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allow a couple of people speak just to the rezoning request. With that said, I'd like to introduce <br />Ms. Rosemary Waldorf. <br />Rosemary Waldorf: I have been sworn. We really appreciate this opportunity to present to <br />you the details of the proposal for this mixed-use development. Several members of our team <br />area going to be speaking to our proposal this evening as will planning, engineering, and other <br />design experts. We look forward to your questions. I'd like to begin by saying who we are and <br />how we got involved. We are an Orange County team. The partners in Buckhorn Associates <br />are three established local development groups. East/West Partners Management Company, <br />which is represented here by Roger Perry and Ben Perry is a developer of residential and <br />mixed-use projects. Examples include Meadowmont and East 54 in Chapel Hill, Cary Park in <br />Cary, and Davis Park in Research Triangle Park. Tryon Investment Group is another part of <br />Buckhorn Associates, and it is owned and managed by George Horton. George has developed <br />residential and mixed-use projects in Orange County, including Meadowlands and the Gateway <br />Center in Hillsborough. Montgomery Development is a commercial construction firm that has <br />built retail space in 45 states and is owned and managed by John Fugo, who is here this <br />evening. John also has been a partner in the design and construction of The Village Center in <br />Southern Village, and I've worked with John for several years and am working with him on this <br />project. <br />How did we get here? In March of 2007, the County's Economic Development Director, <br />Dianne Reid asked us to consider a destination retail project for the Buckhorn Road EDD. The <br />County had received indications from national destination retail companies that they were very <br />interested in this site. In response to Dianne's inquiry, our group researched the site and we <br />formed Buckhorn Associates, with the intent of creating a predominantly retail development, and <br />gained control of key pieces of property. That makes it sound a lot faster and easier than it was, <br />but that's what we did. We've tried very hard to pursue what we perceive to be the County's <br />goals by proposing a project that is in the EDD. The County went through a very careful public <br />process to establish its desire that development occur here. If successful, I think Buckhorn <br />Village could potentially accomplish one of your economic development goals of adding $125 <br />million worth of commercial space in Orange County and adding new private sector jobs. If <br />successful, we think that Buckhorn Village could provide many new shops and services to <br />Orange County citizens and would help stem that exodus of retail dollars. We'd like to thank <br />Craig Benedict and Mike Harvey for their professionalism. They've helped us get through what <br />is a difficult preparation process. We'd also like to thank the Town of Mebane. At their request, <br />we met with neighbors of the Clearview subdivision and members of the People for Progress. <br />It's important to state, I think, that the success of Buckhorn Village will depend on our ability to <br />attract a variety of stores and restaurants. We would work hard, if approved, to bring national, <br />regional, and local businesses to this center. I know that a lot of people are curious about <br />potential tenants, particularly a potential anchor tenant. There has been lots of speculation, but <br />at this time, we have nothing to report. Our leasing agents can't really conclude any <br />negotiations until we finish the review process with the County. We also view Buckhorn Village <br />as an opportunity for local businesses, and we will recruit existing local businesses that wish to <br />expand and new ones that are considering a store. Thanks again for your time, care, and <br />consideration. I'd like to introduce Jim Parker of Summit Consulting, which is a Hillsborough <br />consulting engineering firm that has taken primary responsibility for preparation of our <br />application. <br />Jim Parker: I have been sworn in. I again also want to commend your Planning staff, which <br />has been very professional, tremendously helpful, and we could not be here without their <br />professional guidance. Summit has also worked closely with Scott Murray, who has sub- <br />consulted on this project, and Scott will be up to speak in a few minutes. He's done a <br />