Resident questions Maplewood/downtown plan survey data and clarity at Cary board meeting

At the May 6 Village of Cary Board meeting, resident John Rohrbach pressed village officials for clearer data supporting statements in the downtown strategic plan and materials tied to the Maplewood development, saying published reports lack concrete participant counts and clear percentage definitions.

Rohrbach said the plan’s public‑engagement summaries use numbers without explaining whether they represent counts or percentages. "References to over a hundred were noted for the outdoor event, but only 25 are noted for choosing a vibrant and bustling downtown. Is that 25 people or is that 25%? The report doesn't say. It just says 25," he said.

Rohrbach said the documents give percentage breakdowns for housing preferences without providing underlying counts: "When asked what type of housing you would like to see in the downtown area, including Maplewood, 49 percent chose town houses, 44 percent chose mixed use, and 42 percent picked row houses. Not listed were 5‑story apartment buildings." He asked the board to clarify what the survey numbers represent and how many respondents participated in each portion of the outreach.

Another resident, Michael Schaeff, told the board he had reviewed presentation slides and encouraged others to look at them, calling the Maplewood plan "a great idea" while noting he would change some details.

Board response and outcome: Rohrbach’s remarks were made during public comment; trustees did not take formal action at the meeting. The mayor and staff acknowledged the request for more information; staff later said materials and slides will be distributed when prepared.

Ending: Rohrbach asked the village to publish clearer engagement metrics and raw counts so residents can understand the basis for stated preferences in the downtown strategic plan and Maplewood materials. No formal follow‑up date was announced at the meeting.