Neighbors push back on Highwoods' Weston Parkway rezoning as council weighs buffers, phasing and study

A rezoning proposal that would allow up to 275 multifamily units and a possible 22 townhomes on roughly 8.7 acres at 701 Weston Parkway drew sustained opposition from nearby homeowners and detailed questions from Cary Town Council on Sept. 25. Staff said the amendment to the Weston Planned Development would permit buildings up to 75 feet (five stories) in pod one and up to 50 feet (three stories) in pod two, a minimum 1,500-square-foot nonresidential commitment (up to 5,000 sq ft), and a 5% affordable housing set‑aside at 80% of area median income for 20 years.

The applicant, represented by Jamie Schwedler of Parker Poe and Highwoods Properties, described the plan as a redevelopment of a vacant 1990s office building and said the proposal responds to neighbor input by reducing density from earlier options, increasing a southern setback to 75 feet, and offering additional plantings, a private greenway connection and EV-ready parking infrastructure. "We've reduced density and committed to additional buffers and on-site amenities in response to community input," Schwedler told the council.

Residents who live immediately south of the site said the commitments do not adequately address impacts. Justin Brewer, whose home borders the parcel, told the council Highwoods both owns and manages a master homeowners association that covers nearby neighborhoods and said that dual role presents a conflict of interest as the company seeks approval to redevelop the land. "This is a conflict of interest," Brewer said, urging the council to deny the application as submitted.

Other residents cited privacy and views, noise during construction, loss of mature trees and pressure on local streets and parks. Several speakers said a building of the proposed scale — which residents calculated as roughly 34 units per acre based on the applicant’s numbers — would be the densest development in the area and would bring on‑street parking, more traffic on Norwell Boulevard and increased weekend pressure at North Kerry Park.

Town staff said the request is consistent in part with the town’s Imagine Cary guidance for the employment-mixed-use campus designation but also identified gaps: staff recommended a wider streetside trail than the offered 8-foot side path and said stronger commitments to townhomes or additional commercial space would better meet policy goals. Aaron Pucket, principal planner, told council the special planning area study for Weston is underway and could provide clearer guidance but does not yet have a final timeline.

Councilors pressed several specific items during the discussion. Multiple members asked for a balloon or visibility test so neighbors could better judge how a five‑story structure would read from surrounding yards and streets. Several asked the applicant to commit to phasing that would guarantee the transitional townhome parcel be built rather than left as surface parking. Councilors also flagged the 20‑year term for the affordable-housing commitment as shorter than industry norms and suggested 30 years is more typical.

Staff and council emphasized buffer design: the application proposes type A southern buffers ranging from 15 to 45 feet, with denser evergreens in the widest portion. Multiple councilors and speakers said evergreen plantings are most effective where there is sufficient planting width and soil depth and urged enlarging the buffer in the downhill wedge adjacent to Juliet Circle.

No decision was made; the rezoning will be referred to the Planning & Zoning Board for review and recommendation. Councilors told residents they welcome continued conversations and urged staff and the applicant to work on clearer phasing, stronger screening commitments, and visibility information to bring back to advisory boards and, later, the council.