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Regular Meeting

Town of Cary · Town Council
Thursday, August 28, 2025 at 6:30 pm · Council Chambers, 316 N. Academy Street, Cary Town Hall, Cary, NC 27513

Regular meeting AnnexationRezoningStormwater and floodingBonds and debtBudget and appropriationsHousing and affordabilityContracts and procurementGrants and outside fundingLand conversion and large developmentParks and recreationRoads and transportationTransitWater and sewerArts and public artBroadband and technologyFire and EMSIntergovernmental agreementsPublic facilitiesZoning text amendment

Agenda document Minutes Meeting page Watch Meeting recap

What's on this agenda

Cary's town council accepted a $400,000 donation from the Shane Pegram Family Foundation to fully fund an accessible playground renovation at Davis Drive Park. It approved two annexations and rezonings on its consent agenda, for 227 and 309 Barbee Road and a zoning map correction at 200 Glendon Way, and extended the borrowing authority on $225 million in 2019 voter-approved bonds by three years, with $100 million still unspent.

Three more annexation and rezoning cases drew public hearings without a final vote: a 12.61-acre, 24-home proposal on Pittard Sears Road that neighbors argued is too dense and would worsen stormwater and traffic; a 48.79-acre assemblage at Yates Store Road and New Hope Church Road; and a 4.33-acre tract on White Oak Church Road. All three were sent to the Planning and Zoning Board, with council action deferred to a future meeting.

Summarized from the published agenda. Read the agenda itself before acting on it.

Meeting recap

What happened, drawn from the records published after the meeting. Minutes

Council adopted its agenda and approved the $400,000 Pegram Foundation donation for the Davis Drive Park playground, both unanimously, 6-0. On the consent agenda it annexed and rezoned 227 and 309 Barbee Road for up to 14 detached homes, corrected the zoning map at 200 Glendon Way, rejected all bids for the Optimist Farm Road water main project so it can be re-advertised, approved a Verizon collocation agreement at the Ridgeview Water Tank, and awarded a nearly $4 million water main replacement contract to J.F. Wilkerson Construction. It also amended the CAMPO budget for $969 in Granville County partner funds, all by unanimous votes.

Council pulled the Cary Policy Review from consent and approved it separately, 6-0, updating three town policy statements and repealing three others, including the Political Sign Regulations policy. It also voted 6-0 to extend authorization on the remaining $100 million of the 2019 Shaping Cary's Tomorrow bonds by three years, and adopted a resolution 6-0 to issue interim bond anticipation notes ahead of that borrowing.

The Pittard Sears Road, Yates Store Road and White Oak Church Road rezonings each got a public hearing but no vote; all three head to the Planning and Zoning Board before returning to council. The Pittard Sears Road case drew the most opposition, with residents and two homeowners association representatives arguing the proposed 24 homes are too dense and would add to existing flooding and traffic problems; the applicant indicated willingness to cut at least one unit. Eleven members of the public spoke across the meeting's comment periods, including two residents who urged council to prioritize long-delayed sidewalk projects on Louis Stephens Drive and at Tryon and Kildaire Farm roads when spending the extended bond funds.

How the votes went

Council approved the agenda, the Pegram Foundation donation, the full consent agenda (including the Barbee Road annexation and rezoning, the Glendon Way zoning correction, the water main bid rejection, the Verizon agreement, the water main replacement award, and the CAMPO budget amendment), the separately considered Cary Policy Review, both 2019 bond order extensions, and the bond anticipation notes resolution, all unanimously 6-0. Councilmember Lori Bush was absent for the entire meeting.

From the published minutes.

Who spoke

11 members of the public spoke.

  1. A longtime resident said ongoing flooding and drainage problems at a Twin Oaks townhome community have damaged homes and left elderly residents in unsafe conditions, and asked the town to survey the area.
  2. A pastor urged the council to support more housing density and specifically backed an affordable-housing rezoning case.
  3. A transit rider serving as a rider spokesperson criticized uncomfortable seating and unsafe ramps on new GoCary buses and urged councilmembers to ride the buses themselves.
  4. A pastor representing a local congregation spoke in support of an affordable-housing development named for a community leader.
  5. A resident near the proposed Pittard Sears Road development said stormwater already floods his yard and objected to a planned road connection that would surround five homes.
  6. A homeowners association representative speaking for 38 households said the proposed 24-lot Pittard Sears Road plan is too dense for the surrounding neighborhoods and urged cutting it to 12-15 homes.
  7. A homeowners association representative said the Pittard Sears Road plan's density is incompatible with a nearby development and raised safety concerns about a bike lane over a blind hill.
  8. A resident raised stormwater, traffic and density concerns about the Pittard Sears Road proposal and asked that lot sizes match surrounding subdivisions.
  9. A resident asked that the Pittard Sears Road traffic study examine removing a temporary road turnaround, warning it could invite cut-through speeding.
  10. A resident of western Cary asked the council to prioritize a long-promised sidewalk project on Louis Stephens Drive, saying the road is unsafe for children walking to school.
  11. A resident said extending the 2019 bond preserves favorable borrowing rates and asked that intersection improvements at Tryon and Kildaire Farm roads be a spending priority.

Read from the records the government published after the meeting. Members of the public are private residents and are not named or indexed.

Speaking at this meeting

Sign up for Public Speaks Out by calling the town before noon on the day of the meeting; each speaker gets three minutes. Comments that arrive after noon are passed to the council as correspondence instead.

Town of Cary's own rules for public comment — check them before you rely on anything here.

Jump to an item (19 on this agenda)
  1. 1.Recognize and Appropriate Funding from the Shane Pegram Family Founda…
  2. 2.Manager's Update
  3. Instructions for participating in Public Speaks Out
  4. 1.24-A-06 227 & 309 Barbee Road
  5. 2.24-REZ-13 227 & 309 Barbee Road Rezoning
  6. 3.Technical Correction to Cary's Official Zoning Map
  7. 4.Rejection of Bids - Optimist Farm Road Water Main Extension and Inter…
  8. 5.Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless License Agreement
  9. 6.Bid Award for the Annual Water Main Replacement Project
  10. 7.Cary Policy Review
  11. 8.Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) Budget Amendm…
  12. Instructions for participating in Public Hearings
  13. 1.25-A-03 Pittard Sears Road Annexation
  14. 2.25-REZ-05 Pittard Sears Road Rezoning
  15. 3.24-A-04 Yates Store Road Assemblage
  16. 4.25-A-04 1412 White Oak Church Road Annexation
  17. 5.25-REZ-07 1412 White Oak Church Road
  18. 6.Public Hearing for Extension of 2019 Bond Orders
  19. 1.Resolution for Issuance of General Obligation Bond Anticipation Notes

Agenda items (19)

Other · 5Resolution · 5Public hearing · 3Budget action · 2Ordinance · 2Procedural · 1Consent agenda · 1
  1. 1. Recognize and Appropriate Funding from the Shane Pegram Family Foundation
    Budget action Arts and public artGrants and outside fundingParks and recreation
    Speaker : John Collins, Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Executive Summary: The Shane Pegram Family Foundation reached out to Cary staff earlier this year regarding a donation focused on playground renovation. The Pegrams are long-time Cary residents with an interest in using their foundation to support inclusivity at the playgrounds they visit and love. Davis Drive Park’s playground renovation planning was already in progress as part of Cary’s larger routine capital maintenance efforts. After discussing this location with the foundation, it was determined that the Davis Drive Park playground, due to its size, topography, and position on staff’s maintenance plan, aligns well with t…
  2. 2. Manager's Update
    Other Grants and outside funding
  3. Instructions for participating in Public Speaks Out
    Procedural
  1. 2. 24-REZ-13 227 & 309 Barbee Road Rezoning
    Ordinance AnnexationHousing and affordabilityRezoningStormwater and flooding
    Speaker: Rachel Smith, Planning and Development Services Executive Summary: The applicant requests an amendment to Cary’s Official Zoning Map by annexing and applying initial Cary zoning to approximately 9.175 acres at 227 and 309 Barbee Road from Chatham County Residential 1 (Chatham R-1) to Cary Residential 12 Conditional Use (R-12-CU) with the Watershed Protection Overlay District (Jordan Lake subdistrict). The proposed zoning conditions limit development to a maximum of 14 detached dwellings on lots of a minimum size of 15,000 square feet. Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of this rezoning request with the conditions as proposed by the applicant and that Council adopt the attach…
    • 309 Barbee Rd · no matching parcel on file
    • 227 Barbee Rd · no matching parcel on file
  2. 3. Technical Correction to Cary's Official Zoning Map
    Ordinance Land conversion and large developmentStormwater and floodingZoning text amendment
    Speaker : Erin Puckett, Planning and Development Services Executive Summary : This is a staff-initiated request to make a technical correction to Cary’s Official Zoning Map. The current zoning map depicts the zoning of property at 200 Glendon Way as Residential Multi-Family (RMF). Staff determined the correct zoning should be Residential Multi-Family Conditional Use (RMF-CU). The Watershed Protection Overlay (Jordan Lake Watershed Subdistrict) is correctly reflected on Cary’s zoning map and would remain. The LDO states that zoning map errors may be corrected upon adoption by the Town Council of a resolution noting and approving the correction. Recommendation : That Council adopt the attache…
  3. 4. Rejection of Bids - Optimist Farm Road Water Main Extension and Interconnect (WT1300)
    Resolution Budget and appropriationsContracts and procurementWater and sewer
    Speaker : Jamie Revels, Utilities Executive Summary: Construction bids received for the Optimist Farm Road Water Main Extension and Holly Springs Interconnection Project exceeded the project’s approved budget. Staff recommend that Council reject all bids received on June 10, 2025, which will allow staff to review the overall scope of work, amend the project budget, and re-advertise the project. Recommendation : Staff recommends that Council reject all bids received for the Optimist Farm Road Water Main Extension and Interconnection Project.
  4. 5. Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless License Agreement
    Resolution Broadband and technologyPublic facilities
    Speaker : Robert Hirt, Utilities Executive Summary: Cary licenses space on certain water tanks and communication towers to cellular service providers, allowing them to collocate equipment on these sites to deliver improved telecommunications service to citizens and the overall community. Providing collocation opportunities on existing facilities reduces the need to construct new tower structures and provides revenue to Cary. Verizon is one such provider and desires to enter into a new agreement to maintain its existing presence and modify equipment on the Ri dgeview Water Tank. Recommendation : That Council adopt the attached Resolution approving “License Agreement (Water Tank Site)” (“Agre…
  5. 6. Bid Award for the Annual Water Main Replacement Project
    Resolution Bonds and debtContracts and procurementWater and sewer
    Speaker : Jamie Revels, Utilities Executive Summary: Cary’s water main replacement program is a key component of maintaining safe and reliable water service. This year’s water main replacement project will invest approximately $4 million into water main maintenance and improvements that will benefit Cary. This year’s project includes the replacement and upgrade of about 5,000 feet of water main and 1,100 feet of sewer main. Water system resiliency will also be improved with the connection of existing dead ends in the system at two locations. Finally, the project will complete the pavement restoration on Kildaire Farm Road following the wa ter main replacement that occurred earlier this year…
  6. 7. Cary Policy Review
    Resolution Transit
    Speaker: Kathryn Trogdon, Town Manager’s Office Executive Summary: Staff across multiple departments have engaged in an ongoing process to review all policy statements for current applicability to Cary’s evolving culture and way of doing business. This work is being done via a program where staff regularly reviews and updates policies for accuracy, relevance, or redundancy. As part of this ongoing review, three policies are being recommended for update and three for deletion. Recommendation: Staff recommends that Council approve the update of Policy Statement 10: Equal Employment Opportunity; Policy Statement 68: Wage/Hour Policy; and Policy Statement 123: Guidelines for Government Access C…
  7. 8. Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) Budget Amendment
    Budget action Budget and appropriationsIntergovernmental agreements
    Speaker : Liam Brailey, Finance Executive Summary: As the lead planning agency for the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), Cary provides budget and financial support to CAMPO and includes CAMPO’s budget in Cary’s annual budget ordinance. CAMPO is increasing partner funding after the adoption of the fiscal year 2026 budget; Council is required to approve all CAMPO budget amendments. Recommendation : That Council revise the CAMPO budget to include additional partner funds of $969 from t he member jurisdiction of Granville County. These funds were not utilized in FY 2025 as anticipated and need to be added to the FY 2026 budget .
  8. Instructions for participating in Public Hearings
    Public hearing
  9. 1. 25-A-03 Pittard Sears Road Annexation
    Public hearing AnnexationRezoning
    Speaker: Erin Puckett , Planning and Development Services Executive Summary: The owners of property located at 0, 606, and 694 Pittard Sears Road have petitioned for annexation so the site may connect to Town utilities in association with a request to rezone (25-REZ-05) and develop detached dwellings. Pursuant to statute, the town clerk has determined the petition to be sufficient, and on July 24, 2025, the Council adopted a resolution calling for a public hearing. Associated Case(s): 25-REZ-05 Pittard Sears Road Rezoning Recommendation: That Council conduct a public hearing and defer action on the requested annexation to a future C ouncil meeting to allow the final vote on the annexation t…
    • 694 Pittard Sears Rd · no matching parcel on file
    • 606 Pittard Sears Rd · no matching parcel on file
  10. 2. 25-REZ-05 Pittard Sears Road Rezoning
    Other AnnexationHousing and affordabilityRezoningStormwater and floodingTransit
    Speaker: Erin Puckett, Planning and Development Services Executive Summary: The applicant requests Cary’s consideration of an amendment to Cary’s Official Zoning Map by annexing and applying initial Cary zoning to approximately 12.61 acres at 606 and 694 Pittard Sears Road, and an unaddressed property on Pittard Sears Road (PIN 072500291225). The applicant requests to rezone from Chatham County Residential 1 (R-1) to Transitional Residential Conditional Use (TR-CU) and Watershed Protection Overlay District (Jordan Lake Subdistrict) with zoning conditions that include limiting development to a maximum of 24 detached dwellings, establishing a minimum lot size of 6,500 square feet, wiring for…
    • 694 Pittard Sears Rd · no matching parcel on file
    • 606 Pittard Sears Rd · no matching parcel on file
    • Pin 072500291225 · no matching parcel on file
  11. 3. 24-A-04 Yates Store Road Assemblage
    Other AnnexationRezoningRoads and transportation
    Speaker: Rachel Smith , Planning and Development Services Executive Summary: The owners of an assemblage of property totaling approximately 48.79 acres, located at the southwest and southeast quadrants of the intersection of New Hope Church Road and Yates Store Road, have petitioned for annexation of the property so the site may develop and connect to Cary utilities in association with a request to rezone (24-REZ-08 Yates Store Road Rezoning). Pursuant to statute, the town clerk has determined the petition to be sufficient, and on July 24, 2025, the Council adopted a resolution call ing for a public hearing. Associated Case(s): 24-REZ-08 Yates Store Rd Rezoning Recommendation: That Council…
  12. 4. 25-A-04 1412 White Oak Church Road Annexation
    Other AnnexationRezoning
    Speaker: Rachel Smith , Planning and Development Services Executive Summary: The owners of property located at 1412 White Oak Church Road have petitioned for annexation of the property concurrent with a request to rezone (25-REZ-07), which is under review. Pursuant to statute, the town clerk has determined the petition to be sufficient, and on July 24, 2025, the Council adopted a resolution calling for a public hearing. Associated Case: 25-REZ-07 1412 White Oak Church Road Rezoning                                           Recommendation: That Council conduct a public hearing and defer action on the requested annexation to a future Council meeting to allow the final vote on the annexation t…
  13. 5. 25-REZ-07 1412 White Oak Church Road
    Other AnnexationHousing and affordabilityLand conversion and large developmentRezoningStormwater and flooding
    Speaker: Rachel Smith, Planning and Development Services Executive Summary: The applicant requests Cary annex and apply initial zoning to approximately 4.33 acres at 1412 White Oak Church Road by rezoning from Wake County Residential 40 Watershed (R-40W) to Cary Residential 12 Conditional Use (R-12-CU), with the Watershed Protection Overlay District (Jordan Lake Subdistrict) and Conservation Residential Overlay District (CROD). Zoning conditions include limiting the use to detached dwellings at a maximum density of 1.5 dwelling units per acre. Associated Annexation Request: 25-A-04 112 White Oak Church Road Annexation Recommendation: That following the public hearing, council forward the re…
    • 1412 White Oak Church Rd · White Oak Estates LLC · 4.3 acres · assessed $836,590
    • 112 White Oak Church Rd · no matching parcel on file
  14. 6. Public Hearing for Extension of 2019 Bond Orders
    Public hearing Bonds and debtParks and recreationRoads and transportation
    Speaker: Marcelo Olarte, Finance Executive Summary: In 2019, Cary voters approved $225 million in general obligation bonds for investments in long-term projects that benefit current and future residents. Cary has not borrowed the full amount to date, and the authority to borrow the remaining funds will expire in October 2026. Council may approve a three-year extension that will allow, but not require, the remaining $100 million to be borrowed and used for such investments as originally authorized by the 2019 referendum. Recommendation: Staff recommends that Council conduct a public hearing, adopt by separate vote the two attached Orders Authorizing the Extension of a Bond Order, and direct…
  15. 1. Resolution for Issuance of General Obligation Bond Anticipation Notes
    Resolution Bonds and debtBudget and appropriationsFire and EMS
    Speaker : Marcelo Olarte, Finance Executive Summary: To continue to fulfill Cary’s commitments from the 2019 voter-approved Shaping Cary’s Tomorrow Bond issue to serve Cary citizens by constructing debt-funded parks and transportation projects, and to advance high-priority initiatives, there is a need to enter into an issuance of interim bond financing . Staff is recommending issuing Bond Anticipation Notes (BANs), a state-approved financing mechanism for interim debt, in October 2025. This interim financing will reimburse Cary for expenses already incurred on bond-related projects and fund future budgeted capital projects. Recommendation : Staff recommends Council adopt the attached r esol…

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