CARY, NC – The Cary Town Council will hold a public hearing tomorrow night to consider new rules designed to give added protection to trees, shrubs, and other vegetation on developed and undeveloped property inside Cary and in its planning jurisdiction. The long-range goals of the new rules are to increase environmental protection—land, water and air—as well as to help ensure high quality development and protection of property values—all of which translate into a better quality of life for Cary citizens. The public hearing is part of the Council’s regular second meeting of the month, which was moved up to Tuesday because of the upcoming Easter holiday. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber at Cary Town Hall, 316 North Academy Street in downtown Cary.

Under the rules, trees and other vegetation on undeveloped property would be protected via a requirement to obtain a permit prior to any land clearing activities. In addition, clearing activities would be prohibited on the perimeter of parcels and within stream buffers. The intent of the proposed regulations is to protect existing vegetation on undeveloped sites for use as future buffers should the site ever be developed. Vegetation on sites already developed would be protected from excessive pruning or removal through an increase in penalties and fines intended as a disincentive to such activities.

The proposed provisions are now possible due to new enabling legislation (House Bill 910), which Town officials sought and received from the General Assembly during the last legislative session.

"Cary has been a leader across the state in utilizing the planning process to maintain quality of life," said Town of Cary Senior Planner Chad Meadows. "These proposed regulations further promote environmental protection and the requirements for quality development within the Town’s jurisdiction."

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