[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6480088,"mediaKeyId","5691910-666aec5d583835cf3dc403173c6ea5fc","parentId",5691910,"title","Town attorney, police to research golf‑cart rules; council approves code review priorities","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",12404000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5691910-666aec5d583835cf3dc403173c6ea5fc&start=12404&end=12404","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5691910-666aec5d583835cf3dc403173c6ea5fc/thumbnail_12404000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6480088/Garner/Wake-County/North-Carolina/Town-attorney-police-to-research-golfcart-rules-council-approves-code-review-priorities","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480088-35e890b4e46d2c6abbfeafb4b0f0214e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775112511&Signature=QpMe1LjOPMEdpZ-HA2y~EXMFemgM54OSwpBXDetgakG8AVgGLwu7UvP86X-8UVDlA8cUKZzbXRDo1l7HsBQbKRpZf4MYaocWidg1p7MebQeLZ2mYQ365CCT4aK3zSz~DucD4q6nT~NW3-PIpld8JTc9hLKAAkOdgEo-6OZ--milVcQTtSMVte7QclhhI6OyUjqskECyn8bDWWfO6RzB-S-obGsdT4-hrn1LsfbSWEZpwS2qepgiLGWBntflqQu0RUM6Nx2TYrkmvZBSxoCdnpYy~o8G7gDO8nYJbiTIrolDYD5oxJcG08jXmV1HEL9PedDitUSas7h4P0Dz1v0cdVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Garner","date","2025-08-27T14:11:44Z","article","Town Attorney presented an update on a larger code revision project and asked council to confirm priorities. The legal department has already completed recent updates to the nuisance code and to junked motor‑vehicle rules earlier in 2025 and has created a public comment page for the broader code rewrite.

Three priorities for short‑term ordinance work
1) Post‑election rules of procedure and related administrative chapters (chapters 1 and 2) — the attorney recommended a periodic review after council elections to ensure internal procedures remain current.
2) Traffic‑control recodification — planning and engineering staff will help convert a scattered set of traffic control ordinances (speed limits, no‑parking, stop signs) into a consolidated map‑based format to improve transparency for staff and the public.
3) Golf‑cart/local low‑speed vehicle policy — council asked staff to research options. The attorney explained the legal distinction: state‑registered low‑speed vehicles (LSVs) that meet specific safety equipment standards are regulated by the state and are allowed on roads up to 35 mph, but simpler golf‑cart‑style vehicles (without turn signals, lights or other gear) can be regulated locally. Council asked the police department and the town attorney to prepare a concise recommendation that lays out three practical choices: do nothing; adopt a townwide ordinance with registration, equipment and time‑of‑day limits; or permit neighborhood‑based approaches. Interim Police Chief Adams said the department will gather safety and cost data and return with options and estimated enforcement/resource implications.

Why it matters
Council members noted public interest in allowing safe, locally regulated golf‑cart operation in some neighborhoods while balancing safety on higher‑speed roads. The staff review will examine safety equipment, age and licensing limits, hours of operation and whether registration and a fee should cover enforcement costs.

Next steps
Legal and police staff will prepare a work product for a council work session that lists options, likely costs to the town for registration/enforcement, and suggested regulatory language; the traffic‑control mapping work will proceed with planning and GIS staff and the rules‑of‑procedure review will be scheduled after the November election.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Council Work Session for August 26, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council asked the town attorney and interim police chief to develop options and cost estimates for a local golf‑cart ordinance and approved priorities for ongoing code revisions including traffic control mapping and post‑election rules review.","taxTitle","Garner, Wake County, North Carolina","taxId",55441,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6480093,"Garner council directs staff to proceed with town‑led Phase 1 activation of Meadowbrook Park",3109,8068000,11177000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5691910-666aec5d583835cf3dc403173c6ea5fc&start=8068&end=11177","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5691910-666aec5d583835cf3dc403173c6ea5fc/thumbnail_8068000.jpg","/articles/6480093/Garner/Wake-County/North-Carolina/Garner-council-directs-staff-to-proceed-with-townled-Phase-1-activation-of-Meadowbrook-Park","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480093-420c806d2ab15da8cd3859944b2a8395/orig.mp4?Expires=1775112511&Signature=e6qulUpC7Qr05j1T-IfWPEK9lk~VxXeEZQI~ITUAAIIRmEbgqAEgjy9RvLhoxQmVe9pvyYxv5J4NXvUkNvnA67jG0o6VvnJP7BSz~ftSAowwEfcmRDbmRh28aUHDfSsfr9mEfleDqy45f9uVCZHsaaUJW3R3gctcgV5cDiH6WDh6U75gTke9g--bv-K870xv-VzTyqGJV6RnAZdvO51LncZypOjqcl6DDRuUxQN5XbPIPuq4tjln-jo-2UHz6dKAPJjdWeKv~hYPQkW-5tnuRjSPL5Krpw9RjcNPc8L7H23myO8PWlVPIYBDSnFsaNfWNklFu-rdhLvVcazkVLK1nw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town staff presented two paths for Meadowbrook Park — issue a public request for proposals (RFP) inviting private or nonprofit proposals for the site, or proceed with a town‑led Phase 1 development using the conceptual design presented by parks staff in July. Assistant Town Manager Matt Poole summarized advantages and disadvantages of both approaches and asked council for direction.

Council decision
After discussion about control, timeline and historic preservation, Council Member John Singleton moved to proceed with the internal Phase 1 development and Council Member Elmo Vance seconded. The motion passed unanimously by roll call. Staff said they will return with refined concept drawings, cost estimates and a phased timeline for activation.

Why it matters
Meadowbrook is town‑owned land that the council has identified as a priority site. Town staff emphasized the property’s historic value and recommended careful preservation of the clubhouse and wooded areas while making the site accessible. Council members cited a desire for the town to retain long‑term control over the property and to deliver public amenities faster than the typically longer RFP/design/approval cycle required for large private proposals.

Next steps and constraints
Staff will continue the parks department’s Phase 1 conceptual work, produce a budget and proposed phasing, and present timelines and funding options to council. The town noted possible grant opportunities but also said the pace of town‑led development will be tied to available capital and staffing priorities. Members of Friends of Meadowbrook and parks staff were present and will be part of subsequent public discussions and reviews.","After hearing options that included a public‑private request for proposals, council voted unanimously to proceed with an internal, phased activation of Meadowbrook Park based on previously reviewed staff concepts and to return with cost and timeline details.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6480098,"Garner task force to be reengaged after inventory finds 766‑unit shortage for households under 60% AMI",2915,5066000,7981000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5691910-666aec5d583835cf3dc403173c6ea5fc&start=5066&end=7981","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5691910-666aec5d583835cf3dc403173c6ea5fc/thumbnail_5066000.jpg","/articles/6480098/Garner/Wake-County/North-Carolina/Garner-task-force-to-be-reengaged-after-inventory-finds-766unit-shortage-for-households-under-60-AMI","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480098-5a5b4dc220e26ad13b18205a5b6a67cc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775112511&Signature=JUkuL8fedrJ9TJaKF9jnsvT4qeot1rTV4G5XBm93PL0QcEuMmge0qGr0Sz6OXOOSzruN--kaGkdi6HCIo4D5p5wCWjCzAVX5jLm3g1PK5oxpfCYtEEnhAev-YOmgbUBZsUuDX7lPZtEb-o6c-aHJ5aMuCnoAOCfXOGKFZ0HqSiugVueZ7stYioHgcTZlrpVpS9i~NWDwgeTDxP0pqM3dkQn3MLuUNa7FYYDr4M~1C9iZzH8fYu0Ru1cR5SuC65mo0IWhmJ~9TgQk~f4L108PdfjMg0KRiyXuNSuPPnRwwDSJrHMxv12X03cw-6xRZCem9scYJwh9Li3JZjovmbFIKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hunter Fillers of Central Pines Regional Council presented the town’s new affordable housing inventory to Garner council on Aug. 26, highlighting a countywide data mix that shows growing demand and limited affordable supply in Garner.

The bottom line: inventory and preservation needs
Fillers summarized the analysis and presented what he called the most relevant findings for Garner: a 766‑unit shortage for renter households earning below 60% of area median income (AMI), rapid rent and home‑price increases (Zillow‑derived median rent near $1,900 in mid‑2024), and a mix of naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH) and subsidized units. The inventory flagged roughly 3,000 NOAH units in town, about 375 approved units in the development pipeline, and roughly 900 units under earlier‑stage “horizon” discussion.

Preservation and repair needs: staff noted a waiting list from Preserving Home of 18 households in Garner that need critical repairs; preservation costs to address those requests were estimated by the nonprofit at about $360,000.

Why it matters: workforce affordability and growth
Central Pines also mapped occupation‑level affordability gaps. The consultant showed examples—bus operators, police, firefighters and tradespeople—whose housing cost burdens exceed a 30% income threshold, signaling pressure on municipal workforces and public‑safety staffing if local housing supply cannot be preserved or expanded.

Council direction and vote
Council discussed next steps grouped into three priorities: resource investment (staffing, funding, advisory board structure), partnerships/collaboration with affordable‑housing developers and nonprofits (including Preserving Home), and community engagement. After discussion, council voted unanimously to reengage the town’s Affordable Housing Task Force to help develop detailed next steps (motion recorded and approved by roll call).

Planned follow‑ups
Staff recommended focused work this fall on staffing needs and developer partnerships, with community engagement to follow once a work plan is in place. Preserving Home will brief council in October on the nonprofit’s preservation activity and local repair needs. Central Pines and staff will continue to refine pipeline numbers, with additional breakdowns by occupation and municipal workforce asked for by council members.","Central Pines presented a housing inventory showing a shortage of housing for households under 60% of area median income, pipeline housing numbers and preservation needs; council voted unanimously to reengage the town’s affordable housing task force to develop next steps.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6480103,"WakeMed seeks to build combined acute and behavioral health campus in Garner; town staff working on permits and infrastructure",793,2777000,3570000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5691910-666aec5d583835cf3dc403173c6ea5fc&start=2777&end=3570","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5691910-666aec5d583835cf3dc403173c6ea5fc/thumbnail_2777000.jpg","/articles/6480103/Garner/Wake-County/North-Carolina/WakeMed-seeks-to-build-combined-acute-and-behavioral-health-campus-in-Garner-town-staff-working-on-permits-and-infrastructure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480103-8b6ab808844067d6d9d1eef9ba5d58b7/orig.mp4?Expires=1775112511&Signature=N81jbIUiMM6wjxSaubo6HD4NGCdpklEvTKL~FumeUWUmmF1DWdRJYUoH96T~1Y0bCHOA3EPKbflnV7ckES1DgNLvFzgvikNLX7pmyrGF439OdAHpJ2vOcoeMvzSSPn9jZsgAsGcgKrYfGeU3SisVmkC7hit1ZecvAARxneioNzUHuxpm5ctcq7SeMTEnsN2KC5Ox4Ni1qEszjGLEqSGQM8OTx8Lamr4KDglFy6YpNGsWYqe2ckF-H7zF5qbY1wa2gbw8rpQUk-Ks-OiuOY4qgZMKXWtv9vIshII6Jlp64HOVRRoKr8GWSvDbrizS2jbhqsN4FZcRtnfNC5ydysLosA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tom Cavender, vice president of facilities and construction for WakeMed Health and Hospitals, told Garner council on Aug. 26 that WakeMed is advancing plans for a combined WakeMed Garner Whole Health Campus, merging previously approved Certificate of Need projects into a single site.

What the campus would include
WakeMed has received approvals from the state Certificate of Need process to construct both a 45‑bed acute care hospital and a 150‑bed mental health and well‑being hospital. Cavender said WakeMed decided to move both projects to the same Garner campus and that the combined project will include a full emergency department (about 24 treatment bays), an intensive care unit, med/surg beds, six operating rooms and mental‑health programs covering adolescent, adult, young‑adult, dual‑diagnosis and geriatric care.

Expansion filing and totals
WakeMed told council it submitted an additional Certificate of Need filing on Aug. 15 for a planned expansion that would add about 78 more beds (including 18 obstetrics/labor and delivery/postpartum beds, a four‑bed special care nursery and about 30 observation beds). If the expansion is approved and all elements proceed as described, Cavender said the campus could total roughly 300 beds when both mental‑health and acute‑care components are combined and would approach roughly 500,000 square feet.

Timeline and town coordination
WakeMed described an aggressive schedule: Cavender said the project team has a tentative groundbreaking planned for Nov. 6, 2025, is targeting a May 2026 building‑permit submittal, and expects a roughly 30–34 month construction period with full operation targeted in 2029 if approvals and scheduling permit. He emphasized close monthly coordination with town staff on site plan review, roadway connections (including the Jones Sausage Road extension and a new connector to U.S. 70), stormwater and certain Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) equivalency questions.

Why it matters locally
Council members and staff pressed for details about routing and access that would serve Garner residents, including potential bus connections to the nearby VA clinic and how new facilities would affect local emergency transport and staff recruiting. Cavender emphasized that WakeMed intends heavy use of the site’s wooded topography, with the mental‑health facility organized around courtyards and outdoor therapeutic spaces. He said many patient rooms will be oriented to views of Mahler’s Creek (the site’s natural drainage corridor) and that the design emphasizes daylight and landscape integration.

Funding and approvals
Cavender said WakeMed has pursued state Certificate of Need approvals over recent years and decided to concentrate both projects in Garner after victories in the CON process. He also said WakeMed will seek funding and coordinate on infrastructure grants or other external support when practical, and that WakeMed’s foundation and public relations teams are preparing for a public groundbreaking if the permitting schedule continues as planned.

What council asked
Council members sought clarity on height (WakeMed said the design keeps floor heights below high‑rise thresholds to avoid additional code complexity), phasing, and whether the site’s topography allows the organization to “hide” back‑of‑house functions from patient view. WakeMed representatives said they expect to continue monthly coordination with the town and to brief council as permitting milestones are completed.","WakeMed representatives described a planned 'whole health campus' in Garner that merges a 45‑bed acute hospital with a 150‑bed mental health and well‑being facility, described site layout and timeline, and said a Certificate of Need was obtained for the projects; town staff and WakeMed are coordinating on site access and stormwater work.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_46":116,"_48":117,"_50":118,"_52":119,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":120,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":121,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6480108,"Wake Transit unveils recommended 2035 plan; Garner to see BRT extensions, more local funding options",1501,161000,1662000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5691910-666aec5d583835cf3dc403173c6ea5fc&start=161&end=1662","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5691910-666aec5d583835cf3dc403173c6ea5fc/thumbnail_161000.jpg","/articles/6480108/Garner/Wake-County/North-Carolina/Wake-Transit-unveils-recommended-2035-plan-Garner-to-see-BRT-extensions-more-local-funding-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480108-19f8cd3029a40b83938999f30b8d3e67/orig.mp4?Expires=1775112511&Signature=g3nwxzyJAA~Jyu5Lh26sw16fmr6RtQ0ODwMy3UG-TOSDtic7CQc3FT99GWvjSfcKXAFDTE763zdAosZJakHbJ8ffBNiL6xfRAoHprzGGYryCsrGJojQOkLAwnoFFgd6hGpNXC02sa1dX8Q8M-4fNzKblM8YZIvRC2du4G66u0n8Cym~JepJmWq42aFdLGBQZA3lwgSQ5arxdbRyUfRuqW04fzsOgJOE7XMaIsnlRvWj7K0WSNKlQ4PxBpZ5b1ad80KJUIMZMHOIQqw6JAkNj5fDB-cTnf4-o-Z7IbgOaGKJ-IsdUweZZydrx6INRCsbAAMKJYWamUWUpDNpGs6zbSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ben Howell, Wake Transit program manager at the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), presented the agency’s recommended Wake Transit 2035 plan to the Town of Garner during the council work session on Aug. 26.

The plan shifts some emphasis from building new commuter rail to investing in regional rail and bus infrastructure. Howell told the council the program has raised nearly $750 million through 2023 and expects to raise about $1 billion more over the next 10 years; Wake Transit has invested more than $200 million since 2017 and “we're expecting to spend roughly $3,000,000,000 over the next 10 years on transit,” he said.

Why it matters: the update outlines where Wake County plans to direct sales-tax and other Wake Transit funds in the coming decade. Several changes would affect Garner directly, including proposed bus rapid transit (BRT) service extensions and an expanded grant program that gives towns more flexibility to design local service.

Key details for Garner
- BRT and regional service: The plan keeps the core BRT network and identifies extensions, including a southern corridor that would run from downtown Raleigh toward Garner and a proposed Garner–Clayton extension that would use U.S. 70/Business 70 through Garner. CAMPO staff said Raleigh’s Southern corridor has design work funded and construction is anticipated in the coming years; CAMPO expects the Garner–Clayton extension to advance after studies and design work are complete.
- Frequent network standards: CAMPO defines “frequent” as roughly every 15 minutes, with a weekday operating window of about 18 hours and at least 12 hours of frequent service. Howell said the plan aims to grow the frequent network from roughly 100 miles today to about 300 miles by 2035.
- Local funding and community control: The plan triples the Community Funding Area program from roughly $20 million over 10 years to $60 million, and lowers the required local match from 50% to 35% starting fiscal 2027, a change Howell said is meant to reduce the barrier for towns to fund local service. CAMPO also plans to invest at least $3 million a year in bus stops, sidewalks and crosswalks countywide.
- Microtransit and small-town pilots: Howell described microtransit as app-driven, on-demand small-vehicle service used by towns as a lower-cost alternative to fixed-route buses. He said examples vary widely: Morrisville runs a node-based microtransit, Holly Springs is starting a limited pilot (~$600,000/year), Apex operates circulator service (~$1 million for one route), and Wake Forest spends nearly $2 million a year operating a multi-van microtransit service.

Engagement and next steps
CAMPO plans a public engagement phase beginning Sept. 5 for about a month, a joint public hearing with the CAMPO executive board and the GoTriangle board on Sept. 17, and hopes both boards will adopt the recommended plan in November. Howell asked local staff to help publicize the engagement materials and provided the public input website: publicinput.com/waketransit2035. CAMPO staff said they will follow the public process and return to partners with more-detailed corridor studies when data supports project sequencing.

What council members asked
Council members sought clarification about likely corridors through Garner, construction timing for the Southern corridor, and how microtransit costs compare across nearby towns. CAMPO representatives said BRT projects are capital-intensive, that corridor sequencing will depend on ridership and funding, and that microtransit costs range from several hundred thousand dollars a year to multi‑million-dollar programs depending on fleet size and design.

Where to watch: CAMPO’s formal engagement begins in September; local stakeholders who want to shape routes, stops and potential community transportation hubs should monitor the Wake Transit public input site and CAMPO/GoTriangle board calendars.","CAMPO and GoTriangle staff presented the recommended Wake Transit 2035 investment strategy to Garner council, highlighting expanded bus rapid transit corridors, a larger community funding area program, stronger stop and sidewalk investments and a public engagement schedule this fall.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Town attorney, police to research golf‑cart rules; council approves code review priorities

Garner council directs staff to proceed with town‑led Phase 1 activation of Meadowbrook Park

Garner task force to be reengaged after inventory finds 766‑unit shortage for households under 60% AMI

WakeMed seeks to build combined acute and behavioral health campus in Garner; town staff working on permits and infrastructure

Wake Transit unveils recommended 2035 plan; Garner to see BRT extensions, more local funding options