Shelley DeHart

The meeting commenced with the adoption of the agenda, which was amended to include a professional service contract with McGillan Associates for the design and engineering of the historic farm mill. Following the invocation and pledge of allegiance, a special presentation was given regarding the fiscal year 2025 financial audit, which was approved by the Local Government Commission (LGC). Key financial highlights included a $1.7 million investment in transportation improvements and developer contributions of approximately $400,000 for infrastructure in the Addison Park neighborhood. The town moved $9 million to savings for capital projects. Revenue increases were noted, particularly in property taxes ($5.6 million increase despite a tax rate drop) and intergovernmental taxes ($1.4 million increase, partly due to economic activity and partly due to greater proportional distribution). The presentation also reviewed government-wide net position, showing a healthy unrestricted net position of $52.7 million. Discussions also covered grant funding, including $710,000 from Powell Bill funds and $16.5 million awarded in transportation grants. Finally, the presentation reviewed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), noting that the town's metrics compare favorably to peer municipalities.

The meeting was convened as the first budget workshop of the season. A consent agenda item was approved concerning a contract with Code Right to modify the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). The primary focus was on budget direction, confirming themes and priorities established during the council retreat, and reviewing community priorities and economic challenges. Discussions included a recap of the January 24th retreat, where strategic plan tasks, the state of the town, and results from the One Harrisburg plan and transportation/parks master plan surveys were reviewed. Council priorities derived from individual surveys centered on transportation, traffic, connectivity (Caldwell, Highway 49, Morehead West), community spaces, greenways, and land purchases. Budget investment prioritization exercises highlighted transportation and economic development as sustained focus areas over three years, with planning and zoning/UDO correction increasing in importance. The session concluded with an analysis of cost burden, illustrating that municipal property tax components are a small fraction of total housing payments, largely driven by principal and interest, and confirming the value provided by local services.

The meeting commenced with the adoption of the agenda following a motion and second. Public comment included a presentation by Chad Balkam on behalf of the Friends of Harrisburg Greenways, discussing mapping efforts, right-of-way acquisition toolkits, support for the rail trail project connectivity to Harrisburg Park, a grant playbook for staff use, and community engagement activities such as a story walk and litter sweep. Brett Crosby of the Harrisburg YMCA provided an update, noting significant membership growth (over 150%), high community utilization including town employee memberships and resident discounts, high financial assistance utilization (341 families), and progress on fundraising for the facility. Martin Wheeler, representing All Aboard Carolinas, addressed the council regarding the importance of preserving passenger rail service stops for the Piedmont and Carolinian trains, urging the council to engage with the NC DOT to prevent service limitations in Harrisburg. Following public comments, the consent agenda was approved. The Town Manager then began his report, thanking the public speakers for highlighting community partnerships and referencing the recently released Quarterly Report which details progress on strategic plan objectives and various town awards received.

The meeting included a review of the legislative process for project review, detailing steps from pre-application through sketch plan vetting by the Development Review Committee (DRC), neighborhood meetings, and final recommendation to the Town Council. Discussion covered the legal parameters for imposing conditions of approval, emphasizing the requirements for essential nexus and rough proportionality, noting limitations such as the prohibition of impact fees. The board also received updates on ongoing development projects, including the Black Wilder 66-lot subdivision, which is proceeding as a preliminary plat with a development agreement, and the Peach Orchard project (formerly Divine property), proposed as a 143-lot subdivision with a 20-acre park dedication, which has a neighborhood meeting scheduled. The board noted they cannot vote on the consent agenda due to lack of a quorum earlier in the meeting.

The key discussion revolved around a request (Case H 202502R) to amend the town's zoning map, seeking to rezone two properties from Neighborhood Commercial to Conditional General Commercial for the purpose of establishing outdoor storage related to a building supply commercial operation. The site is currently developed with two commercial office warehouse buildings. Discussions detailed how the proposed change would bring the nonconforming site into compliance with town regulations, including improvements such as right-of-way dedication, a multi-use path, street lighting, and landscaping improvements consistent with the Highway 49 corridor plan. There were concerns raised regarding traffic impact and the necessary screening/buffering for the proposed outdoor storage area to remain invisible from the public right-of-way and adjacent residential zones, with staff confirming these details would be vetted during the construction plan review phase. The Board was recommended to recommend approval of the zoning map amendment as conditioned.