Fayetteville board rezones 1107 Hedgemont to C‑3 with 99‑year covenant after public hearing

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen of Fayetteville approved an ordinance on the rezoning of 1107 Hedgemont Avenue from R‑2 (residential) to C‑3 (commercial) after a public hearing in April 2025 and with a 99‑year restrictive covenant barring the property’s use as a drug‑rehabilitation facility.

The rezoning vote followed more than an hour of public comment in which the property owners, Tiffany and Liam Calvert, and more than a dozen residents and customers of Magic Athletics (also referred to in testimony as Cheer Magic or CMA) urged aldermen to approve the change so the gym can operate at full capacity and open a nonprofit childcare center. Tiffany Calvert said, “This property is not a random commercial property. It’s the home of our business, Cheer Magic,” and described the building as a 50,000‑square‑foot, 70‑year‑old facility that is costly to run (utility bills of $6,600 for February were cited) and limited by the current zoning.

Why it mattered: Supporters said the childcare capacity the owners seek would fill a local need and help workforce recruitment and retention. Opponents warned that rezoning to C‑3 permits a wide range of commercial uses and could allow future owners to put an incompatible use on the site. Several speakers urged the board to delay action until the city adopts a new zoning category specifically for childcare and family‑oriented businesses. In response to those concerns, the Calverts proposed and the board accepted a restrictive covenant that, according to attorney Angela Airy, will run with the land and can be written to prohibit a drug‑rehabilitation center now and in the future.

What supporters said: Testimony in favor came from a mix of parents, gym athletes and local business leaders.…