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Cary residents press board over proposed New Haven cut-through, high-density development and lack of engagement
Summary
At the July 15 Village of Cary board meeting, multiple residents urged trustees to halt or rethink plans that would connect New Haven to Route 31 and permit high-density apartments, arguing the village has not provided adequate public engagement and raising concerns about traffic, safety, infrastructure and housing affordability.
At the July 15 meeting of the Village of Cary Board of Trustees, residents from the Cambria and New Haven neighborhoods urged trustees to reconsider a proposed road connection between New Haven and Route 31 and to increase public outreach ahead of a zoning review.
The comments came during the public comment period, when residents spoke about traffic and parking, school-bus safety, potential impacts on property values and a pattern of “luxury” housing that they said excludes affordable options. No vote or zoning decision was taken by the board at the meeting; the developer is scheduled to appear before the village’s ZPA this week, a step residents said often precedes final village approval.
Residents said the village has not provided the level of notification and community engagement they expected. "In the May 20 village hall meeting, you said, mister mayor, and I quote, there will be many more public opportunities to engage," said Carrie Langland, a Cambria subdivision resident. Langland added that notices about the developer’s open house appeared to have been sent only to homes backing the site, not the wider area she said would be affected.
Other speakers pressed the board on safety and traffic planning. Tina, a Cary resident, told trustees, "We don't need more luxury. We need accessibility and affordability," and urged the village to consider alternatives such as opening right‑turn lanes at Route 31 and 3 Oaks Road and exploring a northbound extension of Letter Road to reduce pressure on New Haven.
Ginny Colombo, who lives at 1387 New Haven Drive, said the minutes of a prior meeting mischaracterized her remarks and asked for a correction before the board approves them later in the meeting. Several residents referenced a 2015 study they said recommended a barrier to prevent through traffic to New Haven; the board did not confirm or dispute the study during the public comments.
Kathy Georges, a Cambria resident, pressed trustees for specifics about infrastructure and public-cost impacts, asking for itemized estimates for police, fire, utilities and schools. During the meeting, a staff member responding to a separate question said the combined total unit count for the Maplewood project’s two phases is "under 400," but the village did not provide a full infrastructure cost breakdown at the meeting.
Speakers said a petition opposing the cut-through had grown to 435 signatures as of the meeting. Several residents said they feared that if the ZPA grants relief to the developer, village approval would follow, effectively limiting residents’ opportunities to influence outcomes.
Village staff provided one explicit path for continued input: the assistant village administrator reminded residents that staff will accept emailed comments and that Director Simmons will collect and forward concerns raised outside the meeting. The village took no ordinance or zoning action during the meeting; the formal zoning review remains scheduled with the ZPA.
The consent agenda and routine items were approved by roll call earlier in the meeting; trustees registered “yes” during the roll call when the board approved consent agenda items A and C. The board adjourned at 6:31 p.m.
Next steps noted at the meeting: the ZPA will hear the developer this week, and staff encouraged residents who cannot attend public meetings to submit written comments to Director Simmons for consideration.
