Case: Act 32
Description: To further the policies of the Imagine Cary Community Plan and goals of the Cary Housing Plan, the proposed Land Development Ordinance (LDO) amendment will expand the potential for Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) development by 1) simplifying rules with incremental change; 2) making ADUs more accessible and feasible; and 3) balancing Cary values and priorities. The amendment includes LDO changes to allow detached ADUs in all single-unit detached-dwelling residential districts; increase the maximum ADU size relative to primary dwelling size from 33% to 50% (maximum 800 square feet remains for detached ADUs and additions to the primary dwelling that result in an ADU); require one parking space per ADU regardless of the number of bedrooms; and clarify technical definitions of detached and attached ADUs.

Town Council Public Hearing: July 25, 2024
Planning and Zoning Board: October 28, 2024
Town Council Action: April 10, 2025

Case: Act 33

Description: This is a request to amend Cary’s Official Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Map for an assemblage of approximately 46.29 acres located in the northwest quadrant of the intersection of NC Highway 55 and O’Kelly Chapel Road. The request would change the existing Future Growth Framework Map designation from Park/Open Space to Destination Center for the northwestern 15.09 acres of the site that are owned by Cary. The proposal would also rezone the entire site, which is presently a combination of five different zoning districts, along with the Mixed Used Overlay District (Alston Activity Center Concept Plan), and the Watershed Protection Overlay District (Jordan Lake Sub-Area). The requested zoning is Mixed Use District (MXD) with zoning conditions as proposed in the attached Preliminary Development Plan (PDP). The Mixed Use Overlay district would also be expanded westward to include the 15.09-acre northwestern portion of the site owned by Cary.

The committed development program in the PDP proposes to facilitate vertical mixed-use development consisting of up to 400,000 square feet of office, 815 multi-family dwellings, 380 hotel rooms, and 55,000 square feet of commercial, with the ability to reallocate density based on supplemental traffic analysis that could reduce the maximum amount of office and/or hotel rooms and result in up to 1,120 multi-family dwellings and 100,000 square feet of commercial. Additional commitments include 17,500 square feet of community gathering space, over 7 acres of open space, and approximately 40,000 square feet of developable land for a Town park along the development’s main street.

Town Council Public Hearing: July 25, 2024
Planning and Zoning Board: August 26, 2024
Town Council Action: Feb. 6, 2025

Case: Act 34

Description: The Imagine Cary Community Plan, adopted in 2017, is Cary’s comprehensive plan created by the community. The residents and community leaders who worked so hard to create Imagine Cary knew periodic updates would be needed. This updated version of Imagine Cary builds upon the strong foundation established in 2017 while incorporating new insights and addressing contemporary challenges. This update focuses on a new preface and the LIVE, ENRICH, and SERVE chapters.

Town Council Public Hearing: October 22. 2024
Planning and Zoning Board: November 18, 2024
Town Council Action: January 23, 2025

Description: The proposed Land Development Ordinance (LDO) amendment will add “swimming pool, hot tub, and spa” as a permitted accessory use in the Town Center Cottage Business and Residential (TC-CB&R) district.

Planning and Zoning Board: April 28, 2025
Town Council Action: May 22, 2025

Case: Act 36

Description: Minor technical updates to the Land Development Ordinance (in process).

Town Council Public Hearing: TBD
Planning and Zoning Board: TBD
Town Council Action: TBD

Case: Act 37

Description: Formal adoption of the Bike Plan and Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources (PRCR) System Plan and related Imagine Cary Community Plan Updates to the Move and Engage Chapters.

The Imagine Cary Community Plan, adopted in 2017, is Cary’s comprehensive plan created by the community. The residents and community leaders who developed Imagine Cary anticipated periodic updates would be necessary to keep the plan current and responsive. In 2024, three chapters were updated. Additional updates to the ENGAGE and MOVE chapters are now required to reflect the adoption of the Bike Plan and the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources (PRCR) System Plan. This updated version of the Imagine Cary Community Plan builds on the strong foundation established in 2017 while incorporating new insights and addressing contemporary challenges. This update also necessitates corresponding amendments to related sections of the Land Development Ordinance (LDO).

Town Council Public Hearing: TBD
Planning and Zoning Board: TBD
Town Council Action: TBD

Case: Act 38

Description:  Associated Land Development Ordinance (LDO) amendments corresponding to the Bike Plan and Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources (PRCR) System Plan Adoption and Imagine Cary Community Plan Update (see ACT 37).

Town Council Public Hearing: TBD
Planning and Zoning Board: TBD
Town Council Action: TBD

Case: Act 39

Description: The applicant for the Ferrell Sowter PDD Rezoning (26-REZ-02) proposes a concurrent comprehensive plan amendment (ACT 39) alongside the rezoning of eight properties located at 4645 and 4801 Louis Stephen Drive, 0, 1600, 1601, 1604, 1607, and 1609 Morrisville Carpenter Road. The comprehensive plan amendment proposes to amend the Carpenter Special Planning Area of the Imagine Cary Community Plan. The properties are proposed to be rezoned from Residential-40 (R-40) to Planned Development District Major (PDD Major), with Jordan Lake Watershed Protection Overlay District to remain. The applicant wishes to rezone to allow for a planned community with up to 20,000 square feet of non-residential development, up to 200 multi-family dwelling units, up to 70 detached dwelling units, and up to 50 townhouse units, with plans for the potential relocation of two historic structures.

Town Council Public Hearing: TBD
Planning and Zoning Board: TBD
Town Council Action: TBD

Case: Act 40

Description: The proposed Land Development Ordinance (LDO) amendments will incorporate legal and procedural updates to align waiting periods with state statutes, clarify processes for the withdrawal of development applications, and make changes pertaining to the maximum height, appearance, and regulation of retaining walls.

Town Council Public Hearing: March 26, 2026
Planning and Zoning Board: TBD
Town Council Action: TBD

Case: Act 41

Description: The applicant for the Earnest Jones Rezoning (26-REZ-05) proposes a concurrent comprehensive plan amendment (ACT 41) alongside the rezoning of two properties, 955 and 0 Earnest Jones Road. The comprehensive plan amendment proposes to amend the Chatham-Cary Joint Land Use Plan, which is incorporated into the Imagine Cary Community Plan. The proposed amendment would change the designation of both properties to the low-density residential classification (presently, one property is very low-density and one property is low-density residential). The rezoning seeks to apply the initial Cary zoning of Residential 12 Conditional Use (R-12-CU) for 27 detached dwellings on approximately 21.49 acres.

Town Council Public Hearing: TBD
Planning and Zoning Board: TBD
Town Council Action: TBD