Wendell board approves annexation, festival closure, downtown grant, mural and Chick‑fil‑A fee in lieu

The Wendell Board of Commissioners took multiple formal actions during the meeting, approving an annexation petition, a temporary street closure and cosponsorship for a downtown festival that will include a beer tent, a downtown improvement grant, a mural request and a fee‑in‑lieu payment tied to a Chick‑fil‑A development.

Annexation: The board granted a noncontiguous annexation for an approximately 0.996‑acre parcel (PIN 1774876070) at 1021 Old Oak Tree Road. The applicant, Sarah Markham, submitted plans to construct a single‑family home on a parcel zoned rural residential; rezoning was not required because the parcel is already zoned rural residential and is in the town’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. The board opened and closed the public hearing and approved the annexation and an attached ordinance.

International Food and Music Festival: The board approved a temporary closure of South Cypress Street between Second and Third streets and cosponsorship of the International Food and Music Festival scheduled for Sept. 27 with a Sept. 28 rain date. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the town manager said organizers will be responsible for additional police staffing required as part of the event. The approved plan allows a beer tent to operate within a defined ABC permit area inside the downtown social district; the social district will be closed within the ABC permit perimeter for the duration of the tent, and alcohol sold in the tent must remain inside the perimeter.

Downtown improvement grant (31 North Main Street): The board approved a downtown improvement (DIG) grant request for Tannebunk LLC (Rob and Ginger Lee) at 31 N. Main Street. Staff classified the project as Tier 4 with a maximum reimbursement of $50,000. Staff reported total project estimates of approximately $600,000 and grant‑eligible work estimated at $191,000; the applicant requested the $50,000 maximum. The grant requires a reimbursement agreement and permits/inspections; staff noted the town will reimburse after completion and that a future budget amendment will be returned to the board to add funding to the DIG program.

Universal Chevrolet mural (105 N. Main Street): The board approved a 16‑by‑35‑foot mural proposed for a sidewall at 105 N. Main Street. The appearance commission had recommended approval. The mural includes a scenic roadway scene and will include a car emblem; any commercial sign in the upper right would require a separate sign permit and is not part of the mural approval. The applicant is not requesting town funds for the mural.

Fee in lieu for Wendell Falls Parkway intersection improvements (Chick‑fil‑A): The board approved a developer fee in lieu to allow a proposed Chick‑fil‑A to begin construction before the town’s updated traffic impact analysis (TIA) is finalized. Staff said the developer proposed a fee of roughly $122,000 based on staff estimates of the site’s share of future traffic; staff later noted the amount represents about 17–18% of a conservative cost estimate for the two intersections in question. The improvements identified include adding a right‑turn lane on Taylor Road onto eastbound Wendell Falls Parkway and installing a traffic signal at Wendell Falls Parkway and Douglas Falls Drive. Staff recommended acceptance to allow the developer to move forward while the TIA is completed.

Votes and motion records: Each action was moved and approved by voice vote; the meeting transcript does not record a roll‑call tally with names for each vote. Where recorded, staff and the board confirmed outcomes publicly and signed the corresponding ordinances or agreements as required by town procedures.

Next steps: Staff said they will finalize the annexation ordinance paperwork, execute a reimbursement agreement for the downtown improvement grant after work is complete, process the mural sign permit if the applicant requests one, and allocate or amend budgets as necessary to manage DIG reimbursements and transportation projects funded in part by the fee in lieu.

Below are the formal actions recorded in the meeting minutes.