Holly Springs · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Holly Springs public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
1601 Avent Ferry Road mixed-use development
A family wants to rezone land at 2420 Avent Ferry Road for 53 homes plus a small commercial pod with a grocery-style store. Council likes the walkable shopping idea but worries about traffic on residential streets, the crosswalk across Avent Ferry, and the awkward commercial access point.
Carolina Springs Town Center Major Amendment
A major amendment to the approved Carolina Springs Town Center development plan was before the board. Amendments like this can change building layouts, uses, or site design in a key commercial area of town.
Daventry subdivision and mobile home displacement
A proposed 255-home development at 6725 Thrasher Road would displace an existing mobile home community. Council pressed the applicant on resident relocation and road safety improvements before voting later this summer.
Chandler Crossing apartment development
A 298-unit apartment complex is moving forward at 4500 Old Holly Springs Apex Road near Target. The council approved the detailed development plan after hearing sworn expert testimony on utilities, stormwater, and traffic improvements including turn lanes and frontage widening.
Piney Grove Wilbon Corridor development concerns
The Daventry project would displace about 65 mobile home households; Council member Foster pressed for relocation assistance and Larson questioned a project whose new signal mainly serves new residents.
Downtown Investment Grant boundary expansion
Staff propose expanding the DIG program from the core downtown to the greater downtown area — about 200 more acres and 60 more eligible businesses — to help small local businesses afford upfits and startup costs. Council mostly liked it but wants core-downtown prioritization built in, and some worry about stretching a small fund thin.
E-bikes and Scooters on Greenways
After ten written comments and retreat discussion, police are revising the greenway ordinance, meeting with youth groups, and planning a public education campaign.
Greenway and Park Project Investments
Council endorsed four new priority greenway segments adding about 3 miles, plus ideas for community-sponsored amenities like benches, bike racks, and a rainbow bridge. The Oak Hall project bids came in $470,000 over budget and will be rebid.
Street and Sidewalk Bond
Tired of sitting in Holly Springs traffic? The Town Council is looking at putting a street and sidewalk bond on an upcoming ballot so you can vote on funding some much-needed fixes.
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.
Potential 2027/2028 Transportation Bond
The town has about $100 million in borrowing capacity without raising taxes and must decide on a 2027 or 2028 bond referendum by roughly the June workshop. A 2027 vote offers a quieter election and earlier delivery; 2028 offers more data and a longer runway.
Safety and multimodal gaps in the transportation network
Council members repeatedly named safety the top goal of any bond, citing rapid growth in the Piney Grove corridor, missing sidewalks in pre-2006 neighborhoods, and rising e-bike use. Targeted fixes like turn lanes and restriping showed big delay reductions at low cost.
State Preemption of Local Development Rules
New state laws just took away Holly Springs' ability to set its own rules on parking, stormwater, and home businesses, forcing the city to completely rewrite its local ordinances. Your local leaders' hands are tied, so you'll start seeing state-mandated changes pop up in your neighborhood soon.
Condemnation for Holly Springs Road widening
Design work is starting on the final segment of the Holly Springs Road widening — four lanes, sidewalks, and bike lanes from NC 55 to Main Street — paid 80% by a CAMPO grant. Construction isn't funded yet.
Water Bill Round Up Program
Mayor Pro Tem Drees revived her idea to let utility customers round up bills to fund assistance for neighbors struggling to pay. Staff will bring back a feasibility report.
Rex Road area development pressure
Three rezonings near Rex Road Elementary could add roughly 170 homes. Council members flagged clear-cutting instead of true tree preservation, missing neighborhood amenities, school capacity, cul-de-sac safety, and walkability to the school.
Happy Hunting Hills rezoning concerns
A 50-unit rezoning off Avent Ferry Road drew concerns about traffic, limited neighborhood exits, drainage to lower lots, and buffering for townhomes backing up to private property.
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.
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.
NE Gateway Plan and neighborhood connectivity
Residents from Wood Creek and Harvestwood pushed hard on northeast-side traffic: an 11-year-old asked the Town to drop the Harvestwood extension from the NE Gateway Plan over safety and wetlands, while a Wood Creek HOA leader said 872 homes feel forgotten and trapped. Council agreed to add a traffic signals discussion to the upcoming transportation meeting.
Rezoning 25-REZ-08, 2420 Avent Ferry Road
A rezoning petition for property at 2420 Avent Ferry Road was scheduled for public hearing. Rezoning changes what can legally be built on the parcel, so neighbors may want to weigh in.
Proposed UDO review process changes
Melissa Kelsey warned that faster technical reviews favor developers over residents and asked for density/height caps, published staff comments, and a clear appeal process before the UDO changes are finalized.
Meridian at Sunset Lake Commons rezoning
458 apartments on 30.57 acres near Holly Springs and Lassiter Roads, now approved. Traffic at the Lassiter/Sunset Lake intersection and a basin-wide sewer capacity problem were the biggest worries; the developer funds a sewer study but construction can't start until sewer capacity exists.
Lassiter Road traffic safety and the proposed Chase bank
The Meridian project adds roughly 2,900 daily trips near a known traffic hot spot; about 10% would hit Sunset Lake and Optimist Farm. Drees described backups at the Matthews/Lassiter stop signs today and worries the Lassiter extension won't be a magic bullet.
Meridian at Sunset Crossing mixed-use residential rezoning
A 30.57-acre site near Sunset Lake Road would become mixed-use residential with apartments, a greenway extension, and the Lassiter Road extension. Neighbors raised concerns about density and transitions to existing single-family areas, and the project requires major sewer and road improvements.
State Tax Cap Legislation Risk
Proposals in the General Assembly could cap how much towns can raise property tax rates, threatening future funding for big projects like Eagles Landing Park and Fire Station 4. Council weighed whether a 2027 bond could lock in capacity before any caps take effect.
Voluntary Annexations (Evanston and Twin Springs)
The 53.8-acre Evanston site was annexed into town, allowing it to develop with town water, sewer, and services.
Powell Place Rezoning and Development Agreement
A 97-home KB Home subdivision off Rouse Road with townhomes starting in the low $300,000s. The sticking point: limited Rouse Road frontage improvements that Council member Hewetson called an unfunded taxpayer liability.
New Southwest Fire Station (Rex Road)
The budget funds design only for a new fire station on Rex Road to cut response times in the fast-growing southwest; construction expected to start in 2028.
Growth and annexation in south Holly Springs
Residents fear south Holly Springs is being over-developed, with Overbrook Ridge clearing old trees near streams and the Village at Harris Lake annexation moving forward. Council approved the annexation, noting zoning and subdivision approvals are already in place.
Woods Creek Road crosswalk and speeding concerns
A 12 Oaks resident raised concerns about speeding and no crosswalks on Woods Creek Road at Oaks End Drive, where kids cross to reach the pool and playground amid heavy construction traffic. She asked for a study of a lighted crosswalk.
Growth and annexations along Avent Ferry Road
A contentious 43-lot subdivision next to Lochridge was approved after the developer cut lots from 62, enlarged buffers, and agreed not to build rentals. Neighbors split — some opposed any rezoning, others praised the collaboration.
FY27 Budget Revenue Slowdown
Property tax growth is projected at 4% instead of the usual 8%, leaving about $1.7 million less revenue growth for FY27. Expected revenue growth of $3.7 million will be mostly consumed by raises, insurance, retirement contributions, and new facility operating costs.
Eagles Landing Park Operating Model
The new 56-acre park is on track for mid-summer 2027. Outdoor amenities will be free; the recreation center will use paid passes targeting 50–72% cost recovery, with first-year operating costs around $2.5 million. Council agreed with the framework and wants fees communicated early.
Early Voting for Municipal Elections
Council Member Deshazor asked staff to look into the cost and logistics of early voting in Holly Springs for municipal elections, plus a possible free Hopper ride to the polls on election day.
2026 Legislative Agenda
The Council's advocacy agenda pushes for a new U.S. 1 interchange, wastewater expansion funding, a new elevated water tank, housing affordability partnerships with Wake County, and a heavy rescue fire truck for the highways.
Police Department 2025 Annual Report
Crime dropped 14% versus the five-year average, but fraud and internet crimes against children are rising, especially targeting seniors and kids. The department hired a financial crimes investigator and recovered over $120,000 for victims.
Genentech expansion and economic development agreement
Genentech's Phase 2 adds 100 jobs at ~$120,000 average wages and $650 million in investment — diversifying the tax base without new water or sewer demand.
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.
Utley Creek Water Reclamation Facility Phase 2 Expansion
The town is expanding its sewer plant from 6 to 8 million gallons per day with a $153M construction contract, funded by up to $140M in revenue bonds repaid through water and sewer rates. A resident argued the expansion locks in growth without securing more water supply.
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.
Local Elections
Holly Springs just swore in a brand-new mayor and two fresh town council members following recent local elections. Neighboring towns like Apex and Fuquay-Varina are also seeing leadership shakeups, which means some fresh policy priorities are heading our way soon.