BY DONNA SWICEGOOD
The Statesville City Council took a final step on Monday toward making funds available to support affordable housing initiatives.
By a 7-1 vote, council members approved the creation of an affordable housing fund and policy. Council member James Pressly cast the lone no vote on the proposal. He said his objection to the fund and policy was not an opposition to affordable housing but due to the lack of sustainable goals.
“How do we measure the effectiveness of the fund?” Pressly asked. “The first thing we should do is establish a clear goal.”
The fund would make monies available from the sale of city-owned property to help residents with down payment assistance or needed home repairs.
The program was proposed last year and given the go-ahead by the city council prior to the 2025 election. The election resulted in the election of three new council members and a new mayor so this was this council’s first opportunity to vote on the fund.
City Manager Ron Smith explained that the policy gives council a structure that it didn’t have before to use the funds. Council must approve the sale of any city-owned property and has the authority to decide how much, if any, of those funds would go into the affordable housing fund.
Smith also explained that the city has some $3 million in HOME funds available which would require a match. The new fund could be used for that match. HOME funds are a government grant designed to help local governments provide affordable housing.
Council member Lisa Pearson said the use of the affordable housing fund would mean no monies from the General Fund would be needed for local match.
Council member Doris Allison added that the fund would open the door for people to become home owners, which benefits the city as a whole.
Council member David Jones said the policy provides structure, something council did not have before. Responding to Pressly’s concerns about goals, he said, the HOME funds are a federal program which comes with strict guidelines and goals.
Following the discussion, council member Tip Nicholson made the motion to approve the policy, which Allison seconded.
OTHER BUSINESS
♦ Council also approved the first reading of a request to rezone and annex three parcels on Dover Road. The parcels were rezoned from Residential Agriculture to Heavy Industrial. Herman Caulder, assistant planning director, said the parcels, which are adjacent to the Larkin Regional Commerce Park, are surrounded by the HI zoning. The parcels consist of about 10 acres, he said. Since the annexation and rezoning were approved unanimously, the second reading will be considered on the consent agenda at a future meeting. The consent agenda is approved with one motion unless a council member requests an item be moved to the regular agenda.
Smith also gave an update to council on several ongoing projects:
♦ The airport terminal building is now open and a ribbon cutting is scheduled for later this month. He said two other projects at the airport are proceeding. The apron expansion is in the design phase and bids are to be opened for the corporate development area later this month.
♦ The expansion of the police department building and the building of the parking deck beside it got slightly behind schedule during the snow and ice in February but are still projected to be completed on time, Smith said. The work is completed now to the point that the block of Tradd Street that has been closed can reopen soon.
♦ Completion of the police department building is set for September or October, Smith said.
♦ Another public safety expansion is also underway, he said. Fire Station 5, on Gaither Road at Radio Road, will likely be ready by mid-summer, Smith said. A house located on the property is being renovated to serve as the station until funding is available to construct a permanent station.
♦ Culvert work is scheduled for Beauty Street, Holland Drive and South Toria Drive. The city has received $3.9 million in hazard mitigation grants for the stormwater work, he said.
♦ Pickleball courts have been completed at Martin Luther King Jr. Park with a ribbon cutting set for this month. Similar courts have also been completed at Caldwell Park. Smith said the playground equipment for Newtonville Park is set to be delivered by March 10. He also reported the shelter at Kimbrough Park is nearly complete.
♦ On the waterspline project, Smith said, paving of Brookdale Street is complete and work has started on Stockton Street and South Meeting Street. He said the entire project is about half completed.
As part of the consent agenda, council approved the following:
♦ Allowing the police department to submit a letter on behalf of the city to participate in the Urban Archery Season. SPD Chief David Onley said participation would extend deer season and allow deer hunting on private land. No firearms are allowed under this provision.
♦ Money from fund balance was allocated to three incentive grants. Doosan Bobcat received $186,688.26. Statesville Industrial Partners LLC received $80,793.67 and Northpoint Development LLC received $216,170.17.
♦ The second reading of a rezoning request for 540 Monroe Street was approved. The parcels were rezoned from B-5 General Business to R-5 High Density Residential. The second reading of a request to release a portion of property located at 149 Weeping Cherry Lane from the city’s extra territorial district to Iredell County was approved.
♦ The first reading of ordinances to allow the city to enter into amended agreements with the North Carolina Municipal Power Agency 1 were approved.