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Conclusions <br />The Economic Development Commissions supports the Buclchorn Village project and <br />encourages the Orange County Board of County Commissioners to approve the project <br />and facilitate its review and development. <br />This project provides a positive opportunity to place an appropriate economic <br />development project in a location that has been long identified and approved for this <br />purpose. It specifically addresses the significant and problematic issue of increasing <br />retail leakage from Orange County, and additionally provides the opportunity to capture <br />retail dollars along a heavily traveled transportation corridor. It adds significant value to <br />the non-residential 1 property tax base. The involvement of local developers familiar <br />with both county development ordinances and a track record of understanding and <br />respecting county cultural preferences increases the likelihood of a smooth collaborative <br />process with a positive outcome for the county and its residents. <br />There was significant discussion around two issues; that of this project's environmental <br />stewardship and whether the operating businesses will offer a living wage. In the first <br />matter, we are confident that the Plamiing Board and the County's planning staff are, well <br />equipped to appropriately represent the County's interest in this area. In the second <br />matter, it is the position of the Economic Development Commission that a healthy <br />overall economic development strategy a) provides employment options throughout the <br />salary and skills spectrum and b) understands the overall interdependence of a healthy <br />economy as including retail, service, non-profit, professional, and light industrial <br />development to strengthen the tax base as well as provide employment opportunities. <br />We encourage the BOCC to assess the overall contribution of any single economic <br />development in context to the County's broad strategic goals, understanding that any one <br />project will present with some specific strengths, as well as some weaknesses. The Five <br />Year Plan is best used as a tool to measure overall progress as demonstrated through <br />multiple and diverse. economic development opportunities. <br />The EDC encourages the BOCC to work on attracting and supporting diverse economic <br />development options that will, as a whole, moves the County's goals forward. The <br />Buckhorn Village project makes an important and significant contribution on multiple <br />fronts and we endorse and encourage its approval. <br />Respectfully, <br />Bryant M. Colson, Chairperson <br />Orange County Economic Development Commission <br />Anita Badrock, Vice-Chairperson <br />Orange County Economic Development Commission <br />