Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Growth Framework topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sanford Council begins Growth Framework project, emphasizes balance with services and affordable housing
Summary
At a Feb. 24 special work session, Sanford officials and consultants from Freese and Nichols launched a Growth Framework and Policy Project to guide future development while preserving city services; Council prioritized adaptive reuse, Jonesboro-area focus and affordable housing and asked staff for a draft by March 24, 2026.
On Feb. 24, 2026, the Sanford City Council met in a special work session at the Raleigh Executive Jetport to begin a Growth Framework and Policy Project aimed at guiding future growth while maintaining current city services, officials said.
City Council members heard an overview from Charles Archer, principal manager with consulting firm Freese and Nichols, who said the project will evaluate city services, map growth tiers and recommend growth policies to help Council, staff, property owners and developers make consistent decisions. Archer framed the effort as Council-driven and warned that nearby Wake County’s limited supply of affordable land could affect Sanford’s growth patterns.
Freese and Nichols project manager Alexis Garcia and senior advisor Danny Wilson outlined objectives including reviewing the future capacity of current services in a sustainable manner. Garcia asked the council for long-term visioning input. Council members and staff responded with a set of shared priorities: maintaining a welcoming community character; improving accessibility; creating housing and employment opportunities for residents across life stages; preserving Sanford’s historic places; pursuing adaptive reuse of dilapidated buildings; and encouraging innovation and creativity while protecting existing service levels.
Councilors identified the Jonesboro area as a promising focus for adaptive reuse projects such as entertainment and retail, and reiterated the need for affordable housing strategies. Community Development Director Marshall Downey introduced the consulting team and emphasized that successful policy work will require active Council participation because Council is the decision-maker on development applications.
Alexis Garcia said she will draft an outline of the Council’s visions and goals and present it at the March 24, 2026 workshop for further direction. The meeting paused for a ten-minute break at 2:30 p.m. and resumed at 2:42 p.m.
Votes at a glance: the council took two procedural motions during the session. Council Member Chris Petty moved to enter a closed session under state statute to discuss the location or expansion of industries or businesses; Council Member Walter Ferguson seconded and the motion carried unanimously. Later, after returning to open session, Petty moved to adjourn at 3:35 p.m.; Council Member Linda Rhodes seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
What happens next: Freese and Nichols will produce a draft outline of visions and goals based on the council’s input for the March 24 workshop, where councilors can refine priorities and direct next phases of analysis and mapping.
