Our collective voices are being dismissed.
There is no secret that residents have been complaining about the overdevelopment in Wake Forest. We are witnessing multiple-story apartment buildings going up throughout town, and the clear cutting of single-family developments with micro lot lines.
Traffic and increased motor vehicle accidents are direct results of sprawl. Community “informational” events do not result in residents’ voices being heard. During the last municipal election in 2023, our voices were clear, “Stop the overdevelopment and put a moratorium on building until there is a viable plan for traffic alleviation”. Neither were done. For years, the tree canopy requirement was not followed, and streetlights, road accommodations and fire stations were burdens placed on taxpayers. Some of the current Commissioners were serving when the DOT redirected funds from Capital Blvd to a project in Fayetteville then said that a specific development in Wake Forest could not be stopped because it was contracted before the DOT redirection of funds. That hasn’t influenced or stopped them yet. The continuation of clear cutting, apartment buildings, close to zero lot line single family homes and gridlock since 2023 is why Wake Forest needs new Commissioners.
I am calling for:
Common sense, listening to and respecting the voice of the residents in Wake Forest.
A moratorium on high density apartment buildings. Stop building until there is a logical engineered plan to alleviate traffic.
Partner with the Chamber of Commerce to increase the business climate and tax relief for residents.
Stop the throughway from apartment buildings to single family developments to remediate the high propensity of speeding through neighborhoods with children.
Developer funded accommodations vs burdening the taxpayer. Build roads and fire stations while a development is in process, not afterwards resulting in a burden for taxpayers.
Work on an Affordable Housing plan for seniors, graduates, teachers, police and first responders.
Additional amenities for seniors. Our Senior Center is getting crowded! Finding a public-private partnership (PPP) that celebrates our town’s aging population is important, including more opportunities for pickleball.
Finding a safe, fun alternative for children to gather to socialize through a public-private partnership in town.
Foster a relationship with the Planning Department for shared ideas and input.
A community-based workshop to understand the Wake Forest UDO. (Unified Development Ordinance) The UDO is a document of our Town’s zoning, subdivision, land use, grading, storm water management and historic preservation regulations. It also outlines the requirements for all development activities. It is very technical, and the average resident finds it difficult to understand. A workshop to understand and simplify this comprehensive document would be helpful.
Bring back our story book town that we once knew. Celebrate our history with tours through town, our forgotten train and the Christmas Parade.
Lobby the Wake County School Board to hold meetings in the north and east part of Wake County, specifically Wake Forest. It is extremely important that parents and residents from Wake Forest have a voice in their children’s education. Sending an email to the School Board is not the same as having an in-person opportunity to share concerns and thoughts. 5:00 p.m. meetings more than one hour away are not conducive to participation.
