HomeMy WebLinkAboutEcon Dev Advisory Board minutes 010819 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD
January 8, 2019
West Campus Office Building
Hillsborough, NC
Minutes
Members Present: Jim Kitchen, John Morris, Mark O'Neal, Anthony Carey, James Watts, Barbara Jessie-
Black
Orange County Staff:
Economic Development: Steve Brantley, Yvonne Scarlett, Mike Ortosky, Amanda Garner
Planning and Inspections: Craig Benedict, Tom Altieri, Nish Trivedi
County Manager's Office: Travis Myren
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Jim Kitchen, Chair at 12:10 pm.
• Minutes from November 13, 2018 were unanimously approved.
• March meeting date was discussed and unanimously approved to reschedule to March 19.
• Chair Jim Kitchen requested Travis Myren provide an additional $25,000 to the Business
Investment Grant Program.
Old Business
Orange County Board of Commissioners' Annual Retreat - Steve Brantley
The retreat will take place on January 25 with a focus on transportation, housing and economic
development
Directors Report - Steve Brantley
• LAUNCH - Orange County, Town of Chapel Hill and UNC renewed a 3 year contract (inter-local
agreement rather than contract
• Project update
o Major Business Forms building has been partially leased
o Local millwork business has been sold and will merge with 3 similar businesses (to relocate
to Orange County).
o Retail prospect in Efland (200 potential jobs)
o Developer interested in building a 100,000 sf shell building in Hillsborough
o Auto dealership interested in property adjacent to Sheets (3-5 acre site)
o Possible hotel prospect (3-5 acre)
o Glen Lennox— Orange county is not financially participating with the Town of Chapel Hill to
offer incentives
o Wegmans project in Chapel Hill has been downsized
• Orange County will host the Economic Development Partnership of NC on February 21, 2019 in
Chapel Hill. Twelve North Carolina counties will make presentations showcasing their commercial
assets.
• Orange County Assembly of Governments meeting will be January 29. Orange County and
municipalities will meet to discuss affordable housing, a comprehensive transit plan and
intergovernmental cooperation opportunities.
New Business
Buckhorn-Mebane-Efland Access Management Plan (see attached)
Orange County Planning and Inspections staff were invited to attend to address the concerns of the
Advisory Board regarding the proposed "Buckhorn-Mebane Access Management Plan. Economic
Development staff and Advisory Board members expressed concerns:
o Lack of input from Advisory Board (were not asked by Planning)
o Timmons Group was unaware of the plan during the discussion of the SWOT Analysis
o Marketing material did not contain correct site data
o New roads will degrade potential for development
o Prospects will be "stuck" with Access Management Plan
o Plan difficult to adjust after adoption
o Planning and Economic Development not working together
o Sites converting to all residential zoning
Craig Benedict indicated that he plans to ask the BOCC to amend the current 2011 Access Management
Plan and suggested the Advisory Board offer suggestions prior to February 5, 2019
Adjournment - Chair Jim Kitchen adjourned the meeting at 1:29 pm.