Cary Council Meeting – August 27, 2026

The Cary Town Council held a meeting on August 27, 2026, which included significant procurement and policy discussions. Key procurement-related items approved on the consent agenda included contracts for preliminary engineering services for the Western Wake Regional Water Reclamation Facility improvements, utilities residential and biosolids management, a bid award for sodium hydroxide for water treatment, and equipment purchases for water metering and critical incident response technology funded by a 2025 Justice Assistance Grant. The council also approved agreements related to the Professional Pickleball Association and major events funding, with most funding coming from state and tourism-related taxes rather than local taxpayer dollars. A major policy action was the unanimous adoption of an 18-month moratorium on the acceptance and processing of data center development applications within Cary's jurisdiction. This moratorium aims to allow staff to study land use, environmental impacts, and infrastructure needs related to data centers, including AI and cryptocurrency mining operations, before establishing a regulatory framework. The council emphasized the importance of balancing technological growth with environmental stewardship, particularly concerning water and energy consumption. Other discussions included parking adjustments in the downtown area and annexation and rezoning requests. The meeting also addressed public concerns about fiscal management and transparency following a state audit, with suggestions for enhanced oversight of town expenditures.