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Pittsboro Downtown Advisory Board Design Committee Meeting - 5pm - FINAL

Town of Pittsboro · 8. Downtown Design Committee
Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Advisory board meeting Arts and public artBudget and appropriationsRezoning

Agenda document Minutes Watch Meeting recap

What's on this agenda

Pittsboro's downtown design committee takes up two decisions at its January 14 meeting: where to place two donated robot sculptures, and whether to approve an art concept for a new piano going into downtown in front of the Toy Store. Both are listed as action items.

The committee also hears a report on the 2025 sculpture celebration and updates from its design teams, sets meeting dates for the first quarter, and reviews project and budget ideas for the fiscal year 2026-27 work plan, along with an update on the conditional rezoning request on South Masonic Street.

Summarized from the published agenda. Read the agenda itself before acting on it.

Meeting recap

What happened, drawn from the records published after the meeting. Minutes

The committee recommended placing the two donated robot sculptures in the parking lot next to 39 US-64 Business, following a recommendation from downtown director Theresa Thompson. It also approved the art concept for the new piano going into downtown in front of the Toy Store: artist Barbara Hengstenberg, who painted the town's previous piano, plans a nature-themed design in bright colors with quotes worked into it, and the stool will get the same treatment.

The committee heard a report on the first annual sculpture show, held over a month in autumn 2025, which Tami Schwerin described as a community success pulled together from nothing by a committee and volunteers. A second is planned for 2026.

The design teams reported: Art In Action is working with town staff on a map to guide where sculptures go; Downtown Designers has been advising on development on Masonic Street, alleyway design and a possible historic preservation team; Community Connectors is working through facade grant decisions. Updates on the conditional rezoning request on South Masonic Street came through that team rather than as a separate item.

Under open discussion members raised volunteer business cards and asked whether volunteers could pull invasive plants at the Robeson Creek site. The town manager explained the limits on that.

How the votes went

Four unanimous votes: adopting the agenda 7-0, recommending the sculpture placement 8-0 (Josh Rudy, seconded by Tami Schwerin), approving the piano art concept 8-0 (Jody Leidolf, seconded by Nora Young), and adjourning 7-0.

From the published minutes.

Speaking at this meeting

Town of Pittsboro's own rules for public comment — check them before you rely on anything here.

Jump to an item (15 on this agenda)
  1. 1CALL TO ORDER
  2. 2ADOPTION OF AGENDA
  3. 3APPROVAL OF MINUTES
  4. 4DECISION ITEMS
  5. 4.ILocation of 2 Donated Robot Sculptures
  6. 4.IIArt Concept for Piano
  7. 5.ISculpture Celebration Report Submitted by Tami Schwerin
  8. 5.IIDesign Team Updates
  9. 5.IIISet Team Meeting Dates for First Quarter (January-March)
  10. 5.IVDowntown Program - Mid-Fiscal Year Status Updates
  11. 5.VProject & Budget Ideas for the Upcoming FY 26-27 Annual Work Plan
  12. 5.VIConditional Rezoning Request on South Masonic Street Updates
  13. 6STAFF UPDATES
  14. 7OPEN DISCUSSION
  15. 8ADJOURNMENT

Agenda items (15)

Other · 10Procedural · 2Minutes approval · 1Staff or committee report · 1Discussion item · 1
  1. 1 CALL TO ORDER
    Procedural
  2. 2 ADOPTION OF AGENDA
    Other
    Requires a motion to either approve the agenda as proposed or modify the agenda.
  3. 3 APPROVAL OF MINUTES
    Minutes approval
  4. 4 DECISION ITEMS
    Other
  5. 4.I Location of 2 Donated Robot Sculptures
    Other Arts and public art
  6. 4.II Art Concept for Piano
    Other Arts and public art
  7. 5.I Sculpture Celebration Report Submitted by Tami Schwerin
    Staff or committee report Arts and public art
    Informational - Design Team Updates
  8. 5.II Design Team Updates
    Other
  9. 5.III Set Team Meeting Dates for First Quarter (January-March)
    Other
  10. 5.IV Downtown Program - Mid-Fiscal Year Status Updates
    Other Budget and appropriations
  11. 5.V Project & Budget Ideas for the Upcoming FY 26-27 Annual Work Plan
    Other Budget and appropriations
  12. 5.VI Conditional Rezoning Request on South Masonic Street Updates
    Other Rezoning
  13. 6 STAFF UPDATES
    Other
  14. 7 OPEN DISCUSSION
    Discussion item
  15. 8 ADJOURNMENT
    Procedural

Agenda changes

What moved between published versions of this agenda. Item numbers shift constantly as things are inserted, so only genuine additions and removals are listed.

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