Cary board approves preliminary development agreement for Maplewood site after hours of public comment

The Village of Cary on March 18 approved a preliminary development agreement with a team led by Clark & Associates and JM Developers LLC to study redevelopment of the former Maplewood School property, directing staff to negotiate detailed terms and permit the development team to perform due diligence over an initial 150‑day period.

The move begins a formal but preliminary phase of review and does not authorize construction. Community Development Director Brian Simmons told the board the agreement would allow the developers to perform soil borings, engineering analysis and site planning and would create opportunities for public open houses, zoning hearings and a future formal redevelopment agreement to be brought back to the board.

Why it matters: The 6.5‑acre Maplewood parcel sits next to established single‑family neighborhoods south of downtown Cary and has drawn repeated proposals since the school closed in 2010. Residents filled the boardroom Wednesday to press for lower density, preserved park space and traffic and stormwater protections; many speakers said the draft concept’s five‑story apartment buildings and overall unit count were incompatible with the neighborhood. The…