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Garner council approves notice for Bennett North affordable-housing bond, 4-1
Summary
The Garner Town Council voted 4-1 on March 31 to approve a resolution authorizing notice for a Wake County housing authority bond referendum for Bennett North Apartments after heated council concern about tax-exemption structures and service impacts.
The Town of Garner council on March 31 approved a resolution giving notice for a Wake County housing authority bond referendum tied to the Bennett North Apartments, a proposed affordable-housing complex. The vote was 4 to 1 following public comment and extended council discussion.
Assistant Manager John Hodges told council the item on the work-session agenda was a request for "a resolution authorizing affordable housing bond issuance for an affordable housing apartment complex," and that detailed materials were in the packet. Developer representative Martin Wharf said the question before the council was "whether they will agree to the notice to the Wake County housing authorities bond referendum," framing it as an up-or-down vote.
Councilmember Matthews challenged the project's financing structure during public comment, saying developers had sought tax exemptions that could reduce Garner property tax receipts while relying on town services. "This has come down to this development where...the taxpayer is gonna have to cover your cost of services," Matthews said, urging caution about the fiscal impact on existing residents.
Hodges and other staff said questions about statutory eligibility and supplemental accommodations could be brought up later or addressed by the developer during subsequent permitting or public hearings. After discussion, Matthews requested a roll-call vote. The clerk recorded the tally at four ayes and one no; the motion carried.
The council did not adopt specific tax-exemption terms in the resolution; the action advanced the process by allowing the county bond referendum notice to proceed. Council members and staff signaled they would continue to scrutinize any supplemental accommodations and tax-exemption questions during later permitting or legislative outreach.
The council's formal vote: the resolution authorizing notice for the Wake County housing authority bond referendum on Bennett North Apartments passed 4-1.
