Wake Forest Council Update
Joyner Property Master Plan Hits Board of Adjustment
Mungo Homes (represented by Hunter Winstead of Morningstar Law Group) brought two variance requests and an appeal of Planning Director Determination #11 to the Board on the Joyner Property — the former Wake Forest Golf & Country Club (PINs 1841091336 and 1831895139, 1180 & 1200 Club Villas Drive). Master plan SD-24-04 has been through five rounds of staff review since December 2024. The flashpoints: a proposed Street "F" that exceeds the 400-ft cul-de-sac max (1,228 ft) and Simpson Court Extension block length (adds 1,466 ft), plus a staff determination that draining a pond qualifies as "development" and is therefore prohibited in designated open space under the original 1999 SUP.
Fire Station 6 Contract Approved — $18.55M
Board authorized the Town Manager to execute a contract with Edifice: $17,230,686 for Fire Station 6 construction plus $1,323,221 for the Training Burn Tower. The station serves the northern and eastern sections of Town, meets ISO service-coverage requirements, and includes a training room shared with other Town departments. Guaranteed Maximum Price was locked in by Edifice on December 29, 2025. The Board also filed the formal application with the Local Government Commission required for the associated debt issuance.
Davis Family Dentistry Rezoning (RZ-25-02) Moves Through Public Hearing
Tyler Davis is seeking to rezone 810 & 814 S. Main Street (0.46 acres, PINs 1840381862 and 1840381744) from General Residential-3 + Richland Creek Watershed Management Area to Neighborhood Business + RC-WMA, to expand his existing dental practice into the adjacent duplex. The practice has operated since 1953; Davis purchased the duplex in 2017 and is citing the dental office's legal nonconforming status as the rationale for aligning zoning. At the Apr 21 public hearing, Commissioner Wright pushed back on the breadth of permitted uses under NB zoning, asking for confirmation the applicant would not pursue more intensive commercial uses.
Ailey Young House & NE Gateway Park Vision Plan Finalized
Staff presented the final Ailey Young House & NE Gateway Park Vision Plan after a two-concept public-feedback process (public open house June 26, 2025, plus online survey; Historic Preservation Commission July 22, 2025; Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Advisory Board July 28, 2025). The adopted concept preserves the historic Ailey Young House as the focal point and adds a restroom building, pavilion, picnic shelter, multi-use paths, interpretive "story cube" features, and a bridge across the on-site stream connecting to Brook Street. Staff recommended approval of the park concept plan.
Downtown Municipal Service District Expansion — Denied
Staff brought forward a proposal to expand the Downtown Municipal Service District (originally created 1988, last expanded 2008 when the Town population was ~30,000; today ~62,000). The expansion would have added 151 properties (32 tax-exempt) to the special-assessment district. Multiple residents from Yellow Poplar Avenue, Silver Linden Lane, Sugar Maple Avenue, and Wait Avenue testified in opposition at the public hearing. The Board declined to expand the MSD. Referenced in the Apr 21 BOC record: "following the Board's recent decision not to expand the MSD." The MSD boundary remains unchanged.
Villas at Wake Forest Crossing Annexation (AN-25-05) Approved
The Villas at Wake Forest Crossing LLC (Powhatan, VA) petitioned for contiguous annexation of 12731 and 12739 Wake Union Church Road (Wake County PINs 1831869237 and 1831868329), approximately 2.36 acres. Process: Jan 20 Town Clerk certified petition sufficiency and Board directed scheduling of the public hearing; Feb 17 Board set the Mar 17 hearing date; Mar 17 Mayor Clapsaddle opened the public hearing, no comments were heard, hearing closed. The annexation was approved on the consent agenda (5-0) at the same Mar 17 meeting.
Environmental Advisory Board — Proposed
Commissioner Fatmi proposed creating an Environmental Advisory Board focused on environmental issues, conservation, and sustainability initiatives. Fatmi requested staff begin drafting an ordinance to establish the board for future discussion at a work session. The Board expressed support for continuing the discussion. No ordinance has been introduced yet; the board does not yet exist. Applicants should expect this as a future advisory-review layer once chartered.
10-Year Sustainability Plan — Baseline Phase Complete
Senior Planner Kari Grace and consulting team presented the Sustainability Plan Existing Conditions report. The plan is framed as a unified 10-year roadmap. Completed: (1) review of existing Town policies and initiatives; (2) local-government-operations and community-wide greenhouse-gas inventories establishing the first measured baseline; (3) climate-hazard and vulnerability assessment, with four hazards (including extreme heat) prioritized and evaluated against natural areas/open space, transportation infrastructure, and buildings; (4) targeted and public engagement through three staff focus groups, three community focus groups, open houses, and a steering committee. Next phase: prioritization criteria, goals, strategies, and actions. Outcomes will feed future UDO and policy recommendations.
Motorized Scooter & E-Bike Ordinance — Chapter 20 Amendment
Ordinance amending Chapter 20 (new sections 20-3090, 20-3091, 20-3092) to regulate motorized scooters, electric bicycles, and electric-assisted bicycles. Staff cited rapid growth of scooter/e-bike use and the absence of local regulation as health-and-safety risks. The adopted ordinance: requires helmets; restricts scooter operation on roads posted above 25 mph; treats motorized scooters as vehicles subject to Chapter 20 and NCGS Chapter 20 where applicable; grants pedestrians explicit right-of-way on greenways and multi-use paths; caps greenway speeds at 10 mph. Wake Forest PD will partner with Town Communications on public education in the first months of enforcement.
Fire Station 6 Installment Financing — $18M Application Authorized
Follow-up to the Feb 17 contract authorization. Assistant Town Manager/CFO Aileen Staples presented the formal application to the Local Government Commission under NCGS 160A-20 for installment financing for Fire Station 6 construction, with a maximum authorized borrowing of $18 million. Public hearing received comment from one resident questioning cost scale; Board approved the Resolution Authorizing the Filing of the Application 5-0 (Shackleford moved, Wright seconded).