Common Good

Public safety and public works include some of the things that are for the common good of all citizens. Having a healthy environment means excellent water and sanitation along with open space. A high-quality community will have well-trained police, fire and emergency services available when they are needed. A place where people feel safe and secure goes a long way to fostering a strong community.

• Providing our first responders with the proper staffing, equipment and training.
• Being competitive with other municipalities so that we can hire and keep the best.
• Ensuring that Cary's roads are in good shape.
• Maintaining our water and sewer services and ensuring sufficient services as we grow.

Our town should be pleasant and well-kept. It should be a place where we can be neighbors and build lasting friendships. Cary is a place we are proud to call home and we should work to be sure that continues.

Quality of life is a major reason people choose to live, work and play in Cary. We have beautiful trees, bubbling streams and a great deal of wildlife within our town limits. Ensuring that our  land use supports the conservation of these natural resources is important. We can do this by paying attention to the land use and to the community plan, and routinely reviewing them to be sure they align with the best interest of citizens. 

Conservation goals include

• Maintaining and growing our tree canopy.
• Managing storm water and runoff successfully.
• Using alternative energy, when appropriate, and ensuring that it is reliable and clean.
• Striving for the best balance between our natural resources and the need to accommodate growth.
• Ensuring that we continue to have sufficient open space.

Successful conservation involves the whole community. With neighbors working together, we can make a difference in the place we live and the place we leave behind for our children and grandchildren.. 

As our town grows, we need to be considering the effects of that growth on the existing community. Will it foster the great quality of life we enjoy here in Cary? Will that growth meet the goals and desires of the citizens? 

Our civic spaces are important to building community. Not only parks, but places to conduct the business of the citizens, like voting or a meeting, is important. We need to include these spaces as we grow.

We can build Community in Cary by 

• Encouraging maximum citizen participation in taking responsibility for community awareness and decisions.
• Considering how growth will affect the welcoming spirit and charm of Cary.
• Balancing the needs of Cary citizens with opportunities for property owners.

As Cary grows and moves into the future, there’s a great deal to consider as we build a vision for tomorrow.

It appears that the days of rapid growth through new suburban development may be behind us. There will still be traditional neighborhoods, and some new development along those lines. Infill and redevelopment of areas will offer new opportunities going forward.

What are the Common Sense solutions for Cary?

• Keep taxes low by focusing on the needs of the town and keeping spending in check.
• Explore ways to maintain or reduce taxes in both challenging and robust economic times.
• Review our current and long-term infrastructure priorities.
• Make sure current citizen’s needs are prioritized.

Our leaders will need discernment and common sense as they listen to the needs of the citizens, consider the views of the citizens and examine possibilities for the future.