Winston-Salem City Council Meeting – October 19, 2026

The Winston-Salem City Council met on Monday, October 19, 2026, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers, City Hall, 101 North Main Street. The meeting included consent items, rezoning petitions, a street-closure denial, adoption of the Northeast Suburban Area Plan, and approval of a City Hall painting change order. Approval votes recorded on captured general agenda action items were unanimous.

Consent Agenda

• Listed items included C-1, a petition for proposed annexation known as Long Creek Village (PIN # 6809-65-4054.000 and PIN # 6809-64-4721.000), with a public hearing date of November 16, 2026; C-2, appointment of Chiquita Evans to the Historic Resources Commission (term expires November 2027); C-3, reappointment of Dixon Pitt to the City/County Planning Board (term expires February 2030); C-4, reappointments of Denise Hartsfield, Edgar Forrest, and Natasha Smith to the Zoning Board of Adjustment (terms expire October 2029); and C-5, approval of the October 5, 2026 City Council summary of minutes.
• The supplied transcript does not capture the consent-agenda vote; no item was shown to have been removed for separate discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• During the UDO-CC37 public hearing, Kim Phillips of 115 Southwest Gate Drive, Greensboro, expressed support for the text amendment, saying that removing a 20-foot buffer along 3,000 feet of property line represents nearly 1.4 acres that could be used for additional housing.
• During the monthly public comment period, Doreen Pollock thanked city staff and council members for landscaping and community improvements, specifically recognizing Aaron King, Keith Finch, Keith Huff, Brad Williams, Councilmember Barbara Hanes Burke, London McKinney, and Sean Hams.
• Matthew Mayors of 2844 Wesleyan Lane suggested the city re-examine its hybrid vehicle purchasing policy, noting he pays about one-fifth as much per mile as a gasoline vehicle driver and recommending that savings be set aside for electric fleet charging infrastructure; he also mentioned police patrol vehicle idle time.
• Marilyn Mendiola Lacunza de la Cruz, founder of Force of Triad NC, raised concerns about immigration checkpoints, said her DACA expires Wednesday and that she could face arrest and family separation, thanked the city for extending RAC center hours and investing in children, and called for continued advocacy for black and brown communities.
• Kevin Byers called for more equitable city services, mentioning community walks in Rolling Hills, Salem Gardens, Piedmont Circle, and Boston Thurmond, a broken electric pole near 11th and Cameron, and debris left in the roadway for about a month.
• An unnamed speaker asked whether Bethesda Center was closing because of funding; Mayor Joines responded that the city does help, a group is meeting to try to keep it going, and the city manager has been aggressive in working with other agencies, especially during winter.

Discussion Items

• G-1 – Downtown Winston-Salem BID FY 2025-2026 Annual Report: Listed on the general agenda; the available transcript does not include discussion of this item.
• G-2 – South Spring Street closure (South Ward): Continued from October 5, 2026. A council member spoke against the closure, saying it would burden residents already dealing with school pickup/drop-off traffic and that the neighborhood is older, well-established, and has seen traffic grow. The motion was to deny the street-closing petition; the motion carried, rejecting the Public Works Committee's approval recommendation.
• G-3 – State Employees Credit Union (W-3695): Staff presented a request to rezone approximately 3.14 acres from MU-S to GB-S on the west side of Meadowlark Drive, south side of Rosewind Lane, and east side of Beauchamp Road in the West Ward. The site plan shows indoor retail storage services, described as a low traffic generator. The Planning Board recommended approval 5–3 after one opposition speaker raised scale, massing, and property value concerns. Councilmember Hall asked about opposition letters; a council member responded that the letters came in before the developer worked with residents and that only one person spoke in opposition at the Planning Board. Mayor Joines praised the project as a good example of working with the neighborhood, noting it would be a well-designed storage building with stone, brick, and glass. The council approved the statement of consistency and rezoning unanimously.
• G-4 – First Baptist Church of Stanleyville (W-3701): Request to rezone approximately 2.10 acres from RS9 to IP between Virginia Lake Road and University Parkway, north side of Ziglar Road, Northeast Ward. No opposition appeared; the public hearing was closed; motion by Councilmember Burke, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Adams; approved unanimously.
• G-5 – 2608 Reynolda Road, LLC (W-3702): Request to rezone approximately 1.71 acres from RS9 to RM18-S north of the Reynolda Road and Sunnynoll Drive intersection, North Ward. No opposition appeared; the public hearing was closed; motion by Mayor Pro Tem Adams, seconded by Councilmember Joiner; approved unanimously.
• G-6 – UDO-CC37 (PRD bufferyard requirements): Planner Dan Rankin presented a text amendment to Chapter 5 of the UDO to remove the 20-foot Type 1 bufferyard requirement for planned residential development (PRD) perimeter lots that do not meet the minimum dimensional requirements of the underlying zoning district. The proposal would maintain thoroughfare open space requirements. Staff said most PRDs are low-intensity single-family subdivisions, the change supports more efficient land use and Forward 2045 housing goals, and the request was prompted by the Triad Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition. The Planning Board and General Government Committee each recommended approval unanimously. After receiving Kim Phillips's supportive public comment, the council approved the consistency statement and UDO-CC37 unanimously.
• G-7 – Northeast Suburban Area Plan: Matthew Burchick presented the first area plan prepared in support of Forward 2045. The plan area spans GMA 2 through GMA 5, includes approximately 16,000 residents, 21,000 acres, and 8,000 parcels, and has sewer service for about one-third of the area, leaving two-thirds without. Burchick said the goal is for all 160,000 parcels under Winston-Salem/Forsyth County zoning jurisdiction to receive a land-use recommendation once all area plans are completed. The process included four public input meetings from February to June 2026, online surveys, social media, digital ads, phone calls, flyers, local media interviews, and a podcast. The plan's main product is land-use recommendation maps using 11–12 classifications, plus seven mixed-use areas and seven alternative development options. Councilmember Scippio asked about update timing; staff said the Rural Hall plan is underway and the goal is two area plans per year over about 18 areas. On sewer constraints, staff noted a 10,000–12,000-acre future growth area along the Northern Beltway identified for possible sewer expansion and continuing talks with utilities and the county. Scippio praised the outreach effort. No one spoke during the public hearing. Councilmember Burke moved approval; the council adopted the plan unanimously.
• G-8 – Change order for City Hall painting: General Services Director Kirby Robinson requested a $129,880 change order to DCH Enterprises, Inc. to complete painting of common areas on the basement, first, and second floors, including walls, ceilings, trim, and stairwells, plus refinishing and staining interior and exterior doors, before the City Hall centennial celebration on November 16. An initial purchase order of $50,000 had been opened; funding would come from the property/facilities operating budget and the City Hall renewal account. A council member noted the item was expedited because painting had already started. The council approved the change order unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• The petition to close and abandon a portion of South Spring Street was denied.
• Rezonings W-3695, W-3701, and W-3702 were approved unanimously.
• UDO-CC37, the bufferyard text amendment for planned residential developments, was approved unanimously.
• The Northeast Suburban Area Plan was adopted unanimously.
• The $129,880 change order to DCH Enterprises, Inc. for City Hall painting services was approved unanimously.
• The council received public comments on city services, immigration checkpoints, hybrid fleet policy, and Bethesda Center funding.