Havelock board approves Tucker Pointe preliminary plat, MOU with Craven County and budget adjustments

The Havelock Board of Commissioners approved several formal actions at its April 27 meeting, including preliminary plat approval for the Tucker Pointe townhome development, authorization of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Craven County for building inspection services, and adoption of Budget Amendment Number Two for FY2025–26.

The Board voted unanimously (5–0) to approve the preliminary plat for Tucker Pointe Townhomes, a Cherry Branch Limited project at 735 U.S. Highway 70 West (parcel 6-216-038). The proposal calls for 126 townhome units in 23 buildings, roughly 7.8 units per acre. Planning staff and the Planning Board recommended approval with conditions, including retaining the previously approved architectural renderings and adding Open Space/Common Area signage; staff recommended posting seven signs at specified access points. The Board’s approval made final plat approval contingent on resolving the Planning Board’s conditions.

The Board also unanimously approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Craven County to provide building inspection services effective when the county adopts the MOU. City staff explained the MOU is needed following the resignation of the City Building Inspector; the process will keep initial development review with the City’s Planning Department for consistency with the City’s Unified Development Ordinance, while permit-level inspections and approvals would be performed by the County under the agreement. The MOU will be kept on file in the City Clerk’s office.

Budget Amendment Number Two to the FY2025–26 budget was recorded in the consent agenda and adopted as presented. The amendment increases multiple departmental appropriations and related fund-balance appropriations, citing examples in the document: $63,739.90 for buildings (to incorporate funding for Boys & Girls Club improvements), a $36,600 increase for Police to cover license-plate-reader camera funding, $211,821 appropriated for a Harrier TAV-8B two-seat trainer line item listed in administration, and $128,000 in Powell Bill funds for a mini dump truck. The amendment also records modest donation revenue entries (for example, a $1,000 donation to Animal Control). The consent agenda containing these items carried by a unanimous vote.

Other recorded votes included advisory-board actions: the Board appointed Sandy Kosner to the Senior Center Advisory Committee (term to March 31, 2029); removed Markell Carter and Phuong Nguyen from the Community Arts & Appearance Committee for unexcused absences and appointed Garrett Hemry (student representative), Natasha Garrison and Luke Ferricher to fill vacancies; and removed Madeliene Butcher from the Recreation Advisory Board and appointed Nikki Pitt to a term ending Sept. 30, 2026. All appointments and removals were adopted by written ballot and recorded as unanimous or as tallied in the minutes.

After a closed-session personnel discussion under NCGS 143-318.11(a)(6), the Board returned to open session and unanimously authorized the mayor to execute the amended Interim City Manager contract.

Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda (including Resolution 26-R-04 and Budget Amendment #2): adopted (5–0). - Tucker Pointe preliminary plat: approved (5–0), subject to Planning Board conditions. - MOU with Craven County for building inspection services: approved (5–0), effective on county adoption. - Appointments and removals to advisory boards: recorded and approved as noted in minutes. - Authorization for mayor to execute amended Interim City Manager contract: approved (5–0).

The Board concluded the meeting at 8:59 p.m. The MOU and other adopted documents will be maintained in the City Clerk’s office; conditions for the Tucker Pointe project must be satisfied before final plat approval.