The Southern Pines Town Council met for a regular meeting Tuesday, and over the course of the meeting, the council discussed long-term planning, infrastructure, and quality of life considerations for residents.
Funding and Budget Amendments
The council approved a series of budget amendments that will move forward long-discussed infrastructure projects, including repairs at the Reservoir Park Dam and the town’s first payment on a new Town Hall project.
Town Manager Reagan Parsons told council members the amendments fund three items: a $327,250 semiannual installment loan payment for the town hall project, $105,000 for improvements at Whitehall’s carriage house, and $800,000 to advance repairs at the Reservoir Park Dam.
The dam project carries the largest price tag. Parsons said the town has secured state permits and prepared bid documents, but failed to obtain grant funding. State agencies have classified the work as maintenance rather than a competitive grant project.
“This is a sizable project, and it’s only going to become increasingly expensive,” Parsons said.
The work will enable the town to better control water levels ahead of major rain events, a critical issue officials have flagged for years. Rather than delay the project further, staff recommended reallocating funds to move it into construction.
To cover the costs, the town will recognize more than $280,000 in first-quarter sales tax revenue, $250,000 in higher-than-expected investment earnings, transfer $376,000 from available fund balance, and redirect $300,000 previously set aside for fleet maintenance facility design. That design work will shift to a future budget cycle.
Historic Preservation and Long-Term Planning Restrictions
Council members also voted to approve Phase Three implementation projects under the town’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan, which have a focus on historic preservation.
Council Member Bob Curtin urged the town to update its historic district survey using state and federal preservation grants rather than local tax dollars. He said preservation and property rights must remain balanced and called for greater community involvement in shaping future efforts.
“I believe this survey update should be funded predominantly through state and federal preservation grants, minimizing the burden to our local taxpayers,” Curtin said. “I think a grant-funded, data-driven survey update is both fiscally responsible and essential to safeguard the historic fabric that defines Southern Pines for the future.”
Planning Director BJ Grieve said Southern Pines town staff can assist private groups seeking grant funding and provide technical support if outside funding becomes available. The council approved the Phase Three projects, including the preservation placeholder, by unanimous vote.
The council also revisited proposed character district design guidelines and tree protection amendments that have remained on hold since late 2024 due to changes in state law. Senate Bill 382 expanded restrictions on local down-zoning, affecting how municipalities regulate nonconformities.
The town’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan, crafted with extensive public input, outlines strategies to protect community character and natural features, including its tree canopy.
However, the council rejected one implementation project and approved only a small portion of another after staff warned that several proposed changes could violate new restrictions on “down‑zoning,” which limit a town’s ability to reduce development intensity or allowable uses.
Town Planner James Broadwell said the affected initiatives had been in the pipeline since fall 2024 but were paused after lawmakers adopted Senate Bill 382. He noted that the first phase of the plan, which is focused on design standards and tree protections, had involved public outreach and consultant work before the law took effect.
One proposal would have created tailored design rules for commercial areas in downtown and West Southern Pines. The council voted it down, leaving the concept on hold. A second proposal bundled several code updates related to landscaping and early‑stage tree preservation. The council agreed only to update the town’s recommended plant species list and remove outdated options, declining the rest.
Other Business
• Airport Road speed limit: Council approved a resolution supporting a request from NCDOT and the Village of Whispering Pines to reduce the speed limit from 55 mph to 45 mph on Airport Road north of the traffic circle to the village limits. The Carriage Pines subdivision lies within Southern Pines’ jurisdiction along that stretch.
• Public comment on traffic safety: A West Southern Pines resident urged the council to lower speeds on Pennsylvania Avenue to 25 mph and consider traffic-calming measures. Mayor Clement said staff would follow up outside the meeting.
• Workforce housing discussion: During a broader conversation on past comprehensive plan phases, council members revisited how the town defines workforce housing. Staff reiterated once more that the term refers to housing priced appropriately for local incomes and does not automatically equate to “missing middle” housing types.
Abegail Murphy | Assistant Editor
Article and photo by Sandhills Sentinel assistant editor Abegail Murphy. Abegail has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2021.
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