Minutes 09-15-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Frank Clifton introduced Steve Brantley, Economic Development Director. Steve Brantley said that next week he will begin working as an employee of Orange County along with Dottie Schmitt. He is a Durham native. He gave his credentials. He said that earlier today he met with some people from a Japanese industry that were interested in some properties in Mebane, particularly the Oakwood area. He said that it is hard to find outstanding properties that are close to an interstate and an airport and it would be enjoyable for him to introduce some of these contact companies to Orange County. Commissioner McKee arrived at 6:25 PM. Frank Clifton said that he and Mebane City Manager Robert Wilson have been working together a lot on some economic development projects. Robert Wilson said that the staff has been working hard on this issue. He made reference to the packet and said that he provided some ideas of things that could take place along the corridor of Mebane and Efland. There is a lot of property in this area that could be developed. He said that Steve Brantley brings a lot to Orange County. He said that Mebane wants to work with Orange County and not against it. Craig Benedict showed some pictures of the potential plan. He said that the most important part of this is that this can only be achieved through intergovernmental coordination. Orange County does not have utilities and this is a prerequisite to focusing growth in the right place. He said that the staff took into account the typography of the land, the streams, the property lines, the regulations, etc. There are several scenarios and this is just a concept plan. The Mattress Factory interchange is going to be a very important component for this area. Areas B and C, which amount to about 1,200 acres, are part of the existing agreement that was adopted in March 2004 with Mebane to allow the utilities to service this area. More recently, 423 acres were added into an economic development zone. He showed more examples of what might be in this area. Retail is not suggested in this area because direct access to the interstate is not easy. Frank Clifton said that he and Robert Wilson, the Mayor, and the Chair had a meeting a couple of weeks ago and the position that the County Commissioners have taken on the utility infrastructure is the County's advance funding for these systems, and when the system is installed, then Mebane would take ownership of it and the County becomes responsible for the debt service until it is paid for. One of the important things is that with the '/4-cent sales tax, it would generate $2.5 million per year in Orange County and the County Commissioners have dedicated half of that to economic development over the next ten years. He said that it would be good for the City of Mebane to endorse this concept for the residents of Mebane that are in Orange County. Craig Benedict continued showing overview maps of the water and sewer plans. 2. COLLABORATIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES — How Staffs may assist with economic development efforts beneficial to both Mebane and Orange County. (Robert Wilson) Robert Wilson said that the City of Mebane has been looking at these areas for years for utilities. He said that he thinks that everyone is seeing that Mebane and Orange County are working together to come up with something. Tim Bradley asked how, long term, they would decide issues like zoning when certain industries come in. He asked if there would be a process for determining how to resolve questions about whether an area can be annexed, etc. Robert Wilson said that Mebane's policy will be in place and when they take control of a parcel, they will take control of the zoning, etc. He said that once they annex, the general