TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Jodi Phelps - Assistant City Manager
Gerald Newton - Development Services Director
Jennifer Baptiste - Planning and Zoning Division Manager
FROM: Craig Harmon, Senior Planner
DATE: June 22, 2026
RE:Title
Approve SUP26-01 Order or Approval - Findings of Fact: Special Use Permit to allow Transitional Housing at 707 Murchison Road containing 3.62 acres owned by UNITED GOSPEL FELLOWSHIP COVENANT MINISTRIES.Title
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COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
2 - Davis
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
The proposal supports strategic objectives related to:
• Encouraging reinvestment in underutilized and aging commercial properties;
• Promoting corridor revitalization and economic activity;
• Supporting compatible infill and redevelopment opportunities;
• Enhancing neighborhood stability and appearance; and
• Advancing long-term land use and redevelopment goals identified in the Fayetteville 2040 Comprehensive Plan.
Additionally, the reuse and continued occupancy of existing commercial properties may help reduce vacancy, encourage private investment, and support broader community development efforts within the Murchison Road corridor.
Executive Summary:
On May 26, 2026 the Fayetteville City Council approved Special Use Permit SUP26-01. Attached is the related Order of Approval for the Findings of Fact.
The subject property is located along the Murchison Road corridor, an established mixed-use corridor characterized by commercial, institutional, assembly, and community-serving land uses. The property has historically supported public and institutional type uses, including operation as an assisted living/nursing facility. Existing infrastructure, including roadway access, utilities, and on-site parking, supports the proposed use.
Background:
Owner: Bishop Jerry Porter, United Gospel Fellowship Global Ministries
Applicant: Tullous Burrow, Men of Purpose Foundation
Requested Action: SUP - Transitional Housing
Property Address: 707 Murchison Road
Council District: 2 - Davis
Status of Property: OI - Former Assisted Living
Size: Approximately 3.62 acres
Adjoining Land Use & Zoning:
• North - CC: Floodway
• South - MR-5: Multi-family residential
• West - MR-5: Floodway and Park
• East - MR-5: Multi-family residential & Cemetery
Letters Mailed: 57
Land Use Plans:
Mostly PARKOS - Park & Open Space with a very small section of HDR - High Density Residential
Technical Review Committee (TRC): Issue centered around safety and access concerns regarding floodplain and floodway.
The subject property is located at 707 Murchison Road within the City of Fayetteville. The site is currently improved with an existing commercial/institutional structure situated along the Murchison Road corridor, a major arterial corridor characterized by a mixture of commercial, institutional, assembly, and community-serving land uses.
Historically, the property operated as an assisted living/nursing facility and has existing infrastructure suitable for public-serving uses, including roadway access, utilities, and on-site parking accommodations. The surrounding area reflects a corridor-style development pattern that supports a variety of commercial and institutional activities.
Adjacent properties generally consist of commercial, institutional, and service-oriented uses consistent with the character of the Murchison Road corridor. Properties across Murchison Road contain a combination of commercial establishments, corridor-oriented businesses, and institutional/community-based uses. Areas located to the rear of the property transition toward lower-intensity uses and residential development patterns typical of urban corridors.
The applicant proposes to utilize a portion of the property as a community-based nonprofit facility operated by the Men of Purpose Foundation. The facility will provide structured programming and transitional housing services for adult men in a supervised environment. Proposed services include mentorship and leadership development programs, life-skills training, workforce readiness and employment support, educational workshops, peer engagement activities, community outreach initiatives, and transitional housing accommodations for up to forty (40) residents.
The applicant states that all activities will occur in a structured and supervised setting managed by staff and/or trained volunteers. The facility is not proposed as an unsupervised operation, emergency shelter, or high-impact commercial activity.
Issues/Analysis:
Use-Specific Standards and Ordinance Compliance
The applicant proposes a Transitional Housing use as regulated under Section 30-4.C.2.b.6 of the Fayetteville Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). Based on the information submitted, the proposed use appears capable of complying with the applicable use-specific standards and operational requirements established by the UDO.
The applicant has stated that occupancy will not exceed forty (40) residents and that the site will maintain required parking, circulation, and operational accommodations. The facility will comply with all applicable building, fire, occupancy, and life-safety regulations, and activities will occur in a structured, controlled, and supervised environment. The organization has also acknowledged that it will comply with any conditions imposed through the Special Use Permit (SUP) approval process and any subsequent site plan review requirements.
The proposed use is community-oriented and service-based in nature and does not involve industrial activity, hazardous operations, or high-intensity commercial uses typically associated with adverse land use impacts.
Budget Impact:
The proposed Special Use Permit is not anticipated to create a significant direct fiscal impact on the City of Fayetteville beyond normal administrative, permitting, inspection, and public safety service obligations associated with similar community-serving and institutional uses. The proposed use will utilize an existing structure with existing public infrastructure and utility access, thereby minimizing the need for additional public capital expenditures. Any future operational impacts on City services, including police, fire, inspections, or code enforcement, are expected to be consistent with comparable transitional housing and nonprofit service facilities operating within the City.
Options:
1. Approve Order of Approval as presented
2. Approve Order of Approval with specific changes.
Recommended Action::Recommended Action
Staff recommends that City Council approve the Order of Approval as presented.
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Attachments:
1. Order of Approval - Findings of Fact