Council Meeting Prep
Monday I attempted to contact each council member to hear of any questions or concerns about the upcoming agenda. The only questions were about the Regency Public Hearing. Later in the day I met with staff to go over the agenda. We believed there would be many in attendance for the Regency proposal and for the Greenwood Forest affordable housing project.
Manager One-On-One
Monday evening I met with the Deputy Town Manager, an Assistant Town Manager, and the Town Attorney. Our only topic of discussion was an economic development project.
Wake County Mayors Association
Monday night I attended a meeting of the Wake County Mayors Association in Garner. In attendance were the mayors of Apex, Cary, Garner, Morrisville, Raleigh, Wake Forest, Wendell, and Zebulon. Most of our conversation was on proposed budgets and tax rates.
State of Cary at Town Hall
Tuesday night I delivered the State of Cary address in town hall. While I have given this several times to many organizations, this was the first one open to the public. I talked for about 45 to 50 minutes and then answered questions. There were about 30 to 40 in attendance.
Economic Development
Wednesday night I participated in the quarterly meeting of the Economic Development Committee.
First, the committee heard a budget presentation from Assistant Town Manager Scot Berry. Then the committee investigated scenarios as the council did in March.
The committee also heard a quarterly report from the President of the Cary Chamber. Here are some takeaways from that report:
- Unemployment: Cary 2.9%, Wake County 3.0%, NC 3.7%, US 4.2%
- Business Recruitment: 11 active projects, 2850 potential jobs, $890 million in potential development, focus is advanced manufacturing and life sciences
Private Meeting
Thursday afternoon I met a candidate running for Wake County Commissioner. While I don’t endorse candidates I will meet and talk with them. Next March there will be a Democratic primary and a Republican primary for two seats. The top vote getter in the November general election will get a four-year term and the second place vote getter will get a two-year term. There are new seats added to the Wake County Commission. I have been told there are four candidates for the Democratic primary and two candidates for the Republican primary.
Sister City Le Touquet Reception
I joined the entire council at a reception welcoming culinary students from Le Touquet, France Thursday evening. They have been a sister city for decades and we have a culinary exchange each year. My wife and I have hosted students in the past and still stay in touch with a few. They will be working in Cary restaurants for a few weeks before traveling to NY city and then back home. I wish them the best!
Town Council Meeting
Thursday night the council held its last regularly scheduled meeting of the month. The agenda included three presentations and recognitions, two consent items, two public hearings, and three discussion items.
The first presentation was a proclamation recognizing May as National Tennis Month. In attendance were representatives from the Western Wake Tennis Association. Here are some of the points made in the proclamation:
“…The USTA proudly partners with local tennis programs to showcase the important health, social, and educational benefits of tennis, and make the sport available to everyone, regardless of age, environment, condition, or ability, through its USTA Adaptive grants…
… According to a Tennis Industry Association study, in 2024, 25.7 million people played tennis in the United States…
…USTA has declared the month of May as National Tennis Month to encourage players, organizations, facilities, retailers, tennis manufacturers and more to promote local programs and activities, at parks and facilities to showcase tennis and spread the word about the sport and its benefits, and to help players and non-players alike find courts and play opportunities in their communities…”
The second presentation was a proclamation recognizing April as “Cary Earth Month”. In attendance were students and faculty from Green Hope High School’s Environmental Science program. Here are some of the points in that proclamation:
“…Under the guidance of dedicated teachers, hundreds of students partnered with Cary through Spruce projects, educational outreach, green event support, and environmental restoration efforts – helping to ensure Cary remains forever green…
…Cary approaches all service and operations with a guiding ethic of sustainability, grounded in innovation and collaboration. As we look to the future, we proudly recognize April 2025 as a time to recommit ourselves to protecting the planet for generations to come. …”
The third recognition was for Le Touquet students visiting from France as part of our Sister City culinary exchange program. One of their students made remarks before I recognized them.
The consent agenda included two items. The first was a rezoning to allow two detached dwellings and the dedication of 4 feet of right-of-way on West Chatham Street at 402 Charles Court. The second was a resolution authorizing the exchange of property with Alston Yards which was approved by the council on February 6th.
The Public Speaks Out portion of the meeting took almost the entire hour with 17 speakers. A few spoke to encourage the council to approve the Greenwood Forest affordable housing project which was up for a vote later in the meeting. Most of the remaining speakers were against the Waverly proposal coming up for a vote in May. Their complaints mostly focused on traffic. Interestingly, Waverly is at the corner of Kildaire and Tryon which are commuter roads. Those roads will continue to increase in congestion as people travel from other locations through the area to get to work and shopping regardless of what happens with the Waverly proposal.
The first public hearing was for 24-REZ-06 Regency Multi-family which about a dozen speakers all against the proposal. Complaints included traffic and density. Council also expressed concerns which included transition to single family homes.
The second public hearing was to consider approval of the 2025-2030 CDBG Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan funding recommendations for FY 2026 (HUD Program Year 2025), authorizing staff to submit both plans to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and pursue initiative implementation. This was approved unanimously by council. Here is a press release with more information:
“The Cary Town Council has approved the draft Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan and draft 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan, which recommends awards totaling over $3.6 million in funding.
This investment will support the construction of 62 new affordable housing units, the rehabilitation of four existing affordable rental homes, and the improvement of approximately 30 homes for low-income homeowners. In total, these initiatives are expected to benefit more than 2,000 Cary residents by supporting new housing and housing stability. A list of the organizations that will benefit from the fund allocations can be found online here.
The funding is guided by four core objectives highlighted in the 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan:
- Rehabilitate and preserve existing housing
- Build vibrant and livable neighborhoods
- Provide more housing choices
- Support public services for residents facing homelessness and housing instability
“These plans reflect Cary’s commitment to creating more high-quality, sustainable and affordable housing opportunities,” said Heather Whelehan, Cary’s Director of Housing & Community Partnerships. “We’re investing not just in buildings, but in people and the partnerships that build a stronger community.”
The 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan identifies immediate projects to be launched in the upcoming fiscal year with a blend of local and federal funds, ranging from new affordable housing development to housing preservation and emergency assistance.
The draft plan will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for final approval. Rooted in partnerships and a People First approach, this investment supports the goals of the Cary Housing Plan and Imagine Cary Community Plan, ensuring that all residents can enjoy the high quality of life Cary has to offer. For more information on the recipients of these awards, initiatives, and drafted plans, visit housing.carync.gov.”
The first discussion item was 24-REZ-07 Greenwood Forest affordable housing project. After much praise from the council this request was approved unanimously. The project will allow religious assembly, special event center, preschool/daycare center, office, and multifamily dwelling units. Conditions ensure the housing units are affordable for 30 years at 60% AMI (if rented) or 80% AMI (if sold), provide at least 25,000 square feet of community gathering space, and provide a street-side trail along the site frontages.
The second discussion item, 24-REZ-15 Wake Western Regional Center, was also approved unanimously. The new zoning at 3.60 acres at 157 High House Road will allow Office Institutional Conditional Use (OI-CU) with zoning conditions limiting to governmental office, and the square footage shall not exceed 29,000 square feet.
In the last discussion item, the council unanimously approved Vision Zero. This will be a guide for the planning, design, construction, and operation of Cary’s transportation network. Vision Zero will shift focus in Cary from a more vehicle-centric mobility philosophy that prioritizes capacity, throughput, and level of service to one with a special emphasis on pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non-motorists.
The council meeting concluded after a little over four hours.
NC Metro Mayors
This week’s NC Metro Mayors call focused on two bills discussed during the week of April 14, since both chambers of the General Assembly were recessed for the week for spring break.
Legislators will return to work next week for what is expected to be a sprint leading up to the “crossover” deadline on Thursday, May 8. As a reminder, the legislative “crossover” deadline is the day on which bills that don’t deal with appropriations, elections, or annexations must be approved by the chamber where they were introduced to be considered for the remainder of the session.
The following is a summary by the Executive Director of what was discussed by the NC Metro Mayors:
SB 257 2025 Appropriations Act
Senators released and passed their budget proposal during the week of April 14. This bill, SB 257 2025 Appropriations Act, is just the Senate’s proposal and will not be exactly how the final appropriations bill will look. This conversation has a long way to go, so please take the information you see in the following bullets with the requisite grain of salt. The House will likely consider its budget process in earnest after the crossover deadline. The Senate’s two-part budget would spend $32.6 billion in FY 25-26 and $33.3 billion on FY 26-27. It consists of a 661-page “money report” and a 440-page bill.
We discussed many of the proposal’s most concerning parts, including cutting $50 million from the Aid to Municipalities “Powell Bill” program and prohibiting funding distribution to municipalities whose populations exceed 150,000. We also discussed the inclusion of language to eliminate or restrict the extra-territorial jurisdiction authority for cities across the state. The Checkmate and NCLM Government Affairs team will remain engaged with Senate and House leaders to communicate our perspective on issues under consideration and will continue to provide information as it becomes available. House leaders will likely delay much of the development of their budget proposal until after the May 8 crossover deadline.
We also provided additional information regarding HB 765 Local Gov. Development Regulations Omnibus, a sweeping measure poised to dismantle local land-use planning and regulations. As attendees heard, this bill represents an unprecedented shift that strips municipalities of their ability to apply tailored regulatory standards, paving the way for unchecked development in some cases while imposing rigid statewide mandates in others. Over the past two weeks, NCLM and Coalition members have been connecting with legislators to express their opposition to HB 765. We have also seen multiple resolutions from municipalities across the state expressing opposition to HB 765. All of this has made a difference! But we need to keep it up. Please continue to contact your House members and ask them to OPPOSE HB 765.
Below are the key talking points, as well as a couple of resources to use in your outreach.
House Bill 765 will:
- Create a patchwork of state mandates and ban common-sense local land-use practices leading to unregulated and incompatible development, undermining housing affordability, and damaging existing property values.
- Eliminate the decision-making powers granted to locally elected leaders by their voters, subjecting those officials to legal penalties during routine land-use planning decisions, and create unprecedented conflict-of-interest rules.
- Remove the ability of residents and local officials to pursue their unique visions for their communities, which are critical to attracting new residents and new businesses and maintaining their unique quality of life.
- Undermine meaningful public engagement and community involvement in shaping policies that address specific housing needs.
Refer to this document for a more detailed look at the bill’s provisions, which range from massive changes to conditional zoning to mandated minimum density requirements.
Walk to Defeat Dementia
Sunday I joined hundreds of others at the Triangle Walk to Defeat Dementia held at Fenton. I was part of the pre-walk festivities that included an a cappella group from NC State and NC State’s Ms. Wolf. The event was hosted by Dementia Alliance of North Carolina who provide personal, individualized support to thousands of families from across the state through an intentional model of support; one caregiver, one individual and one interaction at a time. Their programs offer CARE – Comfort, Assistance, Resources and Education to individuals and families living with dementia.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
Council, I enjoyed seeing you this week at the State of Cary. It was a great start as we continue building a more robust citizen engagement program, especially in the area of budget and finance. It is my hope and expectation that it will continue to grow and attendance will increase, thus benefiting both the Council and our citizens.
I look forward to seeing you all next Thursday at the Courtyard by Marriott for our Quarterly meeting. As is our usual practice, please do not expect a weekly report on Friday, May 2, following the Quarterly meeting.
Enjoy Spring Daze tomorrow at Bond Park.
Sean
Correspondence:
Staff received a letter from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy regarding the U.S. Department of Transportation’s position and expectations regarding compliance with federal laws including nondiscrimination laws.
Children’s Day Festival in Downtown Cary
Last Saturday, nearly 4,000 people attended the Children’s Day Festival of Cary. This festival is organized by the American Turkish Association of NC (ATA-NC) and held in collaboration with Cary at the Downtown Park. Joined by ATA-NC presenter, Buket Aydemir, Councilmember Carissa Kohn-Johnson offered remarks and Councilmember Michelle Craig read the proclamation. The joyous community event showcased the talents of area youth from diverse cultures.
Celebrating Earth Week
Cary celebrated Earth Week with a full slate of engaging programs and events, reaching more than 6,000 people online and over 800 participants in-person. From hands-on volunteer opportunities to educational classes, staff thoughtfully crafted experiences that inspired connection with our environment and community. Highlights included the Mayor’s Earth Day Proclamation honoring Green Hope High School and the Spruce Program at last night’s Council meeting, as well as popular programs like Science in the Spillway and Sustainable Spirits. These efforts reflect Cary’s continued commitment to building a more sustainable future.
Cary Welcomes Exchange Students from Le Touquet
On Thursday, Council welcomed and recognized a group of exchange students from Cary’s sister city, Le Touquet, France. The students are participating in a cultural and culinary exchange in partnership with Wake Tech’s Culinary Program, expanding their skills by working in local restaurants and hotels. This long-standing exchange, initiated in 1992, is organized and supported by the Cary Sister Cities Association.
Mayor Delivers State of Cary to Cary Rotary Club
At the invitation of Dorcas Ministries CEO André Anthony, Mayor Harold Weinbrecht delivered the State of Cary address to the Cary Rotary Club, highlighting Cary’s progress and future. Councilmember Lori Bush was also in attendance to help answer questions and offer insight.
Chamber Elected Officials Reception
Mayor Weinbrecht delivered remarks at the Cary Chamber Elected Officials Reception, held at the Umstead Hotel and Spa. He was joined by Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Bryson Robinson and Councilmembers Jack Smith, Carissa Kohn-Johnson, Michelle Craig, and Sarika Bansal. The event focused on fostering relationships and partnerships among elected officials, business leaders, and community members.
Pinwheel Garden Planting
On Wednesday, in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month, Cary PD partnered with the Positive Childhood Alliance to host a Pinwheel Garden Planting event at the Academy Pavilion in Downtown Cary Park. The Pinwheel symbolizes the love, joy, and happiness every child deserves to have at the center of their childhood. Councilmembers Micelle Craig and Carissa Kohn-Johnson joined the community for a brief program focused on raising awareness of the dangers of child abuse. Following that was the Pinwheel Garden Planting, with each pinwheel symbolizing hope and a future free from abuse for children everywhere.
Nepal Day
Councilmember Sarika Bansal served as a special guest at the regional celebration of Nepal Day 2025, hosted by the Nepal Center of North Carolina. She presented a proclamation on behalf of the Town of Cary.
Homeschool Group
Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Robinson met with a homeschool group ranging from kindergarten through 12th grade to discuss the role of local government and the services it provides.
City of Durham Visits Downtown Cary Park
On Tuesday, Assistant Town Manager Scot Berry and Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources, John Collins hosted team members from the City of Durham and their partners who are currently working on a feasibility study for the Durham Athletic Park. The group toured Downtown Cary Park to learn from Cary’s expertise in creating and managing dynamic public spaces.
Cary-Apex Staff Visits Charlotte
On Tuesday, staff from Cary and Apex joined staff at Charlotte’s Sugar Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant to discuss their pilot installation of an innovative technology for wastewater treatment. The Western Wake Regional Water Reclamation Facility Expansion Master Plan has recommended investigation of several innovative technologies which could be used to expand the Western Wake Regional Water Reclamation Facility using sustainable, cost-effective strategies. The solution explored at Tuesday’s site visit includes the introduction of a kenaf product, farmed locally in North Carolina, to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the treatment process.
Invicta Pilot Tour
Last Thursday, staff welcomed officials from Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) and the Carrboro Town Council for a tour of the Invicta Water Process Pilot, located at Cary’s water intake on Jordan Lake. The Invicta Water Process is an innovative technology designed not only to remove but also destroy perfluorinated compounds (PFAS) from drinking water—a key differentiator from most current treatment methods, which typically only remove PFAS without eliminating them.
During the tour, staff from both Cary and Invicta provided in-depth explanations of the pilot process, as well as the PFAS treatment methods currently in use. Invicta, a North Carolina-based company led by Cary residents, has attracted national interest and the data gathered through this initiative will be instrumental in evaluating how the technology can be scaled up and implemented at modern water treatment facilities.
Annual Utility Coordination Meeting with RDU Staff
On Monday, staff met with RDU Airport for their annual utility coordination meeting to review ongoing operations and explore opportunities for continued collaboration. With projected growth to serve up to 10 million passengers by 2033, RDU is preparing for continued expansion. Cary and RDU staff have worked closely to incorporate updated forecasts into Cary’s Long Range Water Resources Plan, ensuring alignment between airport development and regional utility planning.
Cary PD Hosts Regional Traffic Reconstruction Training
Last week, the Police Department’s Traffic Safety Team hosted a quarterly training day for traffic reconstruction teams from the region at the South District office. Participants included teams from the NC State Highway Patrol, as well as police departments from Garner, Fuquay-Varina, Raleigh, and Holly Springs. Presentations were delivered by representatives from the Wake County District Attorney’s office, as well as Cary’s own Property & Evidence Manager Melanie Houle. The discussions covered important topics such as navigating legal challenges in case law, best practices for evidence gathering, and reviews of high-profile traffic homicide cases. The day emphasized the themes of collaboration, mutual aid, and the significance of maintaining strong relationships between agencies.
Transportation Staff Attend NCAMPO Conference
Last week, Transportation Director Cassie Schumacher-Georgopoulos and Assistant Transportation Director Juliet Andes attended the 2025 Annual NCAMPO conference in Wilmington, where Senior Project Manager Kyle Hubert and Transportation Planner Sandi Bailey presented on Cary Transportation Initiatives. This year’s theme, “Bridging the Gap – Embracing Change & Delivering Innovation,” inspired thought-provoking discussions, explored cutting-edge strategies, and provided actionable insights that can shape the future of transportation. Conference highlights included keynote speaker Wes Marshall, engaging breakout sessions, mobile tours showcasing Wilmington’s transportation landscape, networking opportunities with colleagues from across the state, and an opportunity to earn professional development credits.
Dementia Friendly Movie Screening at the Cary Theater
On April 22, The Cary Theater proudly hosted North Carolina’s first-ever Dementia Friendly Movie event! Spearheaded by Michelle Barrett, Program Manager for Seniors and Aging, in collaboration with Lani Simeona, Operations and Program Supervisor at the Cary, this groundbreaking event brought together community members for a special screening of the Elvis classic, Viva Las Vegas.
With the support of our community partner, Dementia Capable Cares, as well as dedicated volunteers and staff from The Cary Theater, Cary Police Department, and board members from both the Senior Advisory Board and Friends of the Senior Center, the event was truly a collective effort.
More than just a movie screening, the event fostered social connection and engagement for attendees. The excitement continues—our next Dementia Friendly Movie event is scheduled for August 12.
Upgrades Improve a Cary Parkway Intersection
Through a collaboration between NCDOT, the Town of Morrisville, and Cary’s Public Works Signals Team, the intersection at Cary Parkway and James Jackson Avenue was enhanced to improve efficiency and safety for both drivers and pedestrians.
Upgrades included the installation of pedestrian refuge islands, leading pedestrian intervals, and high-visibility crosswalks on all four approaches, creating clearly marked and safer crossing points. Left-turn phasing was also added in areas that were previously designated as through-left lanes, contributing to a smoother and more intuitive traffic flow.
This successful cross-agency effort highlights the value of proactive problem-solving and teamwork in addressing community infrastructure needs.
Water Main Replacement Project Update
After 10 months of construction, water mains were successfully replaced on Turquoise Creek Drive, Cloud Crossing Circle, and Preston Ridge Court in the Preston Trace neighborhood. During this work, aging sewer lines were also replaced as needed. Following the utility upgrades, the streets were repaved. This project enhances the reliability of the local water distribution system. Throughout, staff worked closely with residents to minimize disruptions and provide regular updates.
Model Railroad Show
The All Aboard! Model Railroad Show, held April 12-13 at Herb Young Community Center, attracted over 1,500 train enthusiasts. Visitors explored detailed S and N Scale layouts, interactive children’s displays, and creative train scenes. The NCDOT Rail Division promoted rail safety, offering kids the chance to earn Junior Engineer caps by completing a quiz. It was a weekend of family-friendly fun, creativity, and train-themed excitement!
2025 ACC Tennis Championships
The Atlantic Coast Conference Tennis Championships took place at Cary Tennis Park from April 15 to 20. This year’s tournament saw the addition of Stanford University, the University of California, and Southern Methodist University. In the Women’s Final, the University of North Carolina defeated the University of Virginia to secure their second consecutive ACC Championship. In their first ACC appearance, Stanford University won the Men’s Final, defeating the University of Virginia.
With over 3,500 attendees throughout the week, the tournament set a new attendance record for the ACC Tennis Championships.
USA Baseball National High School Invitational
Since 2012, USA Baseball has hosted the National High School Invitational (NHSI) at Cary’s USA Baseball National Training Complex, showcasing the nation’s top high school baseball programs. This year’s event featured 16 teams, with Venice High School (FL) defeating Trinity Christian Academy (FL) 3-2 in the championship. Sponsored by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance, the event attracted over 10,000 spectators, players, and scouts from April 9-12.
Community Meeting for Lewey Drive Improvements
On May 12, Cary will host an open house-style event from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Turner Creek Elementary School to share details about the upcoming water main and sidewalk project along Lewey Drive, Fryar Creek Drive, and NC 55, scheduled to begin this summer.
Representatives from Wake County School Transportation, the Turner Creek Elementary PTA, and the project’s contractor, J.F. Wilkerson Contracting Co., Inc., will join Cary staff at the event. Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet the full-time field inspector from Hollins Construction Services, who will serve as the on-site point of contact throughout construction.
The project is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete.
Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting – May 7
The following neighborhood meetings will be held on Wednesday, May 7, at 6:30 p.m.
For more information and to register visit the Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting page.
Upcoming Meetings
Planning and Zoning Board
Monday, April 28
6:30 p.m.
Town Council Meeting (Quarterly)
Thursday, May 1
1:00 p.m.
Mayor’s Mailbox
- Dozens of complaints about the Regency proposal 24-REZ-06
- Several complaints about the Waverly proposal 23-REZ-12 including comments that called me a liar and other comments like “You simply do not represent taxpayers. Never have” (The strategy of name calling and insulting the decision makers has always fascinated me.)
- A request to condemn terrorist attacks on Hindus in Kashmir (Cary does not make public statements about national and international issues. Instead, we focus on our core services)
- A question about PFAS remediation
- A request to have all major decisions be a referendum (referendums have a process with the board of elections and each one would cost close to $1million)
- Several requests to vote for the Greenwood Forest Affordable Housing proposal
- A thank you for supporting Vision Zero
- Several requests to attend events
- A complaint about trash left from concert at Koka Booth Amphitheater after a Billy Strings concert
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, an interview with a high school student, a homeowner association meeting, participation in the Briarcliff Elementary School Multicultural Night, the Council-Staff Quarterly meeting, the Cary Chamber Excellence Awards, the NC Metro Mayors, and the Cary Chamber Intercity visit.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, May 4th, 2025. 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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