Council Meeting Prep
Monday I attempted to contact all council members to hear of any questions or concerns they may have had about the agenda for the regular meeting later in the week. More than one council member expressed a concern with the rezoning proposal for the Carpenter Fire Station at Highcroft PDD. Later in the day I met with Mayor Pro-Tem Bryson-Robinson and staff to go over the agenda. Our meeting lasted about fifteen minutes.
Town Manager One-On-One
After the council prep meeting I had my weekly one-on-one with the town manager. Topics included council relationships, the PPA tournament the previous week, the budget, and the future South Hills project.
Cary Tennis Classic Board Meeting
Monday night I joined the meeting of the Cary Tennis Classic Board (formerly the Atlantic Tire Championships). Our topics included feedback from a recent event, an Anthony Blackman Scholars update, a review of the PPA event at the Cary Tennis Park, sponsors and donations, future Cary Tennis Park events, and future board meeting dates.
Council Work Session Cancelled
Tuesday morning the council was notified that the work session scheduled for Thursday was cancelled. Staff had hope to present additional information about the Center at South Hills but was not ready. Here are the work sessions and quarterly meetings scheduled through June and their planned topics:
April 25: The Center, Bond Referendum, and Elections follow-up
May 2: Quarterly Meeting, Initial presentation of proposed budget
May 23: Budget
June 10: Budget
June 27: Town Hall Redevelopment with RFQ plans, budget
Council Meeting
Thursday night the council held its first regular scheduled meeting of April. The agenda included recognition of scouts, two consent items, one public hearing, and one discussion item.
The public hearing was for an Amendment to the Fenton Development Agreement. In October 2018, Cary entered into a development agreement with the Master Developer of the Fenton development that provides reimbursement to the developer for construction of public infrastructure based on achievement of certain development milestones. The agreement was amended in August 2020 to accommodate additional financial partners and changes due to construction financing. The developer has subsequently constructed the first phase of the development and completed public improvements associated with this phase of the development agreement. However, due to an anchor tenant (Wegmans) declining to build, the development agreement does not permit the developer to be reimbursed for any of the public infrastructure they have constructed. The proposed amendment recognizes that significant private development has occurred, and key elements of the desired public infrastructure have been constructed. This change allows for reimbursement for these improvements while retaining the spirit and intent of the agreement for future phases of the development. After the public hearing the council approved this amendment unanimously.
The discussion item was for a rezoning 22-REZ-14 Carpenter Fire Station at Highcroft PDD. The proposed rezoning of 19.53 acres. Conditions and standards for the proposed rezoning as detailed in the PDD and include: limiting uses to a maximum of 325 multifamily dwellings, 25 townhouses, and 3,000 to 5,000 square feet of commercial uses; providing 15,000 square feet of community gathering area; constructing a pool and clubhouse; reserving 10% of the multifamily units for renters at or below 80% of Area Median Income; preserving three champion trees; providing 10 electric vehicle charging stations; increasing the buffer and the multifamily building setback on the western property line; and completing recommended transportation improvements. The applicant asked that this item be removed to give them more time. It will likely be on the June 10th agenda.
East Cary Career Day
Friday morning I was a special guest at East Cary Middle School for their career day. I gave welcoming remarks to three different groups of students. I was also at a table answering their questions. My visit lasted one and a half hours.
USA Baseball Training Facility Opening
Saturday I joined five council members, NC Senator Adcock, NC House Representative Cervania, Wake County Commissioner Adamson, USA Baseball President Gall, USA Baseball CEO Seiler, and about one hundred guests at the opening of the indoor facility at USA Baseball National Training Complex. The new facility is a training center with a 150 X 150-foot field, meeting rooms, staff offices, and executive offices. I was the emcee for the event. The following is a segment of my opening remarks:
“… I would like to take a moment to reflect on the history of this remarkable facility. Since its inception in 2007, the National Training Complex has been a beacon of excellence, hosting over 300 major events between USA Baseball and the Town of Cary. Each year, more than 100,000 people visit this site. They are drawn here by our reputation as one of the world’s premier baseball facilities—a status recognized locally, nationally, and even internationally. One notable highlight was in 2015 when we hosted an international tournament which brought together talent and spectators from all over the world. …
Our achievements here are a testament to the power of partnership. Over the past 18 years, our alliance with USA Baseball has been foundational and I am looking forward to our continued collaboration in the coming years.
We are also extremely grateful to Wake County for their significant contribution of $3.25 million through hotel occupancy funding, allowing us to build this impressive expansion. Thanks to their support, the National Training Complex now has a 150×150’ artificial turf field, enhanced staff office and meeting spaces, and the sleek new executive offices for USA Baseball. These upgrades will provide our athletes, our staff, and our visitors with top-tier facilities, and solidify our status as the hub for baseball excellence. …”
Other speakers included Cary Council District D Bansal, Cary Parks Director Collins, USA Baseball President Gall, and USA Baseball CEO Seiler.
After the speeches the council and USA Baseball executives lined up and cut the ribbon with the audience behind us.
Next I joined USA Baseball President Gall, a former player, to throw out the first pitch at the championship game for the National High School Invitational.
The USA Baseball facility is an incredible venue that provides competition from all over the world, top tier entertainment, and an annual economic benefit of over a million dollars.
Town Manager’s Report
Russ’ Message
It looks like the weather’s shaping up nicely for a weekend packed with fun things to do in Cary. Downtown will be bustling tomorrow with people attending the Pimento Cheese Festival. With its new location in the Downtown Cary Park, visitors will enjoy more activities and a larger event footprint, allowing for more vendors. This means more pimento cheese for everyone to enjoy!
Also on Saturday, just further west of downtown, we’re celebrating the grand opening of the training center and executive offices at the USA Baseball National Training Complex with the championship game of the 11th National High School Invitational. I hope to see you there!
Have a great weekend.
Russ
Celebrating Trees and Forests
Cary celebrated trees and forests on Saturday with our My Tree, Our Tree distribution and a community Arbor Day event. The event was focused on engaging guests with important topics relating to proper tree care, soil health, composting, native plants, wildlife, and more. My Tree, Our Tree participants received 1,000 native trees to help increase our urban forest canopy. Councilmember Michelle Craig helped kick off the special occasion with the reading of our Arbor Day proclamation, followed by our 41st Tree City USA designation ceremony with the NC Forest Service. Councilmember Carissa Kohn-Johnson then joined in to honor Hometown Spirit Award winner Peggy Van Scoyoc with her commemorative Arbor Day Tree Plaque, which will be installed with ‘her’ river birch at McDonald Woods Park. Guests of all ages enjoyed chatting with environmental experts, exploring nature-themed play areas, and learning more about how they can play a vital role in Cary’s commitment to sustainability.
Honoring National Child Abuse Prevention Month
In honor of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, Councilmember Carissa Kohn-Johnson presented a proclamation at the Western Health & Human Services Center’s Pinwheel Planting Ceremony. She spoke about the significance of the month and ways to get involved during last night’s ceremonial opening. The month recognizes the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect. The public is invited to attend a Pinwheel Planting Ceremony with the Cary Police Department, scheduled to be held in the Downtown Cary Park. More details will be announced in the Town’s calendar.
Presenting to HOA Presidents and Board Members
Councilmember Sarika Bansal welcomed and presented to a group of HOA presidents and board members at Fire Station 8. She, along with Planning Director Scot Berry, discussed developments and transportation projects in the area near Carpenter Fire Station Road and Morrisville Parkway. Click here to view the slides that were presented.
Upcoming Neighborhood Public Safety Meeting
Due to the recent break-ins in the areas of Districts D & A, the Cary Police Department will be available on Monday, April 15, at the Northwest YMCA at 7 p.m. to meet with citizens and answer any questions. Chief Terry Sult, Councilmember Sarika Bansal, Councilmember Jennifer Bryson Robinson, and other police representatives will be in attendance.
Walnut Creek Greenway/Stormwater Project
We are excited to share that thanks to Congresswoman Deborah Ross and Congressman Wiley Nickel, Cary has been awarded $1,919,504 in federal funds to benefit the Walnut Creek Greenway/Stormwater Management Project. These funds will assist with stormwater and flooding management in the areas where the future greenway will be located. This summer there will be an official presentation of these funds with our elected officials. More information will be shared as it is available.
New Drinking Water Regulations for PFAs Announced
The EPA announced a new PFAS regulation for drinking water on April 10. Overall, the new regulation is nearly identical to the draft regulation announced in 2023 however, there is an important update in these regulations. Beginning in 2027, water utilities throughout the nation will be required to provide regular monitoring and reporting of PFAS in their Consumer Confidence Reports. In Cary, we’ve already been providing this information to our citizens for several years. The quality of our drinking water is excellent, and we’re already in compliance with the new regulations. We’re also continuing to study and test the newest innovative technologies for even more enhanced water treatment systems in the future. Cary’s web pages and fact sheets have been updated to provide the most recent information to our citizens.
2024 Cary 101
On Wednesday April 10, a group of 22 citizens met for the first session of this year’s Cary 101 program. This annual program serves as an opportunity for citizens to connect with Cary in a meaningful and educational way. Participants will spend the next several weeks engaging in an array of presentations, hands-on activities, and facility tours so they can gain insight into Cary’s structure, operations, and services.
GoCary App Now Available
The GoCary app has officially launched in the App Store and on Google Play. Now, users are able to track their bus in real-time, as well as access several other features helpful for riders. Users can customize their riding experience by creating favorite routes and stops for quick reference or by utilizing the trip planning feature. The GoCary app is free to download and free to use.
Portions of Black Creek Greenway Temporarily Closed
On Wednesday, April 17, a production crew with PUMA, the athletic shoe company, will be filming a commercial at Old Reedy Creek Trailhead. The commercial will feature several Olympic marathon runners who train locally. To accommodate filming, portions of Black Greek Greenway, Old Reedy Creek Road, and the trailhead parking lot will be closed intermittently throughout the day. Cary is excited and honored to have been selected as the location for this international promotion for PUMA.
Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting – May 1
The following Neighborhood Meetings will be held virtually on Webex from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., on Wednesday, May 1:
Upcoming Meetings
- 24-REZ-06 Regency Multifamily
- 24-REZ-07 Greenwood Forest Baptist Church
Athletic Committee
Monday, April 15
6:00 p.m.
Planning and Zoning Board
Monday, April 15
6:30 p.m.
Public Art Advisory Board
Wednesday
April 17, 5:00 p.m.
Economic Development Committee
Wednesday
April 17, 5:15 p.m.
Greenway Committee
Thursday, April 18
6:00 p.m.
Mayor’s Mailbox
- A request to meet about a private investment.
- A complaint about pedestrian safety downtown.
- A complaint about noise: “Be a leader. Do the job people expect…Your police have done nothing for a year.”
- A request for a tobacco free community.
- A thank you for opening the season for the Farmers Market.
- A complaint about Sharon Harris sirens.
- A complaint that a perfectly good house is being torn down (it is in a flood plain and the foundation floods which makes it unsafe).
- A complaint about Duke Energy issues: “Flex your leadership and influence with the project to bring Duke… to settle our damages”.
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a Wake County Mayors Association meeting, a reception for visiting Sister Cities French students, a CAMPO Executive Board meeting, an Economic Development meeting, and an Elected Officials Reception.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, April 21st, 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.
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