Agenda - 06-03-2008-5b5a - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

31 ~' 1 Energy Policy Act of 1992 fixture performance requirements. This is an obtainable goal, and if 2 they're asked to do this, you'll find that it's possible. It's being done in State buildings right now. 3 And 30% energy efficient. 4 5 There's more for you to read in the submittal, but this is the gist. Thank you. : . 6 7 Ruffin Slater: I have been sworn. I'm the General-Manager of Weaver Street Market, we have 8 grocery stores in Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and soon we'll have one in Hillsborough. I've been 9 involved in economic development in the County for the last 20 years as a businessperson. I've 10 been on various boards and commissions, including serving as the Chair of the Economic 11 Development Commission, where {became familiar with retail leakage and other economic 12 development issues. While this project may provide solutions to some economic development 13 challenges, it may well exacerbate others. I urge you to consider the project's net economic 14 impact and whether or not it will truly be beneficial for our local economy. While it's likely a 15 development of this size will attract some stores that we don't have in the County, it's equally 16 likely it will house other businesses that.are in direct competition to our traditional, downtown. 17 Southpoint has. had a dramatic negative impact on our downtown businesses; not just retail, but 18 restaurant and entertainment businesses. Another center of this size on the other side of our 19 downtowns will further erode the fortunes of our downtown businesses, especially in 20 Hillsborough and Mebane. This development is specifically sited to attract national chains, 21 which, although they pay the same taxes as local businesses, beyond that, have dramatically 22 different economic impact. About 85 cents of every dollar spent in the national chain leaves our 23 community, and the 15 cents that stays typically goes to pay low-wage jobs. By contrast, about 24 50 cents of every dollar spent in a local business stays in the community and supports other 25 local businesses and typically pays higher wages. I urge you to consider the true economic 26 impact of this project, the impact not just on new business, but the impact on existing business, 27 and also to consider the difference in the economic impact on national chains and local 28 businesses. . 29 30 Janine Zanin: I'm a property. owner on Timberwood Trail in Efland. I was sworn. I have not 31 yet made up my mind about how I feel about this development. I came here tonight to learn 32 more about the developers' intent and just to get some specifics. I am leaving here with some 33 questions that I'd like to ask, and also some concerns that I didn't have before I came. There's 34 been a lot of talk about two different ideas, one is keeping Orange County dollars in Orange 35 County and getting Orange County residents to stay at home for their shopping. On the 36 surface, this sounds like a fabulous idea. I question whether this specific location is appropriate 37 for that goal. We just built some new.soccer fields next to the middle school, and all I've been 3$ reading in the paper is about how the folks in Chapel Hill don't want to drive to those soccer 39 fields. f'm not really convinced that they're going to want to come to the Buckhorn Village 40 shopping area. I do think that one thing that might encourage that travel is if this was a unique, 41 green, local development. I haven't heard who's going to be there, 1 haven't heard enough 42 details to really make up my own mind whether I think that's what it's going to be. I did move 43 and buy property though in Orange County because I trust the leaders of Orange County more 44 than surrounding counties to base their decisions on priorities of Orange County residents, and I 45 think you've heard some of them here today. Those are transportation issues, the environment, 46 and keeping local folks in good business. One thing {heard that concerned me today, that I 47 hope is not the goal of the developers, is that one of the great things about developing this 48 particular location is that they will access the 84,000 cars a day that travel through the area 49 without degradation to the rest of Orange County. Does this mean that they're going to be 50 degrading the place where I live? And I certainly hope that's not the case and that it's not the 51 intention of the developers. That was one of my concerns, a lot of what's been in the paper and ~~