Holly Springs · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Holly Springs public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Main Street sidewalk connector
A resident told the council uneven sidewalks — some damaged by street trees — are a real safety hazard; her friend broke an elbow in a fall. She wants inspections, a repair schedule and dedicated funding, and questions spending on festivals before sidewalks.
Nonprofit grant and rental discount policies
The town's share of upcoming Cultural Center renovations — lobby, roof, and mechanical systems — totals about $2.3 million spread over five years starting in FY27.
Community special events policy update
Special event requests are booming — 38 last year, possibly 60 this year — and the old 5K race policy doesn't cover concerts and festivals. The new policy would add blackout dates around major town events, cap major downtown road closures at two events per month, and standardize insurance and damage-recovery requirements.
Festival Street Design
A design update for the Festival Street project was scheduled from staff, part of downtown improvements.
Voter Registration
Don't get left out of the upcoming local and general elections on November 3rd! You've only got until October 9th to make sure your voter registration is up to date.
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.
Police Advisory Group
Holly Springs is looking for three locals to join its Police-Community Advisory Group. If you want a direct line to help shape how local policing works in your town, now is your chance to apply.
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.
Tree canopy preservation vs. housing incentives
Speakers proposed a one-time $45,000 climate resiliency assessment and a new environmental advisory board, citing a 10% tree canopy loss from 2010-2020 and $124 million in canopy value. Council took no action but the idea may return in budget discussions.
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.
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.
Fire department retains ISO Class 1 rating
The fire department kept its top-tier ISO Class 1 rating, scoring 49.03 of 50. Fewer than 1% of departments earn it, and it may help lower your property insurance.
Water and Wastewater Rates and Rate Study
Holly Springs' typical $93.92 monthly water/sewer bill sits mid-pack in Wake County because of rapid growth and costly infrastructure expansion. A rate study in the budget will examine whether businesses and multifamily customers pay their fair share, with results due at the annual retreat.
LAPP transportation grant applications
The town will apply for federal funds to buy right-of-way for widening Holly Springs Road and to reapply for Utley Creek Greenway Phase 2 after delays cost it the original award.
Emergency vehicle access and fire-lane parking concerns in Bridgewater West
A written public comment from Marta Rothstein raised emergency vehicle access issues in Bridgewater West Townhomes, plus an anonymous note about parking in fire lanes.
Replacing the Town's 20-year-old financial software
The Town's 20-year-old financial system is being replaced with Oracle NetSuite — the software that runs accounting, budgeting, utility billing, and purchasing. Residents will notice changes when the new utility billing portal rolls out around 2028.
Fire Department future needs
Chief Smith's first annual report showed nearly 2,900 calls last year — mostly EMS — and laid out what growth means for firefighting: two new stations planned on Rex Road and in the Northeast Gateway, plus rising apparatus costs.
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.
Consent agenda spending transparency
Dawn Cozzolino criticized bundling major financial items into a single consent vote, arguing the $85.9 million Street and Sidewalk Capital Project Ordinance deserved individual debate since developer contributions cover less than 1% of the cost.
Camp Branch Greenway impacts on Talicud Trail neighbors
The $1.16M feasibility/design contract moves forward, but neighbors worry about wetlands, five threatened species, a greenway ending in woods near their homes, and Cary not building its segment. They want ongoing input with Dewberry.
New School Montessori expansion rezoning
The Montessori school wants to grow from 240 to no more than 300 students, with new buildings and expanded parking. Neighbors worry about morning congestion, U-turns cutting through their neighborhood, and how kids will cross Sunset Lake Road.
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.
Veridea S. Village East Annexation
The town took the first step toward annexing the Veridea S. Village East property; a public hearing is set for July 21.
Surging public records requests
Requests jumped 190% over 2025 — 337 in the first five months — plus botnet attacks from the Netherlands posing as a media outlet. The clerk worries the two-person department's manual process won't scale, but software wouldn't save time either.
Cemetery running out of space
At 36 plots sold a year, the town cemetery has about 8.5 years left. Options range from status quo to grading more land, adding a columbarium, or buying land for a second cemetery. Quotes coming back at the retreat.
2025 Water Quality and PFAS regulations
The mayor wanted to oppose the state's proposed 1,4-dioxane monitoring rule as too weak, but after staff and legal input, the council agreed to comment supporting the rule while asking for stronger source-reduction amendments.
Semiannual UDO Text Amendments 26-UDO-01
Twenty zoning code tweaks are proposed, including new rules for bars and fuel stations in neighborhood centers, data centers needing conditional zoning, and easier EV parking requirements for schools.
Proclamation Policy Transparency
A 26-year resident asked the Council to publish a clear, written, neutral policy for mayoral proclamations — including criteria, who approves them, and an annual request log — within 60 days.
Water Supply and Growth
A resident warned the region will run out of clean water amid overdevelopment, questioning whether reclamation facilities can keep up and citing hospital and data-center demand. Council Member Deshazor pointed to the budget's water infrastructure investment as the answer.
Upcoming land use cases preview
New applications on the horizon include mixed-use/commercial proposals at Cass Holt Road, Overbrook Ridge on Rouse Road, and 42 detached dwellings at Myers Subdivision. Council members pressed for more commercial space and a map of cumulative Rouse Road impacts.
UDO semiannual text amendments
The new zoning rules convert Special Use Permits to Conditional Zoning Districts — giving neighbors more say on impactful uses but adding cost, especially for nonprofits. Council members flagged possible future relief for small nonprofits.
Holly Springs Hopper Expansion
The Hopper bus service has a 4.96/5 rider rating and heavy senior use. A better CAMPO grant match means the town could add an evening hour and six weekend hours for only about $37,000 — council leaned yes but wants 90-day data first.
Intelligent Transportation Systems and Traffic Signals
A $250K ITS study is funded this year, and staff say existing signal tech already saves nearly 10 minutes on peak commutes. Council Member Danielle Hewetson pushed to fund signal preemption for emergency vehicles now so the effort doesn't stall next year.
Senior Tour Pricing Concerns
A resident flagged that Parks and Rec senior overnight tours have gotten unaffordable, with a big markup over hotel costs and a steep 50% non-resident surcharge. Council asked staff to benchmark pricing and attendance.
ADA Transition Plan Update Contract
A contract to update the town's plan for making sidewalks and facilities accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Drought conditions and water conservation
With drought conditions across North Carolina, staff explained the town's Water Shortage Response Plan; Holly Springs draws from the Cape Fear basin via Harnett County and remains at Stage 0, unlike Raleigh's restrictions.
EV charging prices at Womble Park
Two high-school-regulation basketball courts and new open-style dugouts are coming to Womble Park under the 2023 parks bond, with a $319,625 design contract approved and construction targeted for November.
Bicycle Network Planning
Staff laid out how Holly Springs plans bike facilities under the 2022 Comprehensive Transportation Plan. Residents say the top barriers are not enough sidewalks and bike lanes, safety concerns, and nowhere to ride to. Bigger investments could come with the 2028 Comprehensive Plan update.
Strategic Plan Updates
Staff proposed new initiatives for Fire Station 5, a housing affordability action plan, wastewater capacity beyond 8 million gallons per day, and Eagles Landing programming. Council asked for tweaks on fire station siting, regional transit wording, community engagement, and senior emphasis. Adoption expected April 21.
Upcoming development cases: 303 Blalock, The Nest, and The Grove
Three new developments are in the pipeline: townhome-style density near downtown Blalock, a residential project near Main and Elm, and a 2.2-units-per-acre subdivision on Piney Grove Wilbon Road. Council flagged parking, traffic, and the lack of amenities at The Grove as concerns before formal hearings.
Main Street Visioning
Staff completed preliminary analysis for downtown Main Street improvements — roughly 30 on-street parking spaces may be possible. Council will hold a visioning walk April 21 at 6 p.m.
Sunset Lake Road bank rezoning
A Chase Bank with drive-through is proposed for the corner of Sunset Lake and Lassiter — the public hearing drew no resident opposition, and the item returns for a decision in March.
County Commissioner Election
Nine candidates are battling for two at-large seats in the upcoming Wake County Commissioner primary. You'll want to pay attention because these folks make major decisions about your local taxes and community services.
E-Bike Safety Concerns Near 12 Oaks
Six written comments about e-bikes near 12 Oaks, and multiple council members asked parents to make sure kids wear helmets and follow road rules. The topic goes to the February retreat.
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.