NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 4, 2000

CARY BEGINS ACTION TO FILL "DOUGHNUT HOLES"

CARY, NC – Cary leaders are making some citizens an offer they hope won’t be refused: request annexation into Cary’s town limits during the next six months or risk not being allowed in, indefinitely. The move is designed to improve service delivery to existing citizens and to eliminate inequities between those who pay for services and those who benefit from them without paying their fair share. Cary also wants to have properties join the Town before making development or rezoning plans.

Beginning Monday, the Town will mail letters to 1,264 people owning property inside or adjacent to Cary but not currently within the town limits, explaining that they have until February 7, 2001 to take advantage of a special six-month open annexation period and that once it expires, the owners will not be allowed to voluntarily annex into Cary for five years for non-residential properties and for an indefinite period of time for existing residentially used properties.

"Because Cary has not typically participated in "forced" annexation over the years, Cary’s town limits have become irregular, including a number of areas where these limits completely surround unannexed Wake County parcels," said Town Manager Bill Coleman. "These "doughnut holes" do not generate Cary taxes yet benefit disproportionately from their proximately to the Town. In addition, routing Town services around these holes can be complicated, costly, and result in reduced service levels to existing Cary citizens."

For example, a business totally surrounded by Cary limits benefits from the paved roads and sidewalks paid for by Town taxes as well as the crime deterrence brought by having police officers working the area. They may also live adjacent to and take easy advantage of parks and greenways built by Cary taxpayers. By having non-residential properties annex in advance of development, the Town can better plan for future expansion of utility lines.

Property categories addressed in the annexation action include four categories of property: (1) existing residentially used property five acres or less; (2) undeveloped non-residentially zoned property; (3) residentially zoned property shown in Cary’s Land Use Plan for non-residential use; and (4) existing commercially used properties.

Costs associated with annexation are also detailed in the Monday letter and include such things as water and sewer taps and related permits and development fees. However, property with wells and septic tanks will not be immediately required to connect to the Town system or pay any utility related fees.

For those who decide to pursue annexation, the Town offers many benefits with one of the lowest tax rates in Wake County, including police and fire protection from nationally accredited agencies as well as solid waste, yard waste, recycling collection, and priority access to low-cost, high-quality parks, recreation, and cultural resources facilities and programs for residents.

For some of those who decide not to request annexation, Cary is also considering involuntary annexation to solve the problem. A consultant is studying the feasibility of involuntary annexing properties contiguous to Cary since State law gives towns the authority to annex without the permission of the property owners, provided the property meets certain criteria. The study will provide a map of properties that qualify for involuntary annexation according to the North Carolina General Statutes and give cost estimates for providing public water/sewer and other municipal services to these areas. From the consultant's report, the Town Council will determine whether to pursue involuntary annexation of some or all of these properties. For those properties that Council decides to process for an involuntary annexation, the Town will determine the cost to these property owners as a result of this involuntary annexation and plan for providing water, sewer, and other services within two years of the effective date of the annexation. This study is expected to be completed toward the end of this calendar year.

A special section under WHAT’S NEW on Cary’s website has been created that gives details on the process. (see Annexation Opportunities)

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