Network Streamlines Town's Zoning Communications

The town of Cary, NC, has a new communications network that promotes communication between town officials and Cary citizens, allowing more efficient management of zoning comments, concerns and feedback.

Before the implementation of Neighborhood America’s Public Comment technology, Cary residents—known for their active participation in town affairs—would send their comments on specific zoning issues to the Planning Department via calls and emails, as well as through other town agencies and government officials. Additionally, citizens submitted feedback via comment cards at community meetings. Cary Planning Department officials did their best to address these concerns, but realized many citizens had similar inquiries, which complicated the process of managing and reacting to citizen comment. Neighborhood America’s Public Comment technology solution proved a natural adaptation for the town of Cary, already known for its progressive technology initiatives.

“The citizens of Cary are tech-savvy and highly educated, so Neighborhood America’s solution reinforces our goal to be a technologically advanced government that meets the needs of our citizens,” said Jeff Ulma, planning director, Town of Cary Planning Department. “By streamlining the communications process between citizens and government, Neighborhood America’s solution will enable citizens’ voices to be heard more clearly than ever before, and therefore enabling us to better serve Cary residents.”

The solution facilitates public involvement by reducing redundancy and confusion in the communication process between the town and residents. It enables the Planning Department to create a one-stop communication tool for Cary citizens concerned with town zoning. Through steering citizens’ feedback to one portal, town officials are able to manage and respond quickly and effectively. These responses are then available on the Web site to serve as a reference for residents, while Planning Department officials no longer answer similar questions repeatedly. This streamlining of the communication process results in the town’s increased response ability and enables officials to devote more time to constituents.

For more information, visit www.neighborhoodamerica.com.