Mt. Airy

Draft report outlines Cary’s annexation possibilities

By ADAM ARNOLD, STAFF WRITER

A draft report that is part of Cary's comprehensive annexation program identifies 30 different areas — primarily southeast, northeast and west of the town — that would be under consideration for annexation.

Town staff emphasized the document's preliminary nature.

"It could be refined and changed," said Jeff Ulma, the town's director of plannning.

Depending on how the criteria fit a particular area, the preliminary report puts the area in a general time frame for possible annexation: 2006 to 2010, 2011 to 2015 and beyond 2015.

Evaluation criteria include contiguity to town boundaries, availability of services from adjacent municipalities, existing town infrastructure, age of septic systems and history of septic system failures.

The program would be used by staff to select areas to present to council for involuntary annexation in even-numberred years.

Town staff has been working on an annexation policy for the town since January 2004. Cary had just aborted the involuntary annexation of 4,700 people in areas south and east of the town. The council wanted the policy so it could clarify how, why and when it would involuntarily annex.

The council approved the first part of an annexation policy in May. That portion of the policy defines terms, explains costs for town services and lists benefits of being a town resident.

"All this second phase does is apply that methodology to these areas," said Ricky Barker, the town's associate director of planning.

Ulma said the plan would likely be ready for public comment early next year.

Ulma said staff would double check its rankings for the areas to confirm that the analyses are still correct for each area.

The document is an attempt to balance costs to the town versus the urban character of the areas under consideration, Ulma said.

Barker, who takes the lead on annexation planning for the town, said all residents who would be affected by the plan would be notified before any public comment was taken.

Those residents will have the opportunity to review and comment on the final version of the document electronically or to attend a meeting, Barker said.

In addition to wanting to firm up the analysis, the town "really had concerns" about trying to publicize a comment period during the holidays when many people are out of town, Barker said.

One of the criticisms leveled against the town during the last proposed annexation was that the proposal was announced shortly before Thanksgiving 2003.

Barker said the public input received would be reported to the council in late January or early February.

The council could make a decision on the proposal at that time, Barker said.