Holly Springs · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Holly Springs public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Festival Street Design
A design update for the Festival Street project was scheduled from staff, part of downtown improvements.
Potential 2027 or 2028 transportation bond referendum
Residents named traffic their top concern, and the town faces roughly $1 billion in identified transportation needs. A bond vote in 2027 would provide about $56 million of capacity; waiting until 2028 could yield $67–87 million. Most council members leaned toward 2028, with small projects possibly cash-funded early through a reimbursement resolution.
Waste Management Facility
Holly Springs just opened a brand-new, twice-as-large yard waste drop-off site to make cleaning up your yard a whole lot easier. If you've got branches, leaves, and yard clippings piling up, you now have way more space to dump them.
Yard waste center relocation
The free yard waste drop-off moves to the Operations Campus at 3601 Bumgardner Drive on September 19 — double the size and more central.
Community engagement: Engage Holly Springs, neighborhood summit, 311
Mayor Kondratick wants a longer conversation about how the town manages community engagement, noting it will require staff resources. The council agreed to springboard the topic at the retreat and possibly hold a dedicated workshop later.
Possible environmental advisory board
With a new sustainability coordinator being hired, Mayor Pro Tem Drees floated creating an environmental advisory board or expanding the Tree Advisory Committee's charter. Staff will bring policy options back to a future workshop.
Data center regulations study
State law keeps Holly Springs from banning data centers outright, so the town is studying where they should be allowed and what extra rules on noise, buffers, and building design should apply. A community feedback portal is launching so residents can weigh in before the committee makes its recommendation to Council.
Data center moratorium and faster development reviews
The Town Manager explained the 12-month data center moratorium: the Town can't legally ban data centers, but it can regulate their character, quality, and location. A feedback portal is live on the town website.
Surveillance Technology
Did you know outside cops can sneak license plate readers into Holly Springs without local approval? It's a huge blind spot for town oversight and a sneaky hit to your privacy.
Bridge naming for Deputy Mark R. Tucker
The bridge over NC 540 on Holly Springs Road will be named for the deputy killed there in 2004, pending NCDOT approval.
Wake County Non-Discrimination Ordinance in Holly Springs
After four years of debate, Holly Springs becomes part of Wake County's non-discrimination ordinance, letting the county handle discrimination complaints covering public accommodations and employment. Council member Hewetson dissented, citing an Orange County case she believes bars municipalities from regulating employment practices.
Adoption of Wake County Non-Discrimination Ordinance
Holly Springs is the last Wake County municipality (besides Fuquay-Varina) not signed onto the county's NDO, which bans discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations. Adopting it would extend protections locally at no direct cost to the town, since the county pays for enforcement through mediation at Campbell Law School. Council reached consensus to adopt it in February.
Downtown Revitalization Award
Holly Springs just picked up a 2024 Marvin Collins Award for its downtown revitalization plan, which is basically a gold star for the town’s strategy. It doesn’t automatically mean new cash, but it could help the city look stronger when chasing grants or private investment downtown.