CLAYTON — Everyone’s turning the calendar these days and 2013 offers a fresh slate to make changes, begin new projects and finish up business that’s still lingering from 2012.

The same holds true for the town. Here’s a look at some of what you can expect to see happening around Clayton in the next 12 months.

The town has several projects coming to a close next year, meaning an end to some construction, and a beginning to new recreation areas when the East Clayton Community Park officially opens. A date has not been set, but construction is nearly complete on the project, according to town spokeswoman Stacy Beard.

The medical center, which launched in 2012, will be under construction and completed in 2013, including an assisted living facility.

And, town officials say, a new water tank near Fire Station Two on N.C. 42 will be completed, bringing better fire protection to some of Clayton’s largest manufacturing facilities and lower homeowners insurance rates for residents in the area.

Now that its tasting center is completed, Clayton’s first microbrewery should be opening soon. Deep River Brewing has been keeping tabs on construction with updates on its website so future customers can know what to expect and when. Their website is deepriverbrewing.com.

Next year, the Clayton Farm and Community Market, which sells fresh produce and homemade goods from local farmers and vendosr, will be held at Horne Square instead of Town Square. Downtown development director Bruce Naegelan said the new location should provide a new set of customers for the market and will be good for the vendors.

Naegelan also expects the town will add more wayfinding signs in the style of the ones installed in December to direct visitors to sites downtown, including Town Square, Town Hall, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library of Clayton.

New to town

In addition to the final stages of plans that have already been in the works, the town will, of course, be launching new projects. According to town planning director David DeYoung, the town will be conducting an infrastructure analysis of the area near U.S. 70 Bypass and U.S. 70 Business, where it intersects with N.C. 42 West. The analysis will help determine what sort of infrastructure improvements are needed in that area.

DeYoung also said that there will be a revision to the sign code in Clayton next year. The last year it was updated was in 2006. It would affect all types of signs put in by businesses and regulate color, placement, sign types, electronic signs and pole signs. DeYoung says he often hears comments on the signage, some of it negative. Right now, the sign code is hard to regulate. DeYoung says it’s time for an update, so there is more consistency throughout town, and in shopping centers.

Another project planned for 2013 is a small area plan for the area north of downtown and South of the Neuse River. “We’ll determine what we want to see there,” said DeYoung. That could include adding roadway extensions, and determining where residences could be located. Overall, it will mean bringing attention to the area and evaluating how it could be developed.

Growing

Several facility openings are scheduled for next year, including a new Grifols facility, and a new Caterpillar product development facility off N.C. 42. There will also be a new development in Riverwood called Riverwood Ranch.

Downtown, residents and visitors can look forward to more parking options, which are to be added in the coming months.

And, if the news has already been forgotten, the town will also get its first Char-Grill, to be located in the Clayton Corners Shopping Center behind the KS Bank.

James: 919-553-7234