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■ y <br /> 1 <br /> 3 <br /> suitable locations. The EDC prepared a Strategic Plan for orange County's <br /> Economic Development. That plan included 12 challenges, with challenge #1 being <br /> the identification of recruitment targets and. appropriate county areas for <br /> location of economic development. As one of its FY 1990-91 goals, the Board of <br /> Commissioners asked that specific parcels be identified for pre-zoning for <br /> economic development purposes in a. manner consistent with the orange County Land <br /> Use Plan. In December, 1990, the EDC Target Advisory Group completed a report <br /> identifying preferred locations and types of businesses for orange County. <br /> Consistent with the recommendations of the Target Advisory Group, four areas were <br /> identified by the Planning Hoard/EDC Work Group as focal points for its efforts. <br /> They included, <br /> 1. The northeast quadrant of the I-85/Buckhorn Road Interchange; <br /> 2. The I--40/01d NC 86 Interchange; <br /> 3,, The I-85/US Highway 70 Interchange including NC 10 and NC 751 ; and <br /> 4. The NC Highway 54-West area near White Cross and Morrow Mill Head* <br /> All of the work completed by the Planning Board and the Economic Development <br /> Commission Work Group led to the formulation of a more definitive goal; i.e. , to <br /> develop an "economic development district" proposal with acceptable performance <br /> standards and streamlined approval procedures. This goal was adopted by the <br /> Board of Commissioners for FY 1992-9 . A second proposal involved the actual <br /> application of the category through changes to the Land Use Plan (Map) , including <br /> Township Plans. Finally, changes to the Land Use Element-Zoning District Matrix <br /> and applicable goals and policies are proposed to insure consistency between the <br /> Land Use Element and the Zoning Ordinance* <br /> TED ABERNATHY, Director of Economic Development, indicated that this <br /> proposal is intended to set higher standards. Population 'is increasing and many <br /> citizens desire concentrated growth rather than having it spread out over the <br /> entire county. Also, there are those who feel that living close to their place <br /> of employment is important to the quality of their life. He mentioned that <br /> there have been at least 10 newspaper articles over the last several years <br /> informing residents of how this plan was progressing. There has been a great <br /> deal of input from citizens, both individually and as a part of groups to which <br /> they belong. <br /> VICE-CHAIR EIDEHIER repeated that the proposal includes the creation of four <br /> economic development districts* If a developer meets the standards and <br /> conditions set for these districts they could begin their project without a <br /> public hearing and the long process that entails. If the design standards were <br /> not in compliance they would need to request a. special Use Permit which would <br /> require a, public hearing, <br /> She also indicated that the lack of courtesy expressed in past public hearings <br /> has kept citizens with minority viewpoints from feeling free to speak. She <br /> requested that there be no applauding or other disruptive noises. <br /> THE FSLIC HEARING WAS OPEN FOR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FWK BOARD of <br /> COMMISSIONERS AND/OR TAE PLANNING BOARD. <br /> COMMISSIONER GORDON assured the citizens that county staff and the members <br /> of the Hoard. of County Commissioners were committed to listening with an open <br /> mind. There are no foregone conclusions. <br /> RALPH WARREN, a resident of Bingham Township, stated that he is firmly in <br /> de <br />