Winston-Salem · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Winston-Salem public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Manufactured Home Special Use Permit Renewals and Applications
The board reviewed and approved multiple renewals and new applications for manufactured homes and accessory dwellings across Forsyth County. These permits ensure that residential placements comply with local zoning standards and building codes.
Street Yard Setback Variance at 2255 New Castle Road
Property owners sought relief from standard zoning regulations, resulting in one approved lot-size variance for a property split on Apple Street and the withdrawal of a garage setback variance on New Castle Road.
Chatham Block Local Historic Landmark Designation
The commission is reviewing an application for a new wall-mounted sign at 651 Summit Street to ensure it fits the historic character of the West End district.
Old Salem Design Review Standards Update
Property owners in Winston-Salem's historic overlays must get commission approval before making exterior changes like fences, walls, steps, or signs. Recent decisions highlight the strict balance between modern property upgrades and preserving historic character.
Art Crush 10-Year Anniversary Event (November 20)
The commission is planning its November 20th Art Crush event marking ten years of public art in Winston-Salem. It's a chance for residents to engage with the city's public art program.
Choice Neighborhood Public Art Residency
City-funded art is progressing at the 6th-Cherry-Trade parking deck, through the Open Call 2025 artist selection (Kelsey Merreck Wagner), and at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Boston-Thurmond.
Choice Neighborhood Residency Artist Selection
A cluster of art projects — a pavilion and courts at Rupert Bell Park, a Brunson Elementary sculpture, a Brown School Lofts shade structure, a resident artist program, and murals at the Dream Center and Sunrise Towers — are moving forward in the Choice Neighborhoods area.
Expanded Recreation Center Hours for Youth and Teens
Select recreation centers would stay open longer with more programming aimed at young people — more safe options after school and on weekends.
MWBE to Small Business Enterprise Committee Transition
The city would rename and refocus its Minority/Women-Owned Business Enterprise Advisory Committee as a Small Business Enterprise Advisory Committee — a change in how the city engages diverse vendors. The committee vote was 3-1.
Demolition of Dilapidated Structures at Three Addresses
Three public hearings on tearing down problem buildings: 835 Gray Avenue, 2018 Dellabrook Road, and 5716 Polaris Road. Blighted structures affect neighborhood safety and property values.
Newell-Massey Greenway Repairs
A $584,559.55 contract to repair the Newell-Massey Greenway — a win for walkers, runners, and cyclists who use the trail.
Prosperity Alliance Homes on City-Owned Lots
Two city-owned lots — 82 East Rhyne Avenue and one on Sides Road — would be developed with detached single-family homes by Prosperity Alliance, adding housing stock in the Southeast Ward.
Forsyth DRIVE Program Funding Extension
Extending the program that helps people restore suspended driver's licenses — which affects who can legally get to work. The Finance Committee backed it 3-1.
Winter Shelter Funding
Extra city dollars to keep winter homeless shelters open this cold season. It determines how many beds and services are available when temperatures drop.
Love Your Block Grant for Reynolds Town
A $270,000 grant for the 2026-2028 cycle funds resident-led neighborhood improvement projects, with a focus on the Reynoldstown National Register District.
Bus Pass Match Distribution Program
Continuing the program that matches/subsidizes bus passes, helping low-income riders keep using WSTA transit affordably.
Community Roots Day Planning
The Trees and Woodlands committee is planning for Community Roots Day, scheduled for February 2027. This initiative engages the community in tree planting and urban forest awareness.
Sunrise Towers Mural Project Parameters
The committee is choosing an artist to create a meaningful public art installation in east Winston-Salem. Residents weighed in on finalists, showing strong support for an artist whose work honors local history and legacy.
Northeast Suburban Area Plan Adoption
The planning department introduced the new Northeast Suburban Area Plan, highlighting growth pressures along the beltway and challenges with sewer utility limitations.
Election Deadline
Need to vote by mail in Forsyth County? Make sure to request your absentee ballot by Tuesday at 5 p.m. so you don't miss your chance to cast a ballot from home.
Economic Development
Winston-Salem is hosting its 8th annual small business mixer on October 27 at the Benton Convention Center. It's a great chance for local entrepreneurs to link up directly with city departments and get the resources they need to grow.
City Hall Centennial Preparation and Painting Change Order
City Hall is getting a fresh coat of paint and repairs just in time for its 100th anniversary celebration on November 16th.
2027-2028 City Budget Recommendations for Infrastructure Maintenance
The advisory committee is pushing the city to invest more money into fixing broken sidewalks, maintaining greenways, and funding traffic safety projects to protect residents.
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
Committee members are planning the second annual Winston-Salem World Day of Remembrance to raise awareness about traffic safety and honor victims of road crashes.
State Transportation Prioritization and Active Mobility Funding
The city and regional transportation planning organizations are navigating a tighter funding environment under NCDOT's Prioritization 8.0 division needs cycle. Officials are coordinating local input points to prioritize high-impact, lower-cost projects such as sidewalks, roundabouts, and ramp improvements across the region.
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Streetscape Project Progression
Winston-Salem is moving forward with the long-planned Martin Luther King Jr. Drive streetscape project, which spans over a mile from US-52 to Salem Parkway. The project includes pedestrian accessibility improvements, decorative lighting, enhanced bus stops, and raised crosswalks, with construction slated to begin in spring 2027.
Solid Waste Code Modernization and Fee Structure Updates
The city is updating Chapter 26 of the municipal code to reflect modern automated collection methods, establish clear container limits for commercial properties, and adjust civil penalties for illegal dumping and uncollected brush. These changes aim to improve operational efficiency and reduce missed collections while educating residents on proper cart placement.
Marshall Street Redevelopment Assistance
Developers behind the Marshall Street project asked for more time to finish their phased commercial and culinary hub, sparking a discussion among leaders about balancing community investments with tight city budgets.
Need for Standalone Emergency Operations Center
City staff reminded council members of the ongoing legislative priority to secure funding for a dedicated, standalone Emergency Operations Center.
Transition from MWBE to SBE Advisory Committee
The city is updating its internal rules and advisory committees to comply with state budget legislation that eliminated traditional minority and women-owned business enterprise programs, moving instead to a small business enterprise model.
Ram's Pointe Townhome Development and Extension
Efincia Companies requested a rezoning for an 81-unit townhome community on Sentry Point Lane. Nearby residents expressed strong concerns about increased stormwater runoff, backyard flooding, and the loss of local wildlife corridors.
Business Oversight Committee
Winston-Salem is shaking up its business advisory committee and small-business rules due to a new state law. This matters because it changes how local tax money and city contracts get handed out to entrepreneurs.
Expanded Recreation Center Hours and Teen Programming
The city is investing $70,000 in one-time funds to extend operating hours and create dedicated teen zones with structured activities at five recreation centers.
Removal of Minimum Parking Requirements
The planning board recommended eliminating minimum parking requirements across local zoning codes to comply with new state legislation, House Bill 162. This change gives developers more flexibility on how much parking to build while keeping design and safety standards in place.
Residential Subdivisions and Planned Residential Developments
Everly Development amended its previous townhome proposal into a 62-unit single-family neighborhood on Teague Road. Neighbors raised issues regarding floodplain accuracy, construction noise, and tree buffers.
Historic Property Renovations and Outbuilding Demolition
Property owners across Winston-Salem and Walkertown sought approvals for home additions, fences, a pool, and the demolition of a historic 1891 barn. The commission carefully balanced modern property needs with preserving local historic district and landmark character.
Temporary Housing Development
Winston-Salem is looking to build a new temporary housing community with modular shelters to give unhoused folks a safe, private place to stay. Right now, the city is chasing federal funding for the project and taking public comments on its environmental footprint.
Youth Protection Curfew Ordinance Extension
The city is considering extending its youth protection ordinance through October 2027 to address juvenile safety during overnight hours. Police data shows a drop in young crime victims, but some council members worry about civil liberties and a lack of alternative activities for teens.
Liberty Street Park Surplus Property & Transformational Center
The city is moving to clear shelter structures at Liberty Street Park via public auction to make way for future community redevelopment tied to the Choice Neighborhood initiative.
Youth Curfew Extension
Winston-Salem is looking at extending its youth curfew all the way through 2027. If you live downtown or have teenagers, city leaders are about to heavily debate whether this rule actually keeps everyone safe or just cramps kids' styles.
Youth Curfew Ordinance and Public Safety
Police presented crime statistics showing a 13.4% drop in overall crime and discussed the early success of the city's youth curfew ordinance. Officials noted zero teen takeovers and a decrease in youth-involved firearm incidents during the summer.
Downtown DIY Skate Park Lease
Community advocates and the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership pitched a new multi-use outdoor recreation space featuring a skate plaza, pump track, and playground between 7th and 8th Streets on Marshall Street. The committee enthusiastically endorsed moving forward with lease negotiations.
Temporary Staffing Services Contract Extension
A proposed $3.5 million contract extension for temporary staffing was delayed after council members questioned citywide temp usage and departmental staffing levels.
City Facility Energy Management and Efficiency
City staff shared progress on sustainability initiatives, including LED streetlight upgrades, solar installations at fire stations, and a new public GIS dashboard. They also noted that natural gas use will temporarily rise due to the reopening of the Archie Elledge biosolids dryer.
Utilities Capital Projects and Infrastructure Upgrades
The utilities department reviewed major capital projects funded by enterprise water and sewer rates, including the Nielsen Water Treatment Plant modernization and various sewer rehabs.
Long Creek Park Expansion
The city is accepting a 9.27-acre land donation from the Conservation Fund to expand Long Creek Park as passive parkland.
Downtown Sidewalk Café Permitting and Noise
The city is moving forward with a new noise ordinance focused on large entertainment venues, setting an 85-decibel threshold enforced by police in response to citizen complaints.
Public Safety Surveillance and Flock Cameras
The police department updated officials on its surveillance tech, assuring residents that it does not use controversial Flock license plate readers and only accesses voluntary community camera feeds for criminal investigations under state law.
Meadowlark Drive Self-Storage Rezoning
Developers requested a rezoning on Meadowlark Drive for a large indoor climate-controlled self-storage facility. Neighbors pushed back, arguing it doesn't fit the neighborhood character, while supporters noted it generates far less traffic than a previously approved bank.
Idols Road Large-Scale Residential Rezoning
The county sought to rezone 167 acres on Idols Road from industrial to residential (RS15) to pave the way for a 360-home subdivision. Clemmons residents strongly objected, warning that severe traffic congestion on two-lane roads and flooding risks make the area unsuited for more homes.