Harold's Blog

Waverly Place Rezoning Information

Monday I received a video created by the applicant of the Waverly Place rezoning. It did an excellent job of addressing stormwater, traffic, height, and other issues. If you want to better understand what the applicant is doing to address concerns you can view the video here.

NCAA Awards Cary Long Term Championships

On Tuesday the NCAA announced that Cary would host the men’s and women’s NCAA Division 1 soccer championships (College Cup) through 2028 and the NCAA Division II Baseball Championships through 2038. This is huge for Cary and will not only provide incredible entertainment but a significant economic benefit. Here is Cary’s press release:

The Town of Cary, along with its host partners, is excited to announce an expanded partnership with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), securing Cary as a host site for another decade of National Championships for Division II Baseball and four more years of Division I Women’s and Men’s Soccer College Cups. This extension builds on the recent award of six championships for the 2026-2028 seasons and will keep Cary as a pivotal NCAA host through 2038.
Cary’s relationship with the NCAA is strengthened through partnerships with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Mount Olive, which serve as the official host institutions for Women’s and Men’s College Cups and Division II Baseball, respectively.
“A tremendous amount of dedication goes into making these events successful,” said John Collins, Cary’s Director of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources. “This recognition underscores the quality of our facilities, the commitment of our staff, and the support of our outstanding partners.”
In October, the NCAA announced that WakeMed Soccer Park would continue hosting the Women’s and Men’s Division I Soccer College Cups in 2026 and 2027, increasing the total number of NCAA soccer champions to be crowned in Cary to 23. This most recent announcement also adds the 2028 College Cups to the slate of Cary-hosted soccer championships, with further discussions on future years already underway. Home to professional teams the NC Courage and North Carolina FC, WakeMed Soccer Park hosts a range of diverse events, from local festivals to international tournaments, including The Soccer Tournament (TST), recently recognized by Sports Destination Management as one of 2024’s “Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism” alongside the Town itself as a host.
Also in October, the USA Baseball National Training Complex was selected to host the Division II Baseball World Series for the 15th and 16th times since 2009. The complex, recently renovated with an $11 million investment, now houses USA Baseball’s executive offices and a new indoor training center. Recognized by SportsTravel magazine as a top finalist for “Best New or Renovated Venue” in 2024, this facility continues to set the standard for championship baseball.
“Since 2003, Cary has proudly hosted NCAA championships across a wide variety of sports, including soccer, lacrosse, cross country, baseball, and tennis,” said Mayor Harold Weinbrecht. “It is both exciting and meaningful to share this milestone announcement alongside our esteemed partners. We take immense pride in providing athletes, their families, and our citizens with unforgettable experiences across our sports venues.”
With this extension, Cary’s portfolio of hosted events now exceeds 124 college championships, including 41 NCAA and 83 ACC titles. Through 2023, sports tourism in Cary has drawn over 10.5 million visitors, contributing nearly $300 million to the local economy.
“In the sports event industry, Cary’s brand is immaculate venues, exceptional hospitality, and attention to every detail, and the NCAA knows that better than anyone,” said Scott Dupree, Executive Director of the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance, which worked closely with Cary and the NCAA on the long-term agreement. “Cary’s dedication to creating memorable championship experiences for student-athletes, families, and fans is unsurpassed. This agreement reflects Cary’s proven commitment to excellence, and it also reflects the NCAA’s trust in Cary.”
Returning on back-to-back weekends this December at Cary’s WakeMed Soccer Park, the Women’s College Cup championship match will be held on December 9. The Men’s College Cup follows, with semifinal matches on December 13, and the championship on Dec. 16.

Council Meeting Prep

Monday I attempted to contact council members about the upcoming regularly scheduled meeting Thursday. There was a concern about citizen feedback on the Parks System plan and comments about the Old Apex rezoning.

Later in the day I met with staff and Mayor Pro-Tem Byson-Robinson to go over the agenda items. The review took about fifteen minutes.

Manager One-On-One

Monday, I met with the town manager briefly. We mostly talked about this year’s budget, which ends on June 30^th, and next year’s budget.

There seems to be a misunderstanding about whether we have run out of money for this year’s budget, which is not true. What is true is that very high inflation on capital projects and materials will require us to re-estimate project costs and re-prioritize since those costs exceed the budgeted revenues. The bottom line is that we wont be able to do all the capital projects we thought at the beginning of the fiscal year on July 1^st.

NCAA Women’s Division I College Cup

Monday night I had the joy of attending the women’s NCAA Division I College Cup between North Carolina and Wake Forest. There were almost 10,000 in attendance. This was the 40^th NCAA Championship we have held since 2003 at Cary venues. I was joined by key Cary staff, college dignitaries, and others in the VIP suite. We were treated to a great match in which North Carolina prevailed 1-0. Congratulations to UNC on being the 2024 national champion.

NCAA President

During the College Cup match with UNC and Wake Forest, I was fortunate to meet the President of the NCAA Charlie Baker. In other roles he has served as the 72nd governor of Massachusetts from 2015 to 2023 and held two cabinet positions under two of the state’s previous governors. He also served for ten years as the CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.

After a few minutes of conversation about politics we held a brief presentation to thank him and the NCAA for selecting Cary for so many championships. The women’s College Cup was our 40^th and next week’s men’s College Cup will be our 41^st. We presented him with a framed picture of all 40 of the NCAA Championship logos we have held over the years. I thanked President Baker and the NCAA for believing in Cary to hold the best of the NCAA championships!

Cary Tennis Classic Board

Wednesday night I met with the Cary Tennis Classic Board. We discussed issues related to holding another combined women’s and men’s event next year. We hope to have the information and dates finalized sometime early next year.

Council Work Session

The scheduled work session for Thursday afternoon was cancelled out of precaution. Someone put an explosive device that had been assembled by a relative in their car and drove it to the police station. That was a very risky move. Never move an explosive device. Instead call the police.

Council Meeting

Thursday night the council held its last regularly scheduled meeting of the year, which lasted over four hours. The agenda included seven consent items, two public hearings, and two discussion items.

In the Public Speaks Out part of the meeting several people spoke against the rezoning on Old Apex Road that was up for a vote later in the meeting.

No one spoke at the first public hearing was on an annexation for Alston Yards which will be deferred to coincide with the rezoning vote. The second public hearing was the Greenwood Forest Baptist Church rezoning which had a couple dozen speakers. In the proposal they are partnering with the Town of Cary to provide housing units at 60% AMI for 30 years (if rented) or 80% AMI (if sold), provide 25,450 square feet of community gathering space, and provide a street-side trail along the site frontages. Most spoke in favor of this proposal. Those against were nearby neighborhoods concerned with traffic and aesthetics.

The first discussion item was the Old Apex Road rezoning. Council was split on this proposal expressing concerns that it could be better. After the thorough discussion the council unanimously voted to table this item indefinitely in hopes that the applicant would work with the neighbors to find some common ground.

Cary Jaycees Christmas Parade

Saturday, I joined the entire council in the Cary Jaycees Christmas Parade. The Grand Marshall of the parade was Ralph Ashworth who owned and operated Ashworth Drugs for decades.

Before the parade the council was instructed to park at the town hall and be carried three at a time to the starting point by a police ATV. Mayor Pro-Tem Robinson and I were the last two waiting. With the parade about to start and us still at town hall, the fire chief decided that one of the town’s fire trucks would take us to the start. This was the first time I had ridden in a fire truck. What a treat. My two-year-old grandson would have loved it.

The parade was fun as usual. I was driven in a convertible by Bob and Debra Grannon. This was the largest crowd I have witnessed at a Cary Christmas parade. Everyone seemed friendly and having a great time.

Safety rules no longer allow candy to be thrown since it encourages children to run toward vehicles. So, I along with several council members walked part of the route backwards from the Cary Arts Center to Chatham and handed out candy. What a great time to celebrate in Cary.

Christ the King Lutheran Church Anniversary

Sunday I was honored to be invited to speak at the 60^th anniversary of Christ the King Lutheran church. I was a child Charter member. I talked about my memories as a child of an unwed mother and how I felt loved and accepted when we were shunned by much of society at that time. This fits their current values, that is, everyone is welcome in their church no matter what.

Other speakers included previous pastors, current pastors, the bishop of the NC Synod, and others from the congregation. Afterwards, a special banquet was held for everyone.

Christ the King models the mission of inclusion that the town promotes. I am so glad to have them in our community.

Rehearsal for Downtown Christmastime Tour

On Tuesday, December 17^th at 5:30 I will be part of “Christmastime in Cary: A Living History Stroll Through Time”. I am playing the part of Frank Page, Cary’s founder. The tour will begin at the Fidelity Bank Brick courtyard, with stops at Ashworth’s Drugs, the Guess-Ogle House, the Ester Ivey House, and ending at the Cary Arts Center.

The rehearsal was Sunday afternoon, and we did two practices at each stop. The kids playing Frank Page’s children were amazing. This is going to be a great production.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

In November, the Historic Preservation Commission voted to recommend a proposal for the historic Nancy Jones House at 9321 Chapel Hill Road to be used as a “Cary History and Family Research Center.” The proposal was developed by the Nancy Jones House Use Committee, formed in August 2024, which includes three members of the Historic Preservation Commission and support from the Friends of the Page-Walker. The Friends of the Page-Walker board unanimously endorsed the plan during their Nov. 6 meeting, as detailed in their letter.
In the coming months, Councilmember Craig, staff, and I will work together to evaluate the feasibility of this potential use.
Enjoy your weekend.
Sean

December 12 Council Meeting Follow-up

Staff is working on follow-up to questions asked last night regarding 24-REZ-07 Greenwood Forest Baptist Church Mixed-Use Rezoning and 21-REZ-16 Old Apex Road Rezoning.

Christmas Kicks Off in Cary

Last Saturday, Mayor Harold Weinbrecht and Councilmember Michelle Craig attended the Victorian Christmas celebration at the Page-Walker. Hundreds of families attended and were transported to a bygone era with carolers in Dickensian attire, ornament crafting, and Father Christmas himself, experiencing the magic of Christmas in Cary’s early days.

Meanwhile, Downtown Cary Park came alive with a full day of holiday cheer for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting. Over 700 children captured cherished moments with Santa at the Academy Pavilion. A crowd of over 5,000 gathered to witness Mayor Weinbrecht alongside Councilmembers Michelle Craig, Carissa Kohn-Johnson, Jack Smith, and Sarika Bansal, flipping the switch to illuminate Cary’s Christmas Tree. This year’s tree lighting drew the largest audience ever, spreading holiday joy far and wide while also live-streaming the ceremony for all to enjoy.

2024 Men’s and Women’s College Cup and Long-Term NCAA Hosts Announcement

This past week, Cary, in collaboration with the University of North Carolina, the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance, and NCFC Youth, proudly hosted the 2024 NCAA Women’s College Cup at WakeMed Soccer Park. The event drew a record-breaking 19,808 fans from across the country.

During the championship match, Cary had the honor of welcoming the NCAA President for the first time. Mayor Weinbrecht presented him with a special gift to commemorate the 40th NCAA Championship held in Cary on Monday, December16. This milestone reflects the tireless efforts of staff from multiple departments — including PRCR, Public Works, Police, Marketing, and IT — who worked collaboratively for months to ensure the success of this premier event.

In an exciting development, Cary and the NCAA announced on Monday that Cary will become a long-term host for both the NCAA Division I soccer and Division II baseball national championships. Cary’s dedication and excellence in hosting national sports events have solidified its reputation as a premier destination, earning the trust of the NCAA for years to come.

Winter Wonderland

Last Saturday, the Cary Police Department’s Community Services team hosted its annual Winter Wonderland Event, a festive celebration designed to bring holiday cheer to children from underserved communities.
This year’s event saw a record turnout, with 48 families gathering at the Herb Young Community Center. The Citizens Assisting Police (CAP) team made the day extra special by gifting each child a bicycle, scooter, or pair of rollerblades. Additionally, children received essential winter items like coats, hats, and gloves, along with toys and toiletries. Families also enjoyed a hearty meal, ensuring that all felt the spirit of the season. A special thank you to our community partners who came together to make this event memorable for the families who attended.

603 East Chatham Street Demolition Permit

Cary has received an application to demolish the main building and accessory structure at 603 E. Chatham Street, located directly to the east of Fire Station #2. The demolition permit is currently under staff review and is expected to be issued in the coming weeks. Built around 1930, the property most recently housed LT Fleming Antiques. The property is not recognized as a Local Historic Landmark nor is it listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

A development plan has also been submitted for the .82-acre site, proposing the construction of 22 condominium units and retail space. The property is zoned Town Center Mixed Use (TC-MXD).

Wake County West Regional Library Renovation

Wake County’s West Regional Library, originally built in 2006 to serve western Cary and Morrisville, will be closing for renovations on Sunday, January 5. The upgrades will be like those at North and Eva Perry Regional Libraries, addressing aging building systems, workflow, and aesthetics. Specific improvements include improved layouts, furnishings, shelving, floor and wall finishes, high-efficiency LED lighting, HVAC equipment, and support space improvements. Wake County’s Facilities Design and Construction team will be posting periodic updates on their website and is anticipating re-opening in Fall 2025. 

NCDOT Plans to Improve I-40 between Harrison Avenue and Aviation Parkway

NCDOT is beginning the planning phase to add auxiliary lanes—short lanes that connect entrance and exit ramps—on I-40 between Harrison Avenue and Aviation Parkway. The project also includes replacing the Old Reedy Creek Road bridge, which links Lake Crabtree Park to Umstead State Park, as well as two bridges over Crabtree Creek. Planning is underway, with construction currently expected to begin in 2031.

Cary Advances Bike Plan

On Wednesday, Cary staff and project consultant Toole Design met with Cary’s Bike Plan Focus Group, a citizen advisory group shaping Cary’s evolving Bike Plan. Discussions focused on aligning the plan with the draft Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Greenway Plan, addressing themes like safety and connectivity, and reviewing the timeline for adoption, targeted for 2025 after public input.

The updated Bike Plan will guide future transportation investments to make bicycling in Cary safer, more comfortable, and accessible for people of all ages and abilities. Key elements include a bikeway network with separation from vehicles in high-traffic areas, protected bike lanes with barriers, and behind-the-curb shared-use paths.

Wake Forest and Cary Staff Collaborate on Senior Programs and Services

On Thursday, Program Manager for Seniors and Aging Michelle Barrett and Operations and Program Supervisor Brett Moraes welcomed Wake Forest Assistant Town Manager Candace Davis, along with staff members Jennie Griggs and Kay Gambel, to the Cary Senior Center. The group toured the facility and held a collaborative meeting to exchange ideas on programs and services.

Earlier in the week, Michelle spoke at the MacGregor Rotary Club meeting on Wednesday, sharing insights into Cary’s services and programs for seniors. She was joined by Senior Advisory Board Chairman Barry Mitsch, who answered questions about his role and contributions to the board.

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Treatment

In collaboration with NC State Forest Health and the NC Forest Service, 119 hemlock trees at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve were treated with insecticides to protect them from the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid. This treatment, conducted every five years, plays a vital role in preserving this keystone species.

Upcoming Meetings

Athletic Committee
Monday, December 16
6:00 p.m.

Planning and Zoning Board
Monday, December 16
6:30 p.m.

Cultural Arts Committee
Tuesday, December 17
6:00 p.m.

Public Art Advisory Board
Wednesday, December 18
6:15 p.m.

Greenway Committee
Thursday, December 19
6:00 p.m.

Bonds & Taxes Questions

There has been a lot of confusion (and misinformation) about three separate issues that were linked together by time and taxes. Those were 2024 property reevaluations by Wake County, the fiscal year 2025 tax rate which started on July 1^st, and the 2024 Cary parks bond. In addition, there is now misinformation about the 2019 remaining bond projects. I will attempt to address these below with my thoughts and understanding. These include my opinions which may not necessarily represent the town’s position.

Property Reevaluation

Property revaluation occurs every four years and is set by Wake County. Revaluations used to occur every eight years, but Wake County changed because property values were increasing very rapidly. I have heard that the county is now considering revaluation every two years, but I don’t know that for a fact. I believe that if the next revaluation isn’t for four years we will have another significant increase in property values.

It is important to understand why property values are increasing rapidly. The Raleigh Metro Area, which includes Cary, is one of the most desirable places to live, work, and play in the nation which drives up demand. When something is in high demand people are willing to pay more and that in turn drives up costs. I believe Cary is the most desirable out of all the municipalities in the Raleigh Metro Area. That means the demand is even higher in Cary. And if the demand is high and housing is in short supply, which is true for Cary, then the costs go up even more. That is why I believe there was a significant increase in property values in Cary. My property value went up by 63% in the last four years. BTW, high property value increases were true with all municipalities across Wake County.

I have heard some people say that they don’t plan to move so having high property values is not beneficial. Someone will realize that value whenever the property is sold. It could be your children, grandchildren, etc.

Tax Rate for FY 2025 that started on July 1st

As of July 1^st, the Cary Tax Rate moved to 32.5 cents per $100 of value from 34.5 cents. However, the revenue neutral rate would have been 24.5 cents. A revenue neutral rate is the rate where the municipality takes in the same amount of revenue as the previous year.

So why 8 cents above revenue neutral? 3 cents due to inflation, 2 cents to program expansion (parks and environment), 2 cents to debt service, and 1 cent due to General Fund replenishment. Also, in past years we have been able to subsidize taxes with growth. We are now a mature community, and that kind of growth is basically over.

What are some examples of inflation? Project bids are coming in about 50% above estimates, some with one bid, or sometimes we get no bids. Materials have skyrocketed. For example, sidewalk costs have doubled in the last four years and asphalt has increased by 40% in the same amount of time.

What are some examples of Parks and environment? Downtown Cary Park was one of the biggest additions to operating costs. Also, the McCrimmon Park and the Carpenter Fire Station Park. Miles of greenways were also added. Some environmental initiatives included electric vehicles such as one of the first electric fire trucks in the nation, one of the first electric garbage trucks in the nation. These initiatives have capital and operational costs. The good news is that these are investments.

Downtown Cary Park has been the catalyst for downtown development generating millions of dollars in economic benefit. That is, new businesses and residents generate more tax base which keeps your taxes lower. The electric vehicles save money on fuel costs and after two or three years the additional costs have been recovered. I believe these are good investments in addition to fulfilling a need.

Why did debt service increase? The biggest reason is the sale of a portion of the 2019 GO (General Obligation) bonds. GO bonds, which are voter approved, are debt at the lowest interest rate possible. This is possible because we have the highest rating of all bond rating agencies. A good portion of the 2019 bonds have not been sold yet so that debt has not occurred. The future sales of the remaining portion of the bonds will also increase debt service.

Why was money from the general fund spent? It was a strategic move to use extra reserves rather than debt. It should be noted that our General Fund balance is well above requirements, and we want to keep it that way because it helps keep our highest rating with the bond rating agencies. So, we need to replenish the General Fund.

What is the issue with sales tax revenue? Since Covid, sales tax revenue has been increasing by 8% to 9% annually. Last year, however, the increase was less than 1%. This is significant since sales tax is the second largest revenue source at 21.1%. Our biggest source of revenue is property tax at 59%.

2024 Parks Bond

The 2024 parks bond was about funding parks for the next ten to fifteen years. Since the bond was close to property revaluation and the new tax rate, a lot of people viewed this as a funding question for now. I believe that is one of the main reasons the bond failed.

It is important to understand that the council and the staff heard everyone loud and clear about the bonds. We have stopped all bond projects due to lack of funding. While I can’t predict what future council will do, I believe some of them, like the center at South Hills, will never happen. What does this mean? The following is my best guestimate:

The Center

The community center, senior center, and competitive space will not be built. The $75 million promised by Wake County will be rescinded. The $30 million annual increase in economic benefit, which would help keep our taxes low, will not happen.

Mills Park Community Center

This community center and senior center project has also been stopped. We have been planning on having a community center and senior center at this location for about a decade. IMHO, it would be almost another decade IF it was ever built. Why?  Historically bonds are at least five years apart. With large projects taking two years of planning/design and two years of construction that is another four years added to the five years IF everything is on schedule.

It is important to understand that we will now need to spend significant resources to maintain our existing community and senior centers, which are all over twenty years old. IMHO, expanding programs will be difficult due to lack of space. A future bond to build a center would be a question for a future council.

Tennis and Pickleball Expansion

I don’t believe the pickleball courts will be built at the tennis center. That expansion would have allowed more recreational opportunities for sports in high demand and more professional tennis and pickleball tournaments. This is a loss of millions of dollars in economic benefit, which again keeps our taxes low. The NC Tennis Hall of Fame will probably not be located here.

Walnut Street Greenway

The Walnut Creek Greenway from downtown to Fenton, to WakeMed Soccer Park, Triangle Aquatic Center, and the new South Hills redevelopment has been stopped. If future councils decide to do this, it might have to be funded with another bond. Again, I think that is years away. Not connecting all these destinations is a huge, missed opportunity not only for recreation but for quality of life.

Nature Park Master Plan

Cary has 217 acres of farmland that it is maintaining. Unfortunately, there are no trails, restrooms, or parking. It will be up to a future council to decide what to do with this property. For now, nothing will happen.

Asian Garden Master Plan

This idea of a one-to-two-acre Asian garden is stopped. I doubt it will ever be considered again.

What was this bond vote significant? Even if you don’t use a facility, it creates value for you. Like the 911 center, fire, and police, you may not ever use it. Hopefully, you won’t. But having the best of the best in services enhances the quality of life for everyone in our community. Great municipal services make your property in Cary more valuable.

2019 Bond Projects

Cary has moved into “maintenance mode” in this current period of the fiscal year 2025 budget (which began on July 1, 2024) for the following reasons:

• Unprecedented Construction Cost Climate 
• Downward Pressure on Sales Tax Receipts
• A desire by the Town Council to minimize any potential fiscal year 2026 Budget Property Tax Increase

This is causing a pause on the 2019 bond projects. The pause on these projects is not because of the 2024 bond vote. Some of the 2019 bonds have been sold and are reflected in this year’s tax rate, the remainder of the bond sales will be paused. Here is a list of remaining projects:

• Carpenter Fire Station Road Widening
• Louis Stephens Drive
• Veterans Freedom Park
• Tryon Road Park
• Walnut Creek Greenway
• Dutchman’s Branch Greenway
• Green Level Church Road Widening
• NC 55 Pedestrian Grade Separation
• O’Kelly Chapel Road Widening
• Action Sports Park

The length of time for the “maintenance period” is currently unknown. Staff are currently re-estimating projects for council reprioritization at our annual meeting in February.

Current Capital Projects

The following is a memo from the town manager about current capital projects:

“To clarify the discussion from last week’s Council Quarterly meeting, all capital projects that are not yet under construction are paused while staff updates cost estimates to reflect escalating construction costs. This pause allows time for the Council to prioritize projects based on current and projected construction costs over the next year.

As mentioned during the meeting, construction cost inflation has outpaced budgets, with costs reaching record highs, including in some cases an escalation of over 200% in the last few years. Staff will re-estimate all active capital projects based on recent construction prices and will apply best estimates of additional potential escalation over the next few years. This information will be prepared for Council evaluation, including a prioritization exercise at the February annual meeting. A similar exercise was done with the Council in 2009 when budgetary pressures and cost escalations were also high.

There are currently 377 active general capital projects within the Downtown, Fire, General Government, PRCR, and Transportation categories. A total of $768 million has been budgeted for these projects. Their current available balance is $265 million.

On the utility side, there are 222 active water and sewer projects with a total budget of $462 million and a combined available balance of $128 million.

Between February and June as part of the annual budget process, our focus will be on refining the capital improvements program to align with the current economic climate while remaining flexible to accommodate future financial and priority changes. Below are examples of projects that have been paused in preparation for the February discussion. These were shared during last week’s Quarterly meeting.

Sidewalks:

Chatham Street Small Segments

Old Apex Rd west of W Chatham Roundabout (Bid Rejected 11/14/2024)

Old Apex Road north of Young Landing Ct

Louis Stephens Drive

Green Level Church Rd Streetside Trail

Jenks Carpenter Rd Streetside Trail

Roberts Road

Norwell Blvd

Johnson St east of Harrison Ave

Johnson St (E) north of Chapel Hill

Sorrell Street

Nottingham Drive

Cary Pkwy (NW) at Sheldon Dr

Highfield Avenue

Maynard Rd north of Chapel Hill

Laura Duncan Road

Cary Parkway (NW) at Norwell

Chatham Street

Lake Pine Drive (Phase 1)

Ryan Road

Lake Pine Drive (Phase 2)

2019 Bond Projects:

Carpenter Fire Station Road Widening

Louis Stephens Drive

Veterans Freedom Park

Tryon Road Park

Walnut Creek Greenway

Dutchman’s Branch Greenway

Green Level Church Rd Widening

NC55 Pedestrian Grade Separation

O’Kelly Chapel Road Widening

Action Sports Park

Examples of Other Budgeted Capital Projects:

Street Improvements FY25

Optimist Farm Greenway

Lake Grove Dam Maintenance

Cary Tennis Park Improvements

Western Cary Community Facility

Parking Deck Technology

Highcroft Drive Extension

South Hills Community Center

Sidewalks FY25

Downtown Ped Improvements

Mobility Study

Cary Tennis Park Clubhouse Design

We remain focused on preparing for the February Annual Meeting and the FY 2026 budget and will provide you with timely updates as we move forward with our work.”

Mayor’s Mailbox

• Several complaints about the Old Apex rezoning proposal 21-REZ-16.
• A question of whether Mariah Carey was going to visit Cary. (I don’t think so. I heard she has the flu and cancelled the rest of her tour.)
• A complaint about right-of-way and public access to the Black Creek Greenway.
• A complaint about growth (we have been growing at around 2 ½% for 16 consecutive years)
• Requests to support the Greenwood Forest rezoning proposal 24-REZ-07.
• A complaint about the Greenwood Forest rezoning proposal 24-REZ-07.
• A request to support the Green Level Church Road rezoning 22-REZ-06.
• A complaint about an entry in the Cary Christmas Parade (The Cary Jaycees determine who is in the parade not the Town of Cary).
• Several requests to hold a special meeting about “large scale violence targeting minorities in Bangladesh”. (Our focus is the town’s core services. We do not get involved in national and international issues. Those should be addressed by the men and women representing us in Congress.)

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, the Wake County Mayors Association annual banquet, and the Historic Holiday Tour performance.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, December 22^nd, 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.

Manager One-On-One

Monday, I met with the town manager briefly. Topics included the HRID committee, and a special project that may be coming to Cary. Afterwards I joined the town manager in a brief discussion with a representative of the Waverly Place rezoning.

HRID meeting

Tuesday night I joined a meeting of HRID (Human Relations, Inclusion, & Diversity Advisory Board. They were given a presentation on sustainability and climate action strategy from staff, discussed their goals from their work plan, and talked about ways to participate in spring community engagement events. After these items I gave an update on the council and town activities.

First Responders Breakfast

Wednesday morning I joined most of the council and several hundred people at the Cary Chamber’s First Responders Breakfast.

The keynote speaker was Lewis Merietti, the retired Director of Secret Service, and a Green Baret Vietnam Veteran. His hour-long talk included his training and service in Vietnam, and his various roles in the Secret Service including protecting the first family. His decision-making skills prevented an assassination attempt on President Clinton. One interesting comment he made at the beginning and end of his talk was that the Secret Service is currently broken.

The breakfast was attended by citizens, community leaders, and our first responders. It was our chance to thank those who “rush towards danger rather than from it”. They put their lives at risk every day so that we are safe. God bless all our first responders!

The Carying Place Housewarming Event

Wednesday I toured the newest transition home owned by The Carying Place for homeless working families. The Carying Place offers a variety of services to help these families and own fourteen homes to help them transition to a more permanent housing solution. Their very high success rate with families is heartwarming. The Town of Cary has been supporting their mission for years. If you feel so inclined, I urge you to visit their website at https://www.thecaryingplace.org/ and find out how you can help.

Citizens Assisting Police Appreciation Dinner

Wednesday night I joined council member Smith in an appreciation dinner for CAP (Citizens Assisting Police) team members. This is an annual event hosted by the Cary Police Department to show gratitude for all the volunteers. These volunteers provide services annually that equate to over $150,000 in savings. Like me, they believe the Cary Police Department is the best of the best and have no problem spending countless hours helping. We are a better community because of them. Thank you CAP Team!

Farmington Woods Elementary Magnet Tour

Thursday morning, I joined council member Craig on a tour of Farmington Woods Elementary which is an IB/PYP (International Baccalaureate/ Primary Years Programme) Magnet school. According to the website:

“PYP is an inquiry-based, transdisciplinary curriculum framework that builds conceptual understanding. It is a student-centered approach to education for children aged 3-12. It reflects the best of educational research, thought leadership and experience derived from IB World Schools.

PYP has evolved to become a world leader in future-focused education. PYP is an example of the best educational practice globally, responding to the challenges and opportunities facing young students in our rapidly changing world.”

We were able to see firsthand the approach. It was very impressive and something all parents with school-aged students should consider. A big thank you for the PTA and administration for hosting us.

Joint MPO Rail Subcommittee Meeting Real Visioning Committee Meeting

Friday, I spent half a day with several elected officials and transportation experts as part of a visioning exercise for future rail in the region. Our focus was on Passenger Rail as opposed to Commuter Rail and Light Rail. Here are some of my main takeaways:

• Passenger Rail is an intercity service with stations every 7 to 20 miles. It uses existing tracks and is funded by the FRA (Federal Rail Administration).
• Commuter Rail is a downtown area focused on peak service with stations every 2 to 5 miles. It can also use existing tracks but is funded by the FTA (Federal Transit Administration).
• Light Rail is an urban service with its own set of tracks that do not accommodate any other type of rail. This is funded by the FTA.
• The FRA has monies which will help build infrastructure such as separated grade crossings.
• Currently we would not be very competitive getting FTA dollars.
• Infrastructure is needed for Commuter Rail. Using FRA and Passenger Rail is an incremental step to getting to Commuter Rail.

In summary there is very little chance of getting federal dollars for Commuter Rail, but we could get dollars for Passenger Rail which will help us prepare for Commuter Rail.

Victorian Christmas at the Page-Walker

Saturday afternoon I visited the Page-Walker which was hosting a Victorian Christmas. On the first floor were refreshments and a quartet singing Christmas Carols a cappella. On the second floor I met, and had my picture made, with Father Christmas. On the third-floor crafts, ornaments, and other Christmas items were made. This was a big hit for the children. It was a great time to experience some Christmas joy.

Christmas Tree Lighting

Saturday night I joined council members Smith, Kohn-Johnson, Craig, Bansal, and thousands of attendees for the annual Christmas tree lighting. Everyone who attended was offered a necklace of blinking lights. The emcee of the event was WRAL’s Debra Morgan who also emceed last year’s. After a few words she introduced me, I made a few comments about holiday activities, and then we did a countdown from 10. During the ceremony all necklaces were synchronized. At the end of the countdown the council pressed the magic button and the tree was lit. This was the first year a button was used. In the past it was a lever. The event was live streamed, and you can view a recap here. What a great event. I hope everyone enjoyed the Christmas tree lighting event and has a happy holiday season.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

The annual Tree Lighting Celebration is about to take place in our beautiful Downtown Park. I’m deeply grateful to our staff for their hard work in making this event such a success for our community. It’s wonderful to see so many people downtown enjoying our wide array of holiday decorations.
Enjoy your weekend.
Sean

Work Session Follow up from November 14^th

At the Council’s work session on November 14, 2024, Councilmembers expressed interest in better understanding what the buildings at Alston Yards could look like from N.C. 55. In response to this inquiry, the applicant has provided information to help illustrate the spatial relationship of the building facades to the edge of the street, as well as the likely appearance and visibility of such buildings with a planted streetscape. Please note, other important considerations such as the mix of building heights are still being addressed by staff. If you have any questions, please contact Rob Wilson.

Correspondence Follow Up

Duke Health– Information concerning primary contact
Epic Games– Withdrawal of rezoning request 21-REZ-10

First Responders Breakfast and CAP Dinner

On Wednesday morning, The Cary Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual First Responders Breakfast. Mayor Weinbrecht, along with Councilmembers Jack Smith, Michelle Craig, and Sarika Bansal, joined Fire Chief Mike Cooper and Police Chief Terry Sult to honor the individuals who dedicate their lives to keeping our community safe.

Later that evening, the Mayor, Councilmember Smith, and Chief Sult attended the Citizens Assisting Police (CAP) Holiday Dinner. This event celebrated the dedication of volunteers who support the Cary Police Department throughout the year. Volunteers were recognized for their invaluable contributions, emphasizing their essential role in promoting community safety and collaboration.

The Carying Place Holiday Housewarming

On Wednesday, Cary staff joined Mayor Harold Weinbrecht and Councilmember Lori Bush at a housewarming for The Carying Place’s recent addition to their transitional housing portfolio. The Carying Place, a Cary-based nonprofit, provides housing, financial literacy, and counseling to families experiencing housing instability and homelessness. Cary has supported the purchase and renovation of 14 scattered site units throughout the community, in part, with federal Community Development Block Grant funds. 

WakeUp Wake County Annual Reception

On Thursday, Councilmember Lori Bush attended the WakeUp Wake County and RaleighForward Annual Reception, themed Raising the Roof: Housing Choices in Wake County. The event featured a keynote address by Vicki Been, Faculty Director of NYU’s Furman Center and former NYC Deputy Mayor, who shared valuable insights on creating diverse and affordable housing options. Executive Directors Bert Fox and Eric Braun also spoke, outlining their organizations’ 2025 priorities for education and advocacy. The evening highlighted a shared vision for fostering a sustainable and equitable region.

Cary Partner Organizations Celebrate the Holidays

Two of our beloved nonprofits celebrated the holidays this week among their volunteers, highlighting the community spirit and cultural connections they help foster year-round.

On December 4, The Friends of the Page-Walker hosted their annual holiday potluck dinner at the Page-Walker Arts and History Center. The Friends and their guests gathered for an old-fashioned pitch-in dinner, followed by a traditional music performance provided by the Triangle Folk Music Society. Councilmember Michelle Craig, who serves as the group’s liaison, joined the celebration.

The following evening, Cary Sister Cities hosted a festive holiday meet-up to celebrate Cary’s international Sister Cities program. The event brought together a mix of participants, including State Senator Gale Adcock, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, and Councilmember Jack Smith, who serves as the group’s liaison. Councilmembers Michelle Craig and Sarika Bansal also joined, fostering cultural connections and spreading holiday cheer among attendees.

Marketing Hosts Central Pines Regional Council

On Tuesday, Cary’s Marketing team hosted staff from Central Pines Regional Council to discuss the potential for future collaboration between the two. The Marketing team shared several examples of recently produced videos and provided a tour of Council Chambers, demonstrating the technology involved in producing Council meetings and CaryTV. The visit proved to be a wonderful opportunity to build new connections between the two organizations. Currently, Cary’s IT department provides technological support for Central Pines.

Quinard Drive Extension Utility Work

Beginning December 6, contractors working on behalf of Fenton Development will implement temporary traffic modifications on SE Maynard Road through December 7 to support water tie-in work related to the Quinard Drive extension project. Weather permitting, traffic will be reduced to a two-lane, two-way pattern in both northbound and southbound directions along SE Maynard Road from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to seek alternative routes.

New Neighborhood Improvement Grant Project Completed

Nestled between SE Cary Parkway and Kildaire Farm Road, the Hanover Place neighborhood features charming single-family patio homes with nearby greenway trails, shopping centers, and public transit stops. To improve connectivity between these nearby amenities, residents proposed a plan to pave a private path from the neighborhood to High Meadow Drive. The Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program supported the project with funding to construct the path and beautify the area with new landscaping.

Traffic Management Center Tour for Girl Scouts

A few months ago, Girl Scouts from troop 4081 came to Public Speaks Out and began their efforts to obtain their Silver Award, focusing their project on safety improvements at an intersection near their neighborhood. Last week, we gave the Scouts and their families a tour of the Traffic Management Center (TMC). Cary staff took the opportunity to share with them how engineers evaluate our Traffic Signal System and make safety improvements. The Scouts said the event was “amazing” and are already looking for additional tours around Cary to learn more about how their government serves them. We’re happy to report that they’ve successfully obtained their Silver Award. 

WWRWRF Welcomes City of Canton Georgia

On November 6 the Western Wake Regional Water Reclamation Facility hosted Utilities staff from the City of Canton, Georgia to showcase Cary’s biosolids drying operation. Canton is constructing a biosolids drying facility that will begin operations in 2025. Their team arrived eager to discuss the best operational practices Cary has learned over our 10 years of drying experience. The visitors took a comprehensive tour of the facility to get a firsthand look at our drying processes and solutions. The group also discussed the final product produced by our dryer—a Class A Exceptional Quality biosolid—and its beneficial reuse and marketing potential.

Utility of the Future Award

Cary’s Utilities Department was recognized by the Water Environment Federation (WEF) for the fourth consecutive year as a Utility of the Future Award recipient in the category of Partnership and Engagement at the Annual WEFTEC Conference in Chicago. Cary’s submission focused on the service delivery and outreach efforts related to three major programs – Sewer Main Rehabilitation, Lead and Copper Rule Engagement, and Water Main Replacement. While each program required significantly different partnering approaches, key goals included ensuring citizen involvement and creating project awareness. A significant success factor for each of these programs involved an internal partnership with Cary’s 311 citizen advocates who provided critical information to our citizens while ensuring consistency in our messaging.

Upcoming Meetings

Environmental Advisory Board
Tuesday, December 10
6:00 p.m.

Historic Preservation Commission
Wednesday, December 11
6:30 p.m.

Town Council Meeting (Work Session)
Thursday, December 12
4:45 p.m.

Town Council Meeting (Regular)
Thursday, December 12
6:30 p.m.

Bonds & Taxes Questions

There has been a lot of confusion (and misinformation) about three separate issues that were linked together by time and taxes. Those were 2024 property reevaluations by Wake County, the fiscal year 2025 tax rate which started on July 1^st, and the 2024 Cary parks bond. In addition, there is now misinformation about the 2019 remaining bond projects. I will attempt to address these below with my thoughts and understanding. These include my opinions which may not necessarily represent the town’s position.

Property Reevaluation

Property revaluation occurs every four years and is set by Wake County. Revaluations used to occur every eight years, but Wake County changed because property values were increasing very rapidly. I have heard that the county is now considering revaluation every two years, but I don’t know that for a fact. I believe that if the next revaluation isn’t for four years we will have another significant increase in property values.

It is important to understand why property values are increasing rapidly. The Raleigh Metro Area, which includes Cary, is one of the most desirable places to live, work, and play in the nation which drives up demand. When something is in high demand people are willing to pay more and that in turn drives up costs. I believe Cary is the most desirable out of all the municipalities in the Raleigh Metro Area. That means the demand is even higher in Cary. And if the demand is high and housing is in short supply, which is true for Cary, then the costs go up even more. That is why I believe there was a significant increase in property values in Cary. My property value went up by 63% in the last four years. BTW, high property value increases were true with all municipalities across Wake County.

Tax Rate for FY 2025 that started on July 1st

As of July 1^st, the Cary Tax Rate moved to 32.5 cents per $100 of value from 34.5 cents. However, the revenue neutral rate would have been 24.5 cents. A revenue neutral rate is the rate where the municipality takes in the same amount of revenue as the previous year.

So why 8 cents above revenue neutral? 3 cents due to inflation, 2 cents to program expansion (parks and environment), 2 cents to debt service, and 1 cent due to General Fund replenishment. Also, in past years we have been able to subsidize taxes with growth. We are now a mature community, and that kind of growth is basically over.

What are some examples of inflation? Project bids are coming in about 50% above estimates, some with one bid, or sometimes we get no bids. Materials have skyrocketed. For example, sidewalk costs have doubled in the last four years and asphalt has increased by 40% in the same amount of time.

What are some examples of Parks and environment? Downtown Cary Park was one of the biggest additions to operating costs. Also, the McCrimmon Park and the Carpenter Fire Station Park. Miles of greenways were also added. Some environmental initiatives included electric vehicles such as one of the first electric fire trucks in the nation, one of the first electric garbage trucks in the nation. These initiatives have capital and operational costs. The good news is that these are investments.

Downtown Cary Park has been the catalyst for downtown development generating millions of dollars in economic benefit. That is, new businesses and residents generate more tax base which keeps your taxes lower. The electric vehicles save money on fuel costs and after two or three years the additional costs have been recovered. I believe these are good investments in addition to fulfilling a need.

Why did debt service increase? The biggest reason is the sale of a portion of the 2019 GO (General Obligation) bonds. GO bonds, which are voter approved, are debt at the lowest interest rate possible. This is possible because we have the highest rating of all bond rating agencies. A good portion of the 2019 bonds have not been sold yet so that debt has not occurred. The future sales of the remaining portion of the bonds will also increase debt service.

Why was money from the general fund spent? It was a strategic move to use extra reserves rather than debt. It should be noted that our General Fund balance is well above requirements, and we want to keep it that way because it helps keep our highest rating with the bond rating agencies. So, we need to replenish the General Fund.

What is the issue with sales tax revenue? Since Covid, sales tax revenue has been increasing by 8% to 9% annually. Last year, however, the increase was less than 1%. This is significant since sales tax is the second largest revenue source at 21.1%. Our biggest source of revenue is property tax at 59%.

2024 Parks Bond

The 2024 parks bond was about funding parks for the next ten to fifteen years. Since the bond was close to property revaluation and the new tax rate, a lot of people viewed this as a funding question for now. I believe that is one of the main reasons the bond failed.

It is important to understand that the council and the staff heard everyone loud and clear about the bonds. We have stopped all bond projects due to lack of funding. While I can’t predict what future council will do, I believe some of them, like the center at South Hills, will never happen. What does this mean? The following is my best guestimate:

The Center

The community center, senior center, and competitive space will not be built. The $75 million promised by Wake County will be rescinded. The $30 million annual increase in economic benefit, which would help keep our taxes low, will not happen.

Mills Park Community Center

This community center and senior center project has also been stopped. We have been planning on having a community center and senior center at this location for about a decade. IMHO, it would be almost another decade IF it was ever built. Why?  Historically bonds are at least five years apart. With large projects taking two years of planning/design and two years of construction that is another four years added to the five years IF everything is on schedule.

It is important to understand that we will now need to spend significant resources to maintain our existing community and senior centers, which are all over twenty years old. IMHO, expanding programs will be difficult due to lack of space. A future bond to build a center would be a question for a future council.

Tennis and Pickleball Expansion

I don’t believe the pickleball courts will be built at the tennis center. That expansion would have allowed more recreational opportunities for sports in high demand and more professional tennis and pickleball tournaments. This is a loss of millions of dollars in economic benefit, which again keeps our taxes low. The NC Tennis Hall of Fame will probably not be located here.

Walnut Street Greenway

The Walnut Creek Greenway from downtown to Fenton, to WakeMed Soccer Park, Triangle Aquatic Center, and the new South Hills redevelopment has been stopped. If future councils decide to do this, it might have to be funded with another bond. Again, I think that is years away. Not connecting all these destinations is a huge, missed opportunity not only for recreation but for quality of life.

Nature Park Master Plan

Cary has 217 acres of farmland that it is maintaining. Unfortunately, there are no trails, restrooms, or parking. It will be up to a council in the future to decide what to do with this property. For now, nothing will happen.

Asian Garden Master Plan

This idea of a one-to-two-acre Asian garden is stopped. I doubt it will ever be considered again.

What was this bond vote significant? Even if you don’t use a facility, it creates value for you. Like the 911 center, fire, and police, you may not ever use it. Hopefully, you won’t. But having the best of the best in services enhances the quality of life for everyone in our community. Great municipal services make your property in Cary more valuable.

2019 Bond Projects

Cary has moved into “maintenance mode” in this current period of the fiscal year 2025 budget (which began on July 1, 2024) for the following reasons:

• Unprecedented Construction Cost Climate 
• Downward Pressure on Sales Tax Receipts
• A desire by the Town Council to minimize any potential fiscal year 2026 Budget Property Tax Increase

This is causing a pause on the 2019 bond projects. The pause on these projects is not because of the 2024 bond vote. Here is a list of remaining projects:

• Carpenter Fire Station Road Widening
• Louis Stephens Drive
• Veterans Freedom Park
• Tryon Road Park
• Walnut Creek Greenway
• Dutchman’s Branch Greenway
• Green Level Church Road Widening
• NC 55 Pedestrian Grade Separation
• O’Kelly Chapel Road Widening
• Action Sports Park

The length of time for the “maintenance period” is currently unknown. Staff are currently re-estimating projects for council reprioritization at our annual meeting in February.

Current Capital Projects

The following is a memo from the town manager about current capital projects:

“To clarify the discussion from last week’s Council Quarterly meeting, all capital projects that are not yet under construction are paused while staff updates cost estimates to reflect escalating construction costs. This pause allows time for the Council to prioritize projects based on current and projected construction costs over the next year.

As mentioned during the meeting, construction cost inflation has outpaced budgets, with costs reaching record highs, including in some cases an escalation of over 200% in the last few years. Staff will re-estimate all active capital projects based on recent construction prices and will apply best estimates of additional potential escalation over the next few years. This information will be prepared for Council evaluation, including a prioritization exercise at the February annual meeting. A similar exercise was done with the Council in 2009 when budgetary pressures and cost escalations were also high.

There are currently 377 active general capital projects within the Downtown, Fire, General Government, PRCR, and Transportation categories. A total of $768 million has been budgeted for these projects. Their current available balance is $265 million.

On the utility side, there are 222 active water and sewer projects with a total budget of $462 million and a combined available balance of $128 million.

Between February and June as part of the annual budget process, our focus will be on refining the capital improvements program to align with the current economic climate while remaining flexible to accommodate future financial and priority changes. Below are examples of projects that have been paused in preparation for the February discussion. These were shared during last week’s Quarterly meeting.

Sidewalks:

Chatham Street Small Segments

Old Apex Rd west of W Chatham Roundabout (Bid Rejected 11/14/2024)

Old Apex Road north of Young Landing Ct

Louis Stephens Drive

Green Level Church Rd Streetside Trail

Jenks Carpenter Rd Streetside Trail

Roberts Road

Norwell Blvd

Johnson St east of Harrison Ave

Johnson St (E) north of Chapel Hill

Sorrell Street

Nottingham Drive

Cary Pkwy (NW) at Sheldon Dr

Highfield Avenue

Maynard Rd north of Chapel Hill

Laura Duncan Road

Cary Parkway (NW) at Norwell

Chatham Street

Lake Pine Drive (Phase 1)

Ryan Road

Lake Pine Drive (Phase 2)

2019 Bond Projects:

Carpenter Fire Station Road Widening

Louis Stephens Drive

Veterans Freedom Park

Tryon Road Park

Walnut Creek Greenway

Dutchman’s Branch Greenway

Green Level Church Rd Widening

NC55 Pedestrian Grade Separation

O’Kelly Chapel Road Widening

Action Sports Park

Examples of Other Budgeted Capital Projects:

Street Improvements FY25

Optimist Farm Greenway

Lake Grove Dam Maintenance

Cary Tennis Park Improvements

Western Cary Community Facility

Parking Deck Technology

Highcroft Drive Extension

South Hills Community Center

Sidewalks FY25

Downtown Ped Improvements

Mobility Study

Cary Tennis Park Clubhouse Design

We remain focused on preparing for the February Annual Meeting and the FY 2026 budget and will provide you with timely updates as we move forward with our work.”

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A complaint about the rezoning on Old Apex Road 21-REZ-16.
• A complaint about parking tickets on West Park Street.
• A question about my comments on the bonds.
• A complaint about lack of benches at bus stops.

Bus Stop Benches

I was asked why there are benches at all Cary bus stops. I thought I would share the answer since it was surprising to me:

“…Thank you for your question!  Since we receive federal money for transit we are required to have a Title VI Program that outlines when we install amenities at bus stops.  This is based on ridership to ensure fair distribution throughout the system.  When a stop reaches an average daily boarding of 10 passengers it is eligible for a bench and when it reaches an average of 20 boardings per day it is eligible for a shelter.  The same parameters are outlined in the Wake Transit Plan and are tied to the funding we receive.  We are not limited in the work we do to bring stops into ADA compliance, but in order to receive funding for other amenities we need to reach those standards. 

There are some instances where we can install amenities before ridership information is available or has reached the required standard and that is tied to projected density of new development.  We review every development plan and include requirements for bus stops or future stops if there isn’t currently a route in place.  We also track requests for amenities – if a stop is close to the average ridership needed and we have received a number of requests for upgrades at that particular location, we can make an exception.

I should also note that the Town’s Standard Specifications, as referenced in the LDO, state that a “basic” bus landing pad should be 20 feet long by 8 feet wide, however, in cases where this is not possible special accommodations may be considered but cannot be less than 8 feet by 5 feet.  In most cases we can’t just install a small pad to accommodate a bench. 

As further information, construction of a bus stop with all amenities, including a 20×8 foot pad, shelter, bench, trash can, bicycle rack and lighting is roughly $30,000, without extensive sidewalk work.  That same set-up without the shelter and just a bench is around $20,000.  These estimates are based on our last phase of bus stop improvements, which was two years ago.  It is likely that number is higher now.  We currently have 217 bus stops in our GoCary network and 44 of them have seating.  It would take a minimum of $4M to upgrade every bus stop with a bench, and more if it includes a shelter.  We are looking into smaller seating options but at this point we have not found anything that would meet NCDOT requirements for installation. …”

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a meeting of The Cary Tennis Classic board, a council work session, a council meeting, the Cary Jaycees Christmas parade, and the 50^th anniversary of Christ the King Lutheran Church.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, December 15^th, 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.

Manager One-On-One

Monday, I talked briefly with the town manager as part of our weekly one-on-one. Mostly we talked about the 2024 bonds and the reprioritization of capital projects in February.

Thanksgiving!

I was blessed to be with my wife, daughters, grandson, son-in-law, and granddog on Thanksgiving. It was a great time reflecting on all my blessings. I am hoping your Thanksgiving was a blessing for you.

Cary #13 Cutest Christmas Town in Southern US

On Wednesday I was notified that Southern Living ranked Cary as the 13^th cutest Christmas town in the South. Here is what they said:

“They say there’s no place like home for the holidays, but if you’re in the mood for a little end-of-year travel, there’s no place that will feel more like home than one of the South’s many charming Christmas towns. These holiday havens go all out for the season, breaking out their festive best with thousands upon thousands of twinkling lights, impressive window displays, and garland galore. And if that wasn’t enough to put you in the spirit, their last two months of the year are jam-packed with all kinds of events, parades, and gatherings to further spread cheer. From candlelight tours to ballets and concerts to outdoor markets, there’s a way to celebrate the season almost every day. Keep reading to hear more about the incredible workings of the South’s cutest Christmas towns.

A testament to the city’s enthusiasm for the holidays, each year, Cary doubles its number of oversize ornaments—these decorations champion its diverse population, with nods to Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and secular celebrations. Start at The Mayton, a boutique hotel where giant nutcrackers flank the front door, the halls are carefully decked, and a special guest package means that no one misses out on Santa’s cookies. People gather for the lighting of a 40-foot tree, a gingerbread house competition, and a parade (now in its 43rd year). Enjoy a synchronized light show at the iconic downtown fountain, and in January, join Cary’s Latino community at the Three Kings’ Day Parade.”

If you haven’t seen downtown Cary during the holiday season now is the time. Everything is lit up except the Christmas tree which will be lit at the ceremony on December 7^th.

Bonds & Taxes Questions

There has been a lot of confusion (and misinformation) about three separate issues that were linked together by time and taxes. Those were 2024 property reevaluations by Wake County, the fiscal year 2025 tax rate which started on July 1^st, and the 2024 Cary parks bond. In addition, there is now misinformation about the 2019 remaining bond projects. I will attempt to address these below with my thoughts and understanding. These include my opinions which may not necessarily represent the town’s position.

Property Reevaluation

Property revaluation occurs every four years and is set by Wake County. Revaluations used to occur every eight years, but Wake County changed because property values were increasing very rapidly. I have heard that the county is now considering revaluation every two years, but I don’t know that for a fact. I believe that if the next revaluation isn’t for four years we will have another significant increase in property values.

It is important to understand why property values are increasing rapidly. The Raleigh Metro Area, which includes Cary, is one of the most desirable places to live, work, and play in the nation which drives up demand. When something is in high demand people are willing to pay more and that in turn drives up costs. I believe Cary is the most desirable out of all the municipalities in the Raleigh Metro Area. That means the demand is even higher in Cary. And if the demand is high and housing is in short supply, which is true for Cary, then the costs go up even more. That is why I believe there was a significant increase in property values in Cary. My property value went up by 63% in the last four years. BTW, high property value increases were true with all municipalities across Wake County.

Tax Rate for FY 2025 that started on July 1st

As of July 1^st, the Cary Tax Rate moved to 32.5 cents per $100 of value from 34.5 cents. However, the revenue neutral rate would have been 24.5 cents. A revenue neutral rate is the rate where the municipality takes in the same amount of revenue as the previous year.

So why 8 cents above revenue neutral? 3 cents due to inflation, 2 cents to program expansion (parks and environment), 2 cents to debt service, and 1 cent due to General Fund replenishment. Also, in past years we have been able to subsidize taxes with growth. We are now a mature community, and that kind of growth is basically over.

What are some examples of inflation? Project bids are coming in about 50% above estimates, some with one bid, or sometimes we get no bids. Materials have skyrocketed. For example, sidewalk costs have doubled in the last four years and asphalt has increased by 40% in the same amount of time.

What are some examples of Parks and environment? Downtown Cary Park was one of the biggest additions to operating costs. Also, the McCrimmon Park and the Carpenter Fire Station Park. Miles of greenways were also added. Some environmental initiatives included electric vehicles such as one of the first electric fire trucks in the nation, one of the first electric garbage trucks in the nation. These initiatives have capital and operational costs. The good news is that these are investments.

Downtown Cary Park has been the catalyst for downtown development generating millions of dollars in economic benefit. That is, new businesses and residents generate more tax base which keeps your taxes lower. The electric vehicles save money on fuel costs and after two or three years the additional costs have been recovered. I believe these are good investments in addition to fulfilling a need.

Why did debt service increase? The biggest reason is the sale of a portion of the 2019 GO (General Obligation) bonds. GO bonds, which are voter approved, are debt at the lowest interest rate possible. This is possible because we have the highest rating of all bond rating agencies. A good portion of the 2019 bonds have not been sold yet so that debt has not occurred. The future sales of the remaining portion of the bonds will also increase debt service.

Why was money from the general fund spent? It was a strategic move to use extra reserves rather than debt. It should be noted that our General Fund balance is well above requirements, and we want to keep it that way because it helps keep our highest rating with the bond rating agencies. So, we need to replenish the General Fund.

What is the issue with sales tax revenue? Since Covid, sales tax revenue has been increasing by 8% to 9% annually. Last year, however, the increase was less than 1%. This is significant since sales tax is the second largest revenue source at 21.1%. Our biggest source of revenue is property tax at 59%.

2024 Parks Bond

The 2024 parks bond was about funding parks for the next ten to fifteen years. Since the bond was close to property revaluation and the new tax rate, a lot of people viewed this as a funding question for now. I believe that is one of the main reasons the bond failed.

It is important to understand that the council and the staff heard everyone loud and clear about the bonds. We have stopped all bond projects due to lack of funding. While I can’t predict what future council will do, I believe some of them, like the center at South Hills, will never happen. What does this mean? The following is my best guestimate:

The Center

The community center, senior center, and competitive space will not be built. The $75 million promised by Wake County will be rescinded. The $30 million annual increase in economic benefit, which would help keep our taxes low, will not happen.

Mills Park Community Center

This community center and senior center project has also been stopped. We have been planning on having a community center and senior center at this location for about a decade. IMHO, it would be almost another decade IF it was ever built. Why?  Historically bonds are at least five years apart. With large projects taking two years of planning/design and two years of construction that is another four years added to the five years IF everything is on schedule.

It is important to understand that we will now need to spend significant resources to maintain our existing community and senior centers, which are all over twenty years old. IMHO, expanding programs will be difficult due to lack of space. A future bond to build a center would be a question for a future council.

Tennis and Pickleball Expansion

I don’t believe the pickleball courts will be built at the tennis center. That expansion would have allowed more recreational opportunities for sports in high demand and more professional tennis and pickleball tournaments. This is a loss of millions of dollars in economic benefit, which again keeps our taxes low. The NC Tennis Hall of Fame will probably not be located here.

Walnut Street Greenway

The Walnut Creek Greenway from downtown to Fenton, to WakeMed Soccer Park, Triangle Aquatic Center, and the new South Hills redevelopment has been stopped. If future councils decide to do this, it might have to be funded with another bond. Again, I think that is years away. Not connecting all these destinations is a huge, missed opportunity not only for recreation but for quality of life.

Nature Park Master Plan

Cary has 217 acres of farmland that it is maintaining. Unfortunately, there are no trails, restrooms, or parking. It will be up to a council in the future to decide what to do with this property. For now, nothing will happen.

Asian Garden Master Plan

This idea of a one-to-two-acre Asian garden is stopped. I doubt it will ever be considered again.

What was this bond vote significant? Even if you don’t use a facility, it creates value for you. Like the 911 center, fire, and police, you may not ever use it. Hopefully, you won’t. But having the best of the best in services enhances the quality of life for everyone in our community. Great municipal services make your property in Cary more valuable.

2019 Bond Projects

Cary has moved into “maintenance mode” in this current period of the fiscal year 2025 budget (which began on July 1, 2024) for the following reasons:

• Unprecedented Construction Cost Climate 
• Downward Pressure on Sales Tax Receipts
• A desire by the Town Council to minimize any potential fiscal year 2026 Budget Property Tax Increase

This is causing a pause on the 2019 bond projects. The pause on these projects is not because of the 2024 bond vote. Here is a list of remaining projects:

• Carpenter Fire Station Road Widening
• Louis Stephens Drive
• Veterans Freedom Park
• Tryon Road Park
• Walnut Creek Greenway
• Dutchman’s Branch Greenway
• Green Level Church Road Widening
• NC 55 Pedestrian Grade Separation
• O’Kelly Chapel Road Widening
• Action Sports Park

The length of time for the “maintenance period” is currently unknown. Staff are currently re-estimating projects for council reprioritization at our annual meeting in February.

Current Capital Projects

The following is a memo from the town manager about current capital projects:

“To clarify the discussion from last week’s Council Quarterly meeting, all capital projects that are not yet under construction are paused while staff updates cost estimates to reflect escalating construction costs. This pause allows time for the Council to prioritize projects based on current and projected construction costs over the next year.

As mentioned during the meeting, construction cost inflation has outpaced budgets, with costs reaching record highs, including in some cases an escalation of over 200% in the last few years. Staff will re-estimate all active capital projects based on recent construction prices and will apply best estimates of additional potential escalation over the next few years. This information will be prepared for Council evaluation, including a prioritization exercise at the February annual meeting. A similar exercise was done with the Council in 2009 when budgetary pressures and cost escalations were also high.

There are currently 377 active general capital projects within the Downtown, Fire, General Government, PRCR, and Transportation categories. A total of $768 million has been budgeted for these projects. Their current available balance is $265 million.

On the utility side, there are 222 active water and sewer projects with a total budget of $462 million and a combined available balance of $128 million.

Between February and June as part of the annual budget process, our focus will be on refining the capital improvements program to align with the current economic climate while remaining flexible to accommodate future financial and priority changes. Below are examples of projects that have been paused in preparation for the February discussion. These were shared during last week’s Quarterly meeting.

Sidewalks:

Chatham Street Small Segments

Old Apex Rd west of W Chatham Roundabout (Bid Rejected 11/14/2024)

Old Apex Road north of Young Landing Ct

Louis Stephens Drive

Green Level Church Rd Streetside Trail

Jenks Carpenter Rd Streetside Trail

Roberts Road

Norwell Blvd

Johnson St east of Harrison Ave

Johnson St (E) north of Chapel Hill

Sorrell Street

Nottingham Drive

Cary Pkwy (NW) at Sheldon Dr

Highfield Avenue

Maynard Rd north of Chapel Hill

Laura Duncan Road

Cary Parkway (NW) at Norwell

Chatham Street

Lake Pine Drive (Phase 1)

Ryan Road

Lake Pine Drive (Phase 2)

2019 Bond Projects:

Carpenter Fire Station Road Widening

Louis Stephens Drive

Veterans Freedom Park

Tryon Road Park

Walnut Creek Greenway

Dutchman’s Branch Greenway

Green Level Church Rd Widening

NC55 Pedestrian Grade Separation

O’Kelly Chapel Road Widening

Action Sports Park

Examples of Other Budgeted Capital Projects:

Street Improvements FY25

Optimist Farm Greenway

Lake Grove Dam Maintenance

Cary Tennis Park Improvements

Western Cary Community Facility

Parking Deck Technology

Highcroft Drive Extension

South Hills Community Center

Sidewalks FY25

Downtown Ped Improvements

Mobility Study

Cary Tennis Park Clubhouse Design

We remain focused on preparing for the February Annual Meeting and the FY 2026 budget and will provide you with timely updates as we move forward with our work.”

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A complaint about bicycle safety in Cary. “… this does not seem to be a high priority for the town.” (Not true. Safety always comes first!)
• A complaint that recycling should be weekly (Recycling materials should not include anything that should smell or spoil. Collecting every two weeks should be fine. Collecting more frequently would require more people, more equipment, and more taxes. If you need additional space, you can call and ask for an additional cart.)

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a HRID meeting, a First Responders breakfast, a Farmington Woods Elementary visit, a Joint MPO Rail Subcommittee meeting, and the Cary Christmas Tree Lighting event.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, December 8^th, 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.

Bonds & Taxes Questions

There has been a lot of confusion (and misinformation) about three separate issues that were linked together by time and taxes. Those were 2024 property reevaluations by Wake County, the fiscal year 2025 tax rate which started on July 1^st, and the 2024 Cary parks bond. In addition, there is now misinformation about the 2019 remaining bond projects. I will attempt to address these below with my thoughts and understanding. These include my opinions which may not necessarily represent the town’s position.

Property Reevaluation

Property revaluation occurs every four years and is set by Wake County. Revaluations used to occur every eight years, but Wake County changed because property values were increasing very rapidly. I have heard that the county is now considering revaluation every two years, but I don’t know that for a fact. I believe that if the next revaluation isn’t for four years we will have another significant increase in property values.

It is important to understand why property values are increasing rapidly. The Raleigh Metro Area, which includes Cary, is one of the most desirable places to live, work, and play in the nation which drives up demand. When something is in high demand people are willing to pay more and that in turn drives up costs. I believe Cary is the most desirable out of all the municipalities in the Raleigh Metro Area. That means the demand is even higher in Cary. And if the demand is high and housing is in short supply, which is true for Cary, then the costs go up even more. That is why I believe there was a significant increase in property values in Cary. My property value went up by 63% in the last four years. BTW, high property value increases were true with all municipalities across Wake County.

Tax Rate for FY 2025 that started on July 1st

As of July 1^st, the Cary Tax Rate moved to 32.5 cents per $100 of value from 34.5 cents. However, the revenue neutral rate would have been 24.5 cents. A revenue neutral rate is the rate where the municipality takes in the same amount of revenue as the previous year.

So why 8 cents above revenue neutral? 3 cents due to inflation, 2 cents to program expansion (parks and environment), 2 cents to debt service, and 1 cent due to General Fund replenishment. Also, in past years we have been able to subsidize taxes with growth. We are now a mature community, and that kind of growth is basically over.

What are some examples of inflation? Project bids are coming in about 50% above estimates, some with one bid, or sometimes we get no bids. Materials have skyrocketed. For example, sidewalk costs have doubled in the last four years and asphalt has increased by 40% in the same amount of time.

What are some examples of Parks and environment? Downtown Cary Park was one of the biggest additions to operating costs. Also, the McCrimmon Park and the Carpenter Fire Station Park. Miles of greenways were also added. Some environmental initiatives included electric vehicles such as one of the first electric fire trucks in the nation, one of the first electric garbage trucks in the nation. These initiatives have capital and operational costs. The good news is that these are investments.

Downtown Cary Park has been the catalyst for downtown development generating millions of dollars in economic benefit. That is, new businesses and residents generate more tax base which keeps your taxes lower. The electric vehicles save money on fuel costs and after two or three years the additional costs have been recovered. I believe these are good investments in addition to fulfilling a need.

Why did debt service increase? The biggest reason is the sale of a portion of the 2019 GO (General Obligation) bonds. GO bonds, which are voter approved, are debt at the lowest interest rate possible. This is possible because we have the highest rating of all bond rating agencies. A good portion of the 2019 bonds have not been sold yet so that debt has not occurred. The future sales of the remaining portion of the bonds will also increase debt service.

Why was money from the general fund spent? It was a strategic move to use extra reserves rather than debt. It should be noted that our General Fund balance is well above requirements, and we want to keep it that way because it helps keep our highest rating with the bond rating agencies. So, we need to replenish the General Fund.

What is the issue with sales tax revenue? Since Covid, sales tax revenue has been increasing by 8% to 9% annually. Last year, however, the increase was less than 1%. This is significant since sales tax is the second largest revenue source at 21.1%. Our biggest source of revenue is property tax at 59%.

2024 Parks Bond

The 2024 parks bond was about funding parks for the next ten to fifteen years. Since the bond was close to property revaluation and the new tax rate, a lot of people viewed this as a funding question for now. I believe that is one of the main reasons the bond failed.

It is important to understand that the council and the staff heard everyone loud and clear about the bonds. We have stopped all bond projects due to lack of funding. While I can’t predict what future council will do, I believe some of them, like the center at South Hills, will never happen. What does this mean? The following is my best guestimate:

The Center

The community center, senior center, and competitive space will not be built. The $75 million promised by Wake County will be rescinded. The $30 million annual increase in economic benefit, which would help keep our taxes low, will not happen.

Mills Park Community Center

This community center and senior center project has also been stopped. We have been planning on having a community center and senior center at this location for about a decade. IMHO, it would be almost another decade IF it was ever built. Why?  Historically bonds are at least five years apart. With large projects taking two years of planning/design and two years of construction that is another four years added to the five years IF everything is on schedule.

It is important to understand that we will now need to spend significant resources to maintain our existing community and senior centers, which are all over twenty years old. IMHO, expanding programs will be difficult due to lack of space. A future bond to build a center would be a question for a future council.

Tennis and Pickleball Expansion

I don’t believe the pickleball courts will be built at the tennis center. That expansion would have allowed more recreational opportunities for sports in high demand and more professional tennis and pickleball tournaments. This is a loss of millions of dollars in economic benefit, which again keeps our taxes low. The NC Tennis Hall of Fame will probably not be located here.

Walnut Street Greenway

The Walnut Creek Greenway from downtown to Fenton, to WakeMed Soccer Park, Triangle Aquatic Center, and the new South Hills redevelopment has been stopped. If future councils decide to do this, it might have to be funded with another bond. Again, I think that is years away. Not connecting all these destinations is a huge, missed opportunity not only for recreation but for quality of life.

Nature Park Master Plan

Cary has 217 acres of farmland that it is maintaining. Unfortunately, there are no trails, restrooms, or parking. It will be up to a council in the future to decide what to do with this property. For now, nothing will happen.

Asian Garden Master Plan

This idea of a one-to-two-acre Asian garden is stopped. I doubt it will ever be considered again.

Why was this bond vote significant? Even if you don’t use a facility, it creates value for you. Like the 911 center, fire, and police, you may not ever use it. Hopefully, you won’t. But having the best of the best in services enhances the quality of life for everyone in our community. Great municipal services make your property in Cary more valuable.

2019 Bond Projects

Cary has moved into “maintenance mode” in this current period of the fiscal year 2025 budget (which began on July 1, 2024) for the following reasons:

• Unprecedented Construction Cost Climate 
• Downward Pressure on Sales Tax Receipts
• A desire by the Town Council to minimize any potential fiscal year 2026 Budget Property Tax Increase

This is causing a pause on the 2019 bond projects. The pause on these projects is not because of the 2024 bond vote. Here is a list of remaining projects:

• Carpenter Fire Station Road Widening
• Louis Stephens Drive
• Veterans Freedom Park
• Tryon Road Park
• Walnut Creek Greenway
• Dutchman’s Branch Greenway
• Green Level Church Road Widening
• NC 55 Pedestrian Grade Separation
• O’Kelly Chapel Road Widening
• Action Sports Park

The length of time for the “maintenance period” is currently unknown. Staff are currently re-estimating projects for council reprioritization at our annual meeting in February.

Current Capital Projects

The following is a memo from the town manager about current capital projects:

“To clarify the discussion from last week’s Council Quarterly meeting, all capital projects that are not yet under construction are paused while staff updates cost estimates to reflect escalating construction costs. This pause allows time for the Council to prioritize projects based on current and projected construction costs over the next year.

As mentioned during the meeting, construction cost inflation has outpaced budgets, with costs reaching record highs, including in some cases an escalation of over 200% in the last few years. Staff will re-estimate all active capital projects based on recent construction prices and will apply best estimates of additional potential escalation over the next few years. This information will be prepared for Council evaluation, including a prioritization exercise at the February annual meeting. A similar exercise was done with the Council in 2009 when budgetary pressures and cost escalations were also high.

There are currently 377 active general capital projects within the Downtown, Fire, General Government, PRCR, and Transportation categories. A total of $768 million has been budgeted for these projects. Their current available balance is $265 million.

On the utility side, there are 222 active water and sewer projects with a total budget of $462 million and a combined available balance of $128 million.

Between February and June as part of the annual budget process, our focus will be on refining the capital improvements program to align with the current economic climate while remaining flexible to accommodate future financial and priority changes. Below are examples of projects that have been paused in preparation for the February discussion. These were shared during last week’s Quarterly meeting.

Sidewalks:

Chatham Street Small Segments

Old Apex Rd west of W Chatham Roundabout (Bid Rejected 11/14/2024)

Old Apex Road north of Young Landing Ct

Louis Stephens Drive

Green Level Church Rd Streetside Trail

Jenks Carpenter Rd Streetside Trail

Roberts Road

Norwell Blvd

Johnson St east of Harrison Ave

Johnson St (E) north of Chapel Hill

Sorrell Street

Nottingham Drive

Cary Pkwy (NW) at Sheldon Dr

Highfield Avenue

Maynard Rd north of Chapel Hill

Laura Duncan Road

Cary Parkway (NW) at Norwell

Chatham Street

Lake Pine Drive (Phase 1)

Ryan Road

Lake Pine Drive (Phase 2)

2019 Bond Projects:

Carpenter Fire Station Road Widening

Louis Stephens Drive

Veterans Freedom Park

Tryon Road Park

Walnut Creek Greenway

Dutchman’s Branch Greenway

Green Level Church Rd Widening

NC55 Pedestrian Grade Separation

O’Kelly Chapel Road Widening

Action Sports Park

Examples of Other Budgeted Capital Projects:

Street Improvements FY25

Optimist Farm Greenway

Lake Grove Dam Maintenance

Cary Tennis Park Improvements

Western Cary Community Facility

Parking Deck Technology

Highcroft Drive Extension

South Hills Community Center

Sidewalks FY25

Downtown Ped Improvements

Mobility Study

Cary Tennis Park Clubhouse Design

We remain focused on preparing for the February Annual Meeting and the FY 2026 budget and will provide you with timely updates as we move forward with our work.”

Hometown Spirit Award

Monday night I joined the entire council in the Hometown Spirit Award presentation. The Hometown Spirit Award is presented annually to a Cary citizen who enhances the quality of life in Cary by preserving, promoting, and carrying out positive and quantifiable, small-town community values and traits.

This year we had three amazing nominees:

Brent Bandow

Brent is a Cary native, dedicated and passionate about serving our community. Over the past six years, Brent has made significant contributions as a member and Chair of the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Advisory Board, leading impactful initiatives like the Play It Forward Scholarship Program.

He has been a long-standing volunteer at Cary’s festivals, helping them to run smoothly and engaging attendees. His community commitment extends to coaching youth basketball for over 20 years through various local programs, shaping both the skills and character of countless young athletes.

As President of the Cary High School Imp Club and announcer for the Miracle League of the Triangle, Brandow’s leadership supports athletic programs and brings joy to athletes with special needs.

His role as an ambassador team leader for the Cary Chamber underscores his drive to improve his community, while his professional work in disaster mitigation reflects his dedication to helping others. Known for his warmth and humor, Brandow makes everyone feel valued and welcomed, embodying selflessness and community spirit.

Dan Pike

Dan Pike has been a steadfast volunteer and a leader in the community for over two decades. Dan has been an influential volunteer, notably serving as President of the Cary Downtown Farmers Market, where he oversees operations, supports vendors, and fosters a welcoming environment. Under his leadership, the Cary Downtown Farmers Market has implemented impactful programs like the SNAP-approved market and the Produce 2 Pantry partnership with Dorcas Food Pantry.

Dan has been a dedicated announcer for the last 20 years for the Cary High School baseball team and serves as a host parent for USA Baseball players during major events. His involvement volunteering for town events, including festivals and celebrations, such as the Lazy Daze and Spring Daze Arts and Crafts Festivals, shows his commitment to fostering community and ensuring success.

Dan’s kindness extends to his neighborhood, where he helps others in times of need, embodying the true spirit of a selfless, caring neighbor. His tireless service, humility, and warmth make him an invaluable asset to Cary.

Sallie Jones

Miss Sallie Jones embodies dedication to preserving the town’s African American history. Descended from some of Cary’s earliest African American families, Sallie discovered after she returned home to Cary after her retirement that the graves of her ancestors had been lost to development. Driven by this realization, she made it her mission to protect the cemetery at Cary First Christian Church, which dated back to 1868 but faced neglect and development threats.

Sallie led efforts to survey the cemetery, hired archaeologists who identified over 160 unmarked graves, and tirelessly researched records to name those buried there. Sallie registered the site with the State of North Carolina making it the first cemetery to be designated as a historic landmark in Cary and in all of Wake County.

Several years ago, Cary First Christian Church, which Sallie is part of, partnered with the Town of Cary and the Friends of the Page-Walker to produce a walking tour brochure that recounts the lives and impact of members of the African American Community in Cary.

Sallie’s commitment over 25 years secured the cemetery’s recognition as Cary’s first historic landmark, ensuring its legacy and highlighting her invaluable contribution to the community’s heritage.

With three outstanding nominees I am sure the committee must have had a difficult time choosing a winner. I was proud to present this year’s Hometown Spirit Award to Miss Sallie Jones. Thanks to all our nominees for making Cary a better place.

CAMPO

I attended the Executive Board meeting of CAMPO (Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization) on Wednesday afternoon. CAMPO is responsible for future transportation priorities in our region. CAMPO is also responsible for carrying out an annual work program approved by the Executive Board, a portion of which includes updating the Transportation Improvement Program (a seven-year project programming schedule) and the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (a minimum twenty-year forecast of projects and programs).

This month’s agenda included three consent items, two public hearings, and five discussion items. Items approved included:

• Amendment #6 to TIP (Transportation Improvement Program) removing U-5811 as requested by Morrisville.
• Local Input Point assignments and directing staff to maximize coordination with division engineers with chair approval.
• Draft goals, objectives, performance measures, and guide totals for use in MTP (Metropolitan Transportation Plan) development for 2055. They pointed out that municipal land use plans do not account for the future 1 million plus future residents. That makes it difficult to plan future transportation.

One interesting note from the STIP (State Transportation Improvement Program) presentation is that twelve of the fourteen divisions in the state have prioritized needs of that are greater than funds available. That deficit is at $1.35 billion.

Cary PD Promotion Ceremony

Thursday night I had the honor of attending the Cary Police Department’s Promotional Ceremony. The guest speaker was Dr. Jamie Wicker who is the Provost and Chief Campus Officer for Wake Tech. The following were promoted:

Sergeants

Gilbert Candelaria

Adam Dismukes

John Maia

Justin Millard

Randy Wark

Jacob West

Victoria Yannayon

Lieutenant

Travis Gresham

ECO Shift Supervisor

Josh Gropper

We are blessed to have so many heroes in the best department in the state!

Legislative Update

A legislative update was provided to the NC Metro Mayors by Checkmate Government Relations. Here is their summary:

Republicans Vote on 2025 Leadership

North Carolina House Republicans, including incoming freshmen members, met on Tuesday to vote on new leadership for the Republican Caucus.  Representative Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) was elected as the next Speaker of the House with current Speaker Tim Moore leaving for Congress. Representative Brenden Jones (R-Columbus) was elected as Majority Leader, succeeding Representative John Bell (R-Wayne). Representative Bell was appointed as the next Chair of the House Rules Committee.  Additional elected leadership positions are as follows:

• Representative Steve Tyson (R-Craven) – Deputy Majority Leader
• Representative Mitchell Setzer (R-Catawba) – Speaker Pro Tem
• Representative Karl Gillespie (R-Cherokee) – Whip
• Representatives Matthew Winslow (R-Franklin) and Jeff Zenger (R-Forsyth)

Conference Committee Chairs

• Representative Harry Warren (R-Rowan) – Caucus Joint Liaison 
• Representative Heather Rhyne (R-Gaston) – Freshman Leader
• Representative Blair Eddins (R-Wilkes) – Freshman Whip 

Senator Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) was re-elected as Senate President Pro Tempore. Senator Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell) will continue to serve as Deputy President Pro Tempore and Senator Paul Newton (R-Cabarrus) will again serve as Majority Leader. Senator Carl Ford (R-Rowan) will remain a Joint Caucus Liaison.

Veto Overrides

This week, the House and the Senate voted to override House Bill 10 and Senate Bill 445. Three democrats voted with House republicans to override Governor Cooper’s vetoes. H10 requires cooperation between ICE and sheriffs when encountering an illegal immigrant who has been detained for a crime. Additionally, H10 would fully fund the Opportunity Scholarship program. S445 alters various requirements for court-filed documents. 

Western Relief and Executive Branch Changes

The General Assembly passed Senate Bill 382. S382 includes an additional $227 million in hurricane relief funding and would make changes to executive branch powers. The changes include banning the attorney general from taking any stance in lawsuits that legislative leaders disagree with and shifting control of the State Board of Elections from the Governor to the State Auditor. Following the passage of S382, the General Assembly has appropriated $1.1B to Hurricane Helene relief efforts in Western North Carolina. 

S382 was sent to the Governor and awaits his signature. 

Waverly Tree Lighting

Friday night I joined Jack Smith at the Waverly tree lighting ceremony. As in previous years, the ceremony started entertainment from Craig Woolard and the Embers. Then the crowd was serenaded by the Athens Drive High School marching band. Jack Smith and I then made a few remarks about what events are happening in this holiday season in Cary is. I then introduced Mr. and Mrs. Santa Clause who lit the tree by throwing magic dust on it. Afterwards I was fortunate to have my picture made with Santa. What a lot of fun!

Fenton Tree Lighting

Saturday night I joined council members Smith, Craig, and Bansal at the tree lighting event for Fenton in Cary. The crowd was entertained by dancers and singers from Elevate out of Raleigh. Then I was invited on stage with Renee Chou from WRAL. We bantered a bit before Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus were introduced. Santa told a story, talked a bit, and then lit the tree. It was a great event for all that were in attendance and a great way to start the holiday season.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

The holiday season begins this evening when the decorations throughout Downtown are turned on for the season. With the displays active, Downtown will see increased foot traffic as people gather to view the decorations.

A quick reminder, Town Hall and most staffed facilities will be closed next Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving. As is our practice on holiday Fridays, there will be no weekly report.

Enjoy your weekend.

Sean

Franklin Development Plan Update

In July 2024, we received a development plan for 214 S. Walker St., known as “The Franklin.” Around the same time, the Triangle Business Journal published an article about the project with the headline, “New condo building would be tallest in downtown Cary.” This article has generated significant interest and concern, particularly from the neighbors living in the Park Station Condos.

The property is currently zoned HMXD (High Intensity Mixed Use), a designation it has held since 2003, when zoning was established in the Town Center. The plan currently under review proposes a mixed-use building, primarily multi-family (40 units) with a small amount of retail (1,800 square feet). These uses are permitted in the HMXD zone, so a rezoning is not required.

Parking is being provided according to the HMXD standard of one space per unit. In the Town Center, the parking standard for multi-family units is based on the number of units, while outside the Town Center, parking is tied to the number of bedrooms. For the 40-unit apartment complex, 40 parking spaces are required, and the current plan shows 44 spaces. There are no additional parking requirements for non-residential uses in HMXD.

There are currently 59 comments on this submittal, with three significant issues. The first relates to access from Flat Rail Trail. The current plan shows Flat Rail connecting to the second level of the building, which is entirely parking. The second issue concerns the height of the structure. The zoning allows a maximum building height of 65 feet, but the plan shows a building that exceeds 70 feet. The LDO permits a 15% increase in height if three conditions are met:

1. The building is in the Town Center District or a Destination Center;
2. The building is part of a mixed-use development; and
3. The project is subject to a development agreement approved by the Town Council.

This project meets the first two criteria but does not meet the third. No development agreement is planned, and we have not received any request from the developer to enter into one. Finally, there is an issue with driveway spacing on North Walker Street, so a modification may be needed for this access point as well.

As staff closes out this next review, these issues will need to be addressed by the developer, and further reviews will be paused until they are resolved.

Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources System Plan Draft Available

Cary’s nationally accredited Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department is recognized for its extensive greenway system, parks, cultural opportunities, and recreational programs. The PRCR System Plan aims to evaluate Cary’s parks and recreational resources while also planning for the current and future needs of the community. This plan will guide the development of the PRCR system and serves as an update to the 2012 Master Plan. Additionally, it will be incorporated into the ENGAGE chapter of the Imagine Cary Community Plan.
The draft Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources System Plan is available here. The approval and adoption process for the PRCR System Plan will take place in two steps to meet the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) accreditation deadline and to gather public input before finalizing a comprehensive amendment to the ENGAGE chapter of the Imagine Cary Community Plan.

The first step is for the Council to approve the PRCR System Plan by January 15, 2025, to satisfy the CAPRA accreditation requirement. The second step will include holding public input sessions to review the plan with the community in early 2025. After these input sessions, the staff will prepare the System Plan to be incorporated into the ENGAGE chapter of the Imagine Cary Community Plan through a comprehensive plan amendment, to be adopted by the Council.

Downtown Cary Park Celebrates One Year!

On November 16, Downtown Cary Park celebrated its first birthday with remarks from Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, who was joined by Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Bryson Robinson, and Councilmembers Michelle Craig, Jack Smith, Lori Bush, and Sarika Bansal for a cake cutting. Over 10,000 visitors joined in the day-long celebration to sign the giant birthday card, enjoy live music, and watch Cary’s first drone light show . In the week leading up to the park’s official birthday, staff planned several events to commemorate the wonderful programming that’s happened over the last year. Staff looks forward to continuing to fulfill the mission of the park in year two.

9^th Annual NC Chinese Lantern Festival

The 9th Annual North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival has returned to Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre for 2024-2025. The festival opened last Saturday and will remain open until January 12, featuring all-new lantern displays, cultural performances, and menu items.
At the media preview on November 15, Mayor Weinbrecht officially kicked off the festival with the ceremonial “flipping of the switch.” Joining him were Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Bryson Robinson, Councilmembers Lori Bush, Jack Smith, and Carissa Kohn-Johnson, as well as NC Representative Ya Liu and Wake County Commissioner Shinica Thomas. Representatives from Cary’s various citizen Boards and Commissions were also in attendance to celebrate the event.

Cary Hometown Spirit Award

On Monday, November 18, Sallie Jones, a 100-year-old advocate who dedicated over 25  years to preserving Cary’s African American history, was honored as Cary’s 2024 Hometown Spirit Award winner.
The Hometown Spirit Award celebrates community-minded citizens who enhance Cary’s quality of life by preserving, promoting, and embodying small-town values. The award ceremony, led by Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, took place at Academy Pavilion in Downtown Cary Park, with all Councilmembers in attendance. In addition to Sallie Jones, this year’s nominees included Brent Brandow and Dan Pike.

Climate Strategy Stakeholder Meeting

Cary’s Climate Action Advisory Group, in collaboration with the Environmental Advisory Board, representatives from 22 regional partners and staff, reconvened on Thursday for a final meeting. Attendees reviewed the draft Sustainability and Climate Action Strategy, where staff and consultants showcased visions, goals, and actions. Stakeholders had the opportunity to indicate their future roles for implementation. Council members Lori Bush, Carissa Kohn-Johnson, and Michelle Craig joined the discussion.

Downtown Cary Park Neighbors Meeting

On Thursday evening, neighbors of the Downtown Cary Park gathered in Academy Pavilion to stay abreast of timely updates related to the Park. Joy Ennis, General Manager, covered topics related to upcoming holiday programming, new merchandise available, and some fun facts after the first year of operation. Neighbors were complementary of Park operations, particularly Saturday’s drone show. Feedback was shared related to parking and concerns of speeding. These meetings have been a helpful way to cultivate relationships, share information, and hear neighbor feedback. Approximately 40 people attended, including Councilmembers Michelle Craig, Lori Bush, and Carissa Kohn-Johnson. 

Cary Rotary Club Meeting

On Wednesday, Councilmember Jack Smith was the special guest speaker at the Cary MacGregor Rotary Club meeting, reflecting on Cary’s remarkable growth and highlighting its evolution from a small town to a thriving community, emphasizing the importance of legacy, leadership, and a shared vision for shaping its future.

Town Hall Tour for Elementary Students

On Thursday and Friday, third graders from Kingswood Elementary School visited Town Hall to learn about local government and its impact on their daily lives. Councilmember Michelle Craig spoke to the students about her role as an elected official and the responsibilities of local leadership.

During their visit, the students explored the Traffic Management Center, toured the Page-Walker Arts & History Center, and met with the Information Technology team to learn about the advanced technologies used in Downtown Cary Park.

Blue Moon Bakery to Open at Former Ashworth’s Drug Store

This week, staff received an upfit permit for Blue Moon Bakery, indicating their plans to move into the former Ashworth’s Drug Store at 105 W. Chatham Street. The contractor estimated the renovation cost at $610,000. The project covers approximately 2,800 square feet and will include a full-service bakery.

IT Cybersecurity Incident Workshop

Cybersecurity breaches are on the rise and impacting municipal operations across the nation. On Nov. 19, our partners at Wake County Emergency Management hosted and co-facilitated a workshop for directors and staff from Information Technology (IT) on potential IT threats, risk, and legal and regulatory requirements about cybersecurity. The group used learned knowledge to discuss potential future updates to Cary’s Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) and IT Incident Response Plan to ensure we are ready if a breach impacts Cary’s operations. Thank you to Wake County for hosting us on this important work!

Winding Pine Pump Station Commissioning

This week, Cary successfully commissioned its newest wastewater pump station, the Winding Pine Pump Station, marking a significant milestone in infrastructure improvement. On Tuesday, the wastewater flow was transferred from the existing Kit Creek Pump Station to the new facility.

Located on the Chatham County line, the Winding Pine Pump Station serves an expanded area, including the Wake County portion of RTP. With an increased pumping capacity of 10.6 million gallons per day, the station directs wastewater to the Western Wake Regional Water Reclamation Facility.

ACC Soccer Championships

Over the past two weeks, WakeMed Soccer Park hosted the Women’s and Men’s Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Semifinals and Championships. These events attracted over 5,000 attendees, with many traveling from across the East Coast. As Florida State (Women’s) and Wake Forest (Men’s) were crowned champions, these tournaments provided valuable experience as we continue to prepare to host the NCAA Women’s and Men’s College Cups in December.

Upcoming Meetings

None because of a holiday week

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A complaint about leaf pickup.
• A complaint that the 2019 bond projects that are stopped because they were told it was because the 2024 bond vote failed (misinformation).
• A complaint about not being able to dispose of paint at the convenience center (we don’t have environmental permits to allow that).
• Thank you for fixing a water leak at Ed Yerha Park.
• Thank you for the Hometown Spirit Award process.
• A request for a taping of the Veterans Day speech by the Colonel from Ft. Liberty (we don’t have one).
• A complaint that we don’t have American Flag banners in downtown.
• A complaint about protests through the Downtown Cary Park.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, and Thanksgiving.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, December 1^st, 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.

Veterans Day Event

Monday I joined five other council members as part of the Veterans Day event held at the Veterans Freedom Park. Approximately one hundred people attended. Dignitaries attending included Congresswoman Ross, NC Representative Cervania, Morrisville council member Rao, and six of seven Cary council members. Jack Smith, the council’s only veteran, emceed the event. The national anthem and patriotic music were played by the Old North State Brass Band.

Colonel Bret Batdorff was the featured speaker and gave a very inspirational speech. In one part of his speech he said that the constitution starts with “to form a more perfect union” and noted that democracy and politics were messy then and it is messy now. But we have a common bond of being US citizens. I thought that was a great message especially after such a divisive election.

Thank you to all the veterans who served and are serving for your sacrifices. We all know freedom isn’t free and we are blessed to have men and women who serve to protect our freedom.

Taping for Downtown Cary Park Birthday

Tuesday afternoon I did a brief taping as part of the opening for the Downtown Cary Park birthday celebration. It was a one liner and took about five minutes.

Town Manager One-On-One

Tuesday I had a brief weekly meeting with the town manager. We mostly talked about impacts of the bond vote.

Staff Annual Reviews

The council spent Tuesday night reviewing all three direct reports, the town manager, town attorney, and town clerk. We heard from each of them, evaluated their performance, and set the annual salary. The process took us over six hours.

Cary Tennis Classic Board

Wednesday night I participated in the Cary Tennis Classic Board meeting. Our topics included sponsors, activities prior to next year’s event, and the failure of the bonds and what that means for future events.

Council Work Session

Thursday evening the council held a work session that was mostly about the rezoning proposal at Alston Yards 23-REZ-01 and our potential partnership with them. This property is located across Parkside Commons on Highway 55. Here are some of the takeaways from the session:

• The site is impacted by stream buffers, topography, tract geography, and access to Highway 55.
• The Cary Community Plan calls for this site to be part of the destination center.
• There is a potential land swap with Cary to allow a greenway from town owned property to O’Kelly Chapel Road.
• Some of the key elements of the proposal include variation in rooftop height, stepback on upper levels, projecting balconies, and covered rooftop terrace.
• The parking deck will be screened with evergreen plantings, vegetated green walls, architectural screening, and art banners.
• There will be a main street with a commitment to vertical integration.
• There will be 40,000 square feet of public park space. The park will be linear with a greenway connection to the park.
• Proposed office of 200,000 to 400,000 square feet with a minimum of 140,000 square feet.
• Proposed multi-family of 815 to 1120 units with a minimum of 525 units.
• Proposed commercial of 55,000 to 100,000 square feet with a minimum of 45,000 square feet.
• There is an affordable housing commitment of 5% at 80% of the AMI (Area Median Income).
• There is space reserved for a pedestrian/bike bridge over highway 55.
• This is a $590 million development with a projected first decade of operation 2027-2036 which is expected to generate over $45 million during that time.

The remainder of the meeting included manager comments and a calendar review.

The council’s next meeting is December 12^th. Our next quarterly meeting will be May 1^st. We will have our annual staff-council meeting from Friday February 21^st through Saturday, February 22^nd.

Council Meeting

The council held its only regularly scheduled meeting of November on Thursday night. The agenda included six consent items and three public hearings.

The consent agenda was unanimously approved and included allowing E-bikes on greenways permanently (it was in trial), an agreement to maintain a portion of the American Tobacco Trail, updating the interlocal agreement with Apex and Morrisville for emergency dispatch services, leveraging ARPA funding for sidewalk projects, and annexing Alston Yards.

The first public hearing was on the proposal to rename a portion of Green Level West Road to High House Road. There were speakers for and against this proposal. Impacted property owners would be reimbursed for costs associated with the renaming. The Council will vote on this in the next month or two.

The second public hearing was for a proposal to rezone property on Medcon Court (off Kildaire Farm Road) to allow government offices, business or professional offices, and trade school (with a maximum of two classrooms and 20 students). It is a building that used to be occupied by the Cary EMS which is now part of the Wake County EMS. This proposal will go to the Planning and Zoning Board for their review and come back for a vote in a few months.

The last public hearing was a proposal to rezone approximately 19.36 acres located at Batchelor Road and 1009 Knotty Oaks Drive which is mostly in Chatham County. This would allow 30 detached dwellings. This proposal will go to the Planning and Zoning Board for their review and come back for a vote in a few months.

Chinese Lantern Festival Media Night

Friday night I joined Mayor Pro-Tem Robinson, council members Smith, Kohn-Johnson, Bush, NC Representative Liu, and Wake County Commissioner Shinika Thomas at media night for the 9^th Chinese Lantern festival at Koka Booth amphitheater. I made a few remarks and then we flipped the ceremonial switch to turn on the lights, which of course was spectacular.

This year’s festival has a theme of oceans, dinosaurs, and Chinese culture. The main feature is a castle that weighs about 5,500 pounds. There are many more interactive exhibits this year than in previous years.

The North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival in Cary is a must see. It is running now until January 12^th.

Downtown Cary Park Anniversary Event

Saturday night I joined all but one council member, who was sick, at the first birthday celebration for the Downtown Cary Park. I welcomed the capacity crowd, introduced council members, and introduced Dupresha Townsend who sang Happy Birthday. I cut the enormous cake of several layers while council members held small cakes with sparklers on them. Afterwards we were treated by an incredible drone laser light show by Sky Elements. They have done drone laser shows for the Grammys and several movie premiers. The night continued with music from the Bittersweet Band, food, and fun.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

Since last Thursday’s Quarterly Meeting, several items have required follow-up. Going forward, any follow-up items from meetings will be listed below my message.
I hope to see you tomorrow at the Downtown Park’s one-year birthday celebration.
Have a great weekend.
Sean

Quarterly Meeting Presentations (November 7^th)

E-Bike Pilot and Ordinance Update
Development – Quarter 1 FY 2025

Work Session (November 15^th)

Staff are gathering conceptual photos to illustrate potential streetscape designs and building mass for the N.C. 55 area.

Regular Meeting (November 15^th)

Staff will be researching traffic study requirements in the Town’s Land Development Ordinance (LDO) and will report back.

Staff Correspondence:

Citizen email re. pedestrian access easement from Deputy Town Manager Russ Overton

2024 Veterans Day Observance

On Monday, citizens gathered at Veterans Freedom Park to observe Veterans Day and honor those who have served our country. Mayor Harold Weinbrecht and Councilmember Jack Smith participated in the program alongside Congresswoman Deborah Ross. Also in attendance were Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Bryson Robinson, Councilmembers Carissa Kohn-Johnson, Sarika Bansal, and Michelle Craig, as well as State and County elected officials.
The featured speaker, Colonel Batdorff, a Cary native, delivered the primary address. Drawing from his 30-year military career, he focused on the connectedness of the veteran community and our nation’s ongoing pursuit of a more perfect union. Patriotic music was performed by the Old North State Brass Band, adding a moving touch to the event.

Veterans Luncheon

On Friday, November 8, Cary honored our veterans with a special luncheon and live entertainment at Prestonwood Country Club. Councilmember Jack Smith served as the master of ceremonies, and Russ Hughes, a veteran and Cary employee, delivered a moving and powerful speech. The event brought together over 350 veterans from all branches of service, spanning multiple decades, to celebrate and recognize their invaluable contributions. Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Bryson Robinson, and Councilmember Sarika Bansal were also in attendance, showing their support and gratitude for veterans.

Trimble Avenue Tree Planting with Habitat for Humanity

On Tuesday, Councilmembers Lori Bush and Michelle Craig teamed up with Cary staff, Habitat for Humanity, and AmeriCorps to plant 14 trees around the stormwater management pond on Trimble Avenue.
Councilmember Bush emphasized Cary’s dedication to enhancing neighborhood quality through sustainability and affordability, while Councilmember Craig expressed gratitude to the volunteers whose efforts made the initiative possible. Leslie Moorman, Cary’s Urban Forester, provided guidance on best planting practices and oversaw the planting process, ensuring the project’s success.

Cary’s Election Cycle

On August 22, the Town Council adopted an ordinance, changing Cary’s method of election to the plurality method. No citizen petitions were received requesting a referendum on this change; therefore, the change is now effective for the 2025 election cycle. The Wake County Board of Elections has updated their website with the date of Cary’s next municipal election – November 4, 2025.

Waldo Street Accessible Parking

Earlier this week, parking stalls along Waldo Street were restriped in collaboration with representatives from the First United Methodist Church of Cary. The project created new handicap-accessible parking spaces near the church entrance and re-aligned several spaces near South Walker Street. This redesign accommodated the wider accessible stalls without reducing the overall parking inventory.

Rose Park Manor Development Utility Work

Beginning November 19, contractors working on behalf of the Rose Park Manor Development will implement temporary traffic modifications on SW Maynard Road through November 27 to support water and sewer tie-in work for Doug Ledson’s private development.

Weather permitting, traffic will be reduced to a single lane in both westbound and eastbound directions between Kildaire Farm Road and Griffis Street from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should anticipate delays and are encouraged to seek alternative routes.

Boyd Street Infrastructure Renewal

Boyd Street, located just north of Town Hall campus, has undergone several maintenance projects this year, which were recently completed. Cary replaced aging infrastructure, including a water main, sanitary sewer main, and associated connections. In coordination with Kingswood Elementary, located at the end of Boyd Street, the roadway was also resurfaced upon the project’s completion.

Triangle Bicycle and Pedestrian Workshop

Last Friday, staff attended the Triangle Bicycle and Pedestrian Workshop in Durham, hosted by the Durham Chapel Hill Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO). Staff shared updates on ongoing projects, discussed regional planning opportunities and challenges, and learned about initiatives from Triangle-area bike and pedestrian advocacy groups. The workshop also featured an overview of the Safety Action Plan currently underway in the region.

This annual event offers a valuable opportunity to network, collaborate with neighboring municipalities, and advance shared goals for active transportation.

Recycling Presentation to Lochmere HOA

This week, Cary’s Solid Waste team presented to neighborhood residents as part of Lochmere’s Environmental Education Series. The presentation highlighted Cary’s recycling program and its continuous efforts to achieve our long-term goals, creating a more sustainable future. The residents enjoyed the opportunity to ask questions and left the meeting feeling empowered to recycle right. 

2024 NC One Water Awards

The 2024 NC One Water Association annual conference held in Raleigh marked another year of accolades for Cary’s water and wastewater utilities. Not only did Cary receive 3rd place in the Best Tasting Water Contest, 2024 marked the sixth consecutive year receiving the Wastewater Collection System of the Year award. Staff is proud to receive these recognitions and continues to be inspired to do their best in managing and maintaining our water and wastewater services.

Sustainability and Climate Action Strategy Open House

Cary’s Climate Action Advisory Group, in collaboration with the Environmental Advisory Board, will have an opportunity to review the draft Sustainability and Climate Action Strategy at the Page-Walker on Thursday, Nov. 21 from 4 – 6 p.m. The consultant will showcase the visions, goals, and actions within the draft Strategy allowing stakeholders the opportunity to indicate what role they might play in future implementation. Public review of the plan is planned for this winter and Council consideration is anticipated in spring 2025.

Upcoming Meetings

Planning and Zoning Board
Monday, November 18
6:30 p.m.

Cultural Arts Committee
Wednesday, November 20
6:00 p.m.

Public Art Advisory Board
Wednesday, November 20
6:15 p.m.

Greenway Committee
Thursday, November 21
6:00 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A complaint about the proposed Franklin Condos and parking downtown.
• A request for an Eagle Scout proclamation.
• A question about 2019 bond projects (they are currently on hold).
• A complaint that Cary is out of hand and to stop spending money (in all caps).
• A request to help with Folds of Honor.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, the Hometown Spirit Award Program and Reception, a CAMPO executive board meeting, the Cary Police Department Promotion Ceremony, the Waverly tree lighting, and the Fenton tree lighting.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, November 24^th, 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.

Town Manager One-On-One

Monday, I talked briefly with the town manager during our weekly one-on-one. Topics the upcoming Quarterly, the Waverly rezoning, the Adaptive Stormwater Group, and the Downtown Cary Park.

Election Results

The Cary bonds failed by a significant margin in Tuesday’s election. I have been interviewed by two media outlets, including WRAL. I have also been asked several questions by others about the bond. Here are some of the questions and my answers:

Will this change the timing or feasibility of the construction of the Sports & Rec facility? 

Yes. The bond is a funding question. The majority of citizens said they do not want to pay for this facility. Therefore, it will not move forward.

Does the $75 million go back to the county?

We haven’t received any money from them, but they agreed to pay $75 million for the sports complex. So that is not happening.

Did we really lose $30 million in economic development from the sports complex?

Those were the estimates given to me if the center were in operation today.

So can the sports complex come back at a later date?

In my opinion it is dead. Cary will not fund the sports complex at South Hills.

Will this prevent Cary from addressing the initiatives it wanted to accomplish with the parks bond — or will it just change the timing and scale of the plans going forward? 

Yes, this will stop all these projects from moving forward unless a future bond includes them. As of now there is no plan for a future bond. To be specific, we will not be moving forward with the Sports Complex including the senior and community center, Mills Park senior and community center, tennis expansion and pickleball courts, Walnut Creek greenway, Asian garden master plan, and the nature park master plan.

Now that the bonds have failed, when will there be another senior center or community center?

That is for future councils to decide. As of today, we have no plans to move forward. In addition, the process of planning, designing, and implementation is probably a four-year or more process. So we are not likely to see anything for many, many years.

Will Cary try to find funding for affordable housing in some other way? 

Funding for affordable housing has been and will be an annual budget question. The bond question would have allowed us to do more. The citizens did not want to pay for additional affordable housing beyond the annual budget considerations.

My election summary:

I recently heard a talk given by Colonel Bret Batdorff of Fort Liberty. He reminded the audience that the constitution starts with “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union…” and that democracy was messy for the founding fathers, and it is messy today. We are bound by the fact that we are US citizens and should always be striving to form that more perfect union.

Extrapolating a bit… Cary is an amazing place inhabited by amazing people. While we may not be perfect, may have bond failures, may disagree on tax rates, etc., working together we will strive to form a more perfect Cary.

Ted Abernathy’s Economic Outlook

Wednesday morning Ted Abernathy of Economic Leadership LLC made a presentation on the Economic Outlook. Here are some of the points made in that presentation:

• “Mississippi may be America’s poorest state, but its hard-working residents earn, on average, more than Brits, Canadians or Germans.”
• The US has the fastest post-pandemic recovery selected developing economies (Sweden, Canada, Italy, UK, France, Japan, and Germany) with the highest GDP and per capita income.
• Third Quarter GDP grew by 2.8% on an annualized basis driven primarily by consumer spending.
• In the last 5 years US GDP grew by 8.7% while NC grew by 6.6%.
• Two thirds of the US economy is consumer consumption.
• Since 2018 the average household spending increased 14.7%.
• “ADP said employers added 233,000 jobs in October, up from a revised 159,000 in September. That is the strongest job creation reported in 15 months, and it occurred despite major hurricanes in the Southeast that analysts expected would drag down payroll numbers.”
• The job opening rate continues to decrease since its peak in 2022 and is now 4.8%.
• Most job openings are from small or very small establishments.
• Since the start of covid the US has added 4.5% more jobs. NC has added 8.4%.
• Only 11 counties out of 100 counties in NC have seen job growth in the last year. These are counties around Raleigh, Wilmington, and Morehead city.
• More than 50 counties in NC are losing jobs.
• The three biggest areas of non-farm job growth in NC are financial, construction, and professional/technical.
• The three biggest areas of non-farm job growth in the US are construction, education/health, and professional/technical.
• The biggest areas of non-farm growth since the beginning of the pandemic in the Raleigh metro area are construction, financial, education/health, and professional/technical which all outpaced state and national averages. The Raleigh metro area had the highest non-farm growth rate in the state.
• NC saw a loss of 2.3% manufacturing jobs in the last four years.
• Cary employment in the last ten years has gone from 79,888 to 100,232.
• Cary has the lowest unemployment rate in the triangle.
• Cary’s permit value continues to decline from its peak in 2016 of $409 million to $283 million.
• Cary’s permit value us $270 million commercial and $183 million residential.
• The US inflation rate is 2.2% excluding food and energy. It is 2.7% with those included.
• A decrease in inflation in the last four years include 22.4% in fuel oil, 15.4% in motor fuel, 5.1% in used cars/trucks, and 1.3% in new vehicles.
• An increase in inflation in the last four years includes 16.3% in motor vehicle insurance, 5.2% in homeowner equivalent, 4.8% rent in primary residence, and 3.9% in meat/fish/eggs.
• Average hourly earnings have kept pace with inflation.
• 28.6% of the nation’s top earners are from the top third. NC has 31.4%.
• 51.4% of Americans think the stock market will rise this year.
• Corporate profits continue to increase dramatically since the pandemic.
• Top factors for companies in site selection: labor, infrastructure, read sites.
• Top factors impacting industrial projects: electricity capacity, access to develop ready sites, and access to talent.
• NC is ranked 12^th in the business climate index.
• NC is ranked 18^th in the cost of doing business.
• 1960 the US Fertility Rate was 3.7 children. In 2022 it was 1.66 children, NCs was 1.71.
• NC has seen a 3.7% increase in population since 2020.
• NC population growth from ages 25 to 64 (labor force ages) has been over 7%.
• Wake County and surrounding counties are projected to grow labor force age over 10%.
• The Raleigh-Cary area has seen population growth of over 20%, the highest in the state, in the last ten years while Goldsboro, Greenville, New Bern, and Rocky Mount have lost population.
• More millennials are deciding not to have children.
• The labor force participation rate from ages 24 to 54 is 83.5%, ages 16 to 24 is 55.5%, and ages 55 and over is 38.6%.
• The NC labor force participation rate in 2023 was 60% to 61.7%.
• Only 46% of Americans say they will work past 62.
• In NC 20.6% of those over 65 are working.
• 18.1% of US workforce are born in another country.
• Top five states people are moving to NC from: FL, SC, NY, VA, and GA.
• Top five states people are moving from NC to: SC, FL, VA, GA, and TX.
• A huge spike in energy demand is expected in coming years.
• Home prices in NC have increased 62% in the last four years, which is in the top five in US.
• The average home value in NC was $329,454 while in Wake County it was over $400,000.
• The percentage of new residential permits in Wake County for Cary in 2010 was 27% while in 2024 3.5%.
• Cary residential properties sold continue to decline with 3533 sales in 2021 to 1915 in the latest report.
• The average price of property in Cary was $312,772. Now it is $668,373.
• North Carolina ranks 19^th in IT and innovation.
• Advanced industrial jobs have increased 16.1% in NC in the last five years compared to the national average of 11.9%.
• The Raleigh Metro area saw a gain of 53,163 jobs in 2022.
• Average homeowner insurance in NC was $1500 to $2500 a year.
• North Carolina was in the middle third for overall safety.
• North Carolina was ranked as one of the best health states.
• North Carolina was in the top third for fiscal stability.
• The Raleigh Metro area is expected to grow by more than 143,000 people by 2030.
• The Raleigh-Cary area grew by 73,246 from 2020 to 2023, a 6.5% growth rate.
• The Raleigh Metro area per capita income grew by over 26% from 2020 to 2023.

Quarterly Meeting

Thursday the council held its last quarterly meeting of the year. In the first part of the meeting staff wanted to hear the council’s reflection on the election including bonds, and races on the local, state, and federal level.

Here are some of my thoughts about the bond and moving forward which were also expressed by others:

• We heard the citizens loud and clear. All projects on the bond are stopped.
• That doesn’t mean we can’t still be “top of the arc” (best of the best). However, eventually we will need to invest in the future.
• We are too far in front of the community with thoughts and vision. We will need to be more risk averse in the short term. That is, if we are only thinking for the short term we will not move forward. But if we are only thinking for the long term we are not listening enough to the citizens.

Here are some of the takeaways from the quarterly:

• The Biennial Survey showed 84.6% would recommend Cary for relocation. It also showed 97.3% felt safe.
• We provide high quality municipal services for the lowest possible cost. We can no longer provide the “highest”.
• Cary is now in maintenance mode. We may need to delay stormwater sewer projects, charge for events, and postpone any new sidewalks.
• Influx of subsidy era is over.
• Cary is in solid financial standing with reserves and rating agencies.
• Prioritization is essential in moving forward due to cost escalation.
• Financial fluency, our own and our citizens’, is a primary focus.
• Sales tax revenue has slowed to basically no change from the previous year.
• Residential permits are trending downward and are close to their lowest point in decades.
• The consumer price index has increased dramatically showing a significant inflationary impact on goods and services.
• Actions taken to ensure financial health:
  • Issued debt for vehicle purchases
  • Transferred from capital funds to the general fund.
  • Delayed spending on non-critical initiatives
• The upcoming budget will:
  • Focus investment to maintenance
  • Hold vacant positions
  • Cut travel and training
  • Eliminate consulting contracts
• All departments reviewing their current year, FY 2025, operating budgets:
  • Evaluating non-personnel expenditures
  • Continue, Hold, Stop
  • The goal is to underspend to address projected inflation and personnel impacts
• For Capital Projects construction cost inflation has outpaced our budgets. Costs continue to be at all time highs. All existing capital projects will be re-estimated by staff and are being reviewed in preparation for a council reprioritization exercise at the February annual meeting.
• Prioritization isn’t a one-time event; it’s an on-going effort that provides transparency in where we’re spending our time and money
• 2019 Bond projects will be put on hold and the stage they are in. These include:
  • Carpenter Fire Station Road Widening $4,000,000 Design
  • Louis Stephens Drive $3,200,000 Design
  • Veterans Freedom Park $2,000,000 Planning
  • Tryon Road Park $10,000,000 Planning
  • Walnut Creek Greenway $1,400,000 Planning
  • Dutchman’s Branch Greenway $1,500,000 Planning
  • Green Level Church Rd Widening $15,500,000 Research
  • NC55 Pedestrian Grade Separation $1,000,000 Planning
  • O’Kelly Chapel Road Widening $9,200,000 Research
  • Action Sports Park $2,000,000 Design
  • Total: $49,800,000
• Capital Projects that will be considered for reprioritization or pausing:
  • Street Improvements FY25 $8,319,048 Powell
  • Optimist Farm Greenway $4,881,628 Grant, Rec in Lieu etc.
  • Lake Grove Dam Maintenance $4,000,000 Cash
  • Cary Tennis Park Improvements $3,000,000 Rec in Lieu
  • Western Cary Community Facility $2,550,000 Rec in Lieu
  • Parking Deck Technology $2,035,300 Cash
    • Vehicle License Fee, $10M
  • Highcroft Drive Extension $1,500,000 needed
  • South Hills Community Center $1,283,980 Rec in Lieu
  • Sidewalks FY25 $1,000,000 Vehicle License Fee
  • Downtown Ped Improvements $750,000 Vehicle License Fee
  • Mobility Study $500,000 Operating Budget
  • Cary Tennis Clubhouse Design $486,495 Cash
  • Total: $30,306,451
• Planning for the FY 2026 Operating Budget
  • Full impacts of personnel costs will be budgeted
  • Will assume that our departments are 100% staffed all year
  • Continue to monitor inflationary impacts (up or down) and adjust requests accordingly during budget development
• Planning for the FY 2026 Capital Budget
  • Resource Preservation
  • Maintenance focus
  • New project requests will be prioritized just like existing projects
  • Existing project costs will be reviewed in light of inflation and the bidding environment
  • Additional funds will be requested where needed

Veterans Luncheon

Friday I joined Mayor Pro-Tem Robinson, Council member Smith, and Council member Bansal in greeting veterans attending the Cary Veterans lunch at Prestonwood. We presented each of them with a pin as they entered. We were so blessed to have so many veterans, and their spouses attend our luncheon. And we are honored to have these heroes in our community. Thanks to all veterans for their service!

Mayor’s Mailbox

• Dozens of incoherent complaints from someone who is struggling with drugs or mental illness. Some of the comments asked me to shoot people.
• A request for help with the power company.
• A request to find full-time work for a part-time Cary worker.
• A request to “STOP SPENDING OUR MONEY!” in all caps.
• Questions about getting a sidewalk to the Windemere subdivision.
• A question about security on police scanners.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a Veterans Day event, a taping for social media, performance reviews for the town clerk, town attorney, and town manager, a meeting of the Cary Tennis Classic board, a council work session, a council meeting, the Chinese Lantern festival media night, and the Downtown Cary Park anniversary event.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, November 17^th, 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.

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. 

Laurel Street Groundbreaking

Monday morning, I joined five council members, three county commissioners, one state representative, Congresswoman Ross, and a host of others for the groundbreaking of Laurel Street which will have an affordable housing component. In addition to my comments the crowd heard from Congresswoman Ross, council member Bush, and developer Cochran. Here are some of the points I made in my remarks:

• The groundbreaking represents more than just new construction. It symbolizes hope, progress, and inclusion.
• Our community’s future economic vitality depends in large part on having sufficient housing that is affordable, diverse, and available to all.
• The 126 units of housing of this development not only aligns with the strategic goals of expanding housing options but makes the high quality of life we have in Cary available to our work force.
• It shows what is possible when public and private partners come together to innovate with a goal of building a stronger community for all.
• Mixed-income housing provided by this development strengthens neighborhoods, creates economic opportunities for residents, and promotes stability.
• As an additional bonus it will create jobs now and lay the foundation for a stronger, more resilient community for years to come.

After remarks were concluded twelve of elected officials turned the dirt for the official groundbreaking.

Friends of the Page-Walker

Tuesday evening, I met with a representative of Friends of the Page-Walker. Among the topics we discussed was the suggestion that the Ivey-Ellington be open to the public at scheduled times for tours, and that the exterior of the Nancy Jones House get some attention repair. I spoke with staff about these requests, and they are already being addressed or being discussed.

Dorcas Thanksgiving Breakfast

Wednesday morning I joined my wife and attended the Dorcas Ministries Thanksgiving breakfast. The event was emceed by Debra Morgan from WRAL. We heard two heartwarming stories of success through the help of Dorcas Ministries. I was honored to accept the inaugural Howard Manning Community Partner award on behalf of the town.

Economic Development Meeting

Wednesday evening I participated in a meeting of the Economic Development Committee.

The meeting started with an update from the town manager on downtown and downtown organizations.

Next the Assistant Town Manager in charge of development gave an update on town development, including development trends. Some of his comments included:

• Development has been consistent with the Imagine Cary Plan
• Projects are small or are clustered in large projects
• National interest rates are impacting local development
• Undeveloped land in 2015 was 18% and in 2024 it was 14% in 2024. There is 12.5% in pipeline.
• 11% of inquiries and applications for rezonings end up being approved

Next he provided an informational session to the committee on the upcoming community bonds.

The President of the Cary Chamber provided the latest information on business activity:

• Unemployment:

• Cary- 2.6% – (as of 10/30/24) which is considered full employment.
• Wake County – 2.9% – (as of 10/30/24)
• North Carolina – 3.8% – (as of 9/30/24)
• US- 4.1% – (as of 9/30/24)
• Business Recruitment Pipeline:
  • 7 projects with a potential of 1800 jobs and $650 M potential investment
  • Industry breakdown- (Advance Manufacturing, Clean Tech, and Life Science)
• Return to Office:

The return-to-office landscape remains in flux, with most companies still maintaining hybrid schedules. Many firms, especially in sectors like tech and finance, mostly require employees to spend at least three to four days weekly in the office. Meanwhile, there are still several companies that allow fully remote work without mandated in-office days. He believes some companies will return to full time in the office which will help local supporting businesses like restaurants.

• Class A Office:

The vacancy rate for just Class A buildings in Cary is hovering around 21%, while the overall vacancy for the office sector in Cary is around 10%. The forecast shows a slight drop in vacancy in early 2025 and then a steadily increasing trajectory for the remainder of the year. Anecdotally, we are seeing a “flight to quality” overall in the office sector throughout the Triangle. Newer buildings with more amenities are attracting tenants, as employers are looking for exciting, well amenitized workplaces to support their return-to-the-office efforts. The lack of demand combined with the new deliveries has resulted in a vacancy rate of 10.1%. That level is above Cary’s historical average vacancy rate of 7.0% but remains below the overall Raleigh vacancy rate of 11.5% which has also risen over the past year.

• Interest Rates and Demand Shifts:

The Federal Reserve’s September rate cut of 0.50% appears to have stimulated capital activity, especially in real estate and leveraged finance. This interest rate reduction has prompted increased investor interest, with high demand in both multifamily and single-family rental markets due to affordability challenges in homeownership. Additionally, some of the investment capital sidelined in recent years is beginning to return to the market, particularly for build-for-rent developments.

• FAST Program Expansion:

As of October 2024, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has provided awards of $9 million through the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program. This initiative helps underserved entrepreneurs in sectors like women-owned, rural, and socially or economically disadvantaged small businesses access Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funding. With a 60% increase in maximum funding, FAST now extends to 48 states and Puerto Rico to broaden resources for small business innovation and commercialization.

• Green Lender Initiatives:

Announced earlier this year, this program aligns with the Biden administration’s goals to reduce emissions by supporting clean energy projects. It leverages SBA loan guarantees to attract private capital, encouraging small businesses to adopt clean energy solutions. This effort also increases funding and expands geographic eligibility under the Community Advantage loan program for businesses engaged in sustainable projects.

Special Surprise

On Wednesday night, October 23^rd, I was part of a taped interview with 101.5 DJs and Mariah Carey to be part of a special surprise announcement for November 1^st. On Friday, November 1^st, the announcement was made public and unveiled to coincide with WRAL 101.5 beginning of the holiday season. I read a proclamation renaming Cary to C-A-R-E-Y for one day, November 1^st. I was brought into the last part of the interview which lasted about ten to fifteen minutes. When it was finally my turn to speak, I was told I only had two minutes I powered through the entire proclamation. Carey’s response was “amazing”, “my father would have been proud”, and “Maybe I should move there”. On the last comment I said we could make that happen, but my audio was already cut off in the recording. You can read the entire proclamation here. You can hear my part of the interview here:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Lj3OQp3YnZf6h6ocYgWfq?si=eKolqdU_RlKdLNop565DKg

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cary-becomes-carey-for-mariah-carey-day/id1676461080?i=1000675351709

WRAL 101.5 has an abbreviated version here:

101.5: https://www.instagram.com/p/DB1VKtbvfNn/

I would be remiss if I didn’t tell everyone that Cary was originally incorporated as CAREY by mistake. It was corrected by the legislature.

NC Metro Mayors

I joined a meeting of the NC Metro Mayors on Friday. The meeting mostly consisted of a presentation by Paul Cox, General Counsel for NC State Board of Elections. You can read the “10 FACTS for ELECTION SECURITY IN NC” – and more information at https://www.ncsbe.gov/

Here is a summary of his comments on what to expect on Election Day:

• Voting polls are open on Election Day from 6:30am to 7:30pm.

• The North Carolina State Board of Elections (SBOE) will be on duty on Election Day beginning at 5:30am to ensure safety and security throughout Election Day.
• The SBOE works with the National Guard, NC Emergency Management, and the Department of Information Technology Resources and the NC Emergency Operations Center is activated for Election Day – serving primarily as central communications system and resource to share information and respond as needed. A number of County-level EOC’s will also be activated (including Forsyth, Wake and Durham).
• These departments help the SBOE monitor website traffic and cyber security of elections.
• With a large number of early voting sites and 2600 precincts Election Day sites, coordinated by 100 County Boards of Elections, NC is a very decentralized system. This can actually be an asset since it avoids the risk of one centralized location suffering system-wide and large-scale problems.
• With many sites, it is common for some minor issues to crop up, such as human error, local precinct traffic or building problems and minor technology issues.  But, since it is a well-orchestrated but decentralized system, large scale problems are very unlikely.
• Some minor issues are naturally expected and are not an indication of election fraud.
• If an election site is disrupted for longer than 15 minutes, the SBOE can extend the site’s closing time past 7:30pm.
• Senate Bill 747 changed the way that early voting ballots are counted. Now counties must wait until the polls are closed on Election Day to begin the process of counting early voting ballots. In the past, the usual practice was to tally these early votes before county precincts closed, which meant that these early votes were often reported fairly soon after polls close – THAT WILL NOT BE THE CASE this year. So do not expect a significant amount of vote tallies soon after polls close, since SB 747 does not allow early votes to be counted until polls close on Election Day.
• Excellent resource to understand the expected timelines for reporting results on Election Day and through the canvas/certification process is on the SBOE website – https://www.ncsbe.gov/news/press-releases/2024/10/30/9-facts-about-vote-counting-and-reporting-process-nc

General timelines for Election Day reporting:

• 7:30 p.m.: Polls close.
• 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.: Counties report to the Dashboard results of most absentee ballots received before Election Day will be first to appear, followed by some early voting ballots soon after that.
• 8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.: Precinct poll workers begin hand-deliver Election Day results to county board of elections offices and these votes start appearing on county level.
• 8:30 p.m. – 1 a.m.: Counties report Election Day precinct results to the Dashboard. Reporting continues until all Election Day unofficial results are posted.
• The precinct level results take more time to count, especially in counties with many precincts like Wake County (200 precincts) – rolling in as late as midnight, or even later.
• At the end of election night around 11pm, smaller counties will have most of their results reported.
• The SBOE is not allowed to declare winners on election night because votes do NOT get certified at the county level until ten days later and state canvas is not official until 11 days after that.
• Absentee ballots that arrive on Election Day get counted during the 10-day canvas/certification period.
• Provisional ballots will be counted during the canvas/certification period too.
• There is expected to be a large increase in provisional ballots this year, because of the relatively new voter ID laws which allows those without approved IDs in hand on election day to vote as onsite provisional ballots.

The remainder of the meeting was a legislative update by Checkmate GR (Nelson Freeman & Hampton Billups). Here is their summary:

• The Legislature met last week and passed another bill for hurricane relief funding, with more funding to follow in subsequent votes, this year and next.
• The Legislature is set to meet November 19th
• Members will meet in January to be sworn in and perform important organizational activities (leadership, rules and schedules for 2025-26).
• Checkmate GR will send an update of what to expect in the next session.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

As we approach an important week globally, I want to offer a bit of happiness and joy to help carry us through, whatever the outcome on November 5. Here’s a look at what Marketing has been doing in support of the request from MIX 101.5 to add an “e” to Cary for one day.
I look forward to seeing you all next Thursday at the Courtyard by Marriott for our Quarterly meeting, where we’ll discuss the outcomes of the election and next steps for our community. As is our usual practice, please do not expect a weekly report on Friday, Nov. 8 following the Quarterly meeting.
A reminder that Town Hall will be closed on November 11 in observance of Veterans Day. Here’s more information on our plans to honor our veterans.
Enjoy Taste of China tomorrow at the Downtown Cary Park.
Sean

“Stable Homes Cary” Activated to Motel Residents

In response to Monday’s Motel 6 fire and under the umbrella of the Town’s new “Stable Homes Cary” program, Cary staff worked with Dorcas to provide emergency assistance to more than 60 motel residents, including shelter, clothing, food, and other immediate needs. GoCary Transit moved those impacted to a nearby motel. Counselors are working with those displaced to assess each household’s needs and register them in the Wake County Coordinated Entry System in an effort to secure permanent housing.

921 SE Maynard Ceremonial Groundbreaking

Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Bryson Robinson, and Councilmembers Jack Smith, Lori Bush, Michelle Craig, and Sarika Bansal joined Congresswoman Deborah Ross and representatives from development partner Laurel Street on Monday to break ground on 126 new mixed-income housing units at 921 SE Maynard. This project, expected to welcome residents in 2026, will be the first of its kind built on town-owned land and represents a key step in Cary’s broader strategy to increase affordable housing options.

Designed to offer a mix of affordable and market-rate units, the development underscores Cary’s commitment to inclusive, sustainable living and community partnerships. This milestone supports the goals of the Imagine Cary Community Plan and Cary Housing Plan, advancing Cary’s vision for quality, accessible housing for all residents.

Neighborhood Parks Celebration

Last Sunday, Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Bryson Robinson, Councilmembers Sarika Bansal and Lori Bush, along with staff and community members, gathered to celebrate the opening of Carpenter Fire Station and McCrimmon Parkway Neighborhood Parks. Mayor Weinbrecht, Councilmember Bansal, and PRCR Director John Collins shared remarks, with special recognition given to Mayor Pro Tem Robinson for her support in bringing these parks to life. Together, these parks offer amenities for all ages, including sports courts, playgrounds, action sports areas, and open space.

2024 Dorcas Thanksgiving Breakfast

On Wednesday, Cary staff joined Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Bryson Robinson, and Councilmembers Lori Bush, Carissa Kohn-Johnson, and Michelle Craig at the Dorcas Thanksgiving Breakfast. During the event, Mayor Weinbrecht accepted the Howard Manning Community Partner of the Year award on behalf of Cary, recognizing Cary’s continued support in launching Stable Homes Cary, a program dedicated to helping residents facing housing instability. The breakfast featured heartfelt stories that highlighted the powerful impact of Dorcas’s programs and wraparound services available to the community.

2024 Cary Community Bonds ABC11 Interview

On Thursday, Assistant Town Manager Danna Widmar spoke with ABC11 about the 2024 Cary Community Bond Referendum. As Election Day approaches on November 5, staff remains dedicated to making information about these projects and initiatives accessible to everyone, ensuring all residents have their questions answered and can cast their ballots with confidence.

Emergency Vehicle Preemption

We are pleased to announce that with the recent addition of Emergency Vehicle Preemption (EVP) at 17 more intersections, 156 of Cary’s 225 signalized intersections – nearly 70% – now operate with this life-saving technology. EVP enables real-time signal adjustments when emergency vehicles approach, allowing for smoother and more predictable response routes. This initiative was made possible through a collaborative effort among the Fire Department, Transportation, and Public Works teams. With EVP now widely implemented, emergency vehicles can navigate intersections more safely and with fewer delays, enhancing response times across Cary.

Smart City Pilot for Traffic Detection

Cary staff from Traffic Operations, Information Technology, and Transportation recently deployed the first LIDAR-based detection device in the state at the intersection of Academy Street and Dry Avenue. The LIDAR sensor utilizes lasers to collect millions of points of light that bounce off the surrounding environment to create a real-time, 3D image. This data is fed into an AI platform to precisely detect cars, trucks, buses, pedestrians, cyclists and more. As a pilot installation, staff will monitor the performance of the LIDAR device to determine how effective it is at detecting vehicles and pedestrians, activating the traffic light to minimize delays, and providing additional features that can improve safety at the intersection.
In addition to detecting traffic, the information collected by the LIDAR sensor will be run through a data analytics platform called BlueCity. Staff will be able to utilize this platform to better understand how safely and efficiently the intersection operates. BlueCity can alert us to things like near-misses, red light runners, pedestrians crossing outside of the crosswalk, illegal turning movements, and the number of people using the intersection throughout the day. Integrating the LIDAR platform into the existing traffic signal should assist staff in optimizing the signal timing to reduce vehicle delays and maximize system capacity.

October Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Cary, Raleigh, and Wake County recently launched a collaborative initiative for Cybersecurity Awareness Month designed to support digital safety for senior citizens and small business owners. This initiative, held as a series of speaker events and panel discussions, aimed to address the specific cybersecurity challenges these groups often face. Experts shared practical tips on topics such as safe online practices, spotting phishing scams, and protecting sensitive information. Panelists also provided insights into emerging cyber threats and offered advice on affordable security measures. This initiative empowered participants with essential knowledge to help protect their personal and business information in today’s digital landscape.

Green Stormwater Presentation to Lochmere HOA

On October 23, Stormwater staff participated in Lochmere’s Environmental Education Series, where they presented to residents about managing stormwater runoff on residential properties. The presentation was well received and highlighted the benefits of Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) for effectively managing runoff. It also introduced Cary’s new GSI Grant program. In November, Cary staff will continue this educational effort by presenting recycling as part of the same series.

2024 Halloween Events

This October, Cary came alive with Halloween events that united the community for a month of festive fun!
At the Ghostly Legends at the Old Hotel, more than 100 guests enjoyed eerie tales from Cary’s past, led by a spiritual medium. The Mummy & Son Ball hosted more than 140 families at Ritter Park, who danced, played games, and joined a spirited costume contest.
Downtown Cary Park transformed into a Halloween hub, welcoming over 8,000 visitors to workshops, themed trivia, and events like the Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Movie Night. This year, Zombiepalooza drew 2,000 fans to the Great Lawn Pavilion for face painting, games, and local films, with awards for Best Zombie Short and Best Costume.
At Bond Lake, the Pumpkin Flotilla attracted 2,000 attendees who watched 60 pumpkins float across the lake at sunset, with live music and food adding to the atmosphere. Lastly, the Haunted Walk, led by the Cary Teen Council, thrilled 1,400 visitors over two nights with spooky surprises and plenty of laughter.

Brandon Pasinski Named Fleet Manager of the Year

Brandon Pasinski, Cary’s Fleet Manager, was named “Fleet Manager of the Year” by the American Public Works Association North Carolina Chapter (APWA NC), recognizing his dedication to excellence, efficiency, and innovation in managing Cary’s fleet. His leadership has driven cost-saving measures, enhanced sustainability, and upheld high service standards, supporting Cary’s operations and long-term goals for responsible resource management.

Upcoming Meetings

Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Advisory Board
Monday, November 4
5:15 p.m.

Information Services Advisory Board
Monday, November 4
6:00 p.m.

Zoning Board of Adjustment
Monday, November 4
6:30 p.m.

Senior Advisory Board
Wednesday, November 6
12:00 p.m.

Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning
Wednesday, November 6
6:30 p.m.

Town Council Meeting (Quarterly)
Thursday, November 7
1:00 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A complaint that Cary doesn’t care about trees.
• Thank you for the Marigold affordable housing project.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, the council/staff quarterly, and the Cary Veterans Luncheon.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, November 10^th, 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.

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 65^th Cary Band Day and the 103^rd 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 1^st.

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 3^rd, 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.

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 in 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. Topics of discussion included the Urban Land Institute event, a rail crossing issue, the manager’s review, and the Wake Stone Quary which will begin work next week.

Cary Tennis Classic Board

I participated in a meeting of the Cary Tennis Classic Board on Monday night. We spent time going over the data from the professional combined men’s and women’s tournament we held in August. We will be meeting with the USTA soon in hopes of having a combined event next year. Other topics included sponsorships, events for existing sponsors, and the Cary Bond.

ULI Event

Tuesday afternoon I joined Assistant Town Manager Scot Berry and Lee and Associates President Ted Boyd in a ULI (Urban Land Institute) event. We held a panel discussion on the history of downtown development and its future.  Ted Boyd was Cary’s Economic Development Director for over a decade until he moved to Lee and Associates.

In our discussion we talked about early plans, how they changed, and some of the challenges over the years. In future years I stated that I believed downtown, and Fenton would become more integrated, and we would see increased density downtown.

CAMPO

Wednesday afternoon I was part of an Executive Board for CAMPO (Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization). The agenda included two consent items, one public hearing, and four discussion items.

The public hearing was an update on the Congestion Management Process.

Presentations were made to the committee on GoTriangle’s audit and findings, Amendment #6 to the FY2024 – FY2033 Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP), an update on SPOT 7 (Strategic Transportation Prioritization) division needs, and an update on the Regional Multi-Modal Safety Action Plan.

WakeMed Public Hearing

Thursday morning I spoke at a public hearing on behalf of WakeMed Cary Hospital’s request for 24 additional acute care beds. North Carolina is one of eight states that require a certificate of need for hospital beds. 

NC Metro Mayors

The NC Metro Mayors met Friday, and the featured speaker was former Governor Pat McCrory. Here is the executive director’s summary of his comments:

• RightCount is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the mission to help fortify and protect the rule of law in the tabulation of voting across the United States. 

• There are concerns from both sides of the aisle that citizens will not trust the results of the election. RightCount is calling on mayors and other civic leaders to help educate their citizens on the well-run and secure nature of elections in North Carolina.
• Mayors Sandy Roberson (Rocky Mount) and Vivian Jones (Wake Forest) have joined the RightCount coalition.  If any mayor is interested – please contact Patrick Sebastian – patrick@tarheeltargeting.com.
• Actions by the North Carolina General Assembly over the last couple of years have led to three major changes to this year’s elections that can help overcome some public skepticism:

• Voter ID will be required for the first time during a presidential election.
• Each voting machine will be required to have a paper backup. In cases of a recount, there will now be a paper backup to count as well.
• It is now illegal for voting machines to be connected to the internet.

• As a coalition, Metro Mayors (and mayors in general) you do an excellent job educating your constituents on topics such as public safety, transportation, economic development, etc. It is important to be just as diligent in educating them on election security.
• As mayors – you should consider contacting your local county Board of Elections Director and ask how you can help.  Ideas include holding media events and a press conference with other local leaders (county, business and civic groups) to thank local election workers, and help explain how the electoral system works.  EDUCATE the public on the process and what to expect as results are tabulated. An educated public is less likely to “distrust” the results.  The process is complicated and at times confusing, so the more our civic leaders can shed light on the process NOW, the better.
• Patrick Sebastion mentioned that they have talked with other state-wide programs dedicated to supporting the electoral process in NC, such as  www.nctrustedelections.org which can also be a valuable resource.
• After the election, lawyers are being lined up on both sides for legal challenges. So, be prepared for a drawn out and public battle – further reason to share facts NOW about how the process works and what the public should expect, serving as a counterbalance for potential “disinformation.”  It will be helpful for you to coordinate with your local election board and other civic leaders to bring calm and thoughtful public dialogue to your cities.

Town Manager’s Report

Russ’ Message

This was another full week with several meetings, including two information sessions on the 2024 Cary Community Bond referendum. I enjoyed attending both sessions, where Sean presented and answered questions about the bond.

The third information session is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Middle Creek Community Center.
I hope you enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend and throughout the coming week.
Russ 

Cary Continues Support to Western North Carolina

Cary staff continued to support the relief and recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina this week. Fire, Police, Utilities, Public Works, and 311 provided personnel, equipment, and transportation to assist hard-hit departments and utilities.

Hum Sub Diwali 2024

More than 14,000 people, including Mayor Harold Weinbrecht and Councilmembers Sarika Bansal, Lori Bush, Michelle Craig, and Carissa Kohn-Johnson, gathered at Koka Booth Amphitheatre on Saturday, October 12, to celebrate the 24th annual Hum Sub Diwali. Attendees enjoyed vibrant music, dance performances, a vendor bazaar, and authentic Indian cuisine.

The ceremonial diya lighting featured Mayor Weinbrecht, Councilmembers Bansal and Craig, the Hum Sub Board of Directors, Congresswoman Deborah Ross, Congressman Wiley Nickel, Senator Jay Chaudhuri, and local leaders from Morrisville and Apex. Later, Weinbrecht, Bansal, Bush, Craig, and Kohn-Johnson joined Morrisville Mayor T.J. Cawley, Apex Mayor Jacques Gilbert, and Cary staff members in on-stage dance performances.

Fire Station 9 Hosts Save a Life Event

On Wednesday, October 16, the Cary Fire Department hosted the 21st annual Operation Save a Life event in partnership with ABC11, Kidde, and The Home Depot. Fire Station 9 served as the venue and distribution hub, where more than $125,000 worth of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms were provided to local fire departments for distribution to those in need.

Last year, North Carolina saw 146 fire-related fatalities, and this year has already reported 92, highlighting the critical importance of working smoke alarms.

Early Voting Begins

Early Voting began on Thursday, October 17, at two locations in Cary: the Herb Young Community Center and the Cary Senior Center. The Board of Elections reported an overwhelming turnout on the first day. Staff is actively working with the Wake County Board of Elections to help address any traffic and parking issues near these sites.

These locations are open to any Wake County voters for early voting. Given the high demand, we encourage voters to check the Early Voting Wait Time Tracker before heading out.

Reedy Creek Road Receives Recognition with the NCDOT Mobi Awards

Cary’s Reedy Creek Road project earned third place in the Large Urban category at the N.C. Department of Transportation Mobi Awards, which recognize outstanding multimodal transportation projects across the state. It also won second place for MVP (Most Voted Project), receiving 1,896 votes. This marks the first time Cary has been honored at the Mobi Awards.

Transportation Project Managers Sammy Wood and Amir Nezarati accepted the awards on Oct. 11 at the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)/NC NCDOT Joint Transportation Conference, held at the Raleigh Convention Center.

New Neighborhood Improvement Grant Project Completed

In their Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program  application, Cary Woman’s Club cited their passion for reading and the idea of building a little free library in downtown Cary. With no property of their own, Cary Woman’s Club set out to find another partner in this endeavor, and Bond Brothers Beer Company enthusiastically joined the team. Jeremy Bond constructed the Hobbit-themed library, located at the brewery on E. Cedar St. using an old whiskey barrel, while the Cary Woman’s Club worked to landscape the area and stock the shelves with books for all ages. The new addition quickly captivated downtown visitors, with one of the library’s first users sharing, “This is hands down the most unique little library I’ve ever seen!” This collaborative project truly embodies the goals of the Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program and showcases the power of partnerships in enriching the Cary community.

Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting November 6

The following neighborhood meetings will be held virtually on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 6:30 p.m.

24-REZ-13 227 & 309 Barbee Road Rezoning

24-REZ-14 Weston PDD Amendment – O&I Tract 4

For more information and to register visit the Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting page.

Upcoming Meetings

Athletic Committee
Monday, October 21
6:00 p.m.

Town Council Meeting (Work Session)
Tuesday, October 22
4:45 p.m.

Town Council Meeting (Regular)
Tuesday, October 22
6:30 p.m.

Cultural Arts Committee
Wednesday, October 23
6:00 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A complaint about the coverage of the SAS Championships by the N&O.
• A complaint about the lack of a traffic light at Bond Park (it is funded and scheduled).
• Comments about the Imagine Cary update.
• Complaints about Cary tax rates and the bond.
• Multiple requests for interviews and attending events.
• A complaint about the town’s education efforts on the bond.
• A complaint about pesticide uses in Cary.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a Diwali proclamation at the Downtown Cary Park, a council work session, a regularly scheduled council meeting, and a special event to honor someone.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, October 27^th, 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.

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 in 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. 

Searstone Highview Opening

Tuesday I attended the grand opening of the new Highview residential building at Searstone. I was one of four speakers providing congratulatory remarks. The opening celebration was held in the new auditorium that seats about 350 people. I joined several dignitaries outside for the ribbon cutting. Afterwards, I toured the two model units. The Highview was very impressive and is a place to consider when thinking about retirement communities.

SAS Championship Pro-Am

Wednesday and Thursday I joined council member Jack Smith, town manager Sean Stegal, and former Cary Chamber President Howard Johnson for the SAS Championship Golf Tournament Pro-Am event. The first day we had the pleasure of playing with professional Ricardo Gonzales of Argentina. The second day we had the pleasure of playing with Paul Broadhurst of England. Both were an absolute delight, and we had a blast.

Taping for Golf Channel

Thursday afternoon I did a taping for the Golf Channel as part of the SAS Championship tournament broadcast. It was basically the same script as I have done in previous years. I was able to do this one in just one take.

Folds of Honor at SAS Championship

Friday morning, just before the beginning of the SAS Championship, I participated in the Folds of Honor ceremony by providing a few remarks of thanks to our veterans and our first responders. This organization provides life-changing scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen, disabled military, and families of first responders. To find out more go to foldsofhonor.org.

Diwali Opening

Saturday morning at Koka Booth Amphitheater I read a proclamation celebrating Diwali. I was joined on stage by council members Craig and Bansal. Other dignitaries speaking included Congresswomen Ross and Congressman Nickel. There were also several dignitaries in attendance including NC Senator Chaudhuri, Morrisville Mayor Cawley, and several Morrisville council members. After opening remarks, we all took turns lighting the ceremonial Diwali lamp. The lamp, or diyas, is lit during Diwali and symbolizes victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.

Diwali Dance

Saturday night I joined council members Bush, Kohn-Johnson, Craig, Bansal, and twelve Cary staff members in a celebrity Diwali dance. Our group has been practicing weekly since July. It was a great performance, and I was proud to be part of such a great group of dancers. I am sure you can find the performance on social media somewhere. We were followed by groups from Apex and Morrisville.

To finish the celebrity portion of the dance I joined the mayors of Apex in Morrisville in a quick 30 second dance which we learned the day before.

Our Diwali celebration, sponsored by Hum Sub and the Town of Cary, is a fun time for all. If you missed this year’s event, you need to check it out next year. BTW, the actual Diwali date is November 1^st.

SAS Championship Final Round

Sunday I attended the final round of the SAS Championship golf tournament held at Prestonwood County Club in Cary. This event puts Cary on the international stage and is a great economic boost. Congratulations to this year’s 2024 winner Jerry Kelly who won with a score of -13.

Update from Asheville Mayor

I received a copy of an update Asheville mayor Manheimer sent to her citizens. It shows the slow progress and how long the recovery will be:

“Water is known to signify life, connectivity, power, and rebirth. With every household that can turn on the tap and get water, Asheville comes back to life. We’re regaining our strength and getting reconnected, and I have no doubt that as we recover together, our city be better than before.

I couldn’t be prouder of the work our city crews, contractors, and federal partners have done to get the bypass connected in record time. We are pressurizing the system and water is beginning to flow in some places. Homes at lower elevations and closest to the North Folk Reservoir may already be getting water. As the pressure builds in the system to push water out further and to higher elevations, more and more residents will start to have water flow. THIS WATER IS NOT YET SAFE FOR DRINKING FROM THE TAP. We are still some time away from a fully-functioning system and as the water moves through the lines, the crews are watching for leaks that could have emerged because of pipes shifting and breaking underground. If you see a leak, report it to 828-251-1122. We remain under a mandatory boil water advisory until further notice for residents who receive water from the North Fork Reservoir. Please share the following critical safety measures concerning the water with everyone you know:

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁

• Sediment Alert: Newly available water may contain more sediment than usual. Turn off ice makers and cut off water to toilets when not in use.
• Boil Water Notice: If you receive water from the City of Asheville, you MUST boil it vigorously for at least one minute before using it for cooking, brushing teeth, or drinking. It’s safe for showers but avoid getting water in your mouth. Sponge baths are recommended for babies and small children.
• Hot Water Heater Tips:

• If the water looks dirty, close the valve to your hot water heater or whole house filter to prevent sediment build-up.
• Remember to open the inlet valve once the water is clear.  It is also best to turn the power off to the hot water heater to ensure no damage occurs if you don’t have water but have power. You can turn it back on once clean water is restored.
• Other Household Considerations: If visible sediments appear, turn off ice makers and toilets, flush discolored water through a bathtub faucet.  Then return toilets and ice makers to service.

• Black Mountain Residents: If you’re receiving water, DO NOT drink it or give it to pets—even if boiled. Only use it for flushing toilets.

Along with the water system, we’ve also been working non-stop with federal and state agencies to get the needed resources flowing from FEMA Serious Needs Assistance to SBA solutions for small businesses to addressing public housing residents and veterans’ needs with HUD. There is still much work to be done, but each day, let’s take a moment to celebrate progress and encourage each other. Thank you for all that you’re doing to keep Asheville moving forward. We’re one step closer!

Click here for City of Asheville water treatment plants approximate map of service areas.“

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

As you can see from this picture, Cary was well represented at this week’s SAS Pro-Am.  The Pro-Am is a golf tournament that pairs tournament sponsors with the professionals competing in the official SAS Championship, which kicks off today at Prestonwood Country Club.
The SAS Championship is one of a handful of signature events that brings positive national and international attention to Cary while providing an amazing experience for our citizen spectators.
Once again, there are several interesting updates in this week’s report. Thank you for reading, and I hope you have a great weekend.
Sean

The Highview Grand Opening

On Tuesday, Mayor Harold Weinbrecht and Business Services Manager Bryan Hayes attended the grand opening of Searstone’s highly anticipated expansion, The Highview. This new addition represents Searstone’s latest vision for senior living in Cary. During the event, they toured the building to explore its amenities and offerings, as well as meet staff members and dignitaries. We are excited about the future of the Searstone Retirement Community and look forward to having them in Cary for many years to come.

SAS Women’s Day

As part of Cary’s partnership with the SAS Championship, 30 Cary staff members from various departments, along with Councilmembers Lori Bush, Sarika Bansal, and Michelle Craig, joined women from across the Triangle for an inspiring event focused on well-being and growth for women in the workplace. Councilmember Bush, representing the Town of Cary, shared remarks during the event, contributing to the meaningful discussions. This gathering provided a unique opportunity for participants to reflect on their professional development and gain valuable resources to mentor and support other women within Cary.

Turkish Consul General Visits

On Oct. 7, Councilmember Jack Smith, along with Cary Sister Cities and leaders from the American Turkish Association of N.C., welcomed Mr. Resul Sahinol, the Turkish Consul General in Miami, for a luncheon at Page-Walker. During the event, Mr. Sahinol learned about the diverse cultural events and exchanges Cary hosts with its community partners and expressed his support for future collaborative endeavors.

Cary High School Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

The Cary High School Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony took place on Oct. 4. The event honored six former student athletes who were inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame: Jo Ann Hines Duncan, Wanda Mauney, Lakeisha “Mimi” Warner, Bakri Abushouk, Donte Tatum, and Dennis Landin. Council members Michelle Craig and Jack Smith were in attendance and participated in the proclamation presentations. 

Newcomers Breakfast at Senior Center

Last Friday, Councilmembers Michelle Craig and Sarika Bansal attended the “Newcomer’s Breakfast” at the Cary Senior Center. This monthly event, hosted by volunteers, kicks off with an overview of helpful information, including the PRCR program guide and GoCary, along with other resources and happenings at the senior center. The breakfast was well attended by newcomers eager to connect with the Cary community and form new friendships at the senior center.

National Walk and Roll to School Day

On Oct. 9, National Walk and Roll to School Day took place, and Councilmember Michelle Craig participated with Briarcliff Elementary. During the event, students learned about the health and environmental benefits of walking and rolling to school. It also raised awareness of safe routes for students to get to school.

Imagine Cary Community Plan 2024 Update

The final draft update of the Imagine Cary Community Plan is available for public review, with a public hearing scheduled for Oct.22. The update focuses on four items, a new preface for the plan; the incorporation of the 2021 Cary Housing Plan into the LIVE chapter; expanding efforts related to the environment, which was previously included in the SERVE chapter, into a new chapter called ENRICH; and an update to the SERVE chapter focused on our evolving community services. Mayor Harold Weinbrecht and Councilmember Lori Bush filmed a Cary Matters segment to highlight the update, which was posted to social media and on the website. Communication about the final draft and public hearing will be sent to all boards and commissions and published in the BUD Newsletter and This Week in Cary. The Imagine Cary Community Plan, adopted in 2017, is Cary’s comprehensive plan created by the community. For more information and to review the draft update, please visit www.carync.gov/imaginecaryupdate.

Temporary Closure of Green Level West Road

Starting Monday, Oct. 14, contractors working on behalf of a private development will temporarily close a section of Green Level West Road, west of Wimberly Road, as part of the Green Level Trail Site Development. The closure is expected to remain in effect until Monday, Nov. 11, weather permitting.

Thru traffic will not be allowed, but local traffic along Green Level West Road and Wimberly Road will be maintained. Drivers are encouraged to follow the posted detour. Access to Batchelor Road from Green Level West Road will remain open during the closure, located west of the work area.

Final Bands, Bites, and Boats of the Season

Last Friday, hundreds gathered at Bond Park for the season’s final Bands, Bites, and Boats event. Guests enjoyed food from Buff-O-Lina and Atlas Nomads, along with brews from Fortnight, while listening to a performance by Garland Mason. The concert series, which typically draws 500-800 attendees, runs monthly from April through October. The 2025 lineup will be announced early next year.

Fall Litter Sweep Volunteers

Thanks to the hard work of our Fall Litter Sweep volunteers, Cary is cleaner and greener. Last Saturday, 44 dedicated residents collected around 520 pounds of litter, helping to protect our local streams and rivers. Since 2010, the Spruce Program’s annual event has brought citizens together each fall to clean up streets, parks, and trails.

As part of Cary’s ongoing efforts to engage the community in environmental stewardship, individuals and groups can schedule their own litter sweep year-round using the online Spruce Program tool at carync.gov/spruce.

Specialized Recreation Monster Mash

The annual Specialized Recreation Monster Mash Dance was a huge hit! Participants showed off their most creative costumes and danced the night away with friends and caregivers. From fun music to festive treats, the room was full of laughter and joy as everyone celebrated Halloween together.

Major Cross Country Events in Cary

Over the past month, Cary has hosted over 15,000 visitors at two major cross-country events held at WakeMed Soccer Park. The Great American Cross-Country Festival attracted 3,500 athletes and 6,000 spectators from around the country, while the Adidas XC Challenge brought in 2,000 athletes and 3,500 spectators. These events highlighted Cary’s capability to host top-tier competitions, while also providing a significant boost to local businesses, hotels, and restaurants. As the cross-country season continues, we anticipate even more visitors, solidifying Cary’s reputation as a premier destination for sports tourism.

Upcoming Meetings

2024 Cary Community Bonds Public Meeting
Monday, October 14
6:30 p.m.

Greenway Committee
Tuesday, October 15
6:00 p.m.

2024 Cary Community Bonds Public Meeting
Tuesday, October 15
6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A complaint about a leaking garbage truck.
• A complaint about the Cary Bond referendum.
• A thank you email for staff investigating a sewer line issue.
• A complaint about traffic on Highway 64.
• A request for Cary to support a new soccer initiative.
• Cut and paste emails about signing a national petition on fossil fuels. (I don’t respond to cut-and-paste emails. We don’t sign national petitions since their purpose is just to make people feel good, in some cases make people feel bad, and are not part of our core services.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a Cary Tennis Classic Board meeting, a ULI event, a CAMPO Executive Board meeting, and a Public Hearing Presentation for WakeMed.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, October 20^th, 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.