Cary board approves drive‑up US Bank ATM at Cary Square in 4‑3 vote

The Village Board of Cary voted 4–3 on July 1 to approve a conditional use permit for a drive‑up US Bank ATM to be built in the Cary Square Shopping Center at 700–732 Northwest Highway.

The approved plan locates the drive‑up ATM in the shopping‑center parking area and will remove nine parking spaces from the eastern edge of the property; village staff said the existing site provides 93 spaces and that eliminating nine would leave 84, which still exceeds the minimum required 76 spaces for the subject property under the zoning code. The proposed ATM will provide stacking for up to three vehicles, above the two‑vehicle minimum identified in the development standards.

Why it matters: The drive‑up ATM is presented as a way for US Bank to maintain services in Cary after branch closures; it affects a busy shopping center where tenants and customers use shared parking.

Director Simmons summarized the petition and zoning analysis, saying the property is in the B‑2 shopping‑center business district and that the petition requires conditional‑use approval. Simmons told the board that the zoning board reviewed the request in June and recommended approval by a 5–1 vote subject to three conditions shown in the zoning packet.

Michael Villarreal of Flight Banking Centers, who identified himself as the developer for the proposed ATM, told the board the devices are "very advanced ATMs now" and allow deposits, cash withdrawals and other routine banking transactions in a drive‑up format. "These are kind of a bank in a box," Villarreal said, adding the installations let banks serve customers without rebuilding a branch.

Trustees asked about demand and parking impacts. Director Simmons said the petitioner’s parcel is distinct from adjacent phases of the center and that the applicant provided calculations showing the parking supply meets the ordinance. No tenant comments were received in the zoning review, Simmons said.

On the board vote, Trustees Stefani, Walworth and Persino voted yes, Trustees Dudek, Collier and McCallpine voted no, producing a 3–3 tie that the mayor broke with a yes vote; the motion passed 4–3. The board’s action grants the conditional use permit; Simmons said staff will follow up on the conditions identified by the zoning board and the village’s permitting process.

Clarifying details from the record: the site’s current parking count was reported as 93 spaces; removal of nine spaces would reduce available spaces to 84 and still meet the cited minimum requirement of 76 spaces; zoning board recommendation was 5–1; the plan provides stacking for up to three vehicles; the project location was described as between the Jewel‑Osco and adjacent retail spaces and in the shared drive area.

The board’s approval allows the petitioner to move forward with permit and site‑improvement work subject to the zoning conditions and standard permitting steps; no amendments to the approved conditional use were reported at the July 1 meeting.