Mayor Mitch Colvin highlighted his first 100 days in office in a State of the City address with the current council on March 10. The address emphasized priorities such as economic growth, housing and infrastructure improvements. He noted the importance of positioning Fayetteville to capture economic activity linked to the regional growth of the Triad region and the future I-685 corridor.

On Mar. 9, the Fayetteville City Council appointed 29 residents to various city boards and commissions, including the Airport Commission and the Fair Housing Board. These volunteer advisors, set to begin their terms on April 1, assist in shaping local policies and programs.

A significant portion of the meeting involved a disagreement regarding the regulation of data centers. Council Member Shaun McMillan and Mayor Mitch Colvin sparred over whether the council or the City of Fayetteville Planning Commission should lead policy development for the industry. A motion to begin drafting these policies ultimately failed due to a lack of a second.

The council formally adopted both the 2026 State and Federal action plans. These documents outline the city’s advocacy priorities for lawmakers and focuses on infrastructure, economic development, public safety and veteran support.

At the launch of the new public forum format intended to increase resident engagement, two individuals spoke during the inaugural session. If you would like to sign up for public comment at the Fayetteville City Council meetings, sign-ups may be completed in person with the City Clerk at City Hall, 433 Hay Street, by phone at 910-433-1992, by email at PublicComments@fayettevillenc.gov or by using the online form at FayettevilleNC.gov/Clerk. 

 

On Mar. 12, the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners heard an update on planned community information sessions related to the proposed East Central and Cedar Creek Water Districts.

The County is looking to create two new water and sewer districts in order to be eligible for grants and low-interest loans to fund engineering reports. The proposed districts are located between the Sampson County boundary and NC Highway 210 and the Cedar Creek Water and Sewer District. Both districts have been affected by “contaminated private wells linked to PFAS from the Fayetteville Works site, creating ongoing health and safety concerns for impacted property owners,” according to county officials. In January, the board directed staff to create sessions to provide residents with additional details and answer questions about the proposed districts. The first public information session will be held on Mar. 31 at 6 p.m. at Stedman Elementary School.

The board also reviewed and unanimously adopted the fiscal year audit for the period ending June 30, 2025, following a presentation by Cherry Bekaert, LLP.  

Following a review of planning and inspections services provided to eight municipalities including Hope Mills and Spring Lake, through an interlocal agreement, the County Manager was directed to develop a framework for baseline and enhanced service levels within 60 days. 

The interlocal agreement, first established in 1976, helps ensure coordinated, comprehensive planning across Cumberland County and its participating municipalities through a unified approach. The Cumberland County Joint Planning Board is the administrative body authorized by the interlocal agreement to manage land use and development. The board has the final approval of plat variance waiver requests in the County and also reviews, holds hearings and approves or makes recommendations on area studies, future land use plans, transportation improvement projects, zoning matters and most land use issues throughout the County.

The board removed the proposed data center ordinance from the meeting agenda. This topic will be revisited following a scheduled public forum on Monday, March 23 at 6:30 p.m. to address community concerns regarding utility and environmental impacts. The meeting will take place in Room 118 of the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse, and the public is encouraged to attend.

Also, the board unanimously approved a request from the Cape Fear Regional Theatre for $3.5 million in capital expansion funding. which will be distributed over a four-year period. The funding supports the expansion of the facility at 1209 Hay Street, including two new studio classrooms to support youth programs, space for community events and a second stage for live music and other initiatives.