Winston-Salem General Government Committee Meeting Summary - September 14, 2026

The City of Winston-Salem General Government Committee met on Monday, September 14, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. after the agenda was rescheduled from 4:00 p.m. Mayor Pro Tempore Denise D. Adams chaired the meeting, with Council Members Vivián V. Joiner, Barbara Hanes Burke, and Regina Hall present. Council Members Andree-Bowen, Scippio, and Clark also attended. The committee approved two consent items and took action on seven general agenda items; all votes were 4-0. The meeting adjourned at 5:27 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• No consent items were pulled. The committee approved the consent agenda by voice vote, 4-0.
• C-1: Resolution to remove the park land designation from PIN# 6833-49-1092 on the south side of Rhyne Avenue between South Main Street and US 52. The committee recommended approval and referred it to the City Council meeting on 10/05/2026.
• C-2: The Summary of Minutes from the August 10, 2026 General Government Committee meeting was approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

• For the John Larson Tranquility Square designation, Council Member Joiner acknowledged community members in the chamber who attended in support of John Larson.
• During the Long Creek Park donation item, a representative of The Conservation Fund said the 9.27-acre donation comes to the city for free, following previous donations including a 45-acre parcel donated at half value, a six-acre parcel at about two-thirds value, and another six-acre parcel at about half to two-thirds value.
• Bruce Hubbard of Hubbard Realty spoke in favor of the park donation, saying the parcels were challenging for development and that the donation would benefit the community.

Discussion and Action Items

G-1: Resolution Designating John Larson Tranquility Square

• Staff presented a resolution to name the approximately one-acre southeast corner of Old Salem Road and Brookstown Avenue, where the Mickey coffee pot sits, as John Larson Tranquility Square. John Larson worked at Old Salem for more than 30 years and served eight years as a South Ward council member.
• Council Member Joiner spoke in support, noting the neighborhood and Old Salem residents maintain the teapot area. The committee voted to recommend approval and to move the item to the City Council meeting on 09/21/2026 rather than waiting until October. The motion carried 4-0.

G-2: Demolition and Removal – 605 Eldora Street (East Ward)

• Assistant Neighborhood Services Director Bryan Chaney reported the owner was served and a lis pendens was filed. Estimated repair cost is $31,230, while the tax value is $35,000.
• The committee recommended approval and referred the public hearing request to the 10/05/2026 City Council meeting. The vote was 4-0.

G-3: Demolition and Removal of Accessory Building – 2802 Trent Street (South Ward)

• Staff reported estimated repair cost of $7,317 and a tax value of $600. Council Member Joiner said the property had a severe fire months ago, a person was found deceased in the building, and demolition was recommended for neighbor and community safety.
• The committee recommended approval and referred the request to the 10/05/2026 City Council meeting. The vote was 4-0.

G-4: Demolition and Removal of Structure – 2802 Trent Street (South Ward)

• Staff reported estimated repair cost of $54,330 and a tax value of $74,500 for the main structure on the same parcel.
• The committee recommended approval and referred the request to the 10/05/2026 City Council meeting. The vote was 4-0.

G-5: UDO-CC-37 Bufferyard Requirements for Planned Residential Developments

• Planning staff presented a text amendment to remove perimeter bufferyard requirements for planned residential developments (PRDs) whose perimeter lots do not meet the underlying zoning district's minimum dimensional requirements. Staff recommended keeping thoroughfare open space bufferyards and noted the amendment would not prohibit developers from planting bufferyards.
• Background: the perimeter bufferyard requirement dates to the mid-1990s, was briefly removed in 2005, reinstated in 2008, and made more stringent in 2020. The request followed a December 2025 committee discussion and an outside request from the Triad Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition (TreeBIC).
• The Planning Board unanimously recommended approval on August 13, 2026, with no speakers in opposition. Staff said the amendment supports Forward 2045 goals to reduce barriers to housing development.
• In response to a council question, staff confirmed that if the measure passes, an owner who owns a lot containing a required bufferyard could remove the trees on that lot. The committee recommended approval and referred the public hearing request to the 10/19/2026 City Council meeting. The vote was 4-0.

G-6: Northeast Suburban Area Plan

• Project Planner Matthew Burczyk presented the first new-style area plan supporting the Forward 2045 comprehensive plan. The plan covers parts of Winston-Salem and unincorporated Forsyth County from near Smith Reynolds Airport to the Stokes County line, with about 16,000 residents, 21,000 acres, and 8,000 parcels. It includes parcel-specific land use recommendations for all 160,000 parcels city/county-wide once all area plans are complete.
• Staff described four public meetings from February through June 2026, online surveys, and paid outreach. The draft plan proposes two activity centers, seven mixed-use areas, and seven alternative development option areas.
• Council members discussed the Northern Beltway, sewer service limits, and the ridgeline. Chris Murphy noted Forsyth County received $20 million from the state for sewer expansion in southeast Forsyth County and that a lift station project is active; the beltway roughly follows the ridge line, so serving areas north of it would require additional lift stations.
• Mayor Pro Tempore Adams raised economic development concerns about utility funding and said the city should seek state help. Council Member Joiner praised the plan for being thoughtful about growth, the economy, and the environment.
• The committee recommended approval and referred the public hearing request to the 10/19/2026 City Council meeting. The vote was 4-0.

G-7: Acceptance of 9.27 Acres for Long Creek Park

• Assistant City Manager Aaron King presented a resolution to accept 9.27 acres donated by The Conservation Fund for addition to Long Creek Park. The land is part of a larger Hubbard Realty tract and is largely wooded passive parkland; the transfer involves Hubbard Realty, The Conservation Fund, and the city.
• Long Creek Park totals about 172 acres, making it one of the city's largest parks. The committee recommended approval and referred the item to the 10/05/2026 City Council meeting. The vote was 4-0.

G-8: Monthly Housing Development & Public Accessibility Report

• Housing Development Director Michael Blair presented an information-only report showing a new ADA-compliant online dashboard with affordable housing project status categories: pending, active, complete, and denied, with separate views for multifamily, single-family ownership, and single-family rental projects.
• Council members asked for historical cumulative totals rather than only the current fiscal-year dashboard. Mayor Pro Tempore Adams said citizens could see the 794 and 153 totals and conclude only about 900 units had been built, which she said would understate the city's housing work. Council members suggested adding a link or archive showing all affordable housing projects since 2018, estimated completion dates, ward corrections, and inclusion of Habitat for Humanity, homeless housing, shelters, and market-rate housing context.
• Staff noted two projects were denied Low-Income Housing Tax Credit awards; funding assigned to one project, about $11,000, would return to the affordable housing pot.
• The report was received as information only.

G-9: Recreation and Parks Program Update

• Recreation and Parks Director William Royston presented an information-only update from the department's internal program review. The department operates 17 recreation centers: five neighborhood centers and 12 community centers.
• Highlights included 1,028 structured programs, steady participation growth across age groups, a five-year increase of 1,570% in special-interest park participation, and 83,469 unique visitors enrolled over the past four years. Citywide youth athletics cost $50 per participant for eight-week sessions. Staff-to-participant ratios are better than national standards: 1:10 for youth versus 1:12 nationally, and 1:12 for teens versus 1:15 nationally.
• Council members raised concerns about Little Creek Recreation Center, which has no supervisor and limited part-time staffing; Council Member Joiner said she has repeatedly asked for utility cost data and asked whether the department has enough staff for 17 facilities. The City Manager acknowledged the department does not have enough staff.
• Council members requested community and parent/child input on programming committees, a pre-2015 versus current snapshot of activities and staffing by center, inclusion of Winston Lake Golf Camp in the youth athletics summary, and future discussion of late-night programs. Council Member Hall asked whether children without camp fees would be turned away; Director Royston answered that the department does not turn kids away and will even feed them. The report was received as information only.

G-10: Sidewalk Cafe Permit Requirements and Enforcement

• Economic Development Director Ken Millett presented information-only recommendations to amend Article X sidewalk cafe regulations. Current permits allow restaurants and bars to use public sidewalks, but the ordinance lacks a defined enforcement process and has generated complaints about tables and chairs blocking pedestrian paths and about hours and noise.
• Proposed changes would define cafe standards and a graduated enforcement process, including suspension for a set number of days after confirmed violations and possible revocation. Staff plan to gather stakeholder input from permit holders and downtown residents before returning with specific ordinance language.
• Council Member Joiner suggested aligning late-night alcohol removal with ABC laws. Council Member Scippio asked who would enforce the rules and whether it applies only downtown; staff said enforcement is expected to involve police response to complaints, and while the ordinance covers the central business district and adjacent eligible pedestrian business areas, sidewalk width makes downtown the practical area. Private patios and outdoor dining are not covered.
• The item was received as information only.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved 4-0.
• G-1 recommended approval and referred to City Council on 09/21/2026.
• G-2, G-3, G-4, and G-7 recommended approval and referred to City Council on 10/05/2026.
• G-5 and G-6 recommended approval and referred to City Council on 10/19/2026.
• G-8, G-9, and G-10 were information items; staff received direction to provide additional housing dashboard history, recreation and parks follow-up data, and a sidewalk cafe ordinance draft after stakeholder feedback.