Triangle Community Coalition

10/15/2026

2026 Draft UDO now available for review & comment

WAKE FOREST, NC – The Town of Wake Forest began the process of rewriting its UDO (Unified Development Ordinance) in the summer of 2022. Following over two years of in-depth analysis, broad public engagement, and a thorough drafting process, the draft UDO was proposed for adoption in December 2024. That same month, state legislation was introduced and enacted that limited the ability of local governments, state-wide, to make certain zoning map and ordinance amendments. After careful evaluation of the law, the Town is moving forward with full-scale repeal of the current UDO and adoption of a new, comprehensively rewritten UDO rather than an amendment of the existing ordinance.

Since 2025, Town staff has been updating the draft UDO that was circulated in December 2024 to ensure it is consistent with changes in state and federal law. Staff also made minor revisions to address issues identified since the last draft was completed.

The 2026 Draft UDO is now available for review and comment at https://engagewakeforest.org/udo-update. Community members are encouraged to review the draft document before it moves forward for a public comment session and recommendation at the Planning Board meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026. Town officials expect the UDO to be brought forward for a public hearing and adoption by the Board of Commissioners in January 2027.

Following the UDO adoption, a new Zoning Map, which is the official map showing the boundaries of the UDO’s zoning districts in the Town’s jurisdiction, will be prepared and made available for public input before being presented for adoption. This change is necessary to ensure the Zoning Map aligns with the zoning districts in the new UDO.

Comments on the 2026 Draft UDO may be submitted using the "Share Your Feedback" comment form at https://engagewakeforest.org/udo-update.

In addition, the Planning Department will host Open Office Hours in the Wake Forest Town Hall Ground Floor Meeting Room, 301 S. Brooks St., on the following dates and times:

• Monday, Oct. 26, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Tuesday, Oct. 27, 7-9 a.m.
• Monday, Nov. 2, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

During Open Office Hours, Planning staff will be available to answer questions and receive input on the 2026 Draft UDO from community members who drop in during the scheduled times. No appointment is necessary, and there will be no formal presentation. Please note: Attendees are urged to access the Ground Floor Meeting Room via Town Hall’s Taylor Street entrance.

First adopted in 2013, along with the Manual of Specifications, Standards and Design (MSSD), the Wake Forest UDO combines into a single document the Town's zoning, subdivision, land use, grading, stormwater management, and historic preservation regulations. The UDO outlines the requirements for all development activity. Following the recent updates and adoptions of several comprehensive plans, including the 2022 Community Plan and 2021 Northeast Community Plan, the UDO and MSSD must be updated to effectively implement the policies and recommendations of those plans. For more information, visit wakeforestnc.gov/UDO or contact Senior Planner Tim Richards at [email protected].

10/14/2026

This is one we’re watching!

A developer is asking the North Carolina Supreme Court to rule that a two-year delay in securing a government permit amounted to a violation of property rights.

09/18/2026

🇺🇸 Your community. Your candidates. Your opportunity to hear directly from those seeking to serve.

Join us September 23rd for the 2026 Candidate Forum, the region's largest public forum dedicated to connecting voters with candidates seeking to represent our community.

⏰ Event begins at 5:45PM Meet & Greet at 8:00pm
📍Wake Forest Renaissance Centre
🎟Open to the public
More information here: https://tinyurl.com/2udkh672

08/26/2026

Just started our first-ever Coffee Chat with Sanford City Hall and Tri River Water!

08/12/2026

Stein signed what’s known as a regulatory reform bill, as well as technical corrections and additions to the recently approved state budget Tuesday.

08/11/2026

This morning we’re having a Coffee Chat with Town of Morrisville, NC! Thank you to the Town for hosting us in the Historic Christian Church!

08/11/2026

Town of Pittsboro Announces Hiring of Kevin Lewis as Planning Director; Begins August 31st

PITTSBORO, NC – The Town of Pittsboro is excited to announce the selection of Mr. Kevin Lewis as the Town’s next Planning Director. Lewis was selected following a competitive recruitment process based on his knowledge, skills, and experience in the local government planning sector.

Lewis has served as the manager of the current planning program for the Town of Knightdale for the past seven years, guiding the community through a period of unprecedented and high-quality growth. In this role, he has overseen development review processes that balance the Town's rapid expansion with a commitment to thoughtful, sustainable planning outcomes. Prior to joining Knightdale, Lewis gained diverse municipal and regional planning experience through roles with GoTriangle, the Town of Rolesville, and Franklin County. He is excited to help the Town of Pittsboro and its residents achieve the vision of "a safe, resilient, community-centered town that prioritizes diversity and inclusivity, tradition, and environmental sustainability."

Lewis is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and a North Carolina Certified Zoning Official. He also serves on the Transportation and Land Use Committee for the Triangle chapter of the Urban Land Institute, contributing to regional conversations on smart growth and infrastructure. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Community and Regional Planning from Appalachian State University and will complete a Master of Public Administration from North Carolina State University in December 2026.

"We are excited to welcome Kevin to the Town of Pittsboro," said Town Manager Jonathan Franklin. "His extensive experience guiding growing communities, combined with his collaborative leadership style and commitment to thoughtful planning, makes him an excellent fit for Pittsboro. As our community continues to grow, Kevin's expertise will help ensure we preserve the character of our town while planning responsibly for the future."

Lewis’s employment with the Town will begin on Monday, August 31, 2026.

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MEDIA CONTACT – Caitlin Murphy | [email protected] | (984) 282-6997

07/14/2026

It's here: the speaker lineup for State of Downtown presented by PNC! 🏙️🎤

As Downtown Raleigh Alliance marks 30 years of shaping downtown's growth and evolution, hear from the leaders driving its next chapter. This gathering of downtown leaders will share insights from the past year, along with their visions for the future. Hear inspiring perspectives and gain firsthand insights from the people who shape Downtown Raleigh every day.

🔹 Cherisse Byers | Hone-Sharpen
🔹 John Cooper | Cooper Tacia General Contracting Company
🔹 Robbie Ferris, AIA, REFP, LEED AP | SfL+a Architects
🔹 Skip Hill | Highwoods Properties
🔹 Sig Hutchinson | The Oakline
🔹 Bill King | Downtown Raleigh Alliance
🔹 Kenya Purnell Pleasant, HCCP | Raleigh Housing Authority
🔹 Brian Ray | Alchemy-ABR Investment Partners, One Nash Square
🔹 Jamie Schwedler | Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP
🔹 Dr. Yulia Shamis | The Newsagent's
🔹 Eric Stone | White Lodging
🔹 Kallie Walker | Kane Realty Corporation
🔹 Neetzan Zimmerman | The Newsagent's

State of Downtown is a unique opportunity to network with local business leaders, city officials, developers, and community stakeholders who are all committed to downtown's success. Attendees will also receive the new State of Downtown Report, featuring fresh data and analysis on downtown's growth, momentum, and future.

📆 Wednesday, August 26th 📍Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts
Get your tickets and learn more about our speakers 👇
https://bit.ly/3ya6pgd

06/24/2026

Board of Commissioners appoints Hupp to fill open seat

• During the June 23 Board of Commissioners special called session, the Board appointed Daniel Hupp to fill the unexpired term of former commissioner Haseeb Fatmi.
• Hupp’s appointment was secured after four rounds of voting by the commissioners and a tie-breaking vote by Mayor Ben Clapsaddle following interviews with Hupp and four other candidates.
• Hupp was sworn in immediately following the vote and took his seat on the dais.

WAKE FOREST, NC – During the June 23 Board of Commissioners special called session, the Board appointed Daniel Hupp to fill the unexpired term of former commissioner Haseeb Fatmi.

Hupp’s appointment was secured after four rounds of voting by the commissioners and a tie-breaking vote by Mayor Ben Clapsaddle following interviews with Hupp and four other candidates - Abigail Black, Joan Falvey, Joseph Longoria, and Gregory McDaniel.

The five finalists were selected from among 13 applicants after the June 3-17 application period via board member scoring. Each commissioner scored his/her top seven candidates and submitted their rankings to the Town Clerk, who tallied the totals to determine the overall top five. Originally, there was a tie for fifth place, so plans were made to interview the top six vote-getters. However, two of the six (Michael Infinger and L. Dallas Spruill) withdrew from consideration which opened the fifth spot to the next highest-ranked applicant, Gregory McDaniel.

During each round of voting Tuesday evening, Hupp and Falvey received two votes apiece. Discussion between rounds of voting revealed that Commissioners Faith Cross and Nick Sliwinski voted for Hupp each of the first three rounds, while Commissioners Keith Shackleford and Adam Wright voted for Falvey.

Prior to the interviews, the Board approved voting logistics, including the available options should there still be a tie after three rounds of voting. After the third-round tie vote, Sliwinski discussed with the Board whether additional interviews should be conducted or if the process should be completed during the current meeting. Utilizing one of the options available to the Board (according to their previously approved voting logistics), Sliwinski also made a motion to appoint Hupp to fill the vacant seat and Cross seconded. In the subsequent vote, Cross and Sliwinski voted yes to the motion, while Shackleford and Wright voted no. As required by statute and ordinance, Mayor Clapsaddle broke the 2-2 tie by voting to affirm Hupp’s nomination.

Town Attorney Nathan McKinney noted that while the final vote alone would have been legally sufficient to fill the vacancy, the Board voluntarily made the extra efforts to accept applications, rank candidates, hold an extra meeting, and conduct interviews.

Hupp was sworn in following the vote and took his seat on the dais. His term commences immediately and expires in December 2029.

For more information, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/board-commissioners/boc-vacancy or contact Town Clerk Evelyn Wright at [email protected] or 919-435-9432.

06/22/2026

Board of Commissioners selects Black, Falvey, Hupp, Longoria & Spruill to interview Tuesday for open seat

• The Board of Commissioners have selected (in alphabetical order) Abigail Noelle Black, Joan Falvey, Daniel Hupp, Joseph Longoria, and L. Dallas Spruill as the five candidates to interview to fill the unexpired term of former commissioner Haseeb Fatmi.
• The interviews are scheduled during the Tuesday, June 23, special called session. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Board Chambers, located on the second floor of Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St.
• Following the interviews, the Board will vote to appoint one person to fill the term that will commence immediately and expire in December 2029.

WAKE FOREST, NC – The Board of Commissioners have selected (in alphabetical order) Abigail Noelle Black, Joan Falvey, Daniel Hupp, Joseph Longoria, and L. Dallas Spruill as the five candidates to interview to fill the unexpired term of former commissioner Haseeb Fatmi. The interviews are scheduled during a special called session on Tuesday, June 23. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Board Chambers, located on the second floor of Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St.

The five finalists were selected from among 13 applicants via board member scoring. Each commissioner scored his/her top seven candidates and submitted their rankings to the Town Clerk, who tallied the totals to determine the overall top five.

During the interviews at the June 23 special called session, the five finalists will appear before the Board to answer questions and explain why they wish to serve. Following the interviews, the Board will vote to appoint one person to fill the term that will commence immediately and expire in December 2029.

For more information, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/board-commissioners/boc-vacancy or contact Town Clerk Evelyn Wright at [email protected] or 919-435-9432.