Goldsboro staff seeks $70,000 for a refreshed downtown master plan to spur further investment

City staff presented a proposal for a refreshed downtown master plan and asked council to maintain an allocated $70,000 in the manager's budget for the work.

Anne Fana, downtown development director, described how the 2008 plan guided streetscape and infrastructure investments that later leveraged tens of millions of dollars in public and private funding. She argued that an updated 10‑year master plan would provide targeted design, zoning and implementation guidance to attract private investment, support grant applications and prioritize catalytic projects. The plan budget staff proposed is approximately $70,000, comparable to past expenditures adjusted for scope.

Fana described Municipal Service District priorities tied to vacancy and blight mitigation, facade grants and design-fee assistance. She presented MSD metrics (about 21 square blocks, ~150 businesses, ~30% vacancy) and recommended reinstating MSD funds to underwrite code-enforcement support and grants to make properties move‑in ready.

Council members discussed whether the downtown nonprofit (DGDC) should contribute; staff said DGDC has supported prior efforts — including a $36,000 match for a Union Station project — but council concluded the city should not delay the plan while awaiting private contributions. The proposed $70,000 remains in the budget as presented; staff will continue outreach to private partners and pursue grants that an updated plan would help unlock.

No separate ordinance or vote was required; the council left the allocation in the annual budget for consideration during final budget adoption.