Raeford City Council approves Oakwood Ave rezoning, Gates Farm subdivision and several municipal resolutions

Raeford — The City Council on Aug. 2 approved a series of land-use and administrative measures, including rezoning a parcel on Oakwood Avenue to permit a restaurant, granting preliminary subdivision approval for Gates Farm and adopting hazard‑mitigation and grant program resolutions.

Felecia Locklear, the city’s code enforcement officer, told the council that the 0.42‑acre property at 203 Oakwood Ave (PIN# 694341001081) has operated as a retail occupancy since 1972 and is a nonconforming use under current R‑8 zoning. She said rezoning the parcel to CB (Central Business) would allow restaurants and correct the nonconforming status. Following the Planning Board’s recommendation for approval, the council closed the public hearing and unanimously approved the rezoning to CB to accommodate the addition of a restaurant. The property owner was listed as Annie T. McMillan and the applicant as Deneka McMillan.

The council also granted preliminary subdivision approval for a 17.43‑acre parcel on Turnpike Road (Gates Farm, PIN# 694251701029) owned by Robert A. Wright and Shirley Wright. Locklear told members that the parcel, annexed in 2015 and effective June 30, 2016, has access to city water and sewer lines and can meet R‑8 dimensional standards. The application requests 58 single‑family lots; staff calculations presented to the council showed the proposed lot count falls within several density‑based checks. Robert Wright asked the council for approval; the motion carried unanimously.

As part of the consent agenda, the council adopted Resolution #2021‑09 to adopt the Cumberland–Hoke Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan. The resolution cites relevant state statutes and federal guidance (including 44 CFR Part 201 and the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000) and charges Raeford Emergency Management with annual and five‑year reviews to maintain eligibility for related federal and state assistance.

Council members also approved Resolution #2021‑10, adopting the supplemental program manual and policies required for the city’s participation in the 2018 Community Development Block Grant‑Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG‑NR) program administered by the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The resolution enumerates required plans and policies (Language Access, Fair Housing, Procurement, Section 504 policies, anti‑displacement guidelines, contractor procurement and other documents) and designates the mayor, city manager and city clerk as authorized signatories for grant documents.

On financing matters the council adopted Resolution #2021‑11 declaring official intent to reimburse capital expenditures with proceeds of borrowing for up to $334,800 and identified Exhibit A items that include a 1/2‑ton pickup, a zero‑turn mower, a side cutter attachment, a commercial front‑end loader and a UTV cargo cart. The council then accepted Truist Bank’s financing proposal and adopted Resolution #2021‑12 authorizing finance terms for an amount not to exceed $334,800, an interest rate not to exceed 1.14% and a term not to exceed three years; staff were authorized to complete financing paperwork.

Also adopted as part of the consent items were bylaws creating the Raeford Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee and appointments to that committee, the reappointment of three members to the Community Development Committee, a position reclassification for a parks staff role, an ordinance to close Main Street on Dec. 3 for the annual “Hometown Christmas,” and approval of monthly departmental and financial reports. Several consent items were described in the meeting materials; the council voted to approve the full consent agenda by unanimous vote.

No public comments were offered during the meeting’s public‑comment period. The council received routine reports from the mayor, city manager and staff, including notices about upcoming events and project status updates. The meeting adjourned by unanimous consent.

What happens next: The rezoning and preliminary subdivision approvals move forward under the conditions described at the meeting (zoning corrected to CB for 203 Oakwood Ave; Gates Farm preliminarily approved as a 58‑lot subdivision). Staff will continue work on financing closings and grant implementation as authorized by the council.