FUQUAY- VARINA, N.C. – The town of Fuquay-Varina tried to convince residents Tuesday that a planned annexation is a good idea, but most residents didn’t agree.

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About 200 hundred residents attended the first of three informational sessions Tuesday on the annexation, which is just more than 1,000 acres, along Sunset Lake Road, Bass Lake Road and James Slaughter Road. The move would affect about 500 homes and more than 1,500 people.

A group of Wake County residents has banded together against the plan. The group, who wore red shirts to the meeting, is part of a coalition of homeowners who have hired a lawyer.

"If we had known this was going to happen, new house, new septic … we wouldn't have done this. This is a big shock to us,” said resident Nan Williams.

It's a message from many at the meeting: most don't want to be annexed by Fuquay-Varina.

"I've heard what he said. Are you asking me if I believe all this? I lived in Washington, D.C. I don't believe in this," said Williams.

At times, the meeting got heated.

"You just want to bait me into a question I can't answer,” said Town Manager Andy Hedrick at one point. “No you just want to see the town go down the tubes.”
After answering individual questions about water, the town explained why the annexation is needed – an explanation they’ve been slow to produce in the past.

Town officials say a 10-year agreement that gives them rights to this land is about to expire.
Hedrick said that means Holly Springs could come in and try to take it.

"If the agreement that we have with Holly Springs was going to stand for 20 years, then I would recommend to the town board that we might not need to do this right now," he said.

For some, that's just not a good enough reason to become part of Fuquay-Varina.

"It appears to me there are a lot of fear tactics, that because we fear Holly Springs might do something that we have to act now, and that's not good enough for me," said Suzanne Adorian.

Holly Springs officials have shown no interest in the land and do not participate in involuntary annexation.

Town officials still say they are doing a service to these communities, offering water, sewer, fire and police protection.

Not everyone is convinced.

"I don't need anything at all," Adorian said.

Right now, the coalition hopes a bill in the State Legislature halting all involuntary annexation passes and this situation just goes away.

Another informational meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Fuquay-Varina town hall.