Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in New Bern, NC public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
10 issues in zoning with high priority
Certificates of Appropriateness for Three Historic Properties
Property owners in the historic districts need a certificate of appropriateness before changing building exteriors. This batch covers porches, decks, sunscreens, an outdoor bar, and two demolition-and-rebuild infill houses.
Clarifying and Revising Purchasing Conditions for Salable Lots
The Property Sales and Marketing workgroups were to discuss revising purchasing conditions and adding signage to lots the city wants to sell.
C-3 Commercial Rezoning of Two Agricultural Parcels
The board was scheduled to hold a public hearing and possibly adopt a rezoning of Tax Parcel IDs 8-210-044 and 8-210-23001 from agricultural to commercial use. What gets built there could shape traffic and neighborhood character.
Initial zoning of US 70 parcels as Commercial 3
Two newly annexed parcels totaling 5.86 acres along East US 70 would be zoned Commercial 3 (C-3), opening the door to commercial development on the highway corridor. What gets built there depends on this designation and later approvals.
Large-scale rezonings along US 70 / NC 43 corridors
The Craven County MPO outlined the NC 43 Connector's history — started in 1993, construction began 2025, completion estimated 2028 — and its purpose: economic development, freight routing off Glenburnie Road, and a new US 17 to US 70 link with an interchange at US 70.
922 Pollock Street rezoning
The city wants to rezone a tiny Habitat for Humanity-owned parcel on downtown Pollock Street from Commercial 5A to Commercial 4.
Manufactured homes in the Redevelopment District
Staff studied whether single-wide manufactured homes could be allowed in the RDC zone as an affordable homeownership option. They found most lots are too small, floodplain elevation could add $30,000 to an $80,000 home, and state law bars age restrictions on homes — so it's harder than it sounded. No vote yet.
Three commercial rezonings
The board was scheduled to hold public hearings on rezonings at 922 Pollock Street, three Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard parcels, and 1822 S. Glenburnie Road. These could shape what gets built and what neighbors can expect along those corridors.
Rezoning of 98.2 acres near Savoy Drive and NC Hwy 43
BPNC, LLC wants to rezone nearly 100 acres of farmland along the NC Hwy 43 corridor to Commercial 3, which would allow commercial development. The proposal was continued from July after the board asked for more time, so it's still an open question for neighbors along that corridor.
Firefly Café outdoor consumption permit
The Downtown Business Council wants a social district letting people carry drinks between downtown bars and restaurants during events. North Carolina's 68 existing districts have shown revenue gains, and the board told the City Attorney to draft a permit-based framework.