville City Council to order. I'm Mayor P. J. Connolly, and I'll be presiding over the meeting. First, I'd like to call on Councilmember Blackburn for the pl or excuse me for the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you very much, Mayor. Tonight uh I think we're witnessing a lot of violence in the world right now in many places, and I think we're so fortunate to be uh shielded from it here in our country, but there are many people who are suffering, and um because of what we're all experiencing, I thought I would uh read a pro a poem from Rumi. Rumi is a Persian mystic and uh spiritual master, and um this is called um prayer for change. I prayed for change, so I changed my mind. I prayed for guidance and learned to trust myself. I prayed for happiness and realized I am not my ego. I prayed for peace and learned to accept others unconditionally. I prayed for abundance and realized my doubt kept it out. I prayed for wealth and realized it is my health. I prayed for a miracle and realized I am the miracle. I prayed for a soulmate and realized I am the one. I prayed for love and realized it's always knocking, but I have to allow it in. And that was Mommy rooming. Thank you. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Under God. There's left. Yeah. All right. Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll? Yes, sir. Mayor Connelly. Here. Mayor for Tem Glover. Here. Councilmember Daniels. Present. Councilmember Blackburn. Present. Councilmember Smiley. Councilmember Robinson? Here. Councilmember Bell. Here. All right. Mayor Connelly, you have quorum. Thank you very much. We'll now move on to the approval of tonight's agenda. Madam Manager, any recommended changes. Thank you, Mayor. I would like to remind the council that on last Monday night that the council continued item number nine, which was the work that's requested by Ren's sports vote. Other than that, Mayor, the agenda is can be approved as second. Move to approve is second. I'd like to um I'd like to uh add to the okay, I'm sorry.

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