TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Lachelle H. Pulliam, City Attorney
FROM: Kecia N. Parker, NCCP, Real Estate Manager
DATE: January 13, 2025
RE:
Title
Public Hearing to Consider Closing a Portion of Ottis F. Jones Parkway
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
2
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Desirable Place to Live, Work and Recreate
Executive Summary:
NCGS §160A-299 gives authority and procedures for the City to close a city street or alley. The City received a petition to close approximately 1,873.87 square feet of the street known as Ottis F. Jones Parkway to enhance the development of the Crown Event Center. On November 25, 2024, City Council approved scheduling the public hearing for January 13, 2025, to consider the request. All statutory procedures for notifications have been followed.
Background:
The City received a petition requesting the partial closure of a street known as Ottis F. Jones Parkway. Closing the portion of the street will not deny access to any property. The first step in the process dictated by NCGS § 160A-299 requires that a resolution be signed granting the public hearing to consider the street closing. At its November 25, 2024, meeting, Council voted to set the public hearing for January 13, 2025. Staff has followed all the statutory procedures to include posting the property and mailing out certified notice letters to adjacent property owners. Notice of the hearing has also been posted on both ends of the property of the proposed closure; and notice of the hearing was published for four consecutive weeks in the local newspaper. Staff also consulted with the public utility companies to ensure that any needed easements would be reserved. The Traffic Engineer researched the property and determined no traffic analysis study of the area was needed since the proposed closure is a portion of a current parking lot; therefore, closing of the street will have no significant impact to traffic flow. Fire and the Emergency Medical Service were also contacted and relayed that the closing will not impact their response times. The closing of this portion of Ottis F. Jones Parkway will enhance the development of the Crown Event Center.
• The Petitioner is requesting to close a portion of the street known as Ottis F. Jones Parkway to enable the development of the Crown Event Center.
• NCGS § 160A-299 gives authority and procedures required for the City to close a city street or alley.
• This closure will not land lock any abutting property owners.
• Easements will be reserved as requested for the City, Fayetteville Public Works Commission, Brightspeed, and Spectrum via a blanket utility easement.
Issues/Analysis:
• No access will be denied to anyone as a result of the proposed closing.
• The Emergency Response times will not be significantly affected.
• There will be no significant impacts to traffic per the City Traffic Engineer.
• The City will be reserving an above ground and underground utility easement over the portion requested to be closed for utility purposes.
Budget Impact:
There is no significant impact to the budget as a result of the proposed closing.
Options:
• Adopt the Resolution and Order Closing a Portion of Ottis F. Jones Parkway.
• Deny the request.
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends adopting the Resolution and order the closing of the portion of Ottis F. Jones Highway for the development of the Crown Event Center.
Attachments:
• Petition for Closure
• Resolution
• Map