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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19940110 685 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING JANUARY 10, 1994 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met on January 10, 1994 at 7: 30 p.m. in the Government Services Center public meeting room for a work session on Economic Development Districts. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Moses Carey, Jr. , and Commissioners Alice M. Gordon., Stephen H. Halkiotis, Verla C. Insko and Don Willhoit. COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr. , Economic Development Director Ted Abernathy, Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe, Planning Director Marvin Collins, Economic Development Technician Oli DeVaud and Beth Wickham. OPENING REMARKS Chair Moses Carey, Jr. welcomed everyone to this work session. He added to the agenda a resolution for widening Homestead Road. He announced that this work session will be for the Board to discuss the proposed Economic Development Districts. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS Marvin Collins made reference to the "Fiscal Impact Analysis" (FIA) and explained how this was developed. He gave examples of how this FIA could apply to different kinds of uses. He tried to show the impact of developing the same acreagelin different ways. This provided information which led him to cut from the permitted use table those uses that paid less than $9. 18 per hour. An annual inflation factor of 2.9% was used in the FIA. In answer to a question from Commissioner Willhoit, Marvin Collins indicated that he has not developed a way to factor affordable housing into the FIA. Chair Carey noted that he does not favor using the FIA as a determining factor in approving Economic Development Districts (EDDs) . The Board needs to decide how it wants to use this information. In answer to a question from Commissioner Gordon, Beth Wickham explained the refinement coefficient procedure and how it was used in doing the FIA. Commissioner Gordon stated that one of the reasons given for creating-: EDDs is financial.. Diversifying the tax base is thought to' be a means for improving the County's revenue. The effect on affordable housing is unknown. She suggested that one way to provide affordable housing is to put money into it maybe with a bond issue. Commissioner Willhoit suggested that one way to provide affordable housing is to set a goal that for every $80, 000 house approved, a $200, 000 house is approved. Marvin Collins noted that one thing very important to his calculations is service standards which must be decided by the Board. Commissioner Willhoit said that the least impact model would be zero growth which is not possible. What he supports is providing guidelines for EDDs and a method to channel the quality growth. It is a question of the rate and quality of growth. He agrees that the FIA should not be used in their decision on these nodes. Commissioner Gordon feels that if the FIA cannot be done ahead of time, that a pilot node should be approved so that a track record can be kept. Commissioner Insko reiterated the two goals which are (1) have quality commercial growth and design standards to guide that growth and (2) concentrate the growth into specific areas. 686 Commissioner Gordon stated that while she agrees with these two goals, she is concerned about the method of reaching these goals. She questions if there will be incentives for companies to locate in these nodes, if training will be provided, if transportation will be available and if there will be infrastructure in place to support commercial development. She feels that one goal is to help those in low paying jobs, training and transportation wi. need to be available. Commissioner Insko feels the FIA shows that nonresidential growth does better at supporting itself than residential growth. Ted Abernathy said that 300 of the people in Orange County are in low paying jobs. Commissioner Willhoit noted that one way to ensure good paying jobs is to modify the Permitted Use Table. PERMITTED USE TABLE In answer to a question from Commissioner Insko about how chemical products will be identified, Marvin Collins said that the applicant must, as part of any approval process, identify all the hazardous materials they will use in their business. They will have to comply with fire prevention codes and identify where the hazardous materials are located on site. Commissioner Halkiotis feels it is important to allow some retail businesses. Commissioner Willhoit made reference to the I-40/Old 86 node and stated that he does not want the anchor of an office complex or a mall to be a gas station. Commissioner Gordon emphasized the importance of having businesses which are low water users and nonpolluting. The Permitted Use Table could stay the same and stipulataions for low water users and nonpolluting businesses could-, be put into the ordinance. This would still provide a fast track approv. process. For businesses that locate in the proposed Buckhorn node, water would be available from Mebane. These businesses could also be annexed by Mebane. Commissioner Gordon asked for information on the utility plan for the I- 40/Old 86 area and questioned how the infrastructure will be financed. With regard to Meridian Park in Durham, the Board indicated that it may be helpful to have the developer share his vision with them. In response to a statement made by Commissioner Gordon about the extension of water and sewer, .John Link stated that this can be controlled with interlocal agreements--with Durham, Mebane -and Graham. - - He noted that regulations prohibiting high water users, nonpolluters, etc. can be set forth in a resolution. Commissioner Gordon asked that the Board review the goals they are trying to achieve with, the development of these EDDs. Also, -she would like additional information on providing utility. service and utility providers and what the Board is willing to offer as incentives for locating in these nodes. Commissioner Willhoit emphasized that the controlling factor is the Design Standards and the Permitted Use Table. He asked that Marvin Collins provide information on the maximum water consumption per employee for those categories that are businesses. He would also like to know if Hillsborough will be able to extend water and sewer from day one. Commissioner Gordon asked for information on the water and sewer providers for each node and the distance they are from the node, the cost of the service and the maximum capacity of the provider. Marvin Collins noted that three nodes are in the transition areas. A RESOLUTION REITERATING ORANGE COUNTY'S SUPPORT FOR THE WIDENING OF HOMESTEAD ROAD 687 A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Insko to approve the resolution which is stated below: A RESOLUTION REITERATING ORANGE COUNTY'S SUPPORT FOR THE WIDENING OF HOMESTEAD ROAD WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of Commissioners met on October 19, 1993 and considered a list of projects for consideration of funding in the North Carolina Transportation Improvement Program; and WHEREAS, Orange County's top priority was the section of Homestead Road from High School Road to Airport road; and WHEREAS, Homestead Road is a connector facility for the Chapel Hill and Carrboro communities and a primary means of access for Chapel Hill High School (High School Road) and Seawell Elementary School (Seawell School Road) ; and WHEREAS, a background investigation indicates safety problems associated with turning movements along the entire corridor limits due to sight-distance problems; and WHEREAS, future traffic increases are expected on Homestead Road due to additional development as well as construction of the Southern Human Services Complex; and WHEREAS, Orange County recognizes that Homestead Road is a multi- jurisdictional concern, lying in the Chapel Hill and Carrboro Joint Planning Area transition areas as well as a portion of the Chapel Hill municipal limits. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS: 1. Reaffirms its support of the Homestead Road project and is desirous of seeing it advanced in the Regional Project Priority List; and 2 . Respectf$lly requests that the Transportation Advisory Committee of "C-he Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Urban Area give due and thoughtful consideration to the advancement of Homestead Road in the Regional Project Priority List at its meeting on January 12, 1994. VOTE: UNANIMOUS ADJOURNMENT With no further items for discussion, Chair Carey adjourned the meeting. The next regular meeting of the Board will be held on January 18, 1994 at 7: 30 p.m. in the OWASA Community Meeting Room in Carrboro, North Carolina. Beverly A. Blythe, Clerk Maws Carey, Jr. , Chair --