World University Games
Monday afternoon I met with local representatives for the World University Games which will be held in the area in July of 2029. These games are an international multi-sport event, organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation (FISU).
Cary will be part of the games hosting at all sports facilities including WakeMed Soccer complex, Cary Tennis Park, and USA Baseball. The Center at South Hills will also host if built in time. Other host cities include Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and Greensboro.
The organizers expressed an interest in starting a 5-year countdown clock somewhere in Cary with a celebration this July.
Council Meeting Prep
Later Monday afternoon I met with key staff members to go over the agenda for Thursday’s council meeting. We talked about the expected crowd for the Public Speaks Out portion of the meeting that would request changes for Walnut Street. Since the town is already planning on doing more than what they have been proposing on social media, the manager planned to talk about it in his report prior to Public Speaks Out. We hoped that would reduce the need for a few of them to speak. The rest of the agenda seemed straightforward.
Cary Tennis Classic
Monday night I met with the board for the Cary Tennis Classic, formerly known as the Atlantic Tire Championships. We talked about the rebranding kickoff with key donors scheduled for March 26th. I updated them on the potential bond this fall that would include the Cary Tennis Park upgrades.
Human Relations, Inclusion & Diversity Task Force
Tuesday evening, I attended a meeting of the Human Relations, Inclusion & Diversity Task Force. In my remarks to the group, I let them know that we are moving forward to making them a permanent board. The task force topics included Sunshine Week, the update of the Cary Community Plan, the Downtown Park, and the DEI Education Form.
Wynston Ridge Homeowners Association
Tuesday night I gave remarks at the end of the annual homeowner’s association meeting for Wynston Ridge. This is a community of about 100 homes built in the late 1980s and early 1990s located near the intersection of Holly Springs Road and Cary Parkway. In my remarks I talked about the potential bond this fall, the potential tax rate, and our downtown area. I am always happy to join homeowner association meetings if my calendar allows.
Town Council Work Session
The council met Thursday evening for a work session to discuss several items but mostly stormwater. The following are some of my takeaways on stormwater:
- Cary is well perceived in handling stormwater issues.
- The first floodplain map was issued in 1992.
- The first water quality rules were made in 1993.
- Up until 2001 residential lots were allowed in floodplains.
- In 2008 Cary required developers to mitigate flooding.
- Cary started the Walnut corridor pilot several years ago to model stormwater and monitor stream sensors. The outcome was policy amendments to require developers to mitigate to a 100-year storm event which is 7 ½ inches in 24 hours.
- Cary maintains 15 miles of culverts and 190 miles of storm pipes. There are 626 miles of total pipes with most on private property.
- Cary maintains 15,442 inlets out of 34,570.
- Cary maintains 91 stormwater control measures out of 1,436.
- Cary maintains 7 lakes and ponds out of 1169.
- Cary has no natural lakes or ponds. All were created by humans over the years.
- Cary receives over 870 stormwater related requests for help every year.
- Redeveloped lots must abide by today’s rules. So, if a lot is in the floodplain and the house is torn down, it will not be allowed to be rebuilt.
- Cary staff helps citizens with flooding issues even if it is not a town issue. They work with them on how to mitigate problems. Other municipalities don’t do this.
- Cary collects data from stormwater monitoring to validate models, create stormwater models for other agencies, and impact analysis.
- Cary had a 1000-year storm in the Swift Creek area in 2016. That is 5 inches of rain in 4 hours, which would have equated to 30 inches in 24 hours.
- The footprint of a 1000-year storm flood and a 100-year storm flood are similar.
- Cary monitors insurance claims for flooding. This helps create our actions which reduce insurance rates.
- The Downtown Cary Park’s water feature was designed to help reduce peak flows.
- Cary is a Stormwater Phase II community which is based on population. This will be changed to a Phase I community. This determines what we have to do with engagement, engineering, construction, and post construction. The Phase I designation will require additional data collection, program development, stream quality monitoring, and industrial monitoring.
- Cary spent $6.6 million on operating and capital costs for stormwater in 2023.
- Cary will spend $14.8 million in 2024 which will include the Symphony Lake dredging.
- Cary will be required to spend at least $9.8 million in 2025.
- Cary’s costs include preemptive work which saves money in the long run.
- Cary is the only community out of the top 23 communities that doesn’t use a stormwater Utility fund. We have legislative authority to do this. Currently, we pay from the General fund for stormwater costs.
- Cary will begin to study moving to a Utility fund which will include a stormwater master plan. This process will take several years.
Our work session concluded after about 1 ½ hours.
Town Council Meeting
Thursday night the council held its first regularly scheduled meeting of March. The agenda included 9 consent items, 2 public hearings, and 3 discussion items. The council chambers were full, and some were waiting in the lobby. The crowd were from two groups: the Walnut Street improvements and the Healthy Homes initiative.
In the manager’s report before Public Speaks Out the manager explained that the town was moving forward in the design and implementation of improvements to Walnut Street to add a median, bike lanes, and reduce the lanes from four to two. In the Public Speaks Out potion of the meeting most of the people spoke about improvements to Walnut Street.
The first public hearing was for the annexation of a property located at 0 Aviation Pkwy (at the southeast quadrant of the intersection of Aviation Pkwy and Liberty Hill Pass). With the annexation they would be able to connect to Cary utilities and develop the lot for a single detached dwelling unit. There were no speakers, and this was approved unanimously.
The second public hearing was to rezone approximately 9.19 acres directly south of Macedonia Road from General Commercial (GC) and Residential-40 (R-40) to Mixed-Use District (MXD) with a Preliminary Development Plan (PDP) to facilitate the development of up to 330 residential dwellings, with conditions to provide a minimum of 12,000 square feet of community gathering space, locate at least 60% of parking in a parking structure, and provide at least 25 electric vehicle charging stations. Five of the seven council members expressed the need for affordable housing with this project and the willingness to discuss potential partnerships. This rezoning proposal will now go to the Planning and Zoning Board for their review and recommendation.
In the first discussion item the council unanimously approved the Stable Homes Cary Program in partnership with Dorcas Ministries as the lead nonprofit organization. Stable Homes Cary will allow Dorcas to scale up its current program model to serve more community members in need, while creating capacity and expertise to provide support to residents who may be displaced due to specific large-scale property redevelopments, such as Chatham Estates. Dorcas will work in partnership with other nonprofits and government agencies, such as A Doorway to Hope, Passage Home, ONE Wake, Wake County Public Schools, Wake County Health and Human Services, NC Works, Wake Tech, and others to identify potential paths and to connect low- and moderate-income residents with resources.
In the second discussion item the council approved a rezoning located between Trinity Road and Old Trinity Circle, from Residential-12 (R-12) and Transitional Residential (TR) to Transitional Residential Conditional Use (TR-CU) with zoning conditions that limit uses to detached dwellings, townhomes, and accessory uses, provide two-car garages with wiring for future EV charging for all units, provide 2,000 square feet of community gathering space, and commit to 20-foot-wide streetscapes on local streets. The approval was 6 to 1 with one council member believing it was not a good transition to neighboring communities.
In the last discussion item the council unanimously approved the bid for construction of the FY 2024 Street Improvements Project.
The council meeting concluded after about two hours.\
Sustainable Development
Friday, I met with council member Bush, the Chief Information Officer, the Chief Development Officer, the Cary Chamber President, and a representative of local developers to talk about Sustainable Development specifically geothermal development. What is Geothermal Development? Basically, it is homes that are heated and cooled by water that is circulated about 40 feet below the surface since that stays at a constant temperature. Adding solar almost eliminates the need for any power outside the community. You can see a better explanation on YouTube here. We discussed Whisper Valley outside Austin, Texas where thousands of homes will eventually be built and self-sustaining. The key concern from local developers will be upfront costs. We all agreed that we need more information on those costs. I hope to see a sustainable development in Cary soon!
NC Courage Proclamation for Ring of Honor
Saturday, I attended the NC Courage match and presented a proclamation recognizing the 1st inductee to the Ring of Honor. The wording was as follows:
RECOGNIZING SAM MEWIS AS THE INAUGURAL RING OF HONOR INDUCTEE
Whereas, the North Carolina Courage has proudly represented and called Cary, NC home since its inception in 2017, captivating audiences with unparalleled skill, dedication, and sportsmanship; and
Whereas, on February 14, 2024, the North Carolina Courage announced Sam Mewis as the inaugural inductee into the newly formed Courage ‘Ring of Honor,’ recognizing her exceptional contributions to the club during her tenure from 2017 through 2021; and
Whereas Sam Mewis’s illustrious career with the Courage has left an indelible mark on the organization, marked by numerous accolades including three NWSL Shields, two NWSL Championships, and the inaugural Women’s International Champions Cup; and
Whereas Mewis’s leadership, commitment, and passion for the game have not only propelled the Courage to unprecedented success but have also served as an inspiration to countless aspiring athletes across our community and beyond; and
Now, therefore, I, Harold Weinbrecht, Jr, Mayor of Cary, on behalf of the Cary Councilmembers and citizens who call Cary home, extend our heartfelt congratulations to Sam Mewis on her induction into the Courage ‘Ring of Honor,’ a testament to her enduring legacy and profound impact on our community; and invite all residents of Cary to join us in commemorating this momentous occasion, celebrating Sam Mewis’s remarkable career and her enduring contributions to the sport of soccer;
PROCLAIMED this 1st day of February 2022.
To make it more fun for the crowd I had them yell out all the Whereas. The game was a blowout with the Courage winning 5 to 1. It was a good crowd, and everyone seemed to have a great time.
Spa by Jing Ribbon Cutting
Sunday afternoon I attended a ribbon cutting for the expansion of Space by Jing & Li Aesthetics at Waverly Place. Their business has done so well over the last 5 years that they have expanded to the second floor of their building. We were blessed to be given a tour and I had a facial analysis done which showed that the virtual age of my left side was 65 while by right side was 68. I will be 68 in early June.
I am so impressed by Jing and other Asian entrepreneurs in Cary and wish them continued success.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
Dear Mayor Weinbrecht and Members of Town Council:
In addition to our weekly roundup of stories, I am going to begin sharing, from time to time, some of the things that I have read this week that I found informative and thought you might as well. If you have trouble opening any of the stories, please let me know.
Researchers propose fourth traffic signal light for hypothetical self-driving car future
I hope the automakers are going to pay for all those potentially new traffic signals.
The Only Force Stronger Than Polarization? Rising Home Prices
This piece highlights the unique coalition behind affordable housing movements.
3 Types of Overthinking — and How to Overcome Them
Something most of us could use a little help with, at least now and then.
Please enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend.
Sean
Celebrating 311 Day All Week
Cary joined in the national celebration that is 3/11 Day, marking its fourth year in operations. Online educational campaigns for citizens spanned the week and captured thousands of views and positive engagement. Citizen advocates were treated to lunch and treats throughout the week, a team building event at Graffiti in downtown Cary, and participated in meditation sessions. With work volume growing to an average of 180,000 cases handled annually, it’s important to celebrate and recognize the team with intentionality and appreciation.
2024 Black History Month
This year, Cary expanded its programming for Black History Month to include a variety of activities and events throughout February. This expansive recognition and celebration of Black History & African American Appreciation Month warranted Cary’s Cultural Resources Division to be recognized in a National Parks & Recreation publication.
The 2024 theme was ‘Acknowledging the Past While STREAMing Into the Future.’ The month consisted of related films, adult and children’s art classes, concerts, art exhibitions, a poetic exhibition, book signings, culinary samplings, STEM programs, and a STREAM Symposium. Events were held in various venues across the town including, the Cary Arts Center, The Cary, Page-Walker Arts & History Center, and the Downtown Cary Park. A photo album recapping the month’s events is available for all to enjoy.
Association of IT Professionals Celebrates Women’s History Month
Chief Information Officer Nicole Coughlin shared her journey as a mom of boys in information technology leadership at last night’s Association of IT Professionals (AITP) – RTP Chapter event celebrating Women’s History Month. The event was held at North Carolina University Club and included a panel which shared experiences in the technology field. Nicole left the event feeling encouraged to see the potential in how the gender gap may close as the new generation starts to enter the IT workforce.
2024 Summer Camp Registration on RecTrac
Summer Camp registration, usually the largest registration day of the year, kicked-off on Wednesday. Online registration opened at 7 a.m. to accommodate working parents and within 30 minutes almost 4,400 registrations had been successfully completed. By the end of the first day, 5,569 program registrations occurred and camp registrations were at approximately 70% capacity. Additionally, 99.5% of those registrations were completed online, setting another all-time high. Registration continues for Cary residents and non-resident registration will open on Wednesday, March 27.
Regional Collaboration on the Future of Water Resources
On Wednesday, staff from Cary and Wake County met with Research Triangle Foundation (RTF) Planners to discuss the future of Wake County’s portion of Research Triangle Park (RTP) and its connection to Long Range Water Resource Planning (LRWRP). As the Cary LRWRP is currently being updated, this interagency coordination is critical for improving water demand forecasts and ensuring excellent, safe, and reliable water supply for future generations. Cary’s water supply is Jordan Lake, and our utility service area includes Cary, Morrisville, the RDU airport, and the Wake County portion of RTP.
Signal Upgrades
Earlier this week, staff from Public Works, Police, and Transportation worked together to complete signal upgrades at the intersection of Walnut Street and Kildaire Farm Road. These upgrades make the intersection safer for all pedestrians to cross, including the installation of Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) devices that communicate crossing information through audible messages.
Repair Café
This year’s Repair Café event helped keep many items ticking and out of the landfill. Items brought in for repair by 75 citizens included chairs, turntables, toys, and an electric lawnmower. Local ‘fix-it coaches’ volunteered their time and skills to provide repair services and tips to help owners keep things in working condition. The event achieved a 69% repair rate.
InsideCary Civics Kicks Off 2024 Year of Staff Learning Opportunities
This week, employees gathered at the Academy Pavilion at Downtown Cary Park for the first InsideCary learning session of 2024, which focused on civics. The group learned about Cary’s council-manager form of government, what it means for North Carolina local governments to derive their authority from the state, and the importance of public records retention. Similar to Cary 101, InsideCary provides an opportunity for all employees to learn about Cary’s history, government, decision-making, culture, and the people and facilities that serve our citizens every day.
Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meetings on April 3rd
Two rezoning meetings, 24-REZ-03 Wellington PDD Amendment and 24-REZ-05 Westley Manor, will take place virtually on Wednesday, April 3 at 6:30 p.m.
Upcoming Meetings
Public Art Advisory Board
Wednesday, March 20
6:15 p.m.
Greenway Committee
Thursday, March 21
6:00 p.m.
Mayor’s Mailbox
- A complaint about cars racing on Highway 55.
- A concern about an abandoned hotel at 1500 Regency Parkway.
- A complaint about a Cary police officer.
- Thanks to police officers who helped someone’s daughter after an accident.
- Support for the Stable Homes Cary program.
- A complaint about Walnut Street saying the council doesn’t take action until someone dies (Hurtful, not true, and from a previous candidate for town council).
- A complaint about a potential tax increase.
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, Youth Leadership Cary, State of Cary at Glenaire, State of Cary at Templeton, CAMPO, and a taping of a condensed State of Cary.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, March 24th, 2024. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communication with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.
Harold's Blog 