CARY - Good governance and continued economic growth kept Cary on stable ground through another calendar year, Mayor Harold Weinbrecht said in his annual State of the Town speech.

Overall, "our trends are showing that we're moving forward in all directions," the mayor said in separate comments. "Things are looking very positive."

His speech hit on familiar points. He listed the town's newest accolades from publications and think tanks. Cary is, he said, the safest community in the state and the Southeast; part of the healthiest U.S. housing market; among the country's "most inventive" municipalities; and one of the country's five most economically potent small cities. Some Cary companies added hundreds of jobs this year, he added.

And though the economic downturn has dampened the town's and the state's residential growth rate since 2008, Weinbrecht said Cary is seeing a sustainable number of new housing projects. "We all know that residential growth is much slower than in previous years due mostly to these continuing tough economic times," he said in the speech. "That said, people are continuing to come to Cary."

Town data show single-family home growth fell by half after the recession in 2008, then rose dramatically during 2010. But in fiscal 2011, the town's residential growth rate fell to fiscal 2009 levels.

In the last year, home-building remained steady but slow compared to pre-downturn years. Cary issued more single-family home permits in 2011 than any other Wake County municipality, Weinbrecht said.

"I'm not afraid that we're going to stop growing. I think we're at a sustainable rate," he said in separate comments.

The mayor's speech also hit on the town's agenda for 2012, which includes environment-oriented upgrades.

Cary staff will propose a townwide installation of LED street lighting, which would result in substantial savings, he said. In 2011, Weinbrecht said, the town installed an electric vehicle charging station, made town vehicles more gas efficient, prepared to install solar panels on town facilities and prepared a hybrid trash truck for use.

In closing, Weinbrecht made a broad, praising appeal to his town.

"By continuing to work together, we can fully achieve our bright and promising future, " he said.