Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
11 <br /> I District, and has been showing those sites to visiting business prospects (1), site section <br /> 2 consultants (2), and NC Department of Commerce state economic developers (5). <br /> 3 <br /> 4 The new economic development website, www.GrowinOran-geNC.com, also links to <br /> 5 Waterstone and Hillsborough Economic Development District site maps. <br /> 6 <br /> 7 Staff also proposes meeting more regularly with Hillsborough's Planning staff, Chamber, <br /> 8 and other Hillsborough leadership, as has already been occurring, in order to build additional <br /> 9 collaboration opportunities. <br /> 10 <br /> 11 <br /> 12 Margaret Hauth gave an update on the Strategic Growth Plan from 2007 where they <br /> 13 talked about where the boundaries of the town and county should be. Both jurisdictions are <br /> 14 now ready to move forward. <br /> 15 Commissioner Yuhasz asked about the timeline for the next steps in this process and he <br /> 16 would want to review all of the information to this point and what it will take to move the more <br /> 17 critical issues along. <br /> 18 Craig Benedict said that he could sit down with Margaret Hauth and come back with a <br /> 19 timeline. <br /> 20 Commissioner Yuhasz said that the emphasis has been to work on the economic <br /> 21 development issues, but they need to see about this plan and if it can fit into some of the <br /> 22 economic development projects the County is developing. <br /> 23 Commissioner Jacobs said that he wanted to urge the boards to put their efforts forth so <br /> 24 as to complete the process that started years ago. <br /> 25 Mayor Stevens said that the Town is on board with this to move forward. <br /> 26 <br /> 27 Q Update on Riverwalk and its Economic Impact <br /> 28 Margaret Hauth referred to the map in the packet. A grant request has been submitted <br /> 29 to the State. <br /> 30 The Town has completed conceptual planning of Phase II of Riverwalk. The color <br /> 31 coded attached map details the various portions on the project. The Town has submitted a <br /> 32 grant request to the State Parks and Recreation Trust Fund seeking $425,000 to fund final <br /> 33 design and construction of the portion of Riverwalk connecting Gold Park to River Park. The <br /> 34 Town will also be seeking $75,000 from the State Recreational Trails Program next year to <br /> 35 further support this project and expects to match these funds with local funds to fully fund this <br /> 36 high priority project. The Town also hopes to modify the current Congestion Mitigation and Air <br /> 37 Quality (CMAQ) funding for Riverwalk to fund some necessary sidewalk improvements that <br /> 38 connect neighborhoods to Riverwalk to greatly enhance safe access to this community <br /> 39 resource. Shortly, the Town plans to begin construction on the Calvin Street connecting path to <br /> 40 provide safe pedestrian access to Gold Park and Riverwalk from Calvin Street to access the <br /> 41 covered walkway under the railroad. This facilitates pedestrian access into Gold Park and <br /> 42 avoids the use of the trestle for walkers. <br /> 43 <br /> 44 Further connections to the east and west have been delayed for cost considerations. <br /> 45 The Town now expects the trail surface to change heading west from Allison Street and east <br /> 46 from Cameron Street based on desires of the resources that the trail will connect to and the <br /> 47 unique landforms being crossed to make those connections. Neither Classical Home <br /> 48 Preservation Trust nor the Occoneechee State Natural Area actively permit wheels on their <br /> 49 path systems, so pavement is not necessary or desirable for these sections. A schedule for <br />