Kinston council approves Airport Road expansion, holds recreation budget reduction
Kinston City Council approved a special use permit for an Airport Road commercial development, selected a consultant for a $350,000 street safety planning project and postponed a proposed recreation funding reduction during its Oct. 6 meeting.
Council members also changed the streets included in this year's resurfacing project, approved an agreement with Lenoir County for properties split between zoning jurisdictions and authorized a special event permit for Brad-Fest at Pearson Park.
The special use permit covers a 4.2-acre parcel that includes 310 Airport Road and is owned by 3SC Properties LLC. Plans call for a 5,800-square-foot building, 18 parking spaces, a loading area, access improvements and utilities.
The site plan in the agenda packet identifies the project as Advanced 3D Inc. Planning Director Elizabeth Blount said EastPoint Prosthetics and Orthotics already operates on the parcel. The site remains in the office and institutional zoning district, and staff is still reviewing the development's site plan.
During the hearing, resident Quarla Blackwell raised questions about traffic, stormwater, flooding, utility costs and the development's community benefits. She said she was seeking information rather than taking a position for or against the request.
Project engineer Scott Anderson said any new infrastructure needed to serve the building would be paid for and installed by the property owner and developer. He said runoff would flow to an existing stormwater pond designed to hold water and release it slowly, with runoff after development no greater than current conditions.
Anderson described the business's work as primarily 3D printing prosthetic devices. He said the proposed development would provide skilled jobs, but he did not know how many jobs it would create when a council member asked.
City Attorney James Cauley III explained that the hearing was a quasi-judicial proceeding and that council members had to base their decision on evidence. Council approved the permit on a motion by Les Lipford, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Felicia Solomon, with no opposition voiced.
Recreation funding prompted a separate discussion when Finance Director Donna Goodson presented an operating budget amendment.
The city's adopted budget included $1,103,300 in county support for county recreation facilities. According to the agenda packet, Lenoir County approved $1,000,640, leaving a $102,660 difference. The proposed amendment would have reduced recreation revenue and expenses by that amount.
Council held that portion of the amendment for further discussion with the county. Goodson said the matter should return at the next council meeting or, at the latest, the first meeting in November so the recreation department would know what it could spend.
Solomon later requested that the issue be discussed by the joint working committee with county commissioners. Parks and Recreation Director Scott Alston said he would provide a list of recreation items for that discussion.
Council approved the rest of the budget amendment on a motion by Antonio Hardy, seconded by Lipford.
The approved items include $107,350 in state funding for bonuses and associated Social Security contributions for 57 eligible sworn officers. Each officer's bonus is $1,750. A $13,650 Norfolk Southern Safety-First grant will fund 70 first-aid kits and 70 emergency choking rescue kits.
The amendment also includes a $50,000 transfer from the community development administration fund's balance to address outstanding rehabilitation deficiencies at two homes previously funded through a Community Development Block Grant.
For street safety planning, council selected Toole Design Group, subject to staff and city attorney review and approval of a final agreement.
Public Services Director Steve Miller said the project is supported by a $280,000 federal Safe Streets for All grant and a required $70,000 city cash match. The consultant will analyze crash data and traffic conditions, work with stakeholders and recommend safety improvements on city-maintained and state-maintained streets.
Miller said the $350,000 budget is sufficient to complete the safety action plan. Completion will allow Kinston to seek construction funding for improvements identified in the plan. The work is due by January 2028.
Staff received responses from six firms and interviewed three before recommending Toole Design, which is already working on the Kinston Moves multimodal plan.
Council also approved replacing Macon Street and a portion of East Caswell Street with Crawford Street in the 2026 road improvement project.
Miller said Macon Street needs a water line replacement that crews have not completed because of more urgent repairs. East Caswell Street has failing stormwater pipes and depressions near the curb that must be addressed before resurfacing.
The resurfacing work added to the project will cover Crawford Street from Sparre Drive to Airlee Avenue. Its estimated paving cost is $65,190, compared with $71,313 for the two deferred streets combined. Miller said Macon and East Caswell would remain candidates for a future resurfacing project after utility repairs.
The change does not alter the current contract amount, according to the staff memorandum. Coastline Contracting Company's approximately $904,356 contract calls for final completion Jan. 26, 2027, with payment based on actual quantities installed.
Council approved an interlocal agreement with Lenoir County intended to simplify development reviews for properties split between the city's extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction and the county's jurisdiction. Blount said roughly 60 to 64 properties are affected and that the agreement would not change the tax base.
The agreement establishes a process for one jurisdiction to handle development regulations for an affected property.
Council approved Brad-Fest for noon to 9 p.m. Oct. 17 at Pearson Park, following the Mother Earth Half Marathon. Police Chief Keith Goyette said the concert and festival will include food and alcohol, with two off-duty officers working the event and limited street closures nearby.
During public comment, residents requested more opportunities for young people, improvements to streets and better lighting at recreation facilities. One speaker proposed a skate park at the former Emma Webb pool site and an off-road recreation area.
Responding to concerns about lighting, City Manager Jon Mendenhall said staff needed to confirm the ownership arrangements for a joint-use facility with Lenoir County Schools and work with the school system on possible repairs. Mayor Kareem Moore offered to arrange a meeting between the resident and the city manager.
The city also announced its annual fall cleanup for 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 24 at Neuseway Nature Center. Miller said the city will supply gloves, bags, safety vests and other cleanup equipment, and groups may arrange to clean other neighborhoods or locations.
Mendenhall said he plans neighborhood listening sessions in eastern, western, northern and central Kinston over the coming weeks. The sessions will allow residents to raise questions with him and city departments, with follow-up as needed. He hopes to complete those sessions and separate employee meetings by the end of October.
Moore also presented a proclamation recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the city recognized Public Power Week and Customer Service Week. Council entered a closed session for a personnel matter before returning to open session for reports. No personnel action was announced in the recorded open session.
