Town Council Regular Meeting

Town of Fletcher Regular Meeting Recap: Agenda Review Date: August 10, 2026

The Town Council convened for its Regular Meeting on August 10, 2026, focusing on administrative approvals, infrastructure updates, and a quasi-judicial hearing regarding a special use permit. The meeting opened with the review and approval of amendments to previous meeting minutes. Following this, the Council approved the Consent Agenda, which included the purchase of a new garbage truck and a street sweeper. These administrative actions were carried via motion and second without objection, allowing the Council to proceed to substantive discussions on town projects and community safety.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a quasi-judicial evidentiary hearing concerning a request by Focus Plus Academy to operate a small middle/high school within an existing church at 50 Library Road. After reviewing the proposal against local ordinances, Council Member [Speaker 3] moved to approve the special use permit, finding the application consistent with Article 15.10 and meeting all nine required criteria. The motion was seconded and carried. Staff will now draft a written decision for the Mayor’s signature and delivery to the applicant. This approval allows the academy to proceed with construction in accordance with its approved site plan.

Public comment highlighted ongoing concerns regarding safety and infrastructure along Highway 25. Two residents spoke during this segment. Mr. Joe Black suggested removing a dam under the bridge at Cane Creek to aid fish migration and noted that bushes along the highway impede visibility. He also raised issues regarding parking at the Ingalls store and referenced a local mural project. Julia Fogel, speaking as a resident and property owner, expressed serious safety concerns due to high speeds (over 45 mph), heavy cross-traffic from Blake Street, and stormwater runoff from a newly paved road onto the highway. Ms. Fogel formally requested that the Council petition the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) for a traffic signal warrant analysis, conduct a speed zone study to reduce the limit to 35 mph, and initiate a code enforcement investigation into the developer’s stormwater management.

In response to the public comments, Council Members [Speaker 2] and [Speaker 6] expressed support for petitioning NCDOT to lower the speed limit to 35 mph on this corridor to support town center development and public safety. Staff indicated they would check with DOT regarding potential traffic impact studies for new developments on the corridor. The Town Manager provided updates on several key initiatives, including the Town Center project, where Lewis Real Estate Group is obtaining a budget for a land planner to re-evaluate the site. Regarding traffic safety at Old Airport Road and Highway 25, the Police Department has submitted accident data to NCDOT, and the Town Manager is awaiting an evaluation regarding a dedicated left-turn signal. Additionally, the Town Manager noted that the county is evaluating architect proposals for the library joint-project, and staff are working with property owners on the mural project to address property damage concerns.

Looking ahead, staff provided status updates on several pending items. The Cane Creek Greenway project is close to finalizing an acquisition or easement agreement for the "Sirocco" property, with action expected to be brought to the Council within the next month. The Town Manager reported that the land planner’s re-evaluation of the Town Center site will be presented to staff and the Council in the coming weeks. Furthermore, the Town Manager is awaiting a Memorandum of Understanding from the county regarding the library project. These updates provide residents with a clear timeline for ongoing infrastructure and community development efforts within the Town of Fletcher.