[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6195225,"mediaKeyId","3862727-430c302f7f57b9ddcc33bbbda4a04532","parentId",3862727,"title","Council adopts HUD five‑year consolidated plan and FY25 annual action plan; staff outlines programs and apparent budget figures","audioSeconds",514,"startMs",2440000,"endMs",2954000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3862727-430c302f7f57b9ddcc33bbbda4a04532&start=2440&end=2954","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3862727-430c302f7f57b9ddcc33bbbda4a04532/thumbnail_2440000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6195225/Hickory-City/Catawba-County/North-Carolina/Council-adopts-HUD-fiveyear-consolidated-plan-and-FY25-annual-action-plan-staff-outlines-programs-and-apparent-budget-figures","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6195225-1c1e5b7978228a17de5c501eec45b813/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448430&Signature=Vi~sayDBEVJL1vAw-Y9dtE26QcWcgw9AzHql7etHi~Wsu1VN-xjVcZL-xCVFQDD98Uh~DUoqsCboPoyNmBQqbJmk4-kY~5ERSZ6eWMN73wFjvpClv~OMU3k5HwFEn7ta0vF6J8tus5GUlbviECLwvSaKarqEpFAN6iS9N7vWRos4LjziurbMPCN5cvJ3TnVEze92kOF65XzPNmWhL-ZyMAyuR94LNfZghOq08oPSESsTQPQLX1P7LWxzn3Zt7T2orRzy-b9IarjLnXJr~XvNTLZKGQDM-BaezyH-dm~3L5VSCyK3oD9WwtERwFwsM013omB8VfaqStYr03ZVxobGKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Hickory, NC","date","2025-06-18T18:14:23Z","article","The Hickory City Council adopted the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development five‑year consolidated plan (2025–2029) and the FY2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) annual action plan on June 17 after a public hearing and presentation by Community Development Specialist Annabeth Walker.

Walker said the consolidated plan sets the city’s roadmap for CDBG spending over five years and that the city engaged nonprofit providers and held neighborhood meetings in January and February to identify needs. \"The consolidated plan will provide a road map for the city's spending of community development block grant funds over the next 5 years,\" Walker said.

Walker listed notable current and proposed projects: five owner‑occupied housing rehabilitation loans for households at or below 80% of area median income; grants to nine nonprofit agencies ranging from $5,000 to $7,500; rehabilitation work at Cliff Teague Park; and a single microenterprise grant. She said the city is part of the uniform HOME consortium for HOME funds covering a four‑county area and that a significant share of HOME resources will be used in Hickory.

Walker provided budget figures as presented to council: she said the city will receive approximately \"$303,331,589 dollars in 2025 through the allocation directly from HUD,\" and that the city will budget approximately $45,000 in program income, \"for a total budget of $376,589.\" Walker also described a proposed budget allocation including public infrastructure ($115,000), housing rehab and purchase programs ($125,000), public services ($60,000), program administration ($63,000), contingency ($9,589) and small business assistance ($4,000).

Council members asked for a brief clarification and Walker confirmed that the housing rehabilitation funds are specifically for owner‑occupied units.

The public hearing drew no speakers for or against the plan; the council voted unanimously to approve the consolidated plan and the annual action plan.

Next steps: Staff will administer the FY2025 CDBG projects and present required reports to HUD and the council; neighborhood and nonprofit partners will receive funding as outlined in the action plan.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hickory City Council Meeting - June 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff presented the HUD 2025–2029 consolidated plan and the FY2025 annual action plan, listing housing rehab loans, nonprofit grants and park improvements; council unanimously approved the plan after a public hearing.","taxTitle","Hickory City, Catawba County, North Carolina","taxId",3980,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6195230,"Council approves 84-unit planned development on Springs Road; developer says homes will be ‘net‑zero ready’",1010,2773000,3783000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3862727-430c302f7f57b9ddcc33bbbda4a04532&start=2773&end=3783","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3862727-430c302f7f57b9ddcc33bbbda4a04532/thumbnail_2773000.jpg","/articles/6195230/Hickory-City/Catawba-County/North-Carolina/Council-approves-84-unit-planned-development-on-Springs-Road-developer-says-homes-will-be-netzero-ready","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6195230-2c99bd3302780c04470284f41a11148f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448430&Signature=g6PpgMMsCTW9Q9bwVDjkFqLT39JgPrdeVGiMtojw8PObw19OBZsylnB4NqLXR83YPNLSUvDfF-ZdNlIhba8fxIhYzM4xDJlVmqjgrwGRGr63NU2BvOljbNJ66aq5CLn-u~DErmlvwEnh-V5cdRXfRvh6-3mIA1WaL9kIJehbG1dIU7Kmmarjpeeao93Am4Dg146Rm-sevtHaYL7hc-e0ZO15XPOIKAHupy3jbhTLRi3cCouT4tDkv0Twa~kHhJVk6OMPPk--ImdcM2wDK5j5UUqaQPfkh24ShAzoONdBFCJ~-yFLUOMVZm9xJIZSewgz0HEnDJUDxm6xoUNUQABSKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hickory City Council unanimously approved rezoning petition 25‑02 on June 17 to allow a planned residential development of 84 single‑family homes on roughly 8.5 acres along Springs Road, across from Saint Stephen’s Lutheran Church and School.

The change from R‑3 residential and commercial corridor zoning to Planned Development (PD) was recommended by the planning commission, which held a public hearing May 28 and voted unanimously to approve the petition, Planning Director Bridal Frasier told the council.

Why it matters: The rezoning paves the way for a higher‑density residential project near existing neighborhood‑scale commercial corridors and planned sidewalk and roadway improvements.

Frasier said the developer’s plan shows 84 dwelling units for a gross density of about 9.8 units per acre and that the plan complies with height and land‑use standards for PDs. The site plan shows internal block‑pattern streets, private open space (about 31% of the site) and private maintenance by a planned homeowners association. Frasier said final street, pedestrian and utility work will be subject to City and N.C. Department of Transportation review during permitting.

Developer Nicholas Parker, who spoke to the council, said the homes will be market‑rate and built to energy standards. \"The price points will be market rate,\" Parker said. \"These will be, you know, at or slightly above the market rate per square foot in this area. ... This project will be in line with several projects we're doing in in around Charlotte and that these will all be net 0 energy homes built to the Department of Energy's net 0 ready standards. So this will be, we're very excited about this project because this will be the largest net 0 energy project in North Carolina once it's complete.\"

Two adjacent property owners raised concerns at the planning commission about noise and the feeling of being surrounded by new development; Frasier said the developer agreed to consider a combination of vegetated buffers, fencing and an earthen berm and later spoke with the neighbors to address their concerns. Council members asked whether a sidewalk project planned on Springs Road will front the new development; staff confirmed the planned sidewalk is located on the same side of Springs Road and said construction coordination with DOT will be required so newly poured sidewalks are not later disturbed by DOT improvements.

The planning commission found the petition consistent with the city's Hickory by Choice plan; council members voted to accept the planning commission’s recommendation and to rezone the property to Planned Development under petition 25‑02.

Next steps: Detailed site design, permitting and DOT coordination are required before construction. The developer said pricing details remain to be set and that final design and permitting determinations will govern timing and construction sequencing.","The council unanimously approved rezoning petition 25‑02 to a planned development for 84 single‑family lots on about 8.5 acres on Springs Road; the developer told council the homes will be market‑rate and built to Department of Energy net‑zero‑ready standards.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6195235,"COG to assume control of Hickory Housing Authority after COG finds financial, administrative failures",799,901000,1700000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3862727-430c302f7f57b9ddcc33bbbda4a04532&start=901&end=1700","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3862727-430c302f7f57b9ddcc33bbbda4a04532/thumbnail_901000.jpg","/articles/6195235/Hickory-City/Catawba-County/North-Carolina/COG-to-assume-control-of-Hickory-Housing-Authority-after-COG-finds-financial-administrative-failures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6195235-f72deb920a588a4df7208768ec7ac3b5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448430&Signature=cNnaQAsjK-pajKLYbnsARlBdrz-J-xve7jVOrfvtWzt7MbzsH4qxe-zgrQzYlkPJa08SwPLvtIipDMuFtJWvA7HPM-9v9dkQZIoZN5TPqvOcFwxDQnZ3bc3s~JFaS16tZVFSKwlkB41YD-EiF2pQ2eYYed3fogtSGV9N1XdAkNcas3Ls82VqPGeBolHqGOf13Cnj5G9b7X4P~W5CYBndbQEg4gsqy2Q2gGj2g8I4TUElQolXUChTtJuC9av7WWN3Ch6RKUCFw5iJkVJgxzHrBXC5S~nbROtvQeI~Y25Onzib1uBYEz8R3aMSL6SfMm2w06WYc0WR2diiP51hm9KLpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Western Piedmont Council of Governments will take operational control of the Hickory Housing Authority effective July 1, 2025, following a council-directed takeover after an internal review found severe financial and administrative problems, Executive Director Anthony Starr told the Hickory City Council on June 17.

Starr said the housing authority currently administers housing choice vouchers but that its voucher program has been operating well below capacity. \"After reviewing and auditing all the tenant files, there are currently 267 vouchers in current and use out of the potential 556 vouchers. That reveals an actual lease rate of about 48% of the of the vouchers being utilized,\" Starr said. He told the council the authority previously reported a lease rate near 60%.

Why it matters: The housing authority holds vouchers that provide rental assistance to low-income households; underuse of those vouchers means eligible families may not be receiving federal assistance city officials say there is capacity to distribute.

Starr told council staff reduced the housing authority payroll from about 14 employees to a single employee after the authority's public housing units were transferred to a nonprofit called New Dimensions in February 2017. He said New Dimensions subsequently terminated its management agreement and now owes the housing authority $278,000; the housing authority filed suit on June 6 to collect that amount. \"Now this is a point that gets confused a lot in the public ... the former Public Housing Authority units in various neighborhoods in the city were transferred to a nonprofit called New Dimensions back in 02/2017,\" Starr said. \"So the Hickory Housing Authority doesn't have any role now with, overseeing those housing units.\"

Starr said the review also uncovered improper payments to landlords. \"We've also identified about 14 landlords who received excessive payments totaling $32,000 due to poor program administration. We've collected most of that balance now and, should be getting the rest of it hopefully soon,\" he said.

Starr described the housing authority's current cash position as constrained. \"With the outstand that with the outstanding bills owed by the housing authority, they're about a $174,000. That doesn't include the monthly bills where we make rent payments on behalf of the tenants,\" he said, adding that most cash remains designated for tenant rent payments and there are no unrestricted reserves.

Council members praised the COG team's work. Mayor Hank Gess said the council appreciates the \"extraordinary progress\" by the COG and the housing authority board. Council members singled out local residents whose complaints prompted reform; Anthony Starr and staff credited that public pressure with prompting the takeover and cleanup.

Starr described near-term operational steps: the housing authority posted notices May 22 inviting New Dimensions residents who have lived in units at least 24 months to apply for a housing choice voucher; approximately 60 such applicants had applied by the council meeting, and applications are open through June 30. Starr also said the COG will begin issuing vouchers from the waiting list starting in July but warned that the authority cannot issue all available vouchers at once because of financial limits and a shortage of available rental units.

Starr said the waiting list had been as large as about 2,000 families; after a file review and removal of nonresponsive applicants the list now stands at about 367 families. He said the COG has initiated a required financial audit with Loudermilk and Church, the auditors based in Morganton, and that the audit will be presented when complete.

Starr closed by noting the HUD-approved transfer of the housing authority to the Western Piedmont COG, effective 07/01/2025. \"So as you recommended and adopted, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development has approved the transfer of the Hickory Housing Authority to the Western Piedmont Council of Governments with an effective date of 07/01/2025,\" he said.

Next steps: Starr told the council the COG will continue audits, pursue the $278,000 collection action, and begin controlled voucher issuance to qualified households on the reduced waiting list. The housing authority board will meet through June 30 as operations transition to the COG.","The Western Piedmont Council of Governments will take over the Hickory Housing Authority on July 1 after an interim review found low voucher use, unpaid debts, and administrative problems; staff say voucher issuance and audits are next steps.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council adopts HUD five‑year consolidated plan and FY25 annual action plan; staff outlines programs and apparent budget figures

Council approves 84-unit planned development on Springs Road; developer says homes will be ‘net‑zero ready’

COG to assume control of Hickory Housing Authority after COG finds financial, administrative failures