Wrap-Up: Holly Springs (NC) Town Council Meeting (September 16, 2025)
Town Council greenlights a new micro-transit service, discusses EV parking requirements for a new school, and approves Avent Ferry Road widening design contract.
Holly Springs, NC, Sep. 17, 2025 — The Holly Springs Town Council addressed a range of community matters at its meeting last night, including a new microtransit service, upcoming road improvements, and acknowledgments for local events and veterans.
New Microtransit Service, "The Holly Springs Hopper"
The Town Council unanimously approved a contract for a new microtransit service, dubbed "The Holly Springs Hopper". The three-year contract with Freebee (link) will provide on-demand transportation within town limits and the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). The service is set to launch in January.
The service will use four vehicles, with one serving as a spare.
Proposed vehicle types include the Volkswagen ID Buzz and Toyota Sienna (ADA-compliant).
The initial fare will be $2 per ride for in-town trips and $4 for trips in the ETJ.
Senior citizens (62 or older) and disabled riders will ride for free.
The service will operate Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The contract's total cost for the first year is $457,000, with a 50% grant from the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) covering a portion of the expense. This brings the town's portion to $228,500 in the first year.
The Town was awarded the grant, which will cover 50% of the cost of operations in perpetuity.
Avent Ferry Road Widening Project
The council approved a design contract for the second phase of the Avent Ferry Road widening project. The project will widen a three-quarter-mile stretch of the road, from Cass Hope Road to Ralph Stevens, to four lanes. The design phase is expected to take up to 28 months.
The project, administered by the town, will be fully funded by NCDOT for up to $20.2 million.
The council approved a design budget of $1.2 million and authorized the town manager to execute the design contract with Exalt Engineering.
Public outreach and engagement are included in the contract's scope, with plans for at least three public meetings and separate meetings with stakeholders like HOAs, school principals, and fire stations along the corridor.
Holly Springs Business Park PUD Amendment
The Town Council held a legislative public hearing for an amendment to the Holly Springs Business Park Planned Unit Development (PUD) for the Pine Springs Upper School, which is set to open in August of 2026. The amendment aims to reduce the school's electric vehicle (EV) parking requirements by excluding student parking from the calculation.
The Proposal: The current Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) requires 5% of all parking spaces to have EV charging stations (EVSE) and an additional 15% to be "EV-Ready" (pre-wired with conduit). The proposed change would apply this standard only to the school's 116 staff and visitor parking spaces, excluding the 187 student spaces. This would reduce the number of required EVSE spaces from 15 to 6 and EV-Ready spaces from 45 to 18.
Justification: The applicant, Pine Springs Preparatory Academy, believes that the current UDO requirements impose a hardship on institutional uses with large parking areas dedicated to temporary users, such as students. They provided a comparison showing that the Town of Apex and the International Green Construction Code have significantly lower EV parking requirements for similar developments.
Next Steps: Following the public hearing, the application will be reviewed by the Planning Board on September 23, 2025, and is scheduled for consideration by the Town Council and a final decision on October 21, 2025.
Earlier HSU coverage: Holly Springs Town Council Approves Pine Springs Upper School Development Plan (3/19/25)
Other Meeting Highlights
Recognition of Staff: Town Manager Randy Harrington acknowledged the communications team for winning second place in the promotional videos category at a national conference for their "Mission Accomplished" video about the opening of Fire Station 3.
Yard Waste and Leaf Season: The Public Works department provided an update on the upcoming fee-free yard waste sweep, which is scheduled from October 13-17. The seasonal loose-leaf collection begins the week of October 27 and will run through February 2026, with collections organized by zone approximately every four weeks. (Note: HSU will publish a detailed story later this week)
Police Department Retirement: The council adopted a resolution to award a badge and sell a service sidearm to retiring Police Captain Mike Patterson, who has served the Holly Springs Police Department for over 20 years. North Carolina General Statute 20-187.2 permits the town to do so for retiring law enforcement officers.
U.S. Navy Anniversary: The mayor issued a proclamation for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy, celebrating its history and the contributions of sailors, including those from North Carolina.
Great Trails State Day: A proclamation was read declaring October 18, 2025, as Great Trails State Day, recognizing the importance of the town's trails and natural spaces for the community's quality of life.