Wilmington City Council Regular Meeting - August 4, 2026

The Wilmington City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall chambers. The meeting lasted until 9:33 p.m. and included a proclamation, consent agenda, public comments, public hearings, ordinances, and a resolution. Key votes included approval of a conditional rezoning for a Wawa convenience store and fuel station (5-2), modifications to a conditional district on 42nd Street (6-0), acceptance of a $1.48 million urban forestry grant (7-0), and adoption of comments on the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge programmatic agreement (6-0).

Consent Calendar

• Unanimously approved (7-0) four items:
  • Resolution authorizing agreement with Patterson Pope, Inc. for $170,557 for high-density mobile storage for WPD Property and Evidence Division.
  • Resolution authorizing purchase of 208 sets of mission-ready gear from C.W. Williams and Company LLC for $157,200.
  • Resolution authorizing application for a $250,000 FY26 COPS Office Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Grant.
  • Approval of minutes from the July 20 and July 21, 2026 meetings.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Tracy Bannon (city resident) spoke about benches placed by the Democratic Socialists of America, arguing that if one group is allowed, all groups must be allowed, and asked where she could place biblically inspired and patriotically themed benches.
• Cameron Strickland (city resident, actor/filmmaker) expressed concerns about Wilmington's growing population, political divisiveness in the film community, asked for advice on entering politics, and inquired about the city's preparedness for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions.
• Travis Gilbert (scheduled to speak on Cape Fear Memorial Bridge) and Renegade Cherokee (scheduled on making Wilmington great again) were not present.

Discussion Items

• Proclamation: Mayor Saffo read a proclamation honoring the 236th U.S. Coast Guard Anniversary and declaring August 4, 2026, as U.S. Coast Guard Day. Captain Timothy List, Commander of U.S. Coast Guard Sector North Carolina, accepted and noted Wilmington's status as a strong Coast Guard City.

• PH1 – Rezoning 524 S. College Road (Wawa Convenience Store and Fuel Station):

  • Staff (Long-Range Planner Haley Hopkins) presented the request to rezone 1.76 acres from O&I (Office and Institutional) to CB(CD) (Community Business Conditional District). The site currently contains a vacant Furniture Fair building. Two variances were approved in May 2026 for tree preservation and a drive-thru setback. The Planning Commission recommended approval 6-0 with a modification to condition 5. Three comments in opposition were received; none in support. The Create Wilmington Comprehensive Plan provides modest support.
  • Applicant’s representative Sam Frank described the proposed Wawa store with fuel pumps, 43 parking spaces (over the maximum of 22 but justified by a parking study with pervious pavement for excess spaces), and two access points: a right-in/right-out on College Road and a connection to University Drive. Frank discussed condition 7 (pedestrian connection to the west) and neighbor objections, proposing its removal. He also addressed condition 4, agreeing to require a vehicular connection from the southern end of the property to the public portion of University Drive.
  • Council Questions: Councilmember Joyner questioned the need for another gas station versus housing. Mayor Pro-Tem Spears asked why Wawa is needed given existing nearby gas stations. Wawa engineer Payman Nadimi cited due diligence in site selection, noting Wawa offers fresh food, cleaner stores, and employs 35-40 full-time employees with benefits. Councilmember Clinton-Quintana asked about community surveys; Nadimi said they do not conduct surveys but use traffic counts and demographics.
  • Decision: Motion to approve passed 5-2 (Mayor Pro-Tem Spears and Councilmember Joyner voted “No”). The motion included removing condition 7 and revising condition 4 to explicitly require the connection to the University Drive public right-of-way. Waiver of second reading passed 7-0.

• PH2 – Modification of RB(CD) at 1415 & 1417 42nd Street:

  • Planner Tucker Cherry presented a request to modify the existing Regional Business Conditional District to allow additional commercial uses: restaurant, food catering, artisan food/beverage production, small-scale retail, offices, studio, and recreational facilities. No site plan changes. The Planning Commission recommended approval. No comments in opposition; three supportive comments were read from nearby residents.
  • Applicant Matt Hearn stated the request provides flexibility for future tenants without needing to return to Council for each new use.
  • Decision: Motion to approve passed 6-0 (unanimous). Waiver of second reading passed 6-0.

• PH3 – Special Use Permit for Private Recreation Facility at 4950 Holly Tree Road:

  • Mayor Saffo noted the applicant requested withdrawal. City Attorney Meredith Everhart confirmed the withdrawal; no action needed, and current SUP terms remain in place.

• O1.A & O1.B – Fire Engine Purchase:

  • Assistant Fire Chief Derek Mickler presented two items: an ordinance appropriating $1,004,295 to the Fleet Maintenance/Replacement Fund and a resolution authorizing purchase of a 2027 Pierce Enforcer Pumper Engine from Atlantic Emergency Solutions. The dealer offered a canceled order slot, allowing delivery as early as May 2027 instead of 48-month build time. The engine will replace a 2006 model; the current 2016 engine will become reserve. It will be stationed at Fire Station 8 on Eastwood Road.
  • Decision: Both passed 7-0, and second reading of the ordinance was waived 7-0.

• O2.A & O2.B – Urban Forestry Grant:

  • Assistant Director Sally Thigpen presented a $1,475,982 no-match grant from the North Carolina Forest Service (funded by the Inflation Reduction Act) for street tree inventory, software, contracting, and support for Alliance for Cape Fear Trees. The grant covers 36% of the city identified by environmental justice criteria. The city is exploring funding for the remaining 64%.
  • Landscape Superintendent Ben Misleh detailed the urban forestry team’s work, including tree assessment, removal, and replacement. In 2025, the team responded to 142 emergency calls with 6 incidents of property damage in the last two years. The city planted over 1,000 trees in 2025. Misleh explained differences between Laurel Oaks and Live Oaks, and stressed proactive maintenance to prevent hazards.
  • Communications Manager Amy Willis outlined the city’s multi-channel public education effort, including a tree maintenance webpage, signs, door hangers, and an upcoming interactive project map.
  • Decision: Resolution to accept the grant passed 7-0. Ordinance for supplemental appropriation passed 7-0; second reading waived 7-0.

• R1 – Cape Fear Memorial Bridge Programmatic Agreement:

  • Planning Director Linda Painter explained that the Federal Highway Administration, NCDOT, and state/federal historic preservation offices have prepared a programmatic agreement to address historic impacts of bridge replacement. Two alternatives: Alternative A (movable span, maintains 3rd Street ramps) and Alternative B (fixed span, shifts ramps to 5th Avenue, higher clearance). Staff recommended comments including: requesting extension of the large bridge grant timeline to allow an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), authorizing the City Manager to sign as a concurring party, expanding the study area to include broader historic district impacts, and adding mitigation measures.
  • Councilmember Joyner expressed frustration with bureaucratic complexity. Councilmember Santaguida emphasized the need for a unified city position.
  • Decision: Resolution adopting comments passed 6-0.

Key Outcomes

• PH1 (Wawa rezoning): Approved 5-2. Conditions revised: removed pedestrian connection condition (#7); added explicit condition for vehicular connection to University Drive public right-of-way. Second reading waived.
• PH2 (42nd Street commercial uses): Approved 6-0. Second reading waived.
• PH3 (Holly Tree Road SUP): Withdrawn by applicant; no action.
• Fire engine purchase: Ordinance and resolution both approved 7-0; second reading of ordinance waived.
• Urban forestry grant: Grant acceptance and appropriation approved 7-0; second reading waived.
• Cape Fear Memorial Bridge comments: Resolution adopted 6-0; City Manager authorized to sign as concurring party.

Additional Items

• City Manager Becky Hawke announced launch of a new online service request system on the city website, allowing residents to submit and track issues directly to the correct department.
• Councilmember Santaguida thanked staff for improvements in a specific neighborhood (increased traffic enforcement, signage, vegetation clearing).
• Councilmember Andrews reminded that August is National Wellness and Dog Month, and August 7 is the last day to comment on the Greenville Loop Road Park project via the city website.
• Councilmember Clinton-Quintana highlighted Sweet Marie’s Diner’s “Feed a Neighbor” program ($8 per meal donation).
• Councilmember Lyle thanked the Wilmington Police Department for a ride-along and noted a Girl Scout earning her civic responsibility badge.
• Councilmember Joyner reported that Live Nation has agreed to provide temporary screens at Live Oak Bank Pavilion for concerts, with permanent screens being designed to withstand hurricane wind loads.