April Council Meeting Recap

The Butner Town Council convened for its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, April 4, at Butner Town Hall. The following list includes key takeaways from the meeting.

• Council recognized the dedication and commitment of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee members including Lynette Bailey, Michael McFadden, Victoria Whited, Ed Sosa, Jacob Schaper, Theresa Hopson, and Maggie Brummitt, for their contributions to the community. Council also acknowledged former committee members Council member Michel Branch and Council member Josh Shank for their previous service on the committee.
   
• Council acknowledged Joseph Mennella’ s promotion to Senior Public Safety Officer with Butner Public Safety. Senior Officer Mennella, who has served with Butner Public Safety for 2 years, demonstrated his commitment by completing an additional 300 training hours to attain this advancement.
   
• Council approved a request from staff to amend the Land Development Ordinance, specifically Article 7.4.3(A)(4) pertaining to Accessory Uses and Structures. This amendment entails the removal of the minimum size requirement for accessory dwelling units. The decision aligns with legislation passed in 2019, which limits the authority of local governments to regulate minimum sizes for structures compliant with residential building codes.
   
• Council approved the town staff's request for an amendment to Article 5 of the Land Development Ordinance (LDO), specifically to modify the provisions regarding nonconforming uses and structures. Under the proposed changes, when a nonconforming structure sustains damage, a distinction will be made based on whether the damage exceeds or falls below 50% of the structure's value. If the damage exceeds 50% of the value, the structure must be brought into compliance with the current building code. Conversely, if the damage is less than 50% of the value, the structure may be rebuilt as is. During the staff review, two amendments were identified. Firstly, the amendment extends the time allowed to obtain a building permit from 6 months to 1 year. This change aims to provide additional time for business or property owners to navigate insurance procedures and find suitable contractors for repair work. Secondly, the provision mandating completion of work within one year of obtaining a building permit is recommended for deletion. Since Butner does not issue building permits (Granville County does), the county's regulations allow for permit extensions based on project progress and required inspections, without imposing a specific time limit for project completion.
   
• During the January 30 Strategic Planning Retreat, Council reviewed and recommended updates to the Town’s mission, vision, and values statements. The revised mission, vision, and values were formally adopted by Council. These statements will serve as guiding principles for both the Council and staff in determining future projects and goals.

A recording of the meeting is available at https://www.youtube.com/live/IhvA1XgzHSg?si=b-PpZC1JviqJ3kTY for those who were unable to attend. The next Butner Town Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 2, 2024.