Council approves two special‑use permits and forwards UDO sidewalk amendments to Planning Commission

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The Fayetteville City Council approved two special‑use permit requests during Tuesday’s meeting and accepted recommendations from the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) committee to send sidewalk‑standard amendments to the Planning Commission for public hearing.

Ice vending machine: SUP 2504

The council granted a special‑use permit to reduce the separation requirement between an ice vending unit and the public right‑of‑way at 2726 Raeford Road. Staff and the applicant said the ice vending machine was installed believing it met the 100‑foot separation standard but was later measured at roughly 86 feet from the right‑of‑way, requiring a 14‑foot reduction. Bill Allen, representing the owner and operator, told the council the machine has been in operation for 17 months, is well‑lit, has visible contact information and that the company keeps the site clean. Councilmembers found the request met the ordinance’s required findings and voted to approve the special use; staff noted Councilmember Thompson could not vote on evidentiary hearings per the council’s rules, and the motion was recorded as carrying unanimously by those voting.

Hounds Town USA (animal‑care use): SUP 2505

A second special‑use permit was approved for Hounds Town USA to reduce the required 75‑foot setback for an outdoor play/run area at a proposed animal‑care facility located at 4417 Ramsey Street in Ramsey Commons (the former Cape Fear Drugs site). Franchise owners Christie Bennett and Eric Allen described the business as indoor‑focused boarding and daycare with limited, supervised outdoor play periods (typically about 15 minutes at a time). They told the council they plan to install an 8‑foot vinyl privacy fence and screening, meet spacing/cleanliness/ventilation standards, and that the project represents roughly $1 million in investment with $277,000 in owner equity and a 10‑year lease with options to extend.

UDO committee and sidewalk items

Council’s UDO committee (members: committee chair, Councilmember Mahjandros, Councilmember Green, Mayor Pro Tem Jensen and Mayor Colvin) reported on six months of reviews including emerging recommendations. The committee asked the full council to receive a staff presentation on development incentives at a June work session and recommended two specific sidewalk‑standard revisions be added to the Planning Commission agenda for a June 17 public hearing and, if approved, returned to council for consideration on June 23. Committee members said the changes aim to clarify sidewalk standards and development incentives for higher‑density zoning across the city.

Why it matters: Both special‑use permit approvals balance property‑specific constraints and zoning standards with public‑safety, screening and neighborhood impacts; the UDO committee’s sidewalk amendments could affect future development requirements if the Planning Commission and council adopt them.

Select direct quotes

"If the special use isn't granted, that requires substantial expense to move the box 14 feet, and it would affect our customers that use the box daily," Bill Allen said about SUP 2504.

"We are an affordable and refreshingly straightforward approach to pet care...we are strictly an indoor boarding and daycare facility," Christie Bennett, Hounds Town USA franchisee, said in support of SUP 2505.

Formal actions and votes

- SUP 2504 (ice vending separation reduction) — approved (motion passed; recorded as unanimous among voting members; council noted a member was ineligible to vote on evidentiary items). - SUP 2505 (Hounds Town USA setback reduction) — approved (vote recorded as 9–0 in the transcript excerpts presented to the council). - UDO committee recommendations — council received the report and directed staff to place two sidewalk amendments on the Planning Commission June 17 agenda; the council will consider the Planning Commission’s recommendation at the June 23 regular meeting if the commission forwards the items.

Provenance: Transcript excerpts show staff presentations by planning staff and applicant testimony for SUP 2504 and SUP 2505; the UDO committee report was presented and accepted by council.

Ending: Applicants may proceed with plan permits consistent with the special‑use approvals and building/permitting requirements; sidewalk amendments will proceed through the Planning Commission process for public hearing.