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Commissioner Nelson: First, I want to correct one statement that was made by Adam Klein <br /> from the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce. It's not correct to say that there was <br /> unanimity; there was a split vote on whether or not to proceed with this. I thought there were <br /> some key questions that needed to be discussed in a public way before proceeding with this. <br /> So, it's not really accurate. A couple of things were raised at the last time we discussed this and <br /> I wanted to ask some questions about. Some are specific to the project, but some are bigger <br /> picture things, because as you know, this is a legislative decision. The first question I had, there <br /> were comments made, evidence presented that the 1-85 bridge would have to be widened and <br /> some other road developments would have to be made. Who is going to pay for these? <br /> Jim Parker: At this time, it would be on the back of the development. At this time. <br /> Commissioner Nelson: At this time, do you think it's going to change? <br /> Jim Parker: Possibly somebody could bring some money into the situation. DOT has certain <br /> areas that we could explore, but currently, improvements that are in the TIA in the proposal are <br /> based on the development itself, so it's their responsibility. <br /> Commissioner Nelson: There are also some tax revenue figures in the document that was <br /> presented. Have we done any analysis of our own to see what our estimates are? <br /> Laura Blackmon: No, we currently do not have any estimates. <br /> Commissioner Nelson: Can we get that? Along those same lines, I'd be interested in <br /> knowing what the net economic impact would be of this project. We have a Chamber of <br /> Commerce that talked only about the benefits, but there are costs. One of the presenters last <br /> time made a significant comment about the wages of these jobs — retail jobs, hotel jobs of$8-9 <br /> an hour, which means government subsidizing. If you make $8 an hour, somebody's going to <br /> have to subsidize your childcare; somebody's going to have to subsidize your child's free lunch <br /> or reduced lunch. So, what are the net costs of this development for the community? <br /> And he also stated that there would be 1,500 jobs, which would be great, but we only have <br /> about 2,300 unemployed people in Orange County right now. My question is where those 1,500 <br /> people are going to come from. Are they going to move into Orange County to work at this <br /> shopping center, and if so, where are they going to live? If they get $8 an hour, they're going to <br /> need affordable housing. <br /> Are there going to be other economic development incentives sought for this project besides the <br /> potential 1-85 widening? <br /> Jim Parker: At this time, I can't answer that question, but I will respond to that in writing when I <br /> find out for sure. There could be several. <br /> Commissioner Nelson: If there are, I think that needs to be brought up and put on the table in <br /> a public place for the public to discuss. <br /> The last sort of comment I have is about land use development and the comments that James <br /> Carnahan made about global warming. I think it's easy to sort of laugh that off, you know, one <br /> project doesn't have a significant impact on global warming. But the real key point that is trying <br /> to be made, when we all talk about running for office, we talk about it on every street when <br /> we're brainstorming the values of the County we want to pursue, is that you have to change <br />