Harold’s Blog: Holiday Events & a Groundbreaking

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Cary, NC — This week consisted of meetings, holiday events, and the groundbreaking of Fire Station #2 on Chatham Street.

Monday

Monday I met with the town manager to go over about a dozen issues. Our discussion included a potential meeting of the Cary Town Council and the Wake County Commissioners, issues related to the new Wake County library to be built across from the Cary Arts Center, a potential public-private partnership on turf fields, and a development proposal downtown. Our meeting lasted about 45 minutes.

Tuesday

Tuesday I joined council members Smith, Frantz, and Yerha to break ground for the new fire station #2 on Chatham Street. I joined the town manager and fire chief in making remarks. Here is an excerpt from my remarks:

It’s my pleasure to welcome you to downtown Cary and to the site of what will be our newest fire station. Based on results from our 2014 Biennial Survey, we know Cary citizens are passionate about safety. In fact, 97% of citizens responded that they feel safe or extremely safe in Cary.

And when it comes to our Fire Department, citizens gave it the highest marks of any department, awarding our firefighters with an overall A+ for all service areas including: competence, courteous, fairness, problem solving, and response time. This is a result of the tireless efforts by our fire personnel who will soon have this new station to call home. Let’s give a round of applause for our men and women in red, the folks who see us at our worst and help us get back to our best.

Of course we wouldn’t be here without support from our citizens. In 2012, Cary voters overwhelmingly supported the Fire Station Bonds Referendum. With its passing, we’re able to move forward and give our heroes in red an adequate home away from home and to help meet or exceed response time’s goals. Thank you for investing in Cary. Our community is undoubtedly better for it.

The remarks were followed by the traditional turning of the dirt photo op and then a reception. I look forward to the ribbon cutting next year.

Wednesday

Wednesday I was interviewed by Sam Penry who was working on a merit badge. His interview lasted about 30 minutes and most of our conversation centered on growth in western Cary. We had a good time and I hope to attend his Eagle Scout ceremony in the future.

Holiday Events

Saturday morning I gave welcoming remarks at the Ole Time Winter Festival in downtown Cary.

There were 70 vendors in addition to the great businesses already in downtown Cary. Some of the new businesses that have opened or are almost open this year include Paisley’s Boutique, Belles Restaurant, Crosstown Pub, and Pharmacy Bottle and Beverage. And those are just some of the new businesses. We should have more announcements soon as the momentum in downtown continues.

Saturday night I, along with council members Yerha and Frantz, had the honor and privilege to attend Cary’s 27th Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. Due to the rain the event was held in the council chambers. Two to three hundred people were treated to phenomenal entertainment for about an hour.

Next we all headed outside where our honorary tree lighters, Beth and Anthony Blackmon, threw the switch after a countdown by the crowd. It was a great time and everyone seemed to have enjoyed it.

Emails from Staff

In emails this week staff sent out a summary of development and construction activity for November. Here are some of the interesting points:

  • In October single family permits were up 1.4% nationally, 6.3% statewide, and down 30% in Cary from the previous month.
  • The top 5 subdivisions obtaining permits were Collins Grove, Southerlyn, Laurel Crossings, Village Square at Amberly, and Fryars Gate.
  • In November the average single family dwelling was 3,831 square feet compared to November 2010 when it was 3,212 square feet.
  • 12 development plans were submitted for review by staff in November that included: 267 single family lots, 18,868 square feet of commercial, and 12,054 square feet of office.

Projects approved in November include:

  • 20 single family homes off Penny Road at the Sherwood at Regency
  • Cinebistro at Waverly Place modifications to the existing building
  • 6200 square foot medical office on Davis Drive
  • 1437 square foot clubhouse for Fryars Gate

See the entire list of approved projects and the list of projects being reviewed by staff.

Emails from Citizens

Emails from citizens this week included a complaint about a sidewalk, a complaint about a neighbor’s Christmas display, and a question about a homebuilder’s practices.

Get in Touch

Next week will be one of the busiest weeks, if not the busiest week, since I have been mayor. It will include a quasi-judicial hearing, a work session, a long council meeting, several speaking events, and other events and meetings.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, December 14th. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communications with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.

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From the blog of Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht. Photo with Sam Penry courtesy of Mayor Weinbrecht.