HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 14, 2025 Minutes Approved ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD
January 14, 2025
Orange County West Campus Building
131 W. Margaret Lane Room 004
Hillsborough, NC 27278
Minutes
Members Present: Lisa Kaylie, Estella Johnson, John Kim, Tom Proctor, Kristen Young, Elise Tyler, Joy
Mercer, Emilee Collins
Members Not Present: Jane Saiers, Hasan Abdullah
Orange County Staff: Steve Brantley, Amanda Garner, Lindsey Hirni
Guest Speaker: Tom Altieri
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Kristen Young at 11:35 a.m.
Approval of Minutes
A motion was made by Tom Proctor and seconded by Joy Mercer to approve the Minutes from the
November 12, 2024 meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
Old Business
Kristen Young asked the board members if anyone had any questions, concerns or recommendations for
additional our Annual Report and Work Plan that will be turned into the Clerk of the BOCC this week.
Kristen mentioned the topic of the County's Land Use Plan 2050 and if our board would have the desire
to have a more direct connection and provide input to the planning department and planning board.
Our board will have 3 vacant positions opening July 1, 2025. Kristen said she has been working to recruit
a representative from UNC to apply. The two other positions would be Core Business Community so the
board has been encouraged to recruit new members of the community to apply.
New Business
Amanda Garner provided a brief update on the department's Strategic Plan process. The Creative
Economic Development Consulting firm has been hired and our kick-off meeting was last week. Amanda
mentioned the key milestone tasks, future meetings, interviews and survey's that would take place. The
community sessions will be tailored to key stakeholders. The final report will be shared with the BOCC
towards the summer.
Tom Altieri from the Planning department joined us for an update on the County's Land Use Plan 2050.
He mentioned that there would be a Public Hearing in 2025 and another public engaging session in May
or June. He encouraged our board members to plan to attend those. Tom spoke with the members about
the Orange County rural buffer, future land use, zoning and the EDD (Economic Development Districts).
He answered questions about those topics and joint planning areas and explained to the board that the
Planning Department would like balanced input from our Advisory Board. A motion was made by Joy
Mercer and seconded by Emilee Collins that the board add a statement to the Annual Report and Work
Plan that suggests the desire to provide input on the Land Use Plan. The motion passed unanimously.
Director's Report:
Steve Brantley provided an update on the County's budget and mentioned the increase to property tax,
which will happen over the next 3 years and there will also be a revaluation. Steve notified the board that
Orange County and The Town of Chapel Hill will not be renewing their contract or funding LAUNCH Inc.
in the new fiscal year.
Steve also informed the board about the Commissioners Petition Request for an Analysis of the County's
Economic Development Incentive Policy.
Adjournment
Kristen Young adjourned the meeting at 1:06 PM