Winston-Salem City Council Meeting: August 18, 2025
Winston-Salem City Council Meeting: August 18, 2025
The Winston-Salem City Council met on August 18, 2025, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included a consent agenda, public hearings, and general agenda items covering annexations, zoning changes, a contract award, and appointments. The council also held a public comment period and a closed session. Key outcomes included unanimous approvals of most zoning petitions, a denial of one rezoning, and continued discussion on the proposed downtown amphitheater.
Consent Calendar
- Authorized public hearings for two voluntary annexations: Brookberry Farm, Phase 12 (approximately 14.734 acres) and Union Cross Subdivision (approximately 13.6 acres), set for September 15, 2025.
- Awarded a $512,356 construction contract to Midwest Maintenance, Inc. for the Gemeinhaus and Distiller’s House Repairs.
- Approved appointments to the Citizens' Police Review Board (Alvin T. Armstead and Ana D. Ortiz-Ortiz, terms expiring April 2027).
- Approved re-appointment of Charles Wilson to the City County Utility Commission (term expiring June 2030).
- Approved appointment of J. Alan Shelton to the Public Assembly Facilities Commission (term expiring August 2027).
- Corrected the minutes from the August 4, 2025 closed session to include the case "Shirley Ann Thompson, as Executor of the Estate of Thomas Michael Thompson v. Brycen Gray Burcham, et al., Case No. 23 CVS 2810."
Public Comments & Testimony
- Stewart Holmes (1939 Greenbrier Road): Spoke as planning committee chair for the Downtown Partnership in support of the proposed amphitheater, noting it would require no city funds and would have a shutdown time of 11 p.m.
- Samuel Grier (Crystal Towers): Opposed use of public land for an amphitheater, citing past negative interactions with security and police, and noting unfulfilled promises of city funds for Crystal Towers repairs.
- Mariah Bayer (3624 Yarbrough Avenue): Opposed the amphitheater, arguing it would negatively impact elderly and disabled residents at Crystal Towers, questioned prioritization of entertainment over housing and firefighter benefits, and urged council to support residents over profit.
- Mir Yarfitz (613 North Broad Street): Opposed the amphitheater, noting lack of community notification, citing concerns about noise, traffic, and crowding (5,000 seats, comparable to Dash Stadium's 5,500 seats), and suggesting the area needs more low-income housing.
- Contessa Smith (3712 Foxton Drive): Criticized council for lack of responsiveness on police misconduct and neighborhood issues, alleging neglect of the Northeast and East wards, and called for removal of gambling establishments.
- Jason Thiel (515 North Cherry Street, Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership): Supported the amphitheater and skate park as essential for downtown vitality, arguing they would generate activity and prevent restaurant and business closures post-pandemic.
- Dan Rose (1332 Pleasant Street): Opposed the amphitheater, arguing the lease of public land at $1/month is effectively a giveaway to Don Flow, a wealthy heir, and that the city should instead build affordable housing. He criticized the city's foundation in white supremacy, referencing historical connections.
- Matthew Mayers (2844 Wesleyan Lane): Thanked council for considering sustainability in bus purchases, praised the tax increase for services, and suggested exploring a progressive property tax system to fund energy efficiency.
- Calvin McRae (525 Vine Street): Supported the amphitheater as a bold step for downtown growth, tax base expansion, and business survival, articulating excitement as a nearby resident.
- Stephanie Pace Brown (2642 Kousa Drive, Visit Winston-Salem): Supported the amphitheater as an asset for tourism and local business, noting the need to enhance the customer base for downtown.
- Hannah Browning (2621 Wynbrook Drive): Opposed the amphitheater, citing wasteful use of public land, negative impacts on traffic, parking, emergency routes, safety, noise, gentrification, and potential for discrimination; suggested alternative uses like affordable housing, a park, or community market.
- Paula Travis (854 Knollwood Street): Expressed concerns about the amphitheater's location on narrow streets, lease terms ($1/month), and suggested the land be used for housing or rented at market rate, with proceeds for housing or firefighter benefits. Also endorsed progressive property taxes.
Discussion Items
- Zoning Petition W-3647 (Lyveta Wright, East Ward): Rezone from LI to PB-L for single-family, duplex, and twin-home residential at Dixie Broadway and Fayetteville Street (0.08 acres). Approved unanimously (8-0) after no public opposition.
- Zoning Petition W-3648 (Mariche Garcia et al., Southeast Ward): Rezone from NB-S to NB-L to add restaurant (without drive-through), retail store, and services A at East Clemmonsville Road and Peachtree Street (0.26 acres). Approved unanimously (8-0) after public hearing with one proponent (Juan Carlos Mariche Ayala) and one opponent (John Connus). The proponent said the use would be a commissary kitchen for a food truck, not a full restaurant.
- Zoning Petition W-3649 (W. Sanders Mosley and Elizabeth Mosley, Northwest Ward): Rezone from GI to PB-L for arts studio, club/lodge, offices, museum/gallery, indoor recreation, services A, and special events center at Chatham Road north of Buxton Street (1.93 acres). DENIED unanimously (8-0) after four residents spoke in opposition, citing concerns about loud parties, excessive trash, bright lights, traffic, and late-night events. Council Member Hall noted she received no contact from petitioners and only opposition from constituents. She moved for denial, seconded by Council Member Joiner.
- Zoning Petition W-3650 (Hinsdale/Goins, Southeast Ward): Rezone from RS9 to RM8-S for various residential types (single-family, townhouse, duplex, multifamily, twin home, planned residential development) on Willard Road south of I-40 (8.90 acres). Approved unanimously (8-0) with no opposition.
- Zoning Petition W-3651 (Twelve Star Express, Inc., Southeast Ward): Rezone from RS9 to PB-S for multiple commercial and residential uses at Thomasville Road and East Clemmonsville Road (4.53 acres). Approved unanimously (8-0) with no opposition.
- Site Plan Amendment W-3652 (Residences at Indiana Avenue, LLC, North Ward): Change site layout of a previously approved multifamily development on 10.23 acres. Approved 7-1, with Council Member Hall voting no. Hall expressed concerns about insufficient neighborhood outreach—a letter mailed May 22, 2025 lacked clear location details, not all residents received it, and developers declined an invitation to a June community meeting. The number of units remained at 180.
- Zoning Petition W-3655 (Steadman Living Trust, South Ward): Rezone from RM8-S to RM8-S (same district) for residential uses including cottage court and planned residential development on Old Salisbury Road (4.50 acres). Approved unanimously (8-0) with no opposition.
- Ordinance G-1 (Amendment to Chapter 38, Article I, Section 38-10(i)): Allow state/federal wildlife officers to discharge rifles for deer and wild turkey removal at Smith Reynolds Airport until August 19, 2026. Approved unanimously (8-0).
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved en bloc with one correction to prior minutes.
- Items G-8 and G-9: Continued to September 15, 2025 City Council meeting as requested by staff.
- Zoning Petition W-3649 (Chatham Road): Denied 8-0.
- Site Plan Amendment W-3652 (Indiana Avenue): Approved 7-1 (Council Member Hall dissenting).
- All other zoning petitions (W-3647, W-3648, W-3650, W-3651, W-3655): Approved 8-0.
- Closed Session: Held to discuss economic development (statute 143-318.11(a)(4)) and performance of city manager and city attorney (statute 143-318.11(a)(6)). The council then adjourned at 8:44 PM.
- Mayor/Council Comments: Council Member Hall clarified a quote from a Winston-Salem Journal article (August 14, 2025) regarding her concern that affordable housing might "get lost in the sauce." She stated her comments were specifically about ensuring Crystal Towers residents were informed early about the proposed amphitheater development and had access to any job or engagement opportunities, not about affordable housing generally.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. I'm Alan Jones, Mayor of Winston Salem. It's my pleasure to call to order the meeting of the Winston Salem City Council and ask the city clerk to call the roll, please. Councilmember Joyner. Present. Councilmember Clark. Here. Councilmember Andrew Bowling. Here. Councilmember Scipio. Here. Mayor Pro Tim Adams. Councilmember Taylor. Present. Councilmember Hall, present. And Councilmember Berg. Here. Thank you very much. Would you please join the City Council meeting a moment of silence? Thank you. Would you join the City Council meeting the Pledge of Allegiance? Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and the Republic for the United States. Underground with Liberty and Justice. Thank you very much. Our Sergeant in Arms tonight is Lieutenant Victoria Art. Lieutenant, thank you for being with us and our assistant fire marshal Corey Lambleth. Thank you for being with us. Now I recognize our city manager for his uh regular update of city items. Uh thank you, Mayor. Uh just a few things tonight. Uh first, the Winston Salem Department of Transportation has been leading a campaign to adopt a formal name for the Salem Parkway Multi-Use Path. The campaign was launched by seeking assistance from the city's bicycle pedestrian active mobility advisory committee to engage citizens and the community groups in seeking ideas on naming pathway. The committee's outreach resulted in a list of approximately 30 proposed trail names. From this list, committee members and department of transportation staff voted on their preferred names. The top four trail names move forward to a community poll, which was shared by the city's marketing and communications department on social media. After 740 votes, the new trail name for the formal designation of the multi-use path is, and I'm supposed to wait for a drum roll, but I hope we're going to get one. The Twin City Trail to celebrate the completion of the historic project and formally open the new Tren City Twin City Trail. North Carolina, I mean Weston Salem DOT invites City Council and members of the community to a ribbon cutting celebration on Thursday, August 28th at 10 o'clock, located at the eastern end of the newly constructed bridge. Parking would be available adjacent to the bridge at 226 South Liberty Street. The Liberty and Main Streets Two-way conversion project is moving northward in the coming weeks. The areas that will be impacted are Liberty, Main, and Third Streets. This work will continue through the end of October pending weather to keep that project moving forward. That'll be a big help when we can get it completed. For a couple of other events, the planning and development services department will host a series of public input sessions as part of an effort to update the current housing ordinance. Throughout the development of the Ford 2045 Comprehensive Plan, residents voice concerns about the rising costs and diminishing availability of housing in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. One of the key elements of the regulation of housing supply and choice is a unified development ordinance, or we call it the UDO, which determines the type and quantity of housing allowed. Making changes to the UDO is one of the most effective ways to address the community's housing challenges. But public input is needed to better understand what changes to prioritize and the extent to which changes should be made. So again, the end of this month and 1st of September. The City of Winston Salem also in partnership with some other nonprofit organizations will host Project Homeless Connect on Tuesday, August 19th, from 11 to 3 p.m.
openpublica.com