2026-10-01 - Board of County Commissioners

10:54Good afternoon and welcome to our

10:57regular meeting of the forail county

10:59board of commissioners. Uh persons who

11:02wish to speak concerning items on this

11:05agenda or about a matter relating to

11:08county government have two options to

11:11voice their opinion. In person attendees

11:14should complete a speaker card and

11:16deliver it to the clerk before the

11:19meeting begins.

11:21Comments are also accepted by calling

11:243364221200.

11:28You will be placed on hold and

11:30recognized to speak in the order your

11:33call was received. The public comment

11:36period will be limited to 30 minutes in

11:39its entirety.

11:42Uh the maximum time allotted to each

11:45speaker is three minutes.

11:49Um,

11:51we will begin our meeting with the

11:53invocation from Father David McCannless,

11:57Wake Forest Catholic Campus Ministry,

12:00followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led

12:03by Commissioner McDaniel.

12:06>> Thank you for having me. And

12:08>> please stand if you're able.

12:13Heavenly Father, send down your blessing

12:16on Foresight County and on these public

12:19servants who have been elected to lead

12:21us. Watch over them and their families

12:23as they serve our county, keeping them

12:26safe under your divine protection.

12:29Assist them with your spirit of counsel

12:31and fortitude, of prudence and right

12:34judgment. May they always seek justice

12:37for the people they serve and fill them

12:40with the peace that comes from serving

12:42you and the common good. We ask this

12:45through our Lord Jesus Christ who lives

12:47and reigns with you forever and ever.

12:49Amen.

12:50>> Amen.

12:53>> To the flag of the United States of

12:56America and to the republic for which it

12:59stands. One nation under God,

13:02indivisible, with liberty and justice

13:05for all.

13:10>> This chair is terrible.

13:13Yeah.

13:15The first item on the agenda is a public

13:17hearing on an ordinance amendment

13:20proposed by planning and development

13:22services staff to modify sections of

13:26chapter 3 through nine of the unified

13:29development ordinance to provide minor

13:31non-substance changes, corrections, and

13:34clarification. Chris Murphy, planning

13:37and development service director, will

13:39give us a brief overview of the request.

13:42Mr. America.

13:54>> Good afternoon, Madam Chair, members of

13:56the board of county commissioners. Yes,

13:58this is a staff proposed text amendment

14:00to uh address 16 miscellaneous

14:03amendments to the UDO that are prepared

14:05periodically to keep the UDO up to date

14:07through various minor non-s substantive

14:09changes, clarifications, and

14:11corrections.

14:17Uh the changes can be divided into three

14:19separate categories. There are three

14:21amendments that provide clarification to

14:23ordinance requirements and those include

14:25uh for the use store services uh retail

14:27indoor. Um if you have a length of a

14:30building over a certain uh size, you

14:33have to have some building offsets. And

14:35there were some uh it wasn't as clear

14:37what we meant by that. So, we provided a

14:39minimum distance for that offset that

14:41depth to provide some articulation and

14:44break up that facade. Uh, as I alluded

14:47to on Monday, even though we will

14:48eventually be removing parking

14:50requirements from the UDO because of the

14:52state statute, this was already in the

14:54works. Uh, so we had a clarification

14:57related to how many u parking spaces can

15:00be reduced for uh tree. And then we also

15:04had a clarification related to uh

15:06commercial industrial subdivisions not

15:09being limited to three lots served by

15:11private easement.

15:13Um we had three amendments uh that

15:15removed conflicts with uh other state,

15:17county or local regulations or with

15:19long-standing practice.

15:21uh the general assembly uh changed the

15:25um statutes within the last 6 months to

15:29uh include uh town homes and multif

15:32family units being four units or less.

15:35They moved it from the commercial code

15:36to the residential code and there's a

15:39specific prohibition against being able

15:41to do design regulations for things in

15:44the residential code. So we had to

15:46remove we had to change the MLKO

15:49district to um basically exempt those.

15:52Uh similarly uh child daycare center our

15:56regulations have always been a little

15:58more stringent than the state dealing

16:00with indoor space and outdoor play area

16:03and you know it's been identified need

16:05that we need to do all we can to get

16:07more child care. So we wanted to have

16:09our regulations in line with the state

16:10requirements. So that's one of those

16:12other changes. And then finally, uh,

16:14under the last removal of conflict or

16:18change to reflect policy, there's a

16:21provision that's been in the ordinance

16:23since its adoption in '95 for LCIDs to

16:25have a three re three-year renewal

16:27period, but there's never been an

16:29instance where those have been brought

16:30back for a renewal. So, we're 31 years

16:33down the road. Um it's our belief that

16:36if you met the requirements for an LCID

16:39special use permit to be issued

16:40initially that there wouldn't be

16:41anything that would change because again

16:43you're trying to find findings of fact

16:45related to the particular project and if

16:48there is an enforcement issue we have

16:50other mechanisms to address that. So we

16:52are just proposing removing that

16:53three-year renewal period. Uh the other

16:5610 amendments uh dealt with correcting

16:58errors in section numbering or

17:00lettering, misspellings, grammar uh

17:03without any changes to actual content.

17:07Uh this was heard by the planning board

17:08back in May. Uh there were no speakers

17:10in opposition and it did recommend

17:11approval of this to both the city

17:13council and the board of county

17:14commissioners. The city council did

17:16adopt this on the 21st of September. And

17:19with that, I stand ready to answer any

17:21questions.

17:23>> Commissioner Bessie. Thank you, ma'am.

17:25Just one question. The LCID landfills.

17:29Um, so what this change would do would

17:32be to eliminate

17:34um an automatic review. Is that correct

17:38of after three years for

17:40>> correct?

17:40>> Okay. Um,

17:42>> a review that hasn't happened to date.

17:44>> Yeah. Um,

17:48have there been

17:50any LCID landfills operating in the

17:53county during this period that have uh

17:56been um the subject of complaints about

18:00um violations?

18:02>> No, the only I mean the last two LCIDs

18:05that you have heard have been as far as

18:07I'm aware there was one that was several

18:09years ago uh that was heard and there

18:11was some minor opposition but it had not

18:14been established. Um, the one that you

18:16that was denied about a month ago on

18:19Salem Chapel had obviously I think the

18:22most consternation. The one that we

18:24heard on Watkins Ford has been in

18:26operation since the mid20s.

18:30And um there was an there were concerns

18:34related to that one about a fire, which

18:36is not unusual for an LCD whenever you

18:39are burying inert debris and those

18:42things inevitably get hot. But there

18:45haven't been just any run-of-the-mill

18:46complaints from LCIDs over the course of

18:49time.

18:49>> All right. And the only one that there

18:51were complaints about was the fire in

18:53the one. Okay. Thank you.

18:54>> Correct.

18:56>> This is a public hearing and uh speakers

18:59will have up to 15 minutes total to

19:02speak in favor of this request and up to

19:0515 minutes total to speak in opposition.

19:08Is there anyone wishing to speak in

19:10favor?

19:15Okay. Is there anyone wishing to speak

19:18in opposition to this petition?

19:23I declare the public hearing closed. Is

19:26there a motion?

19:29>> So moved.

19:30>> Motion to approve by Commissioner

19:32Parker.

19:34>> Second by com Vice Chair uh Wilson. Is

19:37there discussion?

19:39[clears throat]

19:40All in favor, please say I. I.

19:44>> Opposed. That's unanimous. The next item

19:47on the agenda is a resolution

19:49recognizing October as domestic violence

19:53awareness month and in recognizing the

19:55efforts of the Bridges to Hope Family

19:58Justice Center of Foride County. Dana

20:01Hamlin is here to receive the resolution

20:05and please come forward and all your

20:07guests and I will as I read the

20:09resolution.

20:12What? Whoops. That's not it.

20:19resolution recognizing October as

20:22domestic violence awareness month and in

20:24recognition the efforts of the Bridges

20:27to Hope Family Justice Center of Forcy

20:29County. Whereas October is National

20:32Domestic Violence Awareness Month and

20:35domestic violence affects all people

20:37regardless of age, sex, gender, race,

20:41ethnicity, ability, religion, and socio

20:45socioeconomic background in Forside

20:48County communities. Whereas domestic

20:50violence, a form of interpersonal

20:53violence, may include physical,

20:55emotional, psychological, sexual, or

20:58financial abuse and isolation from

21:01family, friends, and support systems

21:04affecting children, and adults

21:06throughout the lifespan. Whereas the

21:10North Carolina Coalition Against

21:11Domestic Violence identifies 69 domestic

21:15violence related homicides of adult and

21:18children statewide this year, including

21:2222 murder suicides through August.

21:26Whereas from July 1st, 2025 till June

21:2930th, 2026, the Winston Salem Police

21:33Department reports 3,172

21:37domestic violence related incidents.

21:40Kernersville Police Department reports

21:43269

21:45domestic violence related reports. the

21:48Forers County Sheriff's Office, 2,242

21:54uh domestic violence reports and the

21:56Forside County District Attorney's

21:58Office deposed of 2,33

22:02domestic violent cases and the Office of

22:05the Force County Clerk of Courts reports

22:07that 796

22:10emergency domestic violence protection

22:12orders were granted. Whereas Bridges to

22:16Hope Family Justice Center advocates for

22:19an institutional and systematic change

22:22to decrease domestic violence,

22:24homicides, increase victim safety and

22:28offenders accountability, and provide

22:31easier access to services and resources

22:34through co- lower location services.

22:38Whereas no one agency can solve the

22:41complex challenges of domestic violence

22:44alone, Forside County recognizes the

22:47following organizations in in

22:50collaboration and partnership with the

22:52center that provide critical on-site and

22:56off-site services. Adrien Wake Forest

22:59Baptist Hospital Violence Intervention

23:02and Prevention Program, Children's Law

23:04Center of Central North Carolina,

23:07Experience in Self-Reliance, Family

23:10Services Incorporated, the Office of the

23:12Forside County Clerk of Court, Forside

23:15County District Attorney's Office,

23:18Forside County District Court Judicial,

23:21Forside County's Madresses Office,

23:23Forside County Sheriff's Office,

23:25Kernersville Police Department, Legal

23:28Aid of North Carolina, NextStep

23:30Ministries, North Carolina Department of

23:33Adult Corrections, the Partnering Path,

23:37Winston Salem Police Department, and the

23:39Forside County Health and Human Services

23:42Department, including Behavioral Health

23:44Service, Public Health, Social Services,

23:48and other community organizations. Now

23:51therefore be a resolve that the Versail

23:53County Board of Commissioners recognize

23:55October as domestic violence awareness

23:58month and the bridges to hope in

24:01creating a safe haven for survivors.

24:05This is be adopted the first day of

24:07October 2026.

24:10Is there a motion?

24:12>> Motion to approve by Commissioner

24:14Bessie.

24:15>> Second.

24:16>> Second by Commissioner Parker. All in

24:19favor, please say I.

24:21>> I. That's unanimous. I'll join you.

24:29[applause]

24:45>> Response. Yes, ma'am. Thank you.

24:49Thank you to the county manager's

24:51office, the Bridges to Hope staff team,

24:54and all elected officials.

24:57Clearly, our community is safer as a

25:01result of the collaboration

25:03and partnership of our partner agencies

25:06and collaborators and those evolving

25:08relationships that are here today.

25:12These agencies work hard every day to

25:14help clients plan for safety.

25:17While numbers and data can support any

25:19narrative, numbers don't always paint a

25:22perfect picture.

25:25There are still far too many incidences

25:27of domestic violence that happen behind

25:30closed doors because survivors are

25:32reluctant to come forward because of

25:34fear, shame, or embarrassment. Often

25:38when they do come forward, many of our

25:40partner agencies and services are

25:42stretched and strained and are at their

25:45capacity to serve, but they show up

25:48every day and do it all over again.

25:51Survivors need practical solutions for

25:54affordable, transitional, and permanent

25:56housing. Survivors need counseling

25:59options available for themselves and

26:02their children without being on waiting

26:04lists for months.

26:06Survivors need kind-hearted, hope-

26:08centered approaches in institutions and

26:11systems where they often feel invisible,

26:14dismissed, and unheard.

26:17Survivors need options that work with

26:19their emergency situations that don't

26:22require a precious day away from their

26:25jobs, schools, or caregiving duties.

26:28Survivors need transportation to and

26:31from services across Force County to get

26:33to the resources that are available to

26:35them.

26:37Survivors need us to put our words,

26:40promises, and plans into action and show

26:43up for them so they can show up for

26:46themselves and heal. Survivors need us

26:50not only just in October, but 11

26:53additional months of the year. To

26:56service providers, family members,

26:59friends, employers, decision makers, and

27:02community leaders.

27:04We are the difference in the lives of

27:06adults and children who have been

27:08victimized. And we stand in the gap

27:11often between life and death, hurt and

27:15healing, and between a past of harm and

27:19a future of hope. Not just in October,

27:23but every day of the year. Thank you.

27:28And thank you all for being here and

27:31supporting survivors during the month of

27:33October.

27:36[applause]

27:42Everybody turn around.

28:05Right back there.

28:31me now.

29:01I didn't think I'd see anything.

29:13>> So phenomenal.

29:17How you doing? How you doing?

29:47Wait just a minute.

30:00The next item on the agenda is a

30:02proclamation recognizing the 25th

30:05anniversary of Winstonet.

30:09Lakesha Jordan, EU uh executive director

30:12of Winstonet is here to receive the

30:15resolution. Please come forward as vice

30:18chair Wilson reads the pro pl

30:21proclamation.

30:22Welcome.

30:24>> I'll read the proclamation and then come

30:26around.

30:29Whereas Winston Net is a 501c3 nonprofit

30:32organization dedicated to closing the

30:34digital divide and ensuring that

30:36residents have the technology, skills,

30:39connectivity, and support needed to

30:40fully participate in today's economy.

30:43Whereas Winston Net has served as a

30:45community technology partner across

30:47Winston Salem and for Scythe County,

30:49building infrastructure and programs

30:50that connect residents to education,

30:53employment, health care, government

30:55services, and economic opportunity.

30:57Whereas Winstonet operates a network of

31:00community technology centers to provide

31:02residents with computers, affordable

31:04high-speed internet, technology

31:06assistance, and distributes and

31:08refurbishes computers and other

31:10technology for those who cannot afford

31:12them. Whereas Winston Net provides

31:14hands-on digital literacy workforce, AI,

31:18cyber security, and technology training

31:20in multiple languages to reach residents

31:22who face language barriers and helps

31:24residents move from basic technology

31:27with skills toward employment and career

31:28opportunities. Whereas, Winstonet uses

31:31corporate technology donations to

31:33refurbish equipment in house to

31:35redistribute items locally and serves as

31:37a community implementation partner

31:40capable of translating public investment

31:42into direct resident impact. And whereas

31:45Winstonet serves over 22,000 unique

31:47residents annually, maintains 25

31:50community technology labs, and has

31:52distributed 5,800 devices. Now

31:55therefore, be it resolved that the Force

31:58County Board of Commissioners hereby

31:59recognizes the 25th anniversary Winston

32:02Net and celebrates its work to turn

32:04digital access into economic

32:06opportunity. Adopted the first day of

32:09October, 2026.

32:13>> Do we have a motion?

32:16>> So moved.

32:17>> Motion to approve by Commissioner

32:19Parker.

32:21>> Second. Second by Commissioner Bessie

32:24and Commissioner Limulle. Uh we ha we

32:28all I'm going to ask if there's

32:30discussion

32:32and there is uh Commissioner Woodbury

32:35has joined us by uh by Zoom. So all in

32:41favor please say I. I

32:43>> I.

32:44>> Commissioner Woodbury.

32:47>> I Okay, that is unanimous.

33:19Thank you. I came small in numbers, but

33:22we are definitely big in support and we

33:24appreciate you all support. Um, on

33:26behalf of Winstonet and the board, our

33:28staff, our partners, I am honored to

33:30accept this proclamation from Forsythe

33:33County recognizing 25 years of work here

33:37in Forsthe County, building the digital

33:39divide. So, bridging, not building,

33:43bridging the digital divide. I also want

33:45to let you all know that this week is

33:48digital inclusion and equity week and so

33:51we are so excited to be able to accept

33:53this on this week. So thank you for your

33:54support. We appreciate it and we will

33:57continue to do the great work here in

33:58Force County.

33:59>> Thank you. [applause]

34:05The next item on the agenda is approval

34:08of minutes for the regular meeting on

34:10September 17th, 2026. Do I have a

34:14motion?

34:15>> Approve.

34:15>> Move approval by Commissioner Bessie.

34:19>> Second.

34:19>> Second by Commissioner Parker. All in

34:22favor, please say I.

34:23>> I.

34:25>> Commissioner Woodbury.

34:27>> I.

34:28>> That's unanimous. Thank you.

34:31The next item on the agenda is a public

34:34session. Madame Clerk, do we have cards

34:37or calls?

34:40Chair Wizen Hunt, we don't have any

34:41calls, but we have three speaker cards.

34:43>> Okay, please call them forward.

34:46>> The first speaker is Alan Daniel. Please

34:49come forward. State your name and

34:50address for the record.

34:57>> Good afternoon, commissioners. Alan

34:59Daniel, 100 Fernworth Court in Clemens,

35:03North Carolina.

35:05I come before you today to address an

35:07issue that you've heard me address

35:10before. Um it is the property on Idol's

35:14Road which has been approved by the

35:17zoning board I believe to be reszoned

35:20RS15 for the development of 350 houses

35:24on about 175 acres.

35:28I've spoke to you all first about this

35:30back when that property was being

35:32considered for a business park

35:35and the runoff for 175 acres for 1 in of

35:41rain would fill six Olympic size

35:44swimming pools. During the month of July

35:48this year, our area

35:51had three rain events that exceeded an

35:55inch of rain in 24 hours. And those

35:59there is mitigation devices anytime you

36:02develop a property like this that

36:05mitigates the runoff, but it is only

36:08required to mitigate the runoff for the

36:10first inch of rain. And I left my prop

36:14at the at my chair, but I brought a

36:16funnel to try to illustrate exactly what

36:19that does. That device funnels all the

36:23runoff from that 165 acres into that

36:26device. But when the amount of rain

36:30exceeds that device, all that water is

36:32concentrated into one place and it runs.

36:37The three events we had in July were one

36:42a little over an inch of rain in 24

36:44hours, a little over an inch and a half

36:46of rain in 24 hours, and then in two

36:49consecutive days, 4 in and 2 in.

36:55So if you multiply

36:586 * 4 is 24 + 6 + 6 + 6, we're talking

37:06about 30 or more Olympic size swimming

37:11pools full of water being dumped off of

37:14that property. The road that goes down

37:17below that is Doc Davis Road which

37:20separates that property from Salem

37:22Glenn. that road becomes impassible

37:24currently with that wa that that

37:26property being all wooded in a heavy

37:29rain event. I have seen Salem Glenn

37:32under 3 ft of water.

37:35That property also is right across the

37:38road from a piece of property that has

37:40been approved for 500 houses.

37:44The two of those properties together, if

37:47they are developed as projected,

37:50would put one car every 5 to 7 seconds

37:55going by our neighborhood in Southwest

37:58Clemens.

38:00One car every 5 to 7 seconds for 3 hours

38:04from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and again

38:07for 3 hours from 6 3:00 p.m. to 6:00

38:10p.m.

38:11>> Your time's expired, sir.

38:13>> Okay. I would like for you all if you

38:15would please to hold that property as

38:18part of Tanglewood Park. Thank you.

38:24>> The next speaker is Deborah Dinsky.

38:26Please come forward. State your name and

38:28address for the record.

38:36[clears throat]

38:36>> Good afternoon. I'm Deborah Demsky, 1722

38:40Princeton Street, Winston Salem. First,

38:42I want to thank you all very much for

38:45your considerations of the reasonzoning

38:47for the Hyperscale Data Center. I very

38:50much appreciate um you listening to the

38:54constituents and making a sound decision

38:58and I also appreciate the ones that

39:01voted for the resoning. I I really

39:03appreciate your attention and um

39:08I thank you very much for uh the

39:11entertaining discussion about a

39:13discussion for the moratorum. Thank you

39:15all very much. Uh on Monday I delivered

39:19a petition for uh a text amendment

39:24uh for the UDO to the planning

39:27department. Uh, oh, and also I want to

39:29say thank you to uh staff uh for Scythe

39:32County staff has been absolutely

39:34outstanding through the whole process of

39:37of everything that I've worked with the

39:41county on. Um, at any rate, I delivered

39:43the petition on Monday. Um, it was in

39:47Monday's briefing that you guys uh

39:49briefly discussed and then rejected

39:52further discussion of a moratorum.

39:56Uh some of you said that you would

39:58decide on hypers scale data center

40:01reszoning requests independently. The

40:05only problem with that is we don't have

40:08any structures in place to make good

40:11decisions about hyperscale data centers

40:14where they really belong because there

40:17are places in Foresight County where

40:18they're going to belong and we want them

40:20here. But before we let another

40:24petition, before we have to constantly

40:27decide these because they're going to

40:29eat up all of our time and our resources

40:31just going back and forward about this.

40:34And it would be so much better if we had

40:37a good set of rules and regulations

40:41around where they need to be and the

40:44rules that they're going to live by. I

40:46mean, it's the same for everything else,

40:48right?

40:49And so at any rate, um

40:54the residents our our petition was

40:57refused and um both the text amendment

41:00requests and the moratorum discussion

41:03were rejected on the advice of county

41:05attorney Mr. Watkins and um with all due

41:09respect to the board to Mr. Watkins, it

41:13would be difficult to make decisions

41:16uh based on the regulations because like

41:19I said, they don't exist.

41:21Um

41:23democracy works best

41:26when residents have a say in the

41:29governance that happens.

41:32And so

41:34about our petition, we are asking three

41:36things. We would like for you to accept

41:39the petition so it can go through the

41:41process in the UDO of um a hearing and

41:46making a decision. Get a second legal

41:49opinion from outside land use council

41:53school of government

41:54>> and third let us work with staff on a

41:56version that works. Thank you very much

41:58for your time.

42:03>> The last speaker is Marcy West. Please

42:05come forward. State your name and

42:06address for the record.

42:08>> I'd appreciate it if you'd start before

42:10when I get here. I

42:11>> always do, Marcy.

42:12>> So, I just heard

42:13>> we never cut you short.

42:14>> All right. So, thank you commissioners.

42:16My name is Marcy West. I'm running for

42:18county commission in district B and I'm

42:20at live at 331 Carolina Circle.

42:24Recently, commissioner meetings have

42:25been a bit disappointing, I've got to

42:27say. And I'm here to talk about good

42:29stewardship because I think that county

42:31commissioners need to be good stewards

42:33of our property and of our assets. So

42:36the data center moratorum discussion

42:40just a discussion was summarily

42:42dismissed to pite the fact that we have

42:44many things that we need to learn about.

42:46Actually texted today with a woman who

42:48lives in Lowden County. She knows what

42:49it's like. She's experiencing that

42:51pollution and traffic and the issues

42:53with that. Um, so first of all though

42:57the I wanted to talk about the land. We

42:59had a piece of property that was you're

43:02you're considering for surplusing. That

43:04land was supposed to be a park coming

43:06from it was it was off. It was an offer

43:09that was made that was incredibly low. I

43:11did a simple Google search. I found a

43:13property that's similar frontage,

43:15similar size, $899,000.

43:18So we have a new offer now. It's $300

43:21and something,000 for this surplus

43:23property. I'm sure you're going to wind

43:25up going ahead and selling it. But I

43:27would urge two things. Number one, list

43:29it on a public site where people who

43:31might be interested in that land can see

43:33it. And number two, I want you to make

43:36sure that that land, that money that we

43:38get from that land. Let's start an

43:40emergency fund because we don't have an

43:42emergency fund yet. It's tiny amount.

43:44It's a drop in the bucket, but we need

43:46to have one and we're going to be coming

43:47into emergency times. So, let's prepare

43:50for that. Okay. Number two, I was um

43:53upset about uh a property discussion

43:56that happened here that had to do with

43:57an easement and things. It's not on the

43:59list here. I'll talk about that later.

44:02So, I I also wanted to move on to the um

44:05fact that we um we're not really keeping

44:09good track of the property we have,

44:11right? We're not we don't know what

44:12property we have. We don't know who's

44:14leased it. We don't know what parts of

44:16that land belongs to the lease versus

44:17us. Let's get together an inventory of

44:20that information so that we have a way

44:22to track that and we know maybe there's

44:24some property that can be put up for

44:25sale that we can get some income funds

44:27from and use for future emergencies. Let

44:30let's do that. That just makes makes

44:32sense to me. And I also just want to

44:35talk a little bit more about the

44:37moratorium, the data center moratorum.

44:39This was just a discussion about a pause

44:42on discussing it, right? It's a

44:44temporary or moratorum.

44:46Commissioner Bessie wrote in there that

44:48people who had the rested vested rights

44:51were going to be exempted. So it wasn't

44:52going to stop all of them. And when you

44:55look at our zoning information, it's

44:58based on SIC industry codes. Those were

45:01out they've been outdated since 1989.

45:05Okay? They were last done in 1989, last

45:08updated in 1997. They're no longer in

45:10use. Now, there's something new called

45:12the NICS that gets updated on a regular

45:15basis and that's what we should be using

45:17in our zoning. You can't tell me that we

45:19have no control over this and we can't

45:21challenge this.

45:23>> It's clearly not a services a property.

45:26Thank you.

45:29>> Madame County Manager, could you please

45:31continue the agenda?

45:32>> Thank you, Madam Chair, and good

45:33afternoon, commissioners, staff, and

45:35guests. The agenda items before you have

45:36been briefed and hopefully questions

45:38answered. Agenda item number six is a

45:40resolution approving the septic system

45:42agreement and authorizing the grant and

45:44execution of an easement to Horizon's

45:46residential care center across a portion

45:48of Force County owned real property.

45:50Included in the lease agreement are

45:52terms by which Horizon Residential is

45:54responsible for maintaining the septic

45:56system it installed years ago which is

45:58located outside the current lease

46:00boundary. Um, due to the recent

46:02construction of parking lot improvements

46:04serving Horizon's Park, a new septic

46:06repair area must be identified for

46:08Horizons to meet certain requirements of

46:10the North Carolina Department of Health

46:11and Human Services, Division of

46:13Environmental Health. A septic system

46:15agreement must be executed with

46:17easements granted to Horizons to satisfy

46:19the requirements of DHS in establishing

46:22the new septic repair area.

46:26>> Move approval. Motion to approve by

46:29Commissioner Parker.

46:33Second,

46:33>> second by Commissioner Limville or

46:36discussion.

46:38All those in favor say I.

46:40>> I.

46:41>> Commissioner Woodbury.

46:44>> I.

46:45>> That's unanimous. Agenda item number

46:48seven is a resolution declaring certain

46:50real property as surplus and authorizing

46:52publication of an offer to purchase

46:54county-owned real property by negotiated

46:56offer, advertisement, and upset bids

46:58procedure. In 1988, Forcy County was

47:01deed property at Zero Williams Road

47:03along the Yaken River. There are no

47:05current county operations or uses for

47:07this property. And recently, the county

47:09received an offer to purchase the

47:10property from James Perkins in the

47:12amount of $328,450

47:15who owns adjoining property. The offer

47:17amount exceeds the tax value. This item

47:20approves advertising the received offer

47:22for upset bids. Once the upset bids

47:25process is complete, the commissioners

47:27may at any time reject any and all

47:29offers.

47:31>> There a motion.

47:32>> I have a motion. Madam Chair, I move

47:35that we not surplus this property that's

47:38in question.

47:39>> Second.

47:41>> There's a motion by Commissioner

47:42Limville and a second by Commissioner

47:45Bessie. All those in favor say I.

47:48>> I.

47:50>> Opposed.

47:56Okay.

47:58Uh, Commissioner Woodbury.

48:02Um, no.

48:04>> No to the to the motion.

48:08>> Correct.

48:10>> Okay.

48:11>> Can I repeat the motion?

48:13>> Well, if you think it needs repeated,

48:16[laughter]

48:17>> Madam Chair, do we have a have a total?

48:19I I heard one no. I I heard at least

48:22three yeses.

48:25Well, I I know of three four who were

48:30who are opposed to the motion.

48:33>> Commissioner Wilson, Commissioner

48:35Parker, Commissioner Woodbury, and

48:38myself. [clears throat]

48:38>> Thank you. I needed to clarify.

48:40Commissioner Woodbury.

48:42>> Is that what you count?

48:45[clears throat]

48:45>> Chair Wes Hunt, do you mind doing a vote

48:47by hand? Okay. I think that'd be easier.

48:50>> Okay. All in favor of the motion, please

48:52raise your hand.

48:55You change your mind.

48:58>> The the original motion.

49:00>> Yeah.

49:01>> Yeah. That's the only motion we have.

49:03>> It's easy to get

49:06through the count. Raise the hands.

49:08>> All in favor of of Commissioner

49:10Lynville's motion, raise your hand.

49:14>> One, two, three. Commissioner Woodbury.

49:21>> No.

49:21>> Okay. All opposed. One, two, three,

49:25four. The motion fails.

49:28Is there a motion to approve the item?

49:36>> Now, we're talking about the item on the

49:37agenda.

49:39>> Yes.

49:39>> So, moved.

49:41>> Second.

49:42>> Motion to approve by Commissioner Parker

49:45and second by Commissioner Wilson. All

49:49in favor? Madam Chair, may I uh

49:51>> Oh, I I do have Oh, go ahead.

49:54>> Okay, we'll have discussion in just a

49:56minute, Miss Woodbury.

49:57>> I was going to ask for discussion. Thank

50:00>> Okay, do we have discussion?

50:02Go ahead, Commissioner Woodbury.

50:06>> Um, thank you, Sher Wizen Hunt. So, I am

50:09interested in um the concern that one of

50:13the citizens raised around

50:16uh people being able to identify when we

50:19have um property for sale. And I would

50:23be um I could lean into, you know, maybe

50:29readvertising because some citizens felt

50:31like they didn't know that this property

50:34was being sold. I know we've discussed

50:36this before. I don't really know what

50:38else um you know we could do and I'm

50:41interested in what the county managers

50:43say to make sure people know when we

50:45have um key property for sale. But that

50:49is I think have been at least a

50:52challenge for us as a county to make

50:53sure that all of our citizens are very

50:56aware when we have um property for sale

51:00in lie of

51:02there may be you know adjacent or

51:04similar property that is selling for

51:11I do think that we need to take into

51:13consideration that we still may be able

51:16to um one get more of our citizens aware

51:20of this property being sold and possibly

51:24um being able to get you know more for

51:26it. Thank you,

51:28>> Commissioner Woodbury. By this uh

51:31approval, it will be advertised and

51:34there'll be an upset bid if someone

51:36wants to bid higher. So, this is what

51:39this is what we're voting on it that we

51:42did vote on and approved is to put it

51:45out on the market, advertise it, and um

51:49it will be advertised for 10 days.

51:53Commissioner Bessie,

51:54>> thank you. Um [clears throat] had a

51:56question for staff. Uh do we have

51:58details of the original gift of this

52:01property and under what uh what terms it

52:04was uh it was donated?

52:06I'm going to ask um Chelsea Swain, our

52:09deputy general services director, to

52:11come up.

52:22>> Good afternoon. From everything that I

52:24can read and gather, it was an exchange

52:27of property for some property up at the

52:30um north end of town where the old

52:32Syworks Science Center was.

52:34>> Okay. Um, so is there a conservation

52:38easement on this property currently?

52:40>> Not currently. There was at one time,

52:42but that was converted and relocated to

52:45the CG Hill Park property.

52:47>> All right. So, there are no legal

52:50restrictions on our sale of the

52:52property.

52:54>> Not that I am aware of. No, sir. Not

52:55that I've been able to find anywhere.

52:57>> Right. Thank you.

52:59>> Other discussion.

53:00>> A question on advertisement. I believe

53:04that you said I asked that you said that

53:07um the I I'm not sure whether it's the

53:11only thing it's required or not but one

53:15is the uh classified in the local

53:17newspaper the only thing it's required

53:21>> yes publication in the locally

53:23distributed newspaper yes sir and I

53:26think we have in the past also put it on

53:28our county website.

53:32>> Madam just chair, just in terms of a

53:34brief discussion, the reason that I will

53:36vote against this motion is because I

53:39believe this is an unusual piece of

53:40property and that it's a a riverfront

53:43property. Most of it is unbuildable

53:45because it's u in the flood plane. It's

53:48currently essentially conservation

53:50property. uh and I believe that that is

53:53a uh a better use for the county

53:56citizens than uh to simply sell it on a

53:59hard fire sale basis.

54:04>> Okay, we have a motion

54:07um and and a second. All in favor,

54:10please say I.

54:12>> I.

54:14>> Commissioner Woodbury,

54:17>> I

54:18>> Okay. All opposed?

54:20>> No. Okay, that passes 43 in favor of the

54:25motion.

54:26>> Agenda item number eight and nine are

54:28resolutions approving refunds by the tax

54:30assessor collector. Eight is in the

54:32amount of $1,2876

54:35and nine is the amount of $16,22169.

54:42>> Is there a motion?

54:44>> Move approval.

54:45>> Motion to approve by Commissioner

54:47Parker.

54:50Second.

54:51>> Second by Vice Chair Wilson. All in

54:53favor, please say I.

54:55>> I.

54:56>> Commissioner Woodbury.

54:59>> I.

55:01>> That's approved unanimously.

55:03>> Agenda items 10 and 11 are our reports.

55:0510 is the August contribution based

55:07benefit cap report and 11 is the August

55:09financial report.

55:11>> Move to approve.

55:12>> Motion to approve by Commissioner

55:14Limville.

55:15>> Second. Second by Commissioner Parker.

55:18Discussion.

55:20All in favor, please say I.

55:23>> I.

55:24>> Commissioner Woodbury.

55:27>> I.

55:27>> Okay, that's unanimous.

55:31>> I may have missed something. Did we take

55:32items eight and nine together?

55:35>> I thought so.

55:39>> And we have one discussion item, Madam

55:42Chair. It is our planning item from our

55:44planning director, Chris Murphy. It's in

55:46regards to F-1673.

56:17Good afternoon again. This is case

56:19F1673. This is a briefing that will be

56:22for your October uh 15th meeting. Uh the

56:26petitioner is TCO Investments. This is a

56:281acre property on the east side of

56:29Peters Creek Parkway south of Hartman

56:31Plaza Drive. This is one or two parcels

56:33just north of the Davidson County line.

56:36The request is to reszone this piece of

56:38property from special use limited uh

56:40zoning, highway business limited to

56:42highway business special use. Uh so

56:44they're going from a limited use to a

56:46site plan. Uh this was approved as a

56:48limited use back in 2012. Now they're in

56:51for this 2026 um

56:55change. Uh this is a subject property

56:57shown on the forward 2045 growth

57:00management area plan map. It is located

57:01within the GMA3 suburban neighborhoods

57:04growth management area. Again, you see

57:05the dot there right on the county line

57:07with Davidson County.

57:09Uh I apologize. It is the last property

57:13in the county or the first depending on

57:15how you look at it. Uh this is the

57:17location map. You do see the subject

57:18property there highlighted in yellow.

57:20The Davidson County line just to the

57:21south. You see a number of highway

57:23business properties in that vicinity

57:24along with a general business property.

57:26And again, this is uh zoned highway

57:28business limited use.

57:32subject property shown on the aerials.

57:34There's a manufactured home park across

57:36the street. There's a

57:38uh convenience store. There is an

57:40outdoor display retail uh property here.

57:44This was reszoned several years ago for

57:48a

57:49um outdoor display retail. This is part

57:51of a larger commercial development. This

57:53is actually a daycare center and this is

57:55multifamily zoning. Again, all this is

57:57in Davidson County. So it is along this

57:59commercial corridor

58:02subject property um shown on the south

58:05suburban area plan update. Uh this

58:07subject property is recommended for

58:09commercial development.

58:11It actually used to be a church. Um but

58:13it's been a um it's been a number of

58:16uses over the course of time, but this

58:18is looking east into the subject

58:19property. Uh this uh the area that was

58:22probably at one point a uh fellowship

58:25hall is not actually part of this

58:27request. They're two separate parcels.

58:28That's actually in Davidson County. The

58:30church itself is uh has been used for a

58:33number of things, but this is for a use

58:35called Camp Halliday. It's for a indoor

58:37kennel use. Uh and they do have an

58:40outdoor run area as part of that. Not

58:42that they will be out there all day

58:43long. This is just where they would go

58:45out and exercise, go to the bathroom,

58:46etc. They would be out there with the uh

58:49with the workers that work at the

58:51facility. Uh this is looking across

58:53Peters Creek Parkway towards the west.

58:56There's the manufactured home park, the

58:58existing um convenience store uh there

59:01in that image. Uh this is looking south

59:03along Peters Creek Parkway towards the

59:05Davidson County line. That driveway in

59:08the foreground there is the driveway to

59:10the subject property.

59:12And this is looking north. You see the

59:13zoning sign. This is looking north along

59:16Peters Creek Parkway.

59:18Uh this is the site plan. It's proposing

59:20to uh utilize the existing uh church

59:23facility. probably better formalize the

59:26parking. And then the outdoor area for

59:29the for the dog run area where they

59:32would be uh out there with the employees

59:35of the kennel indoor use would be in

59:38this location.

59:40Again, this is the existing daycare

59:43center with their outdoor play area. So,

59:44I guess the kids and the dogs can talk

59:46to each other when they're out there.

59:48Um,

59:51this request is consistent with the

59:52parcel specific commercial land use

59:55recommendation of the south suburban

59:56area plan update. Uh, the request is

59:58also consistent with the recommendation

1:00:00of uh, forward 2045 to prioritize denser

1:00:03higher intensity development along

1:00:04growth corridors and with an activity

1:00:06centers. It's also adaptively reusing an

1:00:08existing underutilized building along a

1:00:11major thoroughare.

1:00:13This was heard by the planning board at

1:00:15August 13, 2026 public hearing. There

1:00:17were no speakers in opposition and

1:00:19following the public hearing, the

1:00:20planning board did vote unanimously to

1:00:22recommend approval to the board of

1:00:23county commissioners. And with that, I

1:00:26can answer any questions that you might

1:00:27have.

1:00:27>> Questions?

1:00:29>> How many K9 kennels in this county are

1:00:32adjacent to a major thorough affair?

1:00:35>> Uh, I don't have an exact number. I

1:00:38thought you were going to ask me how

1:00:39many have we approved in the last 10

1:00:40years because it's been a lot. Um, but I

1:00:45I don't know how many along Thorough

1:00:46affairs, but again, it would kind of

1:00:48make sense because a lot of folks do

1:00:49take their pets to an indoor kennel

1:00:52facility, like a donkey daycare, for

1:00:54lack of a better term, while they're

1:00:56going to work and they pick them up on

1:00:58the way home. So, it would kind of make

1:00:59sense for them to be along a major

1:01:00thorough affair.

1:01:02>> Well, yeah, but the the dogs have to go

1:01:04outside the kennel building, correct? To

1:01:07>> They do.

1:01:09>> Okay. to

1:01:12answer the call of nature and if one of

1:01:14them gets loose, you know exactly what

1:01:15will happen.

1:01:16>> Well, luckily they are within an

1:01:18infenced in area. Now, I don't know. I

1:01:21mean, again, I'm not doing their

1:01:23business model, but it is it does have

1:01:24to be fenced.

1:01:27>> Okay.

1:01:30Other questions?

1:01:32>> Thank you, Chris.

1:01:35>> Thank you. And Madam Chair, I do just

1:01:37want as a followup to some of the

1:01:38conversations on the surplus property um

1:01:41just to let the board make sure the

1:01:42board's aware that staff is working on a

1:01:44presentation for the November 9th

1:01:46morning session regarding all of our

1:01:49county owned vacant property. We do want

1:01:50to make sure the board has a

1:01:52comprehensive understanding of all the

1:01:53properties that we own that are vacant

1:01:56or not actively being used and then get

1:01:58your direction on how you would like us

1:02:00to proceed with them, whether they're

1:02:01property you want us to consider for a

1:02:03surplus or sale or not, whether you want

1:02:05us to take a more aggressive approach on

1:02:07marketing the properties just to make

1:02:09sure we have a good understanding and

1:02:11being intentional about these assets.

1:02:12Um, so we'll be seeking your direction

1:02:15on that, but I think just in um some

1:02:17previous meetings, I think we need to

1:02:19show you a list and I actually think

1:02:20you're going to be surprised by some of

1:02:21the property that we own. So, um, we'll

1:02:24be prepared to discuss that on November

1:02:259th.

1:02:26>> Thank you. Is there a motion to adjourn?

1:02:29>> So move.

1:02:30>> So moved by Commissioner Bessie.

1:02:31>> Second.

1:02:32>> Second by Commissioner Wilson. All in

1:02:35favor say I.

1:02:36>> I. Commissioner Woodbury,

1:02:42I think she's left the building. Um,

1:02:45that's unanimous almost.