Wake County is providing residents the opportunity to discuss the future development of the Eastern Wake area. An in-person meeting is scheduled for April 16 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Eastern Regional Center in Zebulon. This meeting is part of the ongoing process to create the Eastern Wake Area Plan, intended to guide growth and development in the area over the next decade.
Don Mial, Vice Chair of the Wake County Board of Commissioners, emphasized the importance of community involvement in the planning process. Mial stated, “This is a great chance for residents interested in the Eastern Wake area to speak with staff face-to-face. It’s important to us that this plan reflects the community’s priorities, so we hope to hear from as many people as possible.”
Covering a 46,000-acre region in northeastern Wake County, the plan addresses the development needs of approximately 16,000 residents living within a 72-square-mile area. Surrounded by Franklin, Johnston, and Nash counties, the Eastern Wake Area is one of seven regions being studied through PLANWake, the county’s comprehensive planning effort. Prior plans have been developed for the Lower Swift Creek, Middle Creek, Lower Neuse, and Western Wake areas.
Active public engagement is crucial to ensuring that the Eastern Wake Area Plan aligns with the community’s expectations regarding housing, buildings, roads, open spaces, farms, and infrastructure. Input from local residents will help shape these elements to match their needs and values.
Besides attending the meeting, residents can also participate in the planning process online at wake.gov/EW or contact planning staff via email at areaplan@wake.gov or by calling 919-856-6310 and selecting option 8.
Wake County planners intend to keep the community involved, with a draft of the Eastern Wake Area Plan expected by late summer. For further details about the project, residents can visit wake.gov/EW, and for information regarding the broader planning initiative, they can explore wake.gov/areaplans.
