High Point · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in High Point public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Quadrant Street setback variance (VR-26-04)
A property owner is asking the Board to waive 25 feet of the required street setback in a Highway Business district so a commercial project at 4275 and 4285 Quadrant Street can be built closer to the street. The hearing decides whether the dimensional rules bend for this site.
Economic Development Discussions
The Council is going behind closed doors to talk about an economic development matter. The details are confidential under state law, but this kind of session often signals a potential business recruitment or incentive deal in the works. Any public announcement or vote would come later.
Liberty Academy Charter School Expansion
Liberty Academy is looking to update its property zoning to include high school grades, though total enrollment would remain capped at 799 students. The discussion focuses on traffic mitigation and how the school fits into the surrounding neighborhood.
Dash In Food Store Commercial Rezoning
A developer is seeking to rezone roughly 3 acres at a challenging intersection to allow for a new commercial use, requiring careful review of access and traffic patterns.
Energy Financing Program
High Point is teaming up with Greensboro and Guilford County to launch a new financing program that helps local property owners pay for energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades. It's an easy way to fund green building improvements that cut utility bills.
Property Tax Limits
State tax cuts are pinching local budgets, and a new amendment might cap how much your property taxes can go up. Whether you own a home or rent in High Point, this could change how the city pays for everyday services.
Facility Relocation
High Point's Roy B. Culler, Jr. Senior Center is relocating right next to the Oakview Recreation Center. Because of the move, the facility will be completely closed from October 19 through November 6.
Meeting Schedule
Want to know when your local leaders are meeting? Check out the latest High Point City Council schedule so you can stay informed or share your thoughts at the next gathering.
ElectriCities Customer Service Survey Results and Utility Improvements
The city is purchasing $1.66 million in new digital electric meters from Border States to support new homes and replace aging equipment as part of its ongoing meter upgrade project.
Proposed Large-Scale Manufacturing Development Concerns
A resident raised concerns regarding a proposed 12-story manufacturing building near residential neighborhoods, citing potential drops in property values and traffic impacts.
Foster Care Resource and Support Needs
A representative from the Family Room foster care resource center highlighted the critical shortage of licensed foster homes and resources for children entering care.
Water and Sewer Rate Structure Overhaul
High Point is adjusting its water and sewer budget by $1.32 million to cover unexpected expenses from last summer's flood repairs and high incinerator hauling costs, covered by insurance and investment earnings.
Recycling Facility AI Technology Trial
The city is investing $79,000 in a three-year trial of an AI scanner at the Material Recovery Facility to track missed recyclable materials and guide future equipment upgrades. The mobile scanner will help staff evaluate recovery performance without cutting existing jobs.
Municipal Personnel Policy and Holiday Revisions
The city council held a closed-door meeting to discuss municipal personnel matters, which is permitted under state law to protect employee privacy.
Replacement Transit Vehicle Procurement
High Point is teaming up with Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Burlington, and PART to let riders use a single transit card across all regional bus systems.
CDBG-CV Fund Reallocation for Public Services
The city is shifting over $450,000 in unused COVID-19 relief funds toward rent assistance and local food pantries to help low-income residents before the funds expire at the end of September.
First Baptist Church Property and Downtown Revitalization
City leaders are exploring ways to redesign South Main Street to make it safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and students while encouraging new housing and business investment. The 1.5-mile stretch currently features wide, high-speed lanes that divide neighborhoods, but upcoming state repaving projects offer a chance to reallocate street space.
Firefighter Staffing and Separation Allowance
Firefighters and supporters urged the city council to fund a special separation allowance to improve recruitment and retention and provide retirement healthcare support.
Fire Department Fleet and Apparatus Replacements
The committee approved major apparatus purchases totaling over $4 million to replace aging fire trucks, tankers, and aerial towers that have exceeded standard mileage and pump hours.
High Point Police Department H.O.P.E. Team Rollout
The police department is launching a 5-year, $1.54 million drone program with Axon Enterprises to speed up emergency response times and support fire and rescue operations.
Electric Operations Center Construction
The committee advanced the Electrical Operations Center project with a $5.16 million concrete and structural steel amendment, alongside substantial investments in primary wire and supplemental labor contracts.
Bicentennial Greenway Interlocal Agreement
High Point, Greensboro, and Guilford County are teaming up for the first time to jointly maintain, repair, and brand the 18-mile Bicentennial Greenway, addressing long-standing maintenance backlogs and accessibility issues.
Wastewater Incinerator Downtime & Biosolids Disposal Costs
Emergency hauling costs rose due to an incinerator shutdown, highlighting ongoing sludge management needs.
2025 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER)
The city reviewed its annual report card on federal grants, showing support for home repairs, homebuyer assistance, and affordable housing construction across High Point.
Blighted Property Demolitions
Code enforcement is actively addressing minimum housing violations, public nuisances, and blighted properties through targeted inspections, owner rehabilitations, and demolitions.
Deep River Blueway Trail Grant Application
High Point is applying for a $100,000 state grant to help launch its first water trail (blueway) along the Deep River. The city will provide a 25% match to kick off the waterway project.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Action Plan Update
The city is partnering with NCDOT on a $130,000 plan to update High Point's 10-year-old pedestrian blueprint and add comprehensive bike network mapping.
Center for Active Adults Furniture Procurement
The city is purchasing $176,000 in furniture for the new Center for Active Adults, which opens in November. Officials highlighted that three of the manufacturing suppliers are based right in High Point.
Downtown Social District Boundary Expansion
Downtown's social district is expanding to include Smitty and Pearl's, giving visitors more space to enjoy outdoor dining and beverage strolls starting September 1.
Low-Income Homeowner Tax Assistance Program
High Point is looking to boost its down payment assistance from $7,500 to $20,000 to help residents keep up with rising home prices. The plan also adds a $5,000 bonus for buyers fixing up homes in specific historic or lower-income neighborhoods.
Marywood Drive Address Changes
Residents of Marywood Drive voiced frustration over mandatory address changes triggered by new development, citing high administrative costs and postal delivery concerns.
Urban Deer Management and Wildlife Nuisance
A resident requested that the city consider relaxing firearm ordinances to allow regulated bow hunting for overpopulated deer on private property.
FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) Update
The city needs to adopt FEMA's updated flood insurance rate maps to stay in the National Flood Insurance Program. The maps determine flood zones used for insurance and development rules.
Water and Wastewater Plant Equipment Upgrades
Following a chemical leak, the city is auditing electrical systems at the water treatment plant to prevent future disruptions.
Downtown Hotel Development at North Elm Street
The city is selling municipal property at 305 and 315 North Elm Street to Terra Investments LLC for $1 million to clear the way for a new select-service hotel next to Truist Point stadium.
Splashworks expansion at Picker Cotton Mill
A rezoning at 1690 W. English Road lets Splashworks expand inside the old Picker Cotton Mill, turning it into a year-round destination with commercial and residential uses. Supporters say it boosts revitalization of High Point's southwest area and its creative community.
Employee Compensation and Classification Study Phase 2
The city reviewed the final results of a major study examining employee pay, market competitiveness, and salary compression across more than 1,000 positions. The findings led to a recommended hybrid parity model and a 2.5% market adjustment funded in the budget to help High Point retain talented staff.
Affordable Housing and Property Acquisition on Vail Avenue
Staff introduced land use incentive grants and fee waivers as potential tools to encourage developers to build affordable and workforce housing in High Point.
Tenant Housing Conditions and Safety Concerns
Residents testified about severe maintenance neglect, lack of air conditioning, and dangerous gun violence in local rental communities, asking the city for housing relief and safety interventions.
Project Crocodile Economic Incentive
The city approved a $75,000 building upfit grant to help Project Launch transform 1321 Long Street into a venture creation hub and office space, aiming to generate 40 jobs over five years.
Cedar Drive Pedestrian Bridge Design
The city is partnering with NCDOT to build a pedestrian bridge over I-74, featuring an 80/20 cost share.
Major Watershed Variance for Gallimore Dairy Road Development
Koury NST, LLC is requesting a major watershed variance to address surface water buffer impacts from stream relocation and fill at 501 Gallimore Dairy Road. The case tests the city's watershed protection standards and mitigation requirements for commercial properties in the City Lake General Watershed area.
Comprehensive Zoning Map Amendment Project (ZA 26-04)
The city is cleaning up conditional-use zoning on six parcels near W. Lexington Avenue and Long Street, converting them to standard office and multifamily districts. Same uses are allowed; the change just removes the extra conditional-use layer.
Commission Rules of Procedure Update
The commission updated its operating rules to clean up language and formatting, with help from the city attorney's office.
Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Proposed Budget and Capital Improvements
High Point is tracking 44 major capital and strategic projects, with post-pandemic inflation driving up cost estimates for key initiatives like Triangle Lake Road, 300 Oak Street, and the BUILD Grant project.
Fire Department Data Analytics and Risk Reduction
The fire department highlighted its elite ISO Class 1 rating, strong inspection metrics, and new health initiatives that successfully diagnosed a hidden medical condition in a firefighter during routine physicals.
Congdon Yards Urban Park Development
A private foundation is proposing a new 1.5-acre urban park in downtown High Point to serve as a community gathering space and anchor for future housing and business growth. City officials discussed how the park could partner with municipal infrastructure like the upcoming Elm Street greenway.
Community and School Gardens Program Update
The county extension office reported on High Point's 61 community and school gardens, detailing how city-provided materials helped gardeners save money while promoting education and fresh food access.
Washington Street Property Conveyance to D-UP, Inc.
The city is transferring a vacant lot at 722 Washington Street to the nonprofit D-UP, Inc. to support neighborhood revitalization. The group will use the land as a community garden in the short term and eventually build affordable housing.
Budget Debate
High Point firefighters are pushing city leaders to include better retirement benefits in the upcoming budget. They argue these upgrades are essential for their well-being and crucial for maintaining local public safety.