Vote YES for Cary Bonds!
[DISCLAIMER – the following are my thoughts and opinions on the bond and do not represent the council or the town. The town, by law, cannot advocate or use its resources for or against any bond.]
Cary has been viewed as one of the best communities in the nation for many years. Past decisions were made with a goal to be the best of the best which was a values choice and the choice to continue to be the best of the best (what we call “top of the arc”) is a Cary citizen values choice that will be decided by the bond vote in November.
The November bond is a $590 million bond with most of the cost attributed to new community/senior center projects. Using bond money for these centers makes financial sense, as large capital projects like these are best financed through bonds. That way future residents will also pay their fair share of the cost. Currently Cary has three community centers and one senior center. These centers are decades old, require a LOT of maintenance, and don’t come close to meeting citizens’ demands. And that demand is increasing with Cary being the oldest populated municipality out of the top fourteen populated municipalities in North Carolina.
What is a bond?
The bond on the November ballot is a General Obligation (GO) bond. Citizens vote on these types of bonds and if approved have the lowest interest rate. Because Cary has the highest rating from all the major bond rating agencies, we will get the lowest interest rate on all bonds that will be used to fund these projects. GO bonds are a reliable, cost-effective, and fair way to finance important public projects, while ensuring that the costs are spread out, like a mortgage, and that citizens have a voice in the process.
Are bond votes a vote on projects?
Technically no. Bond votes are votes on project funding. However, if this bond fails then it is highly unlikely that many of these projects will be considered again for several years, and some may be scrapped forever.
What projects are in the bond and what are their costs?
- Sports and Recreation Community Center: $300 million
- Mills Park Community Center: $150 million
- Cary Tennis Park and Pickleball Expansion: $60 million
- Walnut Creek Greenway: $30 million
- Asia Garden Master Plan: $10 million
- Nature Park Master Plan: $10 million
- New Housing Projects and Programs: $30 million
The state requires us to use highly conservative estimates in my opinion. They make us post 5.34% interest for the park’s bonds and 5.59% interest for the affordable housing bond. I believe Cary will do much better than those interest rates given that our history has been that we have beaten those rates each time. If not, we can wait until the interest rates go down.
The timing of the proposed tax rate change is also pessimistic: 2026, 2028, and 2030. The timeline used in our bond materials is the earliest date that these bonds will be sold and would then impact the tax rate. Keep in mind that Cary doesn’t have the manpower and resources to take on all these projects at one time. Delays are common when planning large projects, and I believe that accomplishing all these projects in the timeframe listed is a stretch.
Sports and Recreation Community Center ($300 million)
The Sports and Recreation Community Center will have three components: Community Center, Senior Center, and Competitive Space. The competitive portion of this project is estimated to generate an annual economic impact to our area of $37 million which will more than double the annual economic impact of all current Cary sports venues (WakeMed Soccer, USA Baseball, and the Cary Tennis Park). In addition, the county has committed $75 million to the cost of this project. If the “competitive space” were in existence today it is estimated that it would be booked out most of the year with other times used for transitioning between sports.
The community center and senior center will be large enough to accommodate people that live nearby as well as all Cary residents. The senior component will have areas dedicated to senior activities. This is desperately needed, especially in this part of Cary.
The area outside the Community Center will be a park-like setting. People will be able to enjoy and experience the entire grounds without ever going inside the center. In addition, the proposed Walnut Creek greenway will connect from it to Fenton and Downtown, providing a way to get to this space without driving. In the future, the developers of South Hills vision is to connect to a redeveloped Crossroads via a pedestrian bridge.
Mills Park Community Center ($150 million)
The Mills Park Community Center will include community center and a senior center. Many of our Cary residents live in western Cary and are currently underserved by public spaces. This will allow programming to help meet the needs of an aging population and the rest of the citizenry. Is this the crown jewels of community centers? No. As plans were originally developed with citizen input, I saw a LOT of features that I would love to see in the center but are just cost prohibitive. Nevertheless, this will be one of the nicest in the region if not the state.
Cary Tennis Park and Pickleball Expansion ($60 million)
The Cary Tennis Park benefits our citizens by providing recreational opportunities, but it’s also a venue for top college and professional tournaments. As I write this there is a national tennis tournament with colleges from all over the country in our town. These tennis tournaments generate millions of dollars of economic impact each year. Expanding our facilities will meet requirements that will allow us to draw bigger tennis tournaments and have an even bigger economic impact.
In addition, the expansion will create 30 pickleball courts on land that Cary owns as part of the Tennis facility. This will not only allow for recreational play in a rapidly growing sport but also allow us to hold future pickleball tournaments.
The expansion will also allow Cary to be home to the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame.
Whether or not you play tennis or pickleball it makes good sense to support this expansion just for the economic benefits, which will help keep our taxes low.
Walnut Creek Greenway ($30 million)
The Walnut Creek Greenway project will allow citizens to go from downtown to Fenton, WakeMed Soccer Park (via Fenton) and eventually to the redeveloped South Hills on a greenway. Connecting destination centers makes sense especially given our citizens’ interest in our downtown area. Cary is known for having an excellent and well-used greenway system of over 90 miles, and this investment will continue the connectivity and IMHO be our crown jewel.
Asia Garden Master Plan ($10 million)
The Asian Garden master plan is about adding a botanical garden and beautiful quiet space in Cary on land owned and shared with Wake County. This project brings several valuable benefits of green space and beauty, where people can relax, walk and enjoy a calming environment while also celebrating our rich cultural diversity. The idea is to master plan the area and provide a space for a 1 to 2 acre set of gardens. There are few, if any, gardens like this in the Triangle area, and over time, it will provide educational opportunities and space for events to create a sense of community and likely become a destination that creates an economic impact.
Nature Park Master Plan ($10 million)
Cary purchased 200 acres to preserve its natural beauty for future generations. The current plan is to save historic structures on the site, create parking and restrooms, and create a path around the entire property. I think this nature preserve will be a fantastic amenity that keeps us the best of the best and a huge benefit to our community, families, grandkids and future generations.
New Housing Projects and Programs – Affordable Housing Bond ($30 million)
By law, Housing Bonds are separate questions on the ballot. The Affordable Housing bond is a way to work to implement our already approved Cary Housing Plan. (https://housing.carync.gov/cary-housing-plan/) If approved, the Housing bond will support housing initiatives in ALL four primary strategic areas contained in our plan, such as building housing and supporting residents with low and moderate incomes across Cary. Affordable Housing is a nationwide challenge, and Cary is not immune to this trend. Our staff is the best of the best, and although we have made investments, our community has asked us to do more. Our recently launched Stable Homes Cary Program partnership with Dorcas Ministries- is working to support people staying in their homes and helping with relocation support when moving may be necessary. The funds provided in this bond would provide funds to create or preserve more affordable housing options, including purchasing property, providing housing development gap financing, homeownership programing and working to preserve affordable housing and helping residents age in place. Our goal is to ensure that people of all income levels can live in our community, and I believe that this bond referendum is a critical investment in Cary’s futureand a significant part of our community’s efforts to address affordability and the growing need for affordable housing.
Town Manage One-On-One
Monday, I met with the town manager for our weekly one-on-one. Our topics of discussion included the manager’s annual evaluation, bonds, and an upcoming closed session.
Diwali Proclamation
Monday night I joined Mayor Pro-Tem Robinson, council member Bansal, and council member Kohn-Johnson in a Diwali celebration for the Hindu Society of North Carolina at the Downtown Cary Park. A made a few remarks and read a proclamation. Others in attendance included Congresswoman Ross, Congressman Nickle, NC Senator Batch, NC Representative Liu, NC Representative Cervania, and Wake County School Board member Tyler Swanson.
Council Work Session
Tuesday afternoon the council held a work session as part of the process to evaluate the performance of one of our direct hires. Our direct hires include the town manager, town attorney, and town clerk.
Council Meeting
Thursday night the council met for the last regularly scheduled meeting of October. The agenda had five consent items, two public hearings, and one discussion item.
The meeting opened with a proclamation recognizing Cary Band Day. This was the 65th Cary Band Day and the 103rd anniversary of the Cary Band. To say it is a tradition is an understatement.
The first public hearing was for the 23-A-04 Courtyards at White Oak annexation. This had no speakers and will come back for a vote with the associated rezoning. The second public hearing was on the ACT-34 Imagine Cary Community Plan 2024 Update. This plan guides all development in Cary. The council will vote on this early next year.
The discussion item was for the 23-REZ-05 South Hills District Rezoning at the old South Hills mall site which was for an assemblage of properties totaling approximately 44.35 acres along Buck Jones Road near Walnut Street. It will allow a vertically integrated, mixed-use development with structured parking. It would also create a block structure and street grid for the site and incorporate three height zones, with the highest buildings being allowed closest to U.S. 1. The plan requires ground floor activation along specific pedestrian-focused areas of the site. The following types and amounts of uses were modeled in the traffic study for this rezoning:
- 550,000 square feet of commercial uses,
- 35,000 square feet of research and development uses,
- 935,000 square feet of office and public/institutional uses,
- 350 hotel rooms,
- 1,775 multifamily dwellings,
- 328,000 square feet of institutional use for the Center
There will be a developer agreement worked out over the next few months which will give more specificity before the site plan is created. This will be a large development that will hopefully transform a rundown old mall into a vibrant area of Cary. During the discussion council members asked questions that included traffic and impervious surface but ultimately approved it unanimously.
Honoring Mayor Pro-Tem Robinson
Wednesday evening, I joined several Cary staff members at the CPRC (Central Pines Regional Council) meeting to honor Mayor Pro-Tem Robinson for serving as the President of the National Association of Regional Councils in 2023. The National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) serves as the national voice for regions by advocating for regional cooperation as the most effective way to address a variety of community planning and development opportunities and issues. Several members of CPRC spoke and praised Ms. Robinson. I added my gratitude and presented her with flowers on behalf of the staff and council. I am so proud and honored to have had Jennifer lead this national organization. She is not only a great leader on all levels but a good friend to many. We are so blessed to have her as our Mayor Pro-Tem.
Special Surprise
Wednesday night I did a taping for a special surprise for Cary citizens and surrounding areas. The surprise will be unveiled on November 1st.
Shooting in Cary
According to reports, Thursday afternoon a fifteen-year-old was injured by gunfire in the Village Square Shopping center near Cary High School. The suspect was a seventeen-year-old. Neither the suspect nor the victim was a Wake County student. While the incident was tragic, I am glad the shooting was not fatal.
Carpenter Fire Station and McCrimmon Parkway Parks Celebration
Sunday afternoon I joined Mayor Pro-Tem Robinson, council member Bush, council member Bansal and several staff members in a neighborhood parks celebration at Carpenter Fire Station Road Park. The celebration also included McCrimmon Park.
While all council members are involved in the approval of parks, Mayor Pro-Tem Jennifer Robinson was instrumental in these parks since she represented this area of Cary for more than a decade. She was the representative of this area when the idea of neighborhood parks were first initiated, reviewed many versions of the proposal, and was a key advocate for its completion. When our districts were adjusted to rebalance representation, Mayor Pro-Tem Robinson’s district changed and she was no longer this district’s representative. However, her contributions to this area’s development remain significant. Thank you, Jennifer, for all you have done to make these parks a reality.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
This was another week marked by numerous important and meaningful events, as detailed in this report. That said, the most significant undertaking by Cary staff was the flawless unified response to yesterday’s shooting. Public safety has been, and always will be, our top priority, and I am proud to serve the men and women of our police and fire departments, whose fearless dedication was once again on display.
Sean
Diwali Holiday Proclamation
On Oct. 21, the Mayor presented the Diwali Holiday Proclamation to Manoj Pandya, President of the Hindu Society of North Carolina, alongside other community leaders. Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Bryson Robinson and Councilmembers Sarika Bansal and Carissa Kohn-Johnson were in attendance, joined by federal, state, and county elected officials. The event was a meaningful occasion for the community to come together and celebrate the spirit of Diwali, with attendees expressing gratitude for the opportunity to honor this significant holiday.
Central Pines Recognizes Council Member Robinson
On Oct. 23, the Mayor, leadership staff, and the Central Pines Board of Delegates honored Jennifer Bryson Robinson for her outstanding service, as she recently completed her term as the Chair of the National Association of Regional Councils. The event was also attended by Erich Zimmermann, Executive Director of the association.
Western Wake Children’s Business Fair
Cary hosted the Western Wake Children’s Business Fair on Oct. 19 at Thomas Brooks Park. Councilmembers Lori Bush and Sarika Bansal attended the award ceremony to congratulate the participants. The event offered an exciting day of entrepreneurship and family fun. The fair featured nearly 60 young entrepreneurs who showcased their creativity and business skills, making it a memorable event for the community.
Quarterly All Hands Meeting
On Thursday, Brittany, Sean, and Russ led Cary’s quarterly All Hands meeting with staff, covering key topics like capital budget priorities, the upcoming bond referendum, and Hurricane Helene assistance efforts. More than 100 employees joined in person, with hundreds more tuning in online, including 300 Public Works employees after their annual Snow Rodeo. It was a great conversation about prioritization and taking this time to determine what is most precious to us. At a time when several of our North Carolina neighbors are experiencing such devastation, it is important to remember what matters most.
2024 Cary Community Bonds WRAL Interview
On Tuesday, Assistant Town Manager Danna Widmar was interviewed by WRAL News to share information on the 2024 Cary Community Bonds. The interview aired on Tuesday evening and was a great opportunity to inform Cary citizens about the bonds and express the importance of their vote.
Smart Cities Tour at the Downtown Cary Park
This week, members of the Traffic Engineering and Transportation Planning Councils from the North Carolina Section of the Institute for Transportation Engineers visited downtown Cary. Staff from Police, Transportation, PRCR, and IT led a tour of the Downtown Park, highlighting Smart Cities applications that illustrate how people move around the park. Topics included Cary’s new LiDAR installation at the Academy Street and Dry Avenue intersection, video analytics throughout the park, and smart sensors for weather, sound, and trash. The tour ended with networking at the Bark Bar.
Cary Greenway Projects Update
Construction on Cary’s Crabtree Greenway Project, extending from Bond Park to High House Road, is nearing completion and expected to open in early 2025. Managed by Lanier Construction, the final tasks include paving and installing fencing. Once finished, the greenway will link Bond Park to High House Road, providing a critical connection in the Crabtree Creek Greenway corridor with GoCary transit access and enhanced bike and pedestrian routes.
Phase one of the Black Creek Greenway Renovation is set for completion by summer 2025. Completed work includes utility relocations and waterline installation, with storm drainage and bridge foundation installations underway. Project updates and drone footage are available online.
Bond Lake Supplemental Watershed Plan
Following the public meeting in August, Wake County has published a FAQ addressing public concerns and feedback on upgrades to Bond Lake Dam.
The FAQ outlines potential temporary disruptions if the project moves forward, aiming to meet federal flood regulations while also ensuring long-term benefits for the lake’s ecosystem, wildlife, and recreation use. Cary and Wake County staff will meet at the end of the month to discuss the project and community input. Additional updates and information will be available on Wake County’s Crabtree Creek Watershed website.
October Harvest Fest
October’s Harvest Fest attracted hundreds to Cary’s Good Hope Farm last Saturday for tours, local produce from farmer trainees, and a variety of family-friendly activities. Staff partnered with various nonprofit groups including the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, Trees for the Triangle, The Cary Tree Archive, Cary Garden Club, Piedmont Conservation Council, Western Wake Farmers Market, Cary Farmers Market, Save Soil, Pitstop for the Birds, and the NC Bluebird Society to provide information booths. Cary staff also hosted booths to engage visitors in sustainability initiatives. November’s Harvest Fest is set for the 16th, focusing on buying locally and preventing food waste during the holidays.
Sturgill Simpson’s Benefit Concert
Sturgill Simpson performed two sold-out shows earlier this week at Koka Booth Amphitheatre. Originally scheduled to perform in Asheville on Monday, that show was canceled due to extensive damage from Hurricane Helene. Instead, Simpson performed in Cary on Tuesday night, raising money for disaster relief efforts in western North Carolina. Proceeds from the concert were donated to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund.
2024 NC Senior Pickleball Championships
From Oct. 18 – 20, the Cary Tennis Park hosted the NC Senior Games 2024 State Pickleball Championships for the third consecutive year. More than 850 players, aged 50 to 94, participated in the event, which required 30 pickleball courts (26 taped and 4 permanent). Throughout the three days, matches were held in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles across all age groups.
Upcoming Meetings
2024 Cary Community Bonds Public Meeting
Monday, October 28
6:30 p.m.
Planning and Zoning Board
Monday, October 28
6:30 p.m.
Economic Development Committee
Wednesday, October 30
5:15 p.m.
Mayor’s Mailbox
- A complaint about the “literacy” of Cary, Apex, and Morrisville signs.
- A request to ban cyclists from the streets and make them use greenways.
- A complaint about flooding of Sequoia Creek.
- A complaint about the bond referendum.
- A request to find out how youth are getting guns (referring to the shooting).
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, the Laurel Street Project’s groundbreaking, a meeting with a representative from Friends of the Page Walker, the Dorcas Thanksgiving breakfast, an Economic Development Committee meeting, and a meeting of the NC Metro Mayors.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, November 3rd, 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@carync.gov and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.
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