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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: September 8, 2011 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No, q' Q <br />SUBJECT: Economic Development Potential and One-Quarter ('/4) Cent Sales Tax <br />Educational Material Report <br />DEPARTMENT: Manager's Office, Planning, PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) N~ <br />Economic Development <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Economic Development Potential Overview <br />and Illustrations (Under Separate Cover) <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Craig Benedict, Planning Director, 245- <br />2592 <br />Dottie Schmitt, Economic Development, <br />245-2327 <br />Shannon Berry, Planning, 245-2589 <br />PURPOSE: To receive a report from Planning and Economic Development staff and <br />consultant Obrien/Atkins Associates on economic development potential and One-Quarter <br />(~/4) Cent Sales Tax educational material. <br />BACKGROUND: Orange County has been engaged in the preparation of its economic <br />development zones through a variety of planning aspects. Land use, zoning and <br />infrastructure (water, sewer and roadways) planning changes and designs have been made <br />or are in progress. <br />The Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) was another milestone that will continue to set <br />the planning framework to escort development into appropriate areas. This accordingly will <br />promote job creation, enhance retail opportunities and strengthen the diversity of the <br />County's tax base. <br />To further the visualization of the potential of the County's economic development zones <br />and create an educational primer on the aspects that build the foundation of an economic <br />development program, Planning and Economic Development staff has consulted with a <br />planning, architecture, engineering, landscape architecture firm. Obrien/Atkins Associates <br />was retianed to complete a master plan overview of Orange. County's western economic <br />zone -the Efland-Buckhorn-Mebane area. <br />There will be a presentation to show the perspective as well as the progress of planning <br />techniques that serve as the anchor to promote economic development. <br />This work also illustrates the value the one-quarter ('/4) cent sales apportionment can have <br />with the investment in infrastructure. <br />