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Major Initiatives
Community engagement plays a major role in the planning process.
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Town Continues Community Planning Efforts
In recent decades, Wake Forest has transitioned from a small, rural town to a bustling suburban community. While this growth presents many opportunities, it is important to carefully plan for the rise of new development to ensure it aligns with the community’s vision and strengthens the town’s overall character. Community planning efforts seek to achieve this by carefully analyzing trends in development, housing, and placemaking, which are then translated into actionable policy.
Community Plan & Future Land Use Map
Approved in 2022, the Community Plan establishes a road map for how Wake Forest should develop and grow over the next 10 to 20 years. The Community Plan is a product of a 21-month planning process that included considerable community engagement.
In August 2020, the Town initiated an update to the Wake Forest Community Plan to address Wake Forest’s continual growth and ensure future development supports a thriving community with a high quality of life. The planning process included an extensive analysis of existing conditions and robust community engagement to identify issues and opportunities. Together, these components formed the vision, goals, and recommendations of the new Community Plan.
The Community Plan is built off past planning efforts, existing policies that remain relevant, and community input from a wide-ranging outreach process. It presents a cohesive vision that is representative of Wake Forest’s residents, business community, and community stakeholders. The Community Plan outlines the critical steps essential to ensure future growth and development aligns with the community’s priorities.
To see the adopted plan, visit wakeforestnc.gov and search “Community Plan.”
Housing Affordability Plan
Wake Forest is situated in one of the fastestgrowing regions in the United States, leading to considerable population growth for the Town in recent decades. The large influx of new residents has substantially increased demand for both ➤
Northeast Community Plan
Adopted in December 2021, the Northeast Community Plan outlines a strategy for enhancing the social, cultural and historical character of the Northeast Community by identifying needed public services, desired physical improvements within the neighborhood along with economic development opportunities that could bring services and jobs to the area.
Historic Preservation Plan
Work on the Historic Preservation Plan kicked off in March 2022. The plan was developed over a nine-month period that included community engagement along with four overarching goals that will preserve the town’s long and rich history. The plan was adopted in October 2022.
Conceptual drawing from the Housing Affordability Plan
rental and for-sale housing in the community. As a result, many seeking to locate to Wake Forest are unable to find housing that they can afford, while numerous households of existing residents are at risk of being displaced from Wake Forest and possibly the region.
In response to these challenges, the Town undertook a Housing Affordability Plan to analyze local housing conditions, determine local housing need, explore proven housing affordability strategies, and refine these strategies into practical actions for the Town. The strategies contained in the Housing Affordability Plan set the framework for how the Town can work with community partners to make thoughtful, targeted investments in housing.
Adopted in September 2022, the Housing Affordability Plan can be viewed at wakeforestnc. gov, search “Housing Affordability Plan.”
Strategic Plan Updated for 2022-2027
Over the past year, the Wake Forest Board of Commissioners and staff updated the strategic plan. The strategic plan is a roadmap to guide the use of money, personnel and resources to realize a shared vision of the future. It outlines what a community hopes to achieve through a long-term and annual goal-setting process and provides steps for reaching those goals.
The five goals identified in the 2022-2027 Strategic Plan are as follows: 1) Sustaining excellent town services; 2) Creating accessible housing opportunities; 3) Fostering a safe, diverse, and welcoming community; 4) Investing in transportation and infrastructure; and 5) Advancing community and economic prosperity.
The Board reviews progress of our strategic plan priorities on a quarterly basis to refine items and to ensure the plan is reflective of the changing needs of our growing community.
For more details about the Strategic Plan, visit wakeforestnc.gov and search “Strategic Plan.”
Conceptual drawing of 353 S White St. and adjoining parking deck
Redevelopment of 353 South White Street
The Town continues to make strategic public investments that will spur private development. One of those investments is in the heart of downtown Wake Forest at 353 S. White St., the site of the former SunTrust building. The property spans one acre at the corner of White Street and Elm Avenue —a key intersection between the downtown historic core and Renaissance Place.
The Town intends to see the site redeveloped into a mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented project that meets both public and private goals. The project is expected to include ground floor retail, approximately 110 apartment units, and a Town-owned parking deck to meet the growing needs in downtown Wake Forest. Bond funding will be used to cover the Town’s portion of the cost to construct the parking facility.
In August 2022, following a competitive solicitation process and careful developer proposal evaluation, the Town of Wake Forest selected Triangle Real Estate Company (TREC) from Cary, NC, as the developer for the project.
To see a project overview and key milestones, visit wakeforestnc.gov and search “SunTrust site redevelopment.”
