BY NICOLE BOWMAN-LAYTON

EDENTON – The Edenton Town Council will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, November 24, in the Council Chambers, 504 S. Broad St., to address several items, including another attempt at expanding the town’s social district after tabling the issue earlier this month.

The meeting will be immediately followed by a committee meeting.

The agenda also includes a public hearing on a special use permit for a CBD retail store and a formal request to acquire the historic Swain Auditorium for use as a performing arts center.

The redacted agenda appears below.

Meeting Access

The meeting will be held in person at the Council Chambers, with remote access available via Zoom. The meeting ID is 252 482 2155 with passcode 458434, and a dial-in option is available at 301-715-8592.

Public comment will be accepted during the CBD store permit hearing, with speakers limited to three minutes each. Those wishing to speak should sign up at the beginning of the meeting.

Social District Expansion Returns to Agenda

The council will review updates to the Social District Ordinance and Management Plan just two weeks after unanimously voting to table the proposal to allow more public input.

At the Nov. 10 meeting, Councilman Aaron Coston (3rd Ward) proposed amending the ordinance to include liquor in addition to beer and wine, while Mayor Hack High raised concerns about geographic boundaries potentially surrounding the park. Councilman Sambo Dixon (2nd Ward) suggested giving residents time to weigh in rather than voting immediately.

“I feel like the public ought to be able to weigh in on that, you know, instead of us just [deciding],” Dixon said at the previous meeting.

The revised ordinance now before the council expands hours significantly, allowing alcohol consumption Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., replacing the previous schedule of 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays. It remains unclear whether the revision addresses the liquor question or boundary concerns raised earlier this month.

The Edenton Downtown Social District permits customers to purchase alcoholic beverages from ABC-permitted establishments in specially labeled, non-glass containers of 16 ounces or less and consume them while walking within designated boundaries. All sidewalks and crosswalks within the district are included, while streets and parking lots remain excluded.

CBD Retail Store Seeks Approval

The council will hold a public hearing on a Major Special Use Permit application from The Harvest Club for a location at 414 W. Queen St., a red building beside a barber shop, across the street from the Dollar General. The business plans to operate wholesale and retail sales of CBD and hemp products in compliance with the 2018 Federal Farm Bill and state law.

The Harvest Club is a joint venture associated with the Coastal Carolina Cannabis Center, which operates a retail establishment in Elizabeth City offering hemp-derived and CBD products. The company is also planning an location in Elizabeth City.

CBD products derived from hemp containing less than 0.3% THC were legalized federally under the 2018 Farm Bill, though local jurisdictions retain authority over retail operations through zoning and permitting processes.

Swain Auditorium Eyed for Performing Arts

Council will consider allowing Town Manager Corey Gooden to send a letter to Chowan County requesting the transfer of ownership of the property at 200 E. Church Street, home to the Swain Auditorium and the Chowan County Senior Center. The letter cites the site’s historic nature and long-term venue needs for town residents, stating the facility would be “better suited to expand the local performing arts community.”

The county currently uses the facility’s basement for the Senior Center, while the auditorium space itself remains vacant and unused. The county has invested in the building’s maintenance in recent years, but the auditorium itself is in disrepair.

The town will coordinate with its attorney to properly record the transfer of ownership should the county agree to release the property.

The request comes weeks after the town sent a letter to the Edenton-Chowan Partnership reclaiming the local firing range. At the November 10 meeting, the council voted unanimously to request the return of that property after passionate opposition from residents concerned about plans for a private gun range. Mayor High said at that meeting that when law enforcement officials and neighbors express strong concerns, “those factors really loom large” for elected officials.

The front part of the building, formerly classrooms from when the facility was a school, was converted into apartments and is owned by EA Swain Apartments LLC.

SIDENOTE: In April 2025, Michael Reardon registered a nonprofit – Edenton Center for Performing Arts – with the North Carolina Secretary of State’s Office.

Personnel Update

The council will also receive an update on a Police Department lieutenant position. At the November 10 meeting, the council tabled approval of job descriptions and salary scales for two new police lieutenant positions after the Management and Personnel Services (MAPS) group had not yet finalized appropriate classifications.

Council members had requested the items be ready for approval in December so changes could take effect early in the new year. The update Monday may provide clarity on the timeline for those positions.