Barbara J. Best

Updates to Historic District Design Principles and Standards

The grant requires a $16,000 city match.

Disposition of Redevelopment Parcels (First Avenue, Mechanic Street, Bloomfield Street, Sampson Street)

Elevating homes above the floodplain adds design and construction costs borne by the builders.

Electric Rate Ordinance Amendment

Average residential bills could rise about $6.57 a month across all three utilities, plus variable power cost adjustments.

Weyerhaeuser Rezoning and Development Agreement

The applicant cited tourism and business tax revenue figures, and residents warned of higher taxes, insurance, and infrastructure costs; no firm figure was given.

Properties Sold After Upset Bid Process

An accepted upset bid would raise the effective sale price of the parcel; no amount was published.

Epiphany School special-use permit (TK facility)

This massive development could shake up local property values and bring in major tax revenue, though it might also hike infrastructure costs for the city.

Municipal Service District projects

Tourism generates $188 million in visitor spending and over $55 million in local taxes annually.

Adding 722 Third Ave to Sellable Lots List

A future sale could bring revenue to the commission; no figures were given.

Demolition by neglect and enforcement cases

Slow enforcement depresses neighboring property values and the fines only accrue late in a lengthy process.

Avenues Project

The lots sold at $63,000 tax value; the redevelopment is expected to be partly FEMA-funded.

Historic preservation awards program

Modest costs for certificates, signs, or medallions, possibly offset by a sponsor.

HPC Member Terms Expiring

$342,000 in extra Sedan project costs attributed to HPC requirements.

Clarifying and Revising Purchasing Conditions for Salable Lots

Clearer sale terms could affect proceeds from selling vacant lots.

Certificates of Appropriateness for Three Historic Properties

Approval conditions can shape project costs for the owners; no city spending is directly at stake.

Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI) Grant

A $25 million federal investment in New Bern neighborhoods — no local matching requirement was discussed tonight.

Revenue Bond Financing

Up to $31 million in anticipated revenue bond financing for electric infrastructure; no general fund money for the park-adjacent items.

Rezoning of 1100 Pinetree Drive

The applicant faces month-to-month earnest money deposits while the rezoning path is reworked; staff will process the new request free of charge.

Johnson Street streetlights

Installation and electric costs for the new lights, not specified.

Yellow Creek Enterprise Property Requests and Upset Bids

Sale proceeds would go to the city, and the properties go back on the tax rolls.

Demolition by neglect enforcement

Enforcement actions and deferred maintenance on these buildings can cost owners significantly, and neglected structures can drag down surrounding property values.

Approval of Minutes – 8.18.26 Meeting

Acceptance of Financial Report

Set first meeting date for 2027

TK Facility for the Epiphany School SUP-003637-2026 — adoption of prior decision

Paws of War Eastern NC Program SUP-003702-2026 — special use permit approved

Motion to adjourn

Certificate of Appropriateness – 510 E. Front St. (shutters)

Certificate of Appropriateness – 408 Hancock St. (storefront door and windows)

Amendment to CoA – 218 Pollock St. (rear addition changes)

Historic Preservation Awards – recommended winners

2027 HPC Meeting Calendar

Approval of the agenda

Approval of September 17, 2026 meeting minutes

Adoption of revised rules and procedures

Approve agenda and September 9, 2026 minutes

Accept Housing Authority offer for 721 and 703 First Ave

Add 722 Third Ave (PID 8-012-183) to sellable list

Table Agape Adams upset bid for 1213 Mechanic Street

Accept Yellow Creek Enterprise upset bids for three lots

Add eight properties to sellable list for Habitat partnership

Approve Agenda as Amended

Motion to allow 10 minutes of public comment on feral cats

Weyerhaeuser Rezoning Call and Development Agreement (Item 10)

Rezoning of Savoy Drive Parcels to C-3 Commercial (Item 22)

Electric Rate Schedule Amendment (Item 23)

Consent Agenda (Items 5-16)

Rezone 922 Pollock Street to C-4 Commercial

Rezone MLK Boulevard Parcels to All C-3 Commercial

Concerned the change would leave property owners uncertain and could allow development up against Haywood Farms

Rezone 1822 S. Glenburnie Road to All C-4 Commercial

No-Wake Buoys at Rock Quarry on Brice's Creek

Martin Marietta Park Grant Application

Southeast Substation and Glenburnie Transformer Engineering Contracts

New Streetlight on Johnson Street

Downtown MSD Projects, Including Bench Dividers and Extra Police

Declaration of Intent to Reimburse Electric Capital Costs

Vehicles-for-Hire Ordinance (Chapter 82)

Fund Ordinance Amendments (Items 27-31)

FY2027 Budget Ordinance Amendment

confirm that procedure ( i. e. the person appointed would be the one with the highest number of votes by ballot)

eliminate the $ 1 , 200 ( account 21167030- 74210)

Remove $1,200 for RDC retreat provisions

Consent agenda adopted (items 6-10, item 5 pulled)

Electric rate public hearing resolution plus ad hoc energy committee (item 5)

Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee dissolved (item 14)

CDBG housing rehab cap raised to $20,000 (item 15)

New streetlight at Racetrack Road and Elizabeth Avenue (item 16)

Cherry Point fire mutual aid and Children's Advocacy Center agreements renewed (items 17-18)

Four tax-foreclosure properties sold (items 19-22)

Local bill resolutions on downzoning statute and housing penalties (items 23-24)

Debt management policy adopted (item 26)

300 block of New Street made one-way (item 27)

Five budget ordinance amendments adopted (items 29-33)

establish Patriot Square by city hall and the flagpoles as presented, at least for the next year as they attempt to get funding, and if not the Board can revisit this in a year to establish whether or

Consent Agenda Items 5-10

Establish Patriot Square by City Hall

Based on current policy for use of city open space, approving the project would create a potential problem.

Rezone 507 Contentnea Avenue to C-4 Commercial

Mardi Gras Parade and Festival Street Closures and In-Kind Support

BUILD Grant Support for 'A Safer Neuse for New Bern'

Ordinance Amending Chapter 70 'Traffic and Vehicles'

FY26 Budget Ordinance Amendment