Cary Chamber Intercity Visit
Sunday through Wednesday I was in Chicago for the Cary Chamber Intercity visit. The trip included about 70 business interests, elected officials, and staff.
The first session was about the Fulton Market District. We heard a talk from Jeff Shapack, who is developing the district, and Patrick Murphey, the First Deputy Commissioner of Chicago. They talked about the area’s history, the redevelopment process, difficulties, and successes of turning that area from an industrial to a successful, vibrant mixed-use district. Later in the evening I had the opportunity to sit with Mr. Shapack and talk about redevelopment issues in Cary. While this district’s redevelopment was on a larger scale, they are facing many of the issue we are in Cary redevelopment.
At the beginning of the second session we toured the Architecture Center and heard from their CEO, Eleanor Gorski. The center was filled with examples of design and architecture of Chicago including 3D models of Wrigley Field and the entire city. Those in our group that were developers or had developer interests were especially interested in this session.
This was followed by a boat tour on the Chicago River. From that vantage point we were able to see almost every significant building in town. Our guide pointed out buildings that took advantage of locations and those that didn’t. I heard that one person in our group met with one of the architects of one of those buildings afterwards. Of course, the scale of buildings in Cary would be much smaller than those we saw but designs can certainly be applied.
As part of the entertainment supplied by the Chamber, we were able to attend a Chicago Cubs game on Tuesday night. While attending the baseball game at historic Wrigley Field was great, it was a wonderful opportunity to mix and mingle with those who are vested in Cary.
Our last session was at the United Center where we heard from their CEO, Terry Savarise. The United Center is the home of the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Blackhawks. They presented plans on how new developments will occur around the existing center. This type of development could occur on a smaller scale in Cary such as at the WakeMed Soccer Park. Hearing how they worked with surrounding properties, and the city was certainly relevant since almost all of Cary’s future development will be around existing properties.
These sessions were a great opportunity to learn from the experiences of others. But one of the biggest benefits of this trip was to talk with all the stakeholders who have a vested interest in Cary.
Legislative Summary NCLM
The following is a legislative summary from the North Carolina League of Municipalities:
City Officials Stand Firm Against HB 765 as Bill Faces New Hurdles
As the General Assembly’s self-imposed “crossover” deadline approached this week, HB 765, recently rebranded as the Save the American Dream Act, became the focus of intense debate and procedural maneuvering. Municipal leaders from across North Carolina have been vocal in their opposition, warning that the bill would fundamentally undermine local authority over zoning and development decisions.
On Tuesday, HB 765 received its second hearing in the House Housing and Development committee, passing on an evenly divided voice vote. In a notable development, the bill was amended to include a minor fee provision. While this change exempts HB 765 from the crossover deadline, it also means the bill must now be considered by the House Finance committee before it can proceed further. Despite these procedural shifts, the core concerns remain unchanged: HB 765 would eviscerate local land-use planning authority, creating a state regiment of zoning and planning rules.
NCLM encourages local officials to continue engaging with their legislators and sharing their concerns about HB 765. If your community is represented by legislators on the House Finance committee it is especially important to reach out and encourage a NO vote when the bill comes up for consideration. Additionally, we urge you to highlight the innovative, locally tailored solutions your community is implementing to address the housing crisis. As the front line of the state’s housing challenges, municipalities are best positioned to develop policies that reflect the unique needs of their communities.
Senate Green-Lights Down-zoning Fix
Legislation to undo the severe consequences of a land use down-zoning law approved in December passed the Senate unanimously this week. The bill now heads to the House for consideration. The League supports the changes in SB 587 Clarify Nonconforming Uses, and NCLM Director of Government Affairs Erin Wynia spoke in favor of the bill at a Senate committee hearing Tuesday.
The December down-zoning law has undone recently approved local unified development ordinances and halted others that were being considered, slowing development approvals and preventing local governments from addressing planning needs. It’s also called into question whether other substantial zoning changes are legally enforceable due to changes regarding so-called nonconforming uses and property owner notification requirements.
SB 587 would rework language around nonconforming uses by no longer requiring blanket property owner consent, but rather allowing to continue those nonconforming uses due to changes in land development regulations, until the property owner intentionally and voluntarily discontinued the use. This bill would also allow for the reconstruction and repair of nonconformities, so long as the use or structure was not intensified or expanded in the process.
Hendersonville Water System Takeover
It is rare that a local bill attracts the attention of cities across the state, but SB 69 Henderson County Local Omnibus raises concerns by local governments due to the negative precedent it would set for how local water systems are funded and built out. As introduced by Senator Tim Moffitt, the legislation would require the Town of Hendersonville to connect properties located outside of its town limits to its utility systems, while at the same time being effectively forbidden from annexing those parcels. However, as presented in the Senate State and Local Government committee this week, the bill was expanded to include the elimination of municipal extraterritorial jurisdictions in Henderson County and require that the County approve annexations by Henderson County municipalities. As a local bill, SB 69 was approved by the Senate on a voice vote and now goes to the House.
Land Use Legislation Roundup
From parking lot reform to new rules around e-bikes and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), the General Assembly considered several local government land-use bills this week. Here’s your quick review of land-use bills and the legislative twists from Raleigh.
SB 493 Land Use Clarifications and Changes: The bill to phase out municipal extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) authority in smaller counties and freeze ETJ boundaries statewide advanced through the Senate this week and now awaits action in the House. The bill eliminates ETJ in counties with fewer than 25,000 residents by October 2026 and in counties with fewer than 50,000 residents by October 2027, a narrower approach than the Senate budget’s broader rollback. SB 493 also requires that public schools be allowed in commercial zoning districts and gives landowners more flexibility when their property spans multiple jurisdictions.
HB 627 Regulation of Accessory Dwelling Units: The measure passed out of its House committees this week and saw debate on the House floor before being pulled before a full House vote was taken. The bill would require all North Carolina cities and towns to allow at least one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on every lot zoned for residential use and prohibit local governments from imposing parking requirements or short-term rental prohibitions for ADUs. HB 627 would also override existing ADU ordinances to bring them in compliance with the new state mandates.
HB 369 Parking Lot Reform and Modernization Act: A narrowed version of the bill was heard in the House Housing and Development committee on Tuesday where it passed unanimously. The new version still prohibits local governments from regulating off-street parking in new developments. However, a favorable provision to authorize new tools for local stormwater programs pertaining to redevelopment was removed. The bill heads to the House State and Local Government committee, where it awaits further action.
HB 306 Affordable Housing for Local Employees: This local bill aims to authorize local governments to develop affordable housing specifically for their employees, with provisions for reasonable rents, sales prices, and resale restrictions. However, after initial movement, the bill was pulled from consideration this week when support from the majority party wavered.
SB 576 E-Bike Definition and Local Regulation: The proposal clarifies the definition of electric-assisted bicycles (e-bikes) and grants local governments authority to regulate their use. The bill allows e-bikes on all roadways, bicycle lanes, and shared-use paths, subject to local restrictions. It also permits cities to set rules regarding e-bike classes, speed limits, and helmet requirements. The bill passed out of the Senate State and Local Government committee and now heads to the Senate Transportation committee for further consideration.
Infrastructure Bill Roundup
Infrastructure issues were a focus of the legislature’s work this week, with actions on a variety of bills in both the House and Senate.
HB 364 STIP Grant Anticipation Notes: Under this bill, which the House passed on Wednesday, local governments would be permitted to borrow money to fund capital projects that are identified in the Strategic Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The bill had strong bipartisan support and now goes to the Senate.
Interbasin transfers of water were the subject of two bills this week. SB 605 IBT Subbasin/TMDL Transport Factor would reform the sub-basin designation and transfer regulation, which should provide more flexibility within river basins to make transfers. The bill passed the Senate on Wednesday and now goes to the House. Also, in the House, legislators debated HB 850 Interbasin Transfer Moratorium/Study, a bill that would enact a moratorium on interbasin transfers in the Catawba River basin. The House approved the bill by a vote of 108-1 on Tuesday and now moves to the Senate.
The annual “regulatory reform” legislation, HB 926 Regulatory Reform Act of 2025 includes a provision that has prompted concern from utility managers. Section 9 of the bill would prohibit local governments from requiring water or sewer pipe materials that are “more stringent” than current requirements in DEQ’s 2T and 18C rules. Practical issues related to good design practices and facility protection have prompted these concerns as the bill now goes to the Senate.
Legislation making the litigation process in condemnation cases a little easier cleared the House this week. The changes included in HB 212 Condemnation/Service on Spouses Not Required apply only to Chapter 136 of condemnations under the North Carolina General Statutes, and as the bill goes to the Senate, NCLM will be asking legislators to make similar changes to those condemnations allowed under Chapter 40A. While some cities have condemnation powers under the statutes governing the Department of Transportation, Chapter 136, most are classified as “public condemners” under Chapter 40A.
HB 909 State Infrastructure Bank Board passed the House this week with bipartisan support from some of the top leaders in the House. Republican Representatives Julia Howard, a Senior Chair of the House Finance committee, John Bell, Chair of the Rules committee, and Steve Ross, Chair of the Commerce committee, joined with Democratic Leader Robert Reives to sponsor the bill that would establish a state infrastructure bank at the Treasurer’s office with the purpose of funding infrastructure projects. The bank would be overseen by a board that would include representation from local governments. This bill now goes to the Senate.
General Local Government Bill Round-up
The House considered several bills this week related to general local government matters.
After advancing HB 659 Local Government Spending Transparency to the House floor on Tuesday, leadership removed the bill from the calendar and sent it back to the House Rules committee. The bill would present problems for local finance, legal, and IT departments by requiring all invoices and bidding documents to be linked on the local government’s website. Making such information public presents significant cybersecurity risks and increases the risk of disclosing information protected under public records laws.
On a mostly party-line 69-42 vote, House members advanced HB 781 Unauthorized Public Camping & Sleeping, Wednesday, sending it to the Senate for that chamber’s consideration. The measure prohibits local governments from allowing public camping or sleeping on any public property, including right-of-way under their jurisdiction, unless on designated local government property that meets certain conditions. Read more here. On a similar mostly party-line vote (69-40), the House sent to the Senate Wednesday a measure, HB 859 Local Govts/Guaranteed Income Programs, prohibiting local governments from programs that provide payments to individuals under a guaranteed income program. The bill defines the term as “a program under which an individual is issued an unconditional cash payment on a regular basis to be used for any purpose by the individual.”
Legislative Summary NC Metro Mayors
The NC Metro Mayors met on Friday to get a legislative update. Here is a summary from lobbyists Checkmate and Associates:
General Update
The General Assembly completed “crossover” week with evening votes on Wednesday. For a bill to be eligible for consideration during the biennium, it must pass out of its chamber of origin before the crossover deadline. We anticipate House committee work and floor votes to be limited as they work on finalizing their budget proposal.
Checkmate added two summer interns to our North Carolina team this week. We are excited to have Allie Gilbert, a rising 3L at Campbell Law, and Patrick Mutch, a rising 2L at Campbell Law, join us for the summer.
Statewide Elections Update
On Wednesday, Jefferson Griffin, candidate for the North Carolina Supreme Court, conceded to incumbent Allison Riggs. This concession followed a six month long legal challenge of votes across the state. A federal judge ruled against the challenge to thousands of ballots and ordered the certification of Riggs’ victory for the seat. Griffin will continue to serve on the State Court of Appeals, and Riggs will officially retake her seat on the State Supreme Court.
At the North Carolina State Board of Elections, in the first meeting of the new majority, the board voted to replace the current Executive Director with Sam Hayes. Hayes has served as general counsel to the House Speaker since 2021 and previously served as general counsel to the State Treasurer and State DEQ. He will take office on May 15.
PFAS Liability and Mitigation Updates
House Bill 569, PFAS Pollution and Polluters Liability, passed the House with a vote of 104-3. H569, introduced by Representative Davis (R-New Hanover), authorizes the Secretary of Environmental Quality to require culpable PFAS manufacturers to pay impacted public water systems for the costs of PFAS removal and other related impacts. Additional PFAS mitigation efforts are underway as the Environmental Management Commission directed the Water Quality Committee to develop a PFAS Mitigation Plan for the purpose of reducing high levels of PFAS in areas surrounding landfills. The PFAS Minimization Plan remains in its preliminary stages as the Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) will not approve the plan’s regulatory impact analysis until further revisions are made. The plan will not advance until the regulatory impact analysis is approved.
STIP Anticipation Notes
This week, the House approved House Bill 364, STIP Grant Anticipation Notes. The bill would allow local governments to enter into an expedited project agreement with NCDOT and enable local governments to anticipatorily borrow money to pay appropriations for capital projects identified as a regional impact or division need project. The notes must mature no later than twelve months after the first day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the capital project is scheduled to be completed, and the note cannot exceed the total funding for the project. Renewals of these anticipatory notes are not permitted, and the notes must contain a signed certificate from DOT’s finance officer. Additionally, the bill requires NCDOT to ensure that any changes made to STIP do not delay repayments of the anticipatory notes by local governments, and to develop rules and procedures for implementing expedited project agreements.
The bill passed the House with a vote of 100-11 Wednesday night and has been sent to the Senate for consideration,
Council Member Updates
Celebrating Women in Leadership at First Bank’s Mother’s Day Event
Councilmembers Lori Bush and Sarika Bansal joined staff and local business leaders for “Her Voice, Her Impact: A Mother’s Day Celebration of Women Who Lead,” hosted by First Bank at The Mayton. The event brought together women from diverse industries—including construction, finance, education, and social services—to share experiences and celebrate the impact of women in leadership. It served as a meaningful space to recognize the contributions of women across Cary’s public and private sectors.
Dedication of First Horizon Stadium
On April 26, Councilmember Michelle Craig joined representatives from First Horizon and the North Carolina Football Club to cut the ribbon on the newly named First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. She also delivered brief remarks during the ceremony.
Asian American Student Showcase
On April 28, Councilmember Craig attended the Asian American Student Showcase. The event featured excerpts from narrator stories, student reflections, and analytical pieces. Students shared their excitement about the upcoming Asian American Studies course that Green Hope High School will offer in the 2025–26 school year. They are also creating a visual representation of their work, which will be displayed in the commons area.
Briarcliff Elementary Multicultural Night
On April 30, Mayor Harold Weinbrecht and Councilmember Craig participated in Briarcliff Elementary’s Multicultural Night, where guest speakers read books to students.
Journey Home Breakfast Benefit for The Carying Place
Councilmembers Lori Bush, Michelle Craig, Carissa Kohn-Johnson, Jennifer Robinson, and Jack Smith joined staff and the community to celebrate The Carying Place at their annual Journey Home Breakfast Benefit. The Carying Place, a Cary-based nonprofit, supports working families experiencing housing instability on their path to independence and self-sufficiency through the Journey Home program. Cary has supported The Carying Place’s work through local and federal grants that support the purchase of housing and expansion of programming.
Presentation at Carolina Preserve
On May 1, Councilmember Bansal and Town Manager Sean R. Stegall presented to residents at Carolina Preserve. They discussed surrounding development, traffic concerns, and Chatham County’s revaluation process. Attendees expressed their appreciation for their visit.
Chamber Business Excellence Awards
On May 1, Mayor Weinbrecht attended the Cary Chamber Excellence Awards and provided brief remarks. The awards recognized Innovation, Community Service, Employer of the Year, Impact, Non-Profit of the Year, Business of the Year, and Creative Placemaking. The Public Art Advisory Board and the Cary Chamber of Commerce gave the 2024 Creative Placemaking Award to Bainbridge Companies at the Chamber’s Business Excellence Awards. Bainbridge commissioned artist Robert Tully to create a unique weather steel sculpture and benches for their property at Bainbridge Cary.
Additionally, the Board and the Chamber recognized Public Art Lifetime Champions: Ralph Ashworth, Susan Alexander, and Ann Goodnight for their leadership, early support, and enthusiasm for making Cary a special place to live. They understood that Creative Placemaking animates public spaces, improves local business, and brings diverse people together to celebrate, inspire and be inspired.
Arise Collection Program Ribbon Cutting
On May 2, Councilmembers Kohn-Johnson and Bansal attended the ribbon cutting for the Arise Collection Program. The initiative will provide services to justice-involved women, including reentry support, housing, chaplaincy, higher education, family reunification, and community resources.
Asian American Advocacy Day
On May 7, Councilmember Bansal participated in the fourth annual Asian American Advocacy Day, hosted by North Carolina Asian Americans Together and NCAAT in Action at the NC Capitol in Raleigh. The event aimed to build civic engagement—particularly among first-time participants—and highlight the growing impact of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in North Carolina.
Scout Group Meeting at Jack Smith Park
On May 8, Councilmember Smith met with a Cub Scout troop during their celebration at Jack Smith Park. The attendees were excited to meet the park’s namesake
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
I enjoyed joining many of you in Chicago for the InterCity Visit. The trip offered valuable perspectives on how other communities are navigating similar challenges and opportunities, and I’m grateful for the time we spent together exploring new ideas and places. In your inbox today there are two newsletters – one with operational updates from staff and a second that spotlights councilmember activities. Staff looks forward to discussing the concept of a Town Council newsletter at an upcoming work session, but in the meantime the group felt dividing the topics into two newsletters would make it easier to read.
Wishing a happy Mother’s Day to all who celebrate.
Enjoy your weekend.
Sean
Quasi-Judicial Public Hearing at Historic Preservation Commission
The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) will hold a quasi-judicial public hearing on May 14 to review a certificate of appropriateness (COA) application submitted by the owner of the Dr. John Pullen Hunter House, a local historic landmark property. Exterior and interior alterations to the main house, chicken coop, and site are proposed to convert the property from an office to a restaurant with outdoor seating.
The HPC agenda with the COA staff report and supporting documents will be available by close of business on May 8. Information on Cary’s twelve local historic landmarks may be viewed on this interactive map.
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 and take approximately 18 months to complete. More details on this project can be found at this website.
Sidewalk Construction Update
Construction is underway for sidewalk projects funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The eight sidewalks are distributed across Cary to improve accessibility and enhance walkability throughout the community. New sidewalks along Lilly Atkins Road and West Boundary Street are substantially complete and work along Optimist Farm Road, West Lake Road, and Weldon Ridge Boulevard. is underway. Construction for all eight sidewalks, including the remaining sidewalks along Pittard Sears Boulevard, SE Cary Parkway, and Penny Road, is anticipated to be complete by Summer 2026. More information can be found at www.carync.gov/sidewalks.
South Cary WRF Welcomes Sheep
The South Cary Water Reclamation Facility (SCWRF) welcomed a herd of 66 sheep and 2 donkeys at the solar field this week. Sheep are being introduced as a pilot project to reduce or eliminate the need for mowing. It is important to keep the solar field mowed because any vegetation that grows will shade the panels, making them less efficient. Sheep are the species best suited for the job since they enjoy hanging out in the shade of the panels during the day and don’t mind being in tight spaces that humans would struggle to access with a mower. The donkeys will act as guardians for the sheep since they are particularly effective protectors against stray dogs and coyotes. The herd will graze for 10 days and will then relocate to another facility to graze but will return to work at SCWRF again as needed.
Red Flash Conversion
Staff from Public Works, Transportation, Police, and Morrisville Police recently completed a traffic signal project updating how signals at intersections flash to meet new NCDOT standards. Previously, signals flashed yellow in the event of a controlled outage or a signal malfunction. Now, the signals will flash red on all approaches letting drivers know to treat the intersection as a 4-way stop. This project was completed over the course of several months and prior to the July 1 deadline set by NCDOT.
Kildaire Farm Road Water Main Replacement Complete
The Kildaire Farm Rd. Downtown Water Main Replacement project is now complete. Crews have successfully replaced approximately 1,100 feet of aging 12-inch water main between Byrum Street and Shirley Drive Construction was completed in two months and remained within budget. While water main work is complete, development work in the roadway associated with the Soca 56 project on the corner of Byrum Steet remains ongoing.
Glenaire Residents Take a Ride on Route 5
On April 23, residents from Glenaire embarked on an interactive journey along GoCary’s Route 5, guided by Fabian Rodriguez, Transit Public Outreach Specialist, and Michelle Barrett, Program Manager for Seniors and Aging. The group learned how to download and navigate the GoCary app, gaining confidence in using public transit. Along the way, they discovered the many destinations accessible along Route 5, making for an engaging and educational experience.
Senior Center’s Award-Winning Program
The Senior Center earned an honorable mention in the National Council on Aging Program Excellence Awards for its groundbreaking initiative, Speed Friending. Inspired by the speed-dating concept, this program is designed to help seniors form meaningful connections and friendships. It was envisioned and brought to life by Vicki Buckholz, a senior center aide who went beyond her usual front desk duties to create something truly special. Today, Speed Friending has become a beloved staple of the center’s regular programming.
Older Americans Month
The Senior Advisory Board marked Older Americans Month by reflecting on two significant milestones that strengthen Cary’s dedication to its senior community.
First, Heather Burkhardt from the AARP presented a certificate in recognition of Cary’s 2025 Age Friendly Action Plan. This plan represents the town’s continued commitment to fostering an age-friendly community, ensuring that older adults have access to resources and support tailored to their needs.
Additionally, the board celebrated the launch of a refreshed Aging Resources webpage, designed to provide seniors with easier access to vital town and community services. Whether seeking information on local programs, support services, or engagement opportunities, residents can now find everything in a more user-friendly format.
IBT Annual Report Submitted to State
The 2024 Annual Report required for compliance with Cary’s Interbasin Transfer (IBT) Certificate was submitted to the North Carolina Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The report demonstrates that Cary complies with all the requirements of our Certificate. The Annual Report is required to be submitted to the State before May 1 each year, with quarterly updates posted to Cary’s IBT page. History on our IBT certificate can be found on DEQ’s IBT page.
Town Hall Field Trip
A group of Cary-Page Rotary club members and Rotarians visiting from Sweden as part of a Friendship Exchange came to Town Hall to learn more about Cary’s history, how local government functions, and what daily life is like in Cary. The group toured the Page-Walker Arts & History Center and the Traffic Management Center and heard from Assistant Town Manager Dan Ault while visiting Council Chambers and ended their day with a visit to the Downtown Cary Park.
State Energy Conference at NC State
Staff attended this year’s State Energy Conference and served as panelists highlighting Cary’s energy management strategies and sustainability initiatives. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein was also in attendance sharing that the state is in the national top 10 for clean energy jobs and has $24 billion in clean energy investments across the state. Staff gained insight into building energy efficiency, electrification, and financing opportunities for building upgrades.
Staff Tours NCSU PULSTAR Research Reactor
Cary staff attended a tour of North Carolina State University’s (NCSU) PULSTAR research nuclear reactor through the NC Chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers. The Nuclear Reactor Program through the NCSU Department of Nuclear Engineering is home to the PULSTAR 1-MW nuclear reactor facility used for research by UNC system faculty and governmental agencies. Staff learned about the nuclear fission process typically used for energy producing facilities, which is a carbon-free energy source.
IT Hosts Cybersecurity Students
On Thursday, the Information Technology Department hosted students and instructors from Wake Tech Community College’s SENTINEL Program, a 33-week cybersecurity boot camp designed to prepare participants for careers in the cybersecurity field. During their visit, the group learned about local government information technology (IT) security best practices and Cary’s innovative approach to smart cities through its Internet of Things (IoT) program.
Spring Daze
On April 26, more than 12,000 attendees gathered at Bond Park for the 32nd annual Spring Daze Arts and Crafts Festival. This year’s Spring Daze featured 170 talented artists from across North Carolina, 17 delicious Triangle-based food vendors, and nonstop entertainment across three stages. None of it would have been possible without the dedication of so many staff and volunteers.
A standout addition to the 2025 festival was the Kid Collectors Market, designed especially for young art lovers ages 6–12. Sustainability also remained front and center through Cary It Green initiatives. All food vendors used compostable serviceware, and Cary staff went a step further by providing cutlery to every vendor, making it easier than ever to reduce waste.
Adaptive Sports Day
In partnership with NC Adaptive, Bond Park Community Center and Bond Park Boathouse hosted an Adaptive Sports Day on May 3. The free event showcased a range of adaptive sports opportunities in the triangle area for youth with disabilities, featuring hands-on sessions in basketball, climbing, adaptive cycling, fishing, and kayaking, along with several services available in the triangle.
Teen Council Bridging Generations
On April 29, Teen Council hosted a “Bridging Generations” event, inviting members of the Senior Center to join for an evening of meaningful connection. The night was filled with laughter, board games, and card-making activities, offering a screen-free opportunity for teens and seniors to bond. Through shared stories and simple fun, participants discovered the value and joy of intergenerational connection.
Science in the Spillway
As part of April’s NCSciFest, Science in the Spillway offered free pop-up events in Bond Park’s Spillway where visitors were invited to participate in hands-on science and art themed activities. Themes included exploring the senses, natural patterns, and what comes from the Earth. In total 643 attendees participated throughout the three weeks, with help from 18 Teen Council volunteers.
Star Wars Day at The Cary
Nearly 400 Star Wars fans joined forces to celebrate “May the 4th” at The Cary. The celebration included a photobooth complete with Star Wars themed props, Star Wars characters from the Carolina Garrison’s 501st, and three fan selected films from the Star Wars Anthology which the community voted on earlier this year.
Herbfest
Despite a morning full of rain, 500 attendees enjoyed Friends of the Page-Walker Herbfest under dry skies on May 4. They shopped with vendors offering a wide range of plants, garden ornaments, botanical art and plant-themed gifts, enjoyed tasty treats offered by the Young Friends of the Page-Walker bake sale, and learned about gardening, composting, beekeeping and more from booths provided by non-profit and educational partners in the garden of the Page-Walker Arts & History Center. That afternoon, “Mr. Monarch” released painted lady butterflies to the delight of the crowd.
Upcoming Meetings
Environmental Advisory Board
Tuesday, May 13
6:00 p.m.
Historic Preservation Commission
Wednesday, May 14
6:30 p.m.
Greenway Committee
Thursday, May 15
6:00 p.m.
Mayor’s Mailbox
- Several complaints about the Waverly proposal 23-REZ-12 including (“why are you lying”, “is it worth people’s lives for apartments”, “we do not need more building in Cary”, “send Hines back to Texas”, “we don’t want our neighborhood ruined”, “you don’t care about anyone”, “the Town of Cary are trying to make money from this”, “this looks like greed”, “be a strong voice against this fiasco”, “this is greed and madness” and other insults. It is sad that some people can’t discuss an issue without name calling and insults. And the strategy of constantly insulting decision makers continues to puzzle me.)
- A complaint about a Regency multi-family proposal.
- A request to recognize ALS month in May.
- A complaint that a developer is dumping debris in the woods at Larboard and West Lake.
- A complaint about a neighbor who has a dead tree whose limbs are falling on a car.
- A complaint about notices for a Pittard Sears Road rezoning proposal.
- Concerns about a boarded-up property.
- A concern about businesses in plaza with DMV being affected.
- A complaint that I am not doing enough to get light rail.
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a Cary Tennis Classic Board meeting, an Honor a Teacher event, a Raleigh Regional Association of Realtors event, a campaign event, and JURY duty.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, May 11th, 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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