Cary Town Council: Community Development Grant, Fire Trucks and More

FY 2019 – 2020 CDBG Applications
Organization	Category	Amount Requested
White Oak Foundation	Pre-development costs (for affordable housing units)	$350,000.00
White Oak Foundation	Public services	$50,000.00
Habitat for Humanity	Acquisition of real property	$109,580.00
Habitat for Humanity	Land development	$20,000.00
Rebuilding Together of the Triangle	Rehabilitation	$50,000.00
Resources for Seniors	Rehabilitation	$50,000.00
Transitions Life Care	Public services	$35,000.00
Tammy Lynn Center	Relocation and rehabilitation	$150,000.00
Dorcas Ministries	Planning & capacity building	$100,000.00
TOTAL		$914,580.00

During the Public Hearing, there were two speakers representing Dorcas Ministries and the Tammy Lynn Center, both of which receive funding through the Community Development Block Grant. Both representatives thanked Town Council and talked about the programs and services they provide.

There were also three speakers who criticized the grant process. These speakers said the application process values organizations that already have large resources over those that spend most of the money they take in. One speaker said organizations such as Dorcas and the Tammy Lynn Center are good examples that spend their funds effectively in the community while also criticizing that groups such as the Carying Place are not receiving any of this block grant funding.

All three speakers also made veiled references to one of the recipient organizations receiving funding for several years without providing any results and also said funding is going to building new houses instead of rehabilitating damaged or dilapidated housing, which they said would be more cost effective.

The Cary Town Council will take this action plan up for a vote at a future meeting.

Other Town Hearings and Votes

There was only one other Public Hearing on the agenda, and this was to rezone 0.41 acres in Downtown Cary along S Academy Street and Walnut Street, which is located adjacent to the Downtown Cary Park and the new Downtown Cary Library. The land would be rezoned to Town Center – High Intensity Mixed Use. This is a Town-initiated rezoning, which is uncommon.

There were no speakers at this Public Hearing and the proposal now goes to the Planning and Zoning Board for their determination.

The only Discussion Item on the agenda was the sale of two Cary fire trucks. These trucks are no longer useful to the Town of Cary and are being sold to Guilford Technical Community College and the Town of Nashville, located near Rocky Mount, for training purposes.

The sale brings in $200,000, half of which will be used for an aerial ladder replacement truck and the other half added to Cary’s general fund. Discussion among Town Council was brief as they mentioned the times the Cary Fire Department has helped other North Carolina communities and said this is a reflection of Cary’s values. The sale passed unanimously.

Public Speaks Out

There were several speakers at the Public Speaks Out segment, three of whom spoke in opposition to the Roberts Road rezoning proposal which would put townhomes on 36.42 acres. All three speakers were opposed, with one speaker saying she was upset that discussions with the developer have not changed the proposed density. She also said the public comment process at Town Council meetings allows developers more opportunity to speak and show graphics than it does surrounding residents.

There was also a speaker who reiterated his opposition to a proposed rezoning for an office along Green Level West Road, in the White Oak neighborhood. This rezoning has not yet been to the Planning and Zoning Board, nor is there a date for that meeting at this time.

The only other speaker was a representative for Red Storm, a Cary-based video game company, who spoke to thank Town Council for delaying their vote as the company continues discussions with surrounding neighbors about their proposal to change their parking lot.

Recognitions

This meeting had several recognitions, including proclamations for both Bike Month in May as well as Earth Day. While Earth Day was on Monday, April 22, this proclamation recognizes “Cary Earth Day” on Saturday, April 27, 2019, which is also Spring Daze in Cary.

Also at this meeting, the town recognized 10 culinary students visiting from Cary’s sister city Le Touquet in France.

And Town Manager Sean Stegall reminded everyone about Cary’s medication collection this Saturday, April 27, at sites around Cary.

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Story by Michael Papich. Photos by the Town of Cary and Hal Goodtree.