City Council - Regular Meeting

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Thank you. Good evening everyone. I'd like to welcome you to tonight's April 21st, 2026 city council meeting. And I ask that you please silence all electronic devices. And you know that's my cue to pull mine out and make sure it's silenced as well. Okay. This evening I recognize Mayor Pro Tim Bob Ward for our invocation.

Thank you, Mayor. As we begin uh the meeting, would you please join me in a moment of silence and reflection? We ask that our deliberation be open-minded and respectful and that our decision will be fair and reasonable. Thank you. Thank you. Um, this evening I recognize Alan Idol and Jason Barnhill from the Tree and Appearance Commission to receive a proclamation. And I think I think you may want to share something with us first.

Thank you all for the opportunity to be here. Um, so this year the city will be celebrating its 33rd year as a Tree City USA. Um, as part of that, we're doing a tree giveaway at the Carousel Festival, uh, here in a couple weeks. Um, so I'll let Jason tell you about some of the trees we're going to be giving away. With that, we're going to be giving away hackberries and red maples. So, we'll try to pick trees that we get like a big canopy tree and a smaller kind of understory tree. That way, more people can get them for their yards.

Beautiful. Well, I would like to share the proclamation with you and I'll read it from here because it's miked and then um bring it and present it to you. Um this city of Burlington, North Carolina proclamation recognizing Arbor Day, May 2nd, 2026. Whereas in 1872, J. Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees. And whereas this day, which eventually became known as Arbor Day, was initially observed in the state of Nebraska with the planting of over a million trees. And whereas Arbor Day is now observed throughout the nation and the world. And whereas the important role of trees in our environmental system must not be taken for granted, trees can reduce top soil erosion, reduce heating and cooling cost, moderate ambient temperatures, clean the air, produce oxygen, and provide habitat for wildlife. And whereas trees are a renewable source from which numerous products are derived, such as paper, materials for the construction industry, and fuel for heating. And whereas trees, wherever they are planted, are a source of beauty, joy, and spiritual renewal. Now, therefore, I, Mayor Beth Kennet, and the Burlington City Council, hereby proclaim Saturday, May 2nd, 2026 as Arbor Day in the city of Burlington. Furthermore, we urge residents of the city of Burlington to support efforts to protect our trees and to preserve our woodlands for future generations. This the 21st day of April, 2026.

Thank you so much. And now I'd like to recognize city clerk Beverly Smith. Thank you. Members of council, it is my responsibility to remind you of your duties to avoid conflicts of interest. I ask if there are any potential conflicts concerning tonight's agenda item. None.

Thank you. Next on our agenda is approval of minutes from March 2nd, 2026 work session and April 7th, 2026 city council meeting. We need a motion and a second to approve the minutes. Motion to approve. Second. All in favor? Thank you. We also have two additions to the consent agenda. Item I, resolution for Staley Creek Restoration Project at Robinson Park, and item J, application to law enforcement support program of the Defense Logistics Agency. We need a motion and a second to approve or deny the additions to the agenda. So move second. All in favor?

I. Okay. Okay. And then adoption of the agenda with those um additions. We need a motion and a second. Motion to approve with additions. All in favor? I. Okay. Our consent agenda quite lengthy this evening.

These items are typically non-controversial. If anyone has questions about the following items, please let us know. So item A to approve the reclassification of one equipment operator one position paygra 204 to an equipment operator 2 payrade 205 and public works solid waste division effective upon city council approval. Item B to approve the reclassification of CI civil engineer 2 position paygrade 218 to a senior civil designer paygrade 213 in the engineering department effective April 25th 2026. Item C to approve the reclassification of grounds groundskeeper position paygrade 2011 to a turf technician paygrade 204 in the recreation and parks department for the valley golf course effective the beginning of the pay cycle following approval. Item D, to approve a request to tempor temporarily close a portion of city parking lot number one for an onthe-go mobile unit popup special event hosted by Goodwill Industries in partnership with the United Way of Alamance County on the following dates from 10 a.m. to 400 p.m. contingent upon meeting all requirements of the special event permitting application process. Those dates are May 12, June 9, July 14, August 11, September 8, October 13, November 10, and December 8, 2026. Item E to approve budget amendment 2026-28 for the police department to allocate funds received from the Edward Burn Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. Item F to approve budget amendment 2026-29 to transfer funds to specified special project budget for the regional CAD RMS

upgrade project. Item G to approve budget amendment 2026-30 to allow the police department to increase the local match funds needed for the 2021 2022 communityoriented policing services grant. Item H, to approve a new position in community engagement for Paramount Theater technical director paygrade 209 and approve associated budget amendment 2026-31 to fund the position. Item I to adopt a resolution awarding the water resources development grant, excuse me, to the Staley Creek stream restoration at Robinson Park. Item J, to authorize the Burlington Police Department to proceed with reapplication to join the law enforcement support program of the Defense Logistics Agency to receive surplus federal property and participate in other equipment lease or loan programs. At this time, I'll entertain a motion and a second to approve or deny the foregoing consent agenda. Second.

Thank you. All in favor? I

Thank you. And now we'll move into our public hearings. Item one, a public hearing has been scheduled for city council to consider a voluntary contiguous annexation petition for four parcels of land addressed as zero Whitel Drive and identified as Alamance County Tax Parcel ID and and I'll let um Jamie Lawson address those since she is already at the podium and ready to go. Good evening, mayor and members of council. Um the just wanted to make a a quick announcement before we get to the first one. Item number five, which is the resoning request for zero Danbrook Road um at the request of the applicant, has been withdrawn. So that item will not be heard tonight. Just wanted to make uh that announcement in case there was any members of the audience who are present.

Okay. Thank you. The um all of the remaining items have been presented to you at the April 7th work session and all have been properly noticed tonight for a public hearing. This first one is an annexation request. Um the property is 22 acres in size uh identified by the red X's shown on the map. The um property uh was the subject of a technical review committee site plan application for 432 unit multifamily uh development that was approved in September of 24. The applicant is making the request to annex into the city um in order to support the development and uh associated uh improvements um for the property. You can see it's a little difficult to see, but the the black um hatched line is the city limits line. So um from the east, it is contiguous to existing city limits to the south and east. And then on the west side is also contiguous to existing city limits. So, this will serve as to fill in a gap area that presently um exists. Staff does recommend the annexation request and included in your packet, there's an ordinance for your consideration.

Thank you. At this time, I'll open the floor for public comments on this item. And I'll ask you to please state your name and address for the record. Each speaker is limited to um five five minutes for your comments. Uh are are there any public comments on this item public hearing? Well, if there are none, then we'll close the public hearing. Do well. I guess we need a motion since there were none. We do need a motion. Okay. So, thank you. And a second. All in favor?

Thank you. Um, and we need then a motion to adopt or deny the annexation ordinance for Zero Witsville Drive. Briefly, I have a question and this Jamie, this is more about just kind of the map we're looking at. I noticed that portions of the interstate are within the limits and portions are not. Is there a determination that when the interstate gets kind of bridged, we count that towards that to we count that towards uh contiguous? So, okay. So, even though the lines don't cross there, okay, just curious. Thanks, mayor. Okay. Um, so move. Thank you. Second. Second. All in favor?

Thank you. So, our next item, item two, is a public hearing um which was scheduled for city council to consider a voluntary contiguous annexation petition for property addressed at 6910 Kanukica Drive. Um, and again, recognize Jamie Lawson. Okay, I'm going to um if you don't mind, I'm going to address the next two together, although you're going to act on them as separate motions because they really are tied together. Um and so the what I'll address first is the request for the resoning. Um and so the the property um as is right now is 39 acres. It's located in Guilford County um just on the on the west side of 61. The interstate um runs east west in this direction. U and this is Kanuka Drive. So the property actually has frontage on Kaneka Drive and also on 61. the applicant um uh applied for a reasonzoning request um an annexation request uh in order to annex into the city limits then a zoning designation needs to be associated with the site. So, um the applicant also applied for a reasonzoning request um to be uh if approved for annexation to be um within the city's zoning and their request was the office and institutional limited use um category. this um just for context to this property is adjacent to several other resonings and annexations that you've had in front of you recently and this is the list of requested

permitted uses. I believe there's 37 of them. Um there is not a sightsp specific plan. So we do not have a development application associated with this. But if it is approved um under the current scenario then any of these uses would be allowed under that zoning. Uh staff is recommending this resoning request as well as the annexation. um as is this area with uh much of the surroundings is have been identified as an economic development area. You've got existing um infrastructure and planned infrastructure that is um uh under construction right now. Um it is adjacent to Amtech, um Red Oak Brewery and other uh other projects. Um and just north of Anho de Dees that was recently approved and another site as well. Just for context, um we don't really talk about it all that often, but uh if the zoning is approved, um these illustrate some of our UDO, our unified development ordinance requirements. The one on the right, the table on the right, is a snippet from the office and institutional zoning district. So this is what a a developer or applicant would be looking at um to determine you know what type of density might be allowed or what type of setbacks may be uh required um also building height and other things. On the left we also have a requirement in our unified development ordinance for buffer for buffer landscaping perimeter buffer landscaping. So this chart helps us to identify what the associated buffers might be. Just gives an idea of um you

know for neighbors or other property owners what what uh standards would be applied and I think that summarizes the request. So I think on your agenda you have the annexation request first and then followed by the resoning request. Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor, if you will turn around and have releases two public hearings. Uh, you've already made your comments to address both. Correct. If you're you're in the first public hearing on item two, right, first and if you close that public hearing and vote on that and then item three,

second one, adopt adopt her comments into that second.

Okay. Thank you. So um at this time uh then the floor is open for public comments on the annexation. Good morning or good evening madame mayor and councel. My name is Mike Fox. My address is 400 Belme Street 800 in Greensboro, North Carolina. I'm an attorney representing the applicant in this and I'm really just here to answer questions if you have any. Your staff is always great to work with and they've done a great job in terms of the presentation. It was a unanimous recommendation of approval at the planning board and so happy to answer any questions. We think this will be a great in infield development uh and provide some uh good housing in an area that has already attracted a lot of jobs.

Thank you. Any questions for the attorney? Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you. Any other p public comments on the annexation?

I'm Sean Burr. I'm work at 6900 Kukica Drive. I've been um with Kanuka and Zinc for ages and now I'm in charge of the zinc plant. Um I have some concerns about this for a couple reasons. That's an area that has quite a bit of industry, quite a bit of trucks now with the warehouses. Um, we've been there since 88 uh between the two different companies, between Kanuka and Zinc. And it was initially advertised, not advertised, initially quoted to us that this was going to be office and institutional. Makes sense. We want to support growth. We've been part of the community for a long time. Then we hear by the newspaper because I'm not a lawyer. I make things. I have 150 families that make things for me that this is going to be residential apartments between industrial locations on an area that is extremely busy, getting much more busy with warehouses up the road. I'm concerned about the safety of people that would be moving into there with our sites mostly because of the traffic. I'm not worried about our site. We've been there for a long time. responsible citizen, won many environmental awards, um have a great safety record, but putting in apartments in an area that's that industrial between Amit and Zinc is a concern for me for the people that will be there. So, I wanted to bring that up, bring it up as a concern. I see you've already recommended that you're going to go with the annexation. So be it. But I I wanted to make sure that that's brought up because that has been an industrial area for ages. And we are a plant that's been there for ages. Half of our population is in this area. Half of the population is Guilford County. We um vary between 150 to 400 people at the site. Um Amatech similar amount of employees. Um I hate that Craig the plant manager couldn't get here for Amitech, but he was understanding this is office and

institutional. And you saw the first four things up there were residential. I'm very concerned about residential being in that industrial park. Um we've had visitors coming into our property line. We're, you know, we have chemical plant. We have trucks in there. We're unloading things. Again, very responsible. We've been involved in the community. But having people from a residential area getting into an industrial workspace is a concern for safety. So I wanted to bring that up. Wanted you to hear that. I understand the want for growth. I want the growth. We wanted our company to grow. We've actually got plenty of expansion plans for our site that is impacting Guilford County, but this came as a surprise to us when it became a residential thing and um that's the way it was presented in the news after the last one. So, we're more concerned about residential than we are about any office for institutional. So, I wanted to bring that up. Um if you have any questions, we're we're not opposing it. We're just bringing our concerns to you guys. Okay.

Thank you. And were concerns about residential expressed to planning and zoning? No. May I speak on? Yes.

Uh, Madame Mayor, in addition, uh, well, first of all, I want to say we will certainly work with all of our neighbors to address any any safety concerns and issues. And obviously we want everyone to be safe, not only any of anybody using this property, but also the neighbors as well. So we'll certainly reach out and work with them. Um and uh we did we did have a neighborhood meeting which we invited all of the uh the required noticed properties and and did not have any any participation in that nor any concerns. But I wanted to assure the council that we will, you know, work with all of our neighbors to make sure that everyone feels comfortable and safe. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. We did receive that letter. We received it the day after the meeting. I don't know if that's the postal service or what happened. So, this is my first chance to represent our concerns. And thank you for sharing those concerns. Yeah. other um public comments on annexation. Um then I'll entertain a motion to close the public hearing. Second. All in favor? Thank you. Um and at this time entertain a motion to adopt or deny the annexation ordinance for 6910 Kuka Drive. So move to approve.

Second. All in favor? I thank you. So that annexation has been approved and then we go to item three which is um the reszoning and at this time I'll open the floor for public comments on this item reminding you to state your name and address and you have five minutes. Are there comments on the resoning? We just adopt this law's comments into this public hearing also. Okay. You need a motion on that or no? Just

we just adopt those comments. Thank you. Any comments on resoning? If there are no comments, then I'll entertain a motion um to close the public hearing. Second. All in favor? I I and entertain a motion to approve or deny the resoning request um as we have in front of us. Do we have a motion?

Mayor, I'll motion to approve as consistent with the land use plan. I approve the request to reszone the property addressed as 6910 Kuka Drive from the light industrial LII zoning district to the office and institutional limit use. O I LU zoning district. The property is a 40 acre roughly 40 acres in size is currently located within Guilford County and consists of Guilford County tax identification number 106255. This motion is based on the consistency of the proposed resoning with the Guilford County comprehensive plan in that the area is included under the Rock Creek area which identifies the conflicts between the city and county of Greensboro. The request is compatible with the existing commercial and industrial uses in the area. The Guilford County comprehensive plan calls for the area to be an employment center. Action is reasonable and in the public interest in that the city of Burlington has previously identified the area for economic development growth. Council has funded public water and sewer projects along the 61 corridor and adjacent areas for economic growth including the western area wastewater master plan. And the property is adjacent to Mtech Red Oak Brewery and Zinc Companies and is just north of the 1.3 million square foot distribution center for food lines parent company A-Hold A USA currently under construction.

So we have a motion. Do we have a second? Second. And all in favor? I.

Thank you. That resoning passes. and item four for public hearing. And again, we recognize Jamie Nelson. Good evening. Again, this is a public hearing um to consider reszoning request for two separate parcels. They are under common ownership. Um they are addressed as 521 Raw Hut Street and identified as Alamance County Tax Paral ID 136203 and 136204. Um you can see on the map in the shade pink uh that is area is currently zoned neighborhood business and just north of that in the orange shade is um high density residential. The request by the applicant is to amend the zoning for these both of these parcels to become general business limited use. Uh with a specific use being automobile sales andor rental. Uh this um this property is located within the neighborhood commercial uh future land use designation that's shown there in the um in the pinkish color. Um and so the existing and the proposed uh zoning is inconsistent with the future land use designation. Um as a result, staff uh did not recommend this resoning request. Um we staff uh included in the staff report um are comments which include that the existing neighborhood business um offers a variety of commercial uses that may be more compatible with the surroundings

and the um residential neighbors that are nearby. Um the applicant is only seeking one um use for the property, which that may be what they're interested in doing. Um but staff has um also discussed that with the applicant and and um as you know providing one use specific to a site doesn't allow for any other flexibility any other uses to come in should the applicant no longer be interested in pursuing that use or should the property be sold, it would only be zoned for that particular use. Um and so we um we we would encourage additional flexibility for economic development options within the area. Uh and we feel that um an appropriate reasonzoning may be to expand the neighborhood business uh district north to the high density residential zoning district rather than uh amending to general business for that specific use. Again, I just wanted to highlight um our UDO requirements that an applicant would be subject to uh with respect to the setbacks and the dimensional standards as well as the buffer uh standards, the planning and zoning. Um I should say also they did recommend this resoning request. Um and this has been advertised for public hearing and there's an ordinance included in your packet for your consideration.

I believe the applicant. The applicant is in the audience in case you have uh questions for them. Thank you. Um so at at this time I'll open the floor for public comments on this item and I'll ask you to please state your name and address for the record and that to limit your comments to to five minutes. And I was hoping that you would come forward to share with us. Thank you. Good evening. Good evening. Can I approach give you something? Yes. Yeah, sure.

Actually, we'll help you.

Okay. So good evening. My name is Ammud Omar. I'm the applicant of the reszoning 26002. I live in 2165 Wateride Circle, apartment 22 Graham, North Carolina. Tonight I respectfully ask for approval of reszoning of two parcels 521 Rod Street and uh northeast corner of Roat and Apple Street from neighborhood business and high density residential to general business limited use exclusively and permanently for automotive sale and rental. The former gas station has sit vacant for over 30 years and it's visible eyesore and a in in a good key intersection. The planning and zun commission has already recommended approval 6 to zero vote. Staff main concern remains that the request is very restrictive. I believe limited use designation is actually the strength of the proposal. The the proposed oriented makes the property bounded to only a clean automobile sale and rental business. This gives the city, neighbors, church, everyone complete certaintity. No other use will ever occur here. The certaintity is exactly what the site has been missing for decade and is directly support the community connection and belonging mayor and the city uh champion council. The future land use map call for neighborhood commercial. The small scale limited use project next to the existing shopping center fits the vision

perfectly and also corrects the inconsistent HDR zoning on one of the bracelet while meeting everything with UDO requirement landscaping and buffering lightning um and any technical review. This is clean win for Burlington. Remove a longstanding eyesore, create a jobs and generate new tax revenue and turn neglected corner into a productive space. So I hope you guys approve this, move forward, and I'm happy to move forward immediately after this. So my background, um, I've been here in Burlington for maybe seven years, eight years. I used to live in Durham. I came here, I already have a dealership here. for seven years. I love Berlin. When I came here, I thought the Berlin is a small city, but actually it is not. It's a big city and it's like really I love it. Even I moved here just to just because I love the city. So, I bought this property, me and my partner here, he's sitting right here. Uh just to expand my business. I was trying to buy some lands right beside my my dealership. I have a dealership in North Church Street in front of Biscuitville. So I trying to buy something around it. I couldn't find anything. So I found this property in Rod Street. So a lot of people didn't recommend it, but I said no, I have to have to make it happen. Um I'm just doing it for car business. I own the land with my partner. We're not planning to sell this property anytime soon because we love Burlington. So that's why I'm just trying to make sure the property and all the neighbors knows it is going to be a car dealer. No like auto repair, nothing noisy. Nothing makes the people scared. It's just going to be a car dealer. I understand what's

their concern, but it's really I'm just like it's my my place. I'm not going to plan to facilitate the show. Just like instead of sitting for 30 years, I'm just trying to make it like something, you know? I'm happy to answer any question if you have. Thank you. Um sorry this is my second presentation before the before the vending so it's like I'm sorry I'm just like kind of nervous. It is okay and thank you for being here. Thank you for being here. Um questions from council. Um so staff recommended light business is that right? General business limited use. No, no, help me.

So, staff didn't recommend it because it's it's restricted to just to just the one thing to one thing, but uh like the last meeting everybody just was was good with it. No problem. Cuz I'm not really planning to just get I'm trying to buy more to be honest with you. More of just like like I'm Egyptian originally. So, in our culture, we don't have to sell like a land you you own. It's just you have to keep it forever to your family and like so this is like we're not going to sell it. We're not going to do that. Just going to keep it expand my business and um like if if for some reason is not approved today I really I have no other option just to keep the place and re keep reapplying for for this.

Okay. So I'm not planning to do so any anytime soon. Okay. Thank you.

Thank you. So if I can just clarify, so the current zoning districts do not allow for the use that he is seeking to operate. Um and so that is his request to change the zoning of the two properties into one zoning district and only in specific to the automobile sales andor rental. Um the staff's staff certainly is in supportive of new businesses um and uh and wants existing businesses to profer prosper. Um, but the concern not just for the general business reasonzoning, but also for the automobile sales and or rental. Again, it's just our opinion that that's not the highest and best use to support a neighborhood that um you know could use other uh retail, other services um that may be uh more sufficient to support economic development to the area and support the the residents and the and the people nearby. So it's not just reszoning GB, it's it's also the use

the the limited. Okay. And to clarify, so our previous resoning was O andi limited use, but it included a whole list of use. This is general business limited use, but it is one use, right? Correct. It's it's the applicant's, you know, as you know, it's always the applicant's perview in terms of how many uses or what they're what they're proposing as part of their application. I'm happy to answer any other questions that you might have. May I speak on that, please? You may speak to this if you come to the microphone

for public comments. I mean, yes, public comments on this item. Yes. Ramona Allen, uh, 2711 White Oak Drive. I could speak on this because I my church is right across the street, 519 Hat Street. I've been here all my life. um the area which is growing. Um they just put in a new washer mat and it is a family community oriented place. I think the expansion should not be in that aspect because you're serving so many different people. We have a lot of homeless folks there. We have people and we're we're we're setting oursel up for a failure. I really think so because when you got homeless people, you got cars there. You could looking at the police having to be over there because they're going to break in cars. Uh we have people going around even now going around the back um going through trash cans and whatnot. Um we're trying to um create a uh a community where the uh people come in and expand. They have some empty buildings already there and we want to see those things open up. There used to be a birds there. Um there's a a dollar general there. There was a hair place there. So, we want to see people come in and use that area to uh grow the the area instead of setting, you know, you saying an eyesore, but I think it's just like sitting a castle in in the middle of other projects. It just doesn't fit. It doesn't fit at all. And I feel like that would not make the uh um the atmosphere will make that area grow. It would be cause it to be more tensions and whatnot. But I think it should give the um a time to grow as far as other stores, uh other entities. They have other buildings that have been there. Like I said, I've been here all my life and we got churches all around there that are growing and doing things and collaborating. So, I feel like that would be a better use uh for it. I'm not saying it does not need to be something

there, but a car lot I don't think is a good idea. Thank you for your comments. if if this were to be approved for this limited use. Um, and and then if if the current owner were to sell it, um, it would still be approved for that limited use. And but to do anything else would have to come back for reasonzoning, correct? Okay. Other public comments. Can can a person respe?

He's the captain. Oh, so of course he can. Thank you. Thank you.

So like I just want to add something too like like everything is change future wise. So maybe main the place is like a old gas station. So it has some base as well. So in the future if ending up just like I need to expand doing like a mechanic doing something like shop or anything inspction eviction station or anything I'll for sure will come and redo red redo the zoning again for for the place. So it's not going to be only car dealer but as as as we expand we're just going to have to do more and more to the community and um I'm just like we're trying to bring business to this area. She she she mentioned like some homeless currently like I have a shade in the is a property and I have a homeless guy sitting on it because not nobody over there and it's it's it's really like need to grow as she mentioned and I think car dealers should like it should be one of the business should be there because as I told you like it's going to be like cameras there's going to be police everywhere and I would be mad if somebody steal one of the cars especially because the car like the place is not really good area but I think it should be in the future. Everything is growing in Burlington so I believe everything is growing uh in this area as well. Thank you.

Thank you. Other comments. So at this time um I'll entertain a motion to close the public comment. Second. All in favor I. and entertain a motion to approve or deny the resoning request. There are options on the yellow sheet.

So, mayor, brief bit of discussion. I, as an small business owner and a planner, I appreciate what they're trying to do to to fix up this corner. I think I would love to see that that corner revitalized. I appreciate your interest in it. Um, but from a planning perspective, I think this sets us up for failure in the future. We can never guarantee. I hope you long success and the many years of business, but should that business fail, should things change, should the economy shift, um it this having just one use creates a barrier for long-term prosperity because it it just adds extra bureaucracy that a future property owner or even the existing property owner choosing to change this has to go through that level of delay, time, cost to come back. And I think it's in our best interest, the reason we created our UDO the way it is. um to enable many types of land use to give our community the flexibility to grow and evolve. So I think were this presented differently, I would be in favor of it, but the one use is not necessarily something I can support.

I'm happy to make a motion unless there's further discussion. Um

I I would like to before you make before you second um I would like to encourage the applicant to continue to talk with zoning. I mean, if if this is the direction we're going and I hear what you're saying and we are about to have a second, um I I would really like for the conversation to continue because I would like I also would like to see development in that area, but am concerned about the one use piece of that as well. Um, so I Okay, other questions.

Did Did you have questions? Other questions?

I'll make a motion then to deny inconsistent with land use plan. I deny this request to reszone the property from highdensity residential HDR and neighborhood business to general business limited use GBLU. The request is for two adjacent parcels located at the northeast intersection of Rahhata Street and Apple Street and addressed as 521 Rahhata Street and consisting of Alamance County tax identification numbers 136203 and 136204. This motion is based upon the inconsistency of the proposed resoning with the comprehensive plan in that the future land use map on section 4 land use and the comprehensive plan calls for this area to have a neighborhood commercial use. The site has already zoned neighborhood business which is more compatible with the surrounding residential and commercial zoning in the area. The action is reasonable and in the public interest in that the requested zoning is incompatible with the intent of the future land use designation. The proposed zoning for automobile sales andor rental is only not only consistent with the community oriented existing zoning. Uh the development should still strive for pedestrian and bicycle connectivity to the surrounding area and a zoning for this site for an automobile sales and or rental use is very restrictive and limiting. A variety of uses allowed would create more flexibility and economic development options. The current zoning is preferable and already allows for a variety of existing opportunities within the current neighborhood business zoning.

Second. Um, all in favor? I I um so the that passes and um I did not close. Just asking if there's any opposed. I did not vote. So I abstain. Can I not do that? Okay. Okay. Thank you. He's watching for things like that.

Thank you. Okay. And then item five is not on the agenda for tonight. It's been removed. Is that a request to continue the hearing or just remove it totally? Jamie, I'm sorry. Is is that a I mean just motion to withdraw just totally withdraw it or continue the hearing just motion to withdraw it and they start all over. That's correct. So move I I don't Do we need a motion to remove it? Second. Okay. Um so we have a motion and a second to remove item five. And all in favor I

Thank you. I think he would need a motion because he got to clear it off this agenda. Motion to allow it to continue to withdraw. Right. Exactly. Okay. Which means he's correct. They have to start over from the very beginning. Okay. Thank you. Thank you all. And this evening um and at this time we are ready to move into our public comments section. And we have two people signed up for public comments. Uh Lori Arnold, thank you. And I invite you to come to the podium. State your name and address. And you have um five minutes.

Hi, I'm Lori Arnold. I live at 504 West Front Street. And I'm here to talk about um Burlington Animal Shelter. And the reason I'm here is because um well, in the past I've called them and I've never gotten any help. But this time yesterday, um my husband and I were just walking in the neighborhood and we found a dog running down this um Front Street. And if you know anything about Front Street, people fly down Front Street. It's butts up against Fiser Street and it's a busy intersection. So we grabbed the dog. We took the dog down to be microchipped and did not have a chip. We canvased the neighborhood. Nobody knew who this dog belonged to. So we called animal control and they said, "Oh, they were looking for the dog. They had had a complaint earlier in the day. Um I said, "Great. I found the dog. You can come get it." "No, they can't come get it. They be um Burlington Animal Shelter was full." Okay. So then I called the um after hours or the non-emergency police department and they said basically the same thing that there's nothing that anybody can do to help. So now I have a dog that I don't know who it belongs to. It's an unneutered male pitbull. um very friendly. Um we ran into the mail lady and she said she would have been terrified if the dog had come up on her and I was told to release the dog where I found it. I guess I'm supposed to take him into the middle of Front Street and just let it go and hope it doesn't get hit by a car, cause an accident, bite somebody, get in a dog fight, but that was the help I got. So, um, anyways, in the second call that I one of the calls I made, they told me that the dog lived on Brook Street. So, we canvas that neighborhood, my dog, my dog, my husband and I, my dog and I, my husband. And, um, we found the house and we pounded on the door. The guy didn't answer. Um, all the neighbors told us that's where the dog was. It was usually kept out in the

backyard. We left a note. Then, nobody ever responded. I also posted in Facebook. So this morning, uh, my husband walked down, the note had not been moved, so we called for a welfare check to make sure the guy wasn't dead in the house, and they went to the house, pounded on the door. This time the guy did answer, but he said um he uh somebody named Larry lived there, and Larry had left and left the dog, and he didn't want the dog. So, and we had kept the dog all night. So, um, then I drove to Burlington Animal Shelter with the dog and the officer came out and said again, uh, they knew the dog, they knew this Larry. They were going to try to catch, you know, talk to him. I said, "Well, the police officer already did do all that and they couldn't contact Larry. Nobody knows where Larry is." So, I was told again, "Release the dog on Front Street where I found it." I mean, that to me is unacceptable. And they said, "That's the policy." And I've gotten that. We found a German Shepherd that was growling. We found I found a German Shepherd in for some reason I'm like the dog whisperer. A German Shepherd in Graham. My daughter had trouble with feral cats. Ended up having to get rabies shots. And every time all I'm ever told is Burlington Animal Shelter is full and that there's nothing that they can do to help me. So meanwhile, I still have the dog who is a very sweet dog, but he's a young dog. I you if I took off my uh shirt, I mean I've got marks all the way up and down. We've let him in the house. He's a sweet dog, but we can't keep him. And I don't know where to go, who to help me because Burlington Animal Shelter says, "Release him. Let him go and hope Jack he doesn't get hit by a car." And I think that's unacceptable, especially since they took on, I think, the responsibility of Graham. So they added more animals. And if they can't help the dogs in

Burlington, why are they adding Graham dogs to the shelter? So, that's my complaint. And I would like to know what I'm supposed to do with this unneutered male pitbull with Larry is uh missing in action. You will? I'm serious. He is a sweet, sweet dog. I'm not kidding you. My dog is living with my parents now. All right. Hey. All right. Problems are solved. Hallelujah.

We He needs to be neutered and he needs shots. And I asked about that today and they said they won't do anything till they try to get a hold of Larry who's who's gone and that keep him another 24 hours and um they would call me tomorrow. But that's the best solution I've ever gotten from them is release him where I found them. Thank you for sharing your concerns and we will pass pass this on. Um, and uh, and it sounds like maybe you should talk to our reporter after the meeting. Um, I'm not letting him out this door. No, no, no.

Thank you. Thank you so much. Um, and next on our uh, next sign up this evening is Sha Yuing. Um, state your name and address and limit your comments to five. Sure.

Good evening members of city coun city council. My name is Sean Yuing. I reside at 304 Strapford Drive in the great city of Mean, North Carolina. I'm here to talk about the new homes. They're on North Bowmont Avenue. Uh, recently I was driving around your wonderful city and talk with residents, community leaders, and saw these beautiful new properties. They represent an investment in the community and the city in an area that I believe is only going to grow in value. However, as we welcome these new residents, we have a responsibility to look at the reality of the land that they're all built on. These homes are near a flood plane, technically not in one, but we all know that weather doesn't care about our maps. And we keep on seeing these hundred-year events, 100red-year rain events happening almost every other month now. And even though we're in a drought right now, we know this cycle. We've been through it before. Rain's going to come. These properties have been impacted in the past, and they will likely be impacted again. And this isn't isolated to Bulmont either. uh residents have shared similar concerns about Jackson Street, too. We see properties there that are consistently impacted by the flood plane. And by looking at these areas, an opportunity, we can consider them as a buying opportunity for the city in in the future. This would help prevent headaches, heartaches, and financial loss of your residents. And folks, I know we can't change what's already been built. It is what it is. But we can be proactive and handle this and looking forward for the future. I believe there's real opportunity here for the city of Burlington to proactively buy low-lying land in these streams or around these streams. These don't need to be massive developments or giant parks. However, these small parcels are perfect candidates for green spaces, pocket parks. For the city, it's a mitigation strategy. If pocket park floods, the worst thing happens, put down new mulch. For the residents, open space is an amenity. But if a home floods, we're talking about destruction of generational wealth, the loss of generational uh memories, and a blow to the heart of a family's financial stability. And if someone has a better idea, I welcome it. I just want to make sure I'm bringing it to your attention. I want to make sure we're proactive and watching out for the future of uh the

new residents and the future residents of Burlington. So, let's prioritize people over pavements in our most vulner vulnerable areas. And thank you all for your time and consideration on this pattern. Thank you. Thank you for your comments. and we will definitely share that with our storm water department and um our our city manager on this side. Thank you. Um thank you.

Are there other public comments? Not signed up. I think I think everyone in here um is accounted for too. So, um I think we are that um brings us to the close of our public comments and um I just want to offer an opportunity for city council to make any comments that they want to make. Um as we move toward closing this evening,

I will go on record to say that I am just as concerned as you. Um, I would probably go a little higher and say that the council has those same concerns with um the areas that you mentioned um the vulnerable areas like Bowmont and we know about Chandler um in those areas, Key Street that floods um a lot and you see those homes in the park almost, you know, they're underwater um during a heavy rain. Um, so I cannot imagine I was talking to Councilman Batu this this morning um about those same concerns and those neighborhoods that have been heavily impacted for years. So I will say on the record um thank you for bringing that to our attention and that it is on our radar and that we are just as concerned as you are. Thank you. And then Bob and I, Bob, tell them where you and I went last week to the life services. Went to the ribbon cutting for the life services

um area, the new daycare centers that be, you know, they're starting construction on. It was a nice event and I learned more about I knew I knew a little bit about it, but we learned more about what they actually do in our community. They perform an excellent service and they have been doing for 50 years. Yes. Thank you. And thank you for representing our council there, too. Other comments?

Yeah. Um, Miss Arnold, I appreciate you being here and and raising that concern. I found a dog just a couple weeks ago and received the same feedback from our our Burlington Animal Services folks. was able to reunite through social media after a couple hours. But I had to keep the dog in my backyard in the interim, which is a lot to ask our our community to do, especially after we just made a tremendous investment services, the new facility, and I had hoped that would improve the quality of service. But I've heard the same narrative from multiple folks, and I hoped that it wasn't something that was reoccurring, but it sounds like it's now becoming a regular issue. So, I'd love to get a staff report at a future work session about Is the shelter full all the time? Are we truly pushing back that every found dog has to be kept by individuals? Because few folks are willing or able to keep a dog. Um,

I brought him in because he was barely barking and I have neighbors. I mean, I don't want him barking all night and scratching at the door. So, he came in the house and we had a long night. Let's just put it that way. I anticipate we'll have a long night tonight. He's a very good dog. This is not our dog. He doesn't know where he's I've fostered and rescued many times and those first couple nights are sleepless and tough. So yeah,

so I mean I think my hope would be we're we strive to be a no- kill shelter and for the response to be release the dog back into the street who's not in that same sphere. So I'd love to know where are we now and are there things we can do to truly live the mission of being a no kill shelter and supporting safety of our pets. Thank you. Other comments? Um, just a couple of announcements. The at we heard earlier, the Burlington Carousel Festival will take place May 2nd and 3rd and May 2nd is Arbor Day in Burlington. Um, so uh plan to come and get a tree and then plant it. Uh,

and water it. And water. Yes. Thank you. Um, so the fund kicks off Saturday, May 2nd at 10:00 a.m. and runs until 6:00 pm and then um runs from 12:00 to 5:00 on Sunday, May 3rd. So that's May 2nd and 3rd at City Park. Our next um city work session will be Monday, May 4th at 5:00 p.m. with the next council meeting on Tuesday, May 5th. Um, could I add one more? Yes.

Boards and commissions applications are currently open. Um, we rely heavily on our boards and commissions for many things including planning and zoning, uh, tree and appearance, historic preservation, and we would love any members of the community who are looking for an opportunity to serve our city to consider applying. They can do so online. Applications are open how much longer it it's open until we start preparing everything for you. So, you got a couple weeks at least, but um, we always love seeing folks as you apply. Please share what you're passionate about uh what experiences you've had and how you hope to bring that to a boarding commission. That helps us tremendously as we go to appoint those positions. So you can apply online now.

Thank you. Um also, uh the city of Burlington and Alamance Community College, I believe, are offering a business course, workshops, technical assistance sessions. Thank you. Tomorrow is the first at 10 a.m. at the Dream Center focused on marketing. There will be three throughout the rest of the year. Two of them webinars and another in person. So, sorry I don't have the dates memorized at hand, but those are on our website. It's to say they're available. We encourage anyone to attend.

Yeah. Um that helps us to have more businesses in the city of Burlington to fill up the storefronts that may be aren't currently open. So, um would love to see that workshop completely full. Um and so lots of good things happening in Burlington. Wonderful staff to make that happen. And um we are I am appreciative. I think I can speak on behalf of our council. I'm appreciative for all that you do and and for our citizens who are here as well. If there is nothing else, then I need a motion and a second to adjourn this meeting.

Motion to approve. Mercy. Um, public comments are limited to five minutes. Oh, just 10 seconds. Okay. Um, I will invite you to the microphone and then but afterwards you need to um give me your contact information.

Thank you so much um to the council and for Miss Ken for allowing me to speak. I just wanted to um on the public hearing for number four around the reszoning of 521 Raw Hut Street. First, my name is Teresa Wy. I reside at 1010 Richmond Avenue, Burlington, North Carolina, 27217 East Burlington. Um, I just wanted to just express my concern and advocacy for protecting the current zoning that's happening um that's in place on East Burlington that is currently zoned as um neighborhood business. And I understand that um there's businesses and individuals who want to reszone for whatever the reason may be, but I just want us to be intentional and how we use limited use. I do feel like that we have been able to use limited use as a loophole to create uh businesses in places that are not originally zoned for its purpose. So currently is zone for neighborhood business. The location where it's currently located, it is in dire need of a business, a business that supports the community, the neighborhood, and the growth. Not, you know, a car lot or a car wash or whatever the case may be, but is zoned for a purpose. and for a reason. I think zoning is there for protection. So, I just ask that each of you as the council be intentional on how you create limited use and that it be used for those opportunities that are limited and are truly exceptions and not as a loophole. Thanks. Thank you for your comments.

And we denied it. So, we already denied it. Thank you. sit down after the meeting. Thank you. At this time, I need a motion and a second to the meeting. Motion second. And all in favor?