Greenville City Council Workshop - June 10, 2024: UDO, Emerge Arts, and Downtown Partnership
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Greenville City Council Workshop - June 10, 2024
The Greenville City Council held a workshop on June 10, 2024, at 4:00 PM in City Hall Conference Room 337, presided over by Mayor P.J. Conley. The meeting covered an update on the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) project and annual reviews of contract deliverables from the Pitt County Arts Council at Emerge and the Downtown Greenville Partnership.
Approval of Agenda
- The agenda was approved unanimously (6-0) after a motion by Councilmember Willis and a second.
Discussion Items
Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Update
- Everett, Director of Planning and Development Services, introduced the comprehensive review and rewrite of the zoning and subdivision ordinance. Consultant Inspire Placemaking Collective (represented by David Henning) presented the project team, goals (authentic public involvement, transparency, predictability), and scope: combining six ordinances into one UDO. Public engagement includes a task force, an online survey (accessible via QR code), open houses on August 7, 13, and 15, 2024, and staffed events (e.g., Juneteenth celebration, six other events through November). First task force meeting was May 29, 2024. Councilmembers asked about the survey link, paper copies at open houses, and emphasized community involvement. No vote was taken.
Pitt County Arts Council at Emerge – FY2023-24 Deliverables
- Executive Director Holly presented the annual report. Achievements included: 19th annual Youth Arts Festival (over 5,000 attendees despite rain, record indoor attendance), planning for the Mosaic Multicultural Arts Festival (steering committee of 20+), art walks coordinated with the Emerald Express trolley (600+ at K-12 exhibition in June, 173 trolley riders), installation of a sculpture at Wildwood Park (by Holly Felice), new $18,000 lighting system on the fly sculpture (funded privately), and the Emerald Loop project (two intersections installed, awaiting streetscape). Economic impact: Arts & Economic Prosperity study showed average attendee spending of $33 per event, generating $180,000 in a 3-hour period. Future plans include a mural on the substation in West Greenville, next intersection murals pending coordination, and an Our Town grant application for two more art shelters (proposed at Greenville Museum of Art and on Albemarle Avenue). Councilmembers praised the work, asked about tire tracks on intersection murals (maintenance discussed), and commended diversity and economic impact. Councilmember noted the importance of lighting for downtown.
Downtown Greenville Partnership – FY2023-24 Deliverables
- Executive Director Kyle Parker presented the organization's rebrand from "Uptown Greenville" to "Downtown Greenville Partnership." Beautification: 86 new banners, power washing, flower box maintenance (May and October), new holiday decorations (larger tree at Five Points, wreaths), Hodges Alley lighting project completed December 2023. Events: Art walks (19 merchants participated, trolley ridership up to 131 in May, 171 in June), Free Boot Fridays (increased student participation, one canceled due to Tropical Storm Ophelia; largest was Homecoming with Sean Kingston), Dickinson Avenue After Dark (19 participants, most in event history; added craft distillery), Greenville Gives (13 nonprofits, 21 vendors, Bailey's raffle), Pirate Fest (129 vendors, up from 75; recognized as 2024 Event of the Year by North Carolina Association of Festivals and Events), New Year's Eve event (beer sales post-pandemic), and concession partnerships with Recreation and Parks (Bites on the Bridge, Sunday in the Park). Marketing: new website (downtowngreenville.com), brochures (food, shopping, nightlife), business spotlight campaign (top Facebook posts), interactive mural at ECU student center (30x18 feet). Social media reach: 365,000 people on Facebook. Strategic plan for next five years based on survey (almost 500 responses): 74% want more green space, 43% want more sanitation, public art, lighting. Councilmembers asked about: board diversity (board chair Jim Blunt noted need for more people of color, stated they are getting a list of Black business owners; councilmember emphasized intentional metrics), marketing diversity (councilmember noted lack of diversity in photos; Parker committed to direction), updating wayfinding signs (Parker said conversation with design firm planned), vendor fees at Pirate Fest (increased but with reduced rate for downtown merchants; councilmember asked about accessibility), alcohol at Sunday in the Park (Parker said Recreation and Parks approached them; councilmember expressed surprise but accepted as considered decision), impact on tree in Merchant's Alley (Parker said concerns heard, evaluating options), and possibility of another interactive mural (Parker said one is looking for a home). Councilmember also praised increase in Pirate Fest vendors (nearly 70% growth) and noted consistency with Horizons plan on green space. No votes were taken.
Key Outcomes
- No formal votes were taken on the agenda items; all were informational presentations.
- The council received updates and provided feedback to staff and presenters; public engagement for the UDO was encouraged.
- Councilmembers directed that Downtown Greenville Partnership marketing materials better reflect the city's diversity and that intentional efforts be made to recruit diverse board members.
- The council acknowledged the economic and cultural contributions of both Emerge and the Downtown Greenville Partnership.
Adjournment
- The meeting was adjourned by motion, seconded by Councilmember Robinson, with all in favor.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everyone. I'd like to call the workshop for the English City Council in June 10th, 2024 order. I'm Mayor PJ Conley of our presiding over tonight's for today's workshop. First, I'd like to call Honor City Clerk for the roll call. Thank you, Mayor Connolly. Here. Mayor Pratem Daniels present. Councilmember Gorman. President. Councilmember Blackman. Present. Council Member Stelle. Here. Councilmember Robinson. Here. Okay. Mayor Connelly informed. Thank you very much. I guess we'll move on to the approval of the agenda. No change, Mayor. Motion approved. Second. Second by Councilmember Willis. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Those saying nay. Motion passes high zero. Okay. All right. It feels like forever since we had a meeting like mental labs. Thank you, Mayor. First item on a new business update on the unified development ordinance project. We'll now call forward our director of plan developments. Everett for the introductions. Good afternoon. In front of you should be a brief little packet there. Starts off with a little brochure or flyer that has a QR code on it. We are going to be there's a survey that's attached to your packet that'll lead you to that through the website, and we're encouraging you to pass this along and try to get all the public you can involved. We'd like to hear from them on this UDO. And you have a list of those members on what we call our stakeholders group for the UDO as we begin. If you have any questions on that, I'll be glad to answer at the end. But um again, we're here to talk about the comprehensive review and rewrite of our zoning and subdivision ordinance. And you know, we're eager to go through this process and compile and process and add to takeaway from, but to make a product at the end that's user-friendly, easy to understand, uh, and makes Greenville better. Um we have we have hired a consultant. It's Inspire Place Make Collective, and typically we deal with Miss Sarah Sinatra. She was unable to make it tonight. So in her stead, we have Mr. David Henning. Um he's a senior planner with the group. And we're going to turn it over to him and let you uh let him tell you about their involvement in our UDO process.
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