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

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7 • 1 allow a couple of people speak just to the rezoning request. With that said, I'd like to introduce ~2 Ms. Rosemary Waldorf. 3 4 Rosemary Waldorf: 1 have been sworn. We really appreciate this opportunity to present to 5 you the details of the proposal for this mixed-use development. Several members of our team 6 area going to be speaking to our proposal this evening as will planning, engineering, and other 7 design experts. We look forward to your questions. I'd like to begin by saying who we are and 8 how we got involved. We are an Orange County team. The partners in Buckhorn Associates 9 are three established local development groups. East/West Partners Management Company, 10 which is represented here by Roger Perry and Ben Perry is a developer of residential and 11 mixed-use projects. Examples include Meadowmont and East 54 in Chapel Hill, Cary Parkin 12 Cary, and Davis Park in Research Triangle Park. Tryon Investment Group is another part of 13 Buckhorn Associates, and it is owned and managed by George Horton. George has developed 14 residential and mixed-use projects in Orange County, including Meadowlands.and the Gateway 15 Center in Hillsborough. Montgomery Development is a commercial construction firm~that has 16 .built retail space in 4.5 states and is owned and managed by John Fugo, who is here this 17 evening. John also has been a partner in the design and construction of The Village Center in 18 Southern Village, and 1've worked with John for several years and am working with him on this 19 praject. ZO How did we get here? In March of 2007, the County's Economic Development Director, 21 Dianne Reid asked us to consider a destination retail project for the Buckhorn Road EDD. The 22 County had received indications from national destination retail companies that they were very 23 interested in this site. In response to Dianne's inquiry, our group researched the site and we 24 formed Buckhorn Associates, with the intent of creating a predominantly retail development, and 25 gained control of key pieces of property. That makes it sound a lot faster and easier than it was, ~ 26 but that's what we did. We've tried very hard to pursue what we perceive to be the County's 27 goals by proposing a praject that is in the EDD. The County went through a very careful public 28 process to establish its desire that development occur here. If successful, I think Buckhorn 29 Village. could potentially accomplish one of your economic development goals of adding $125 30 million worth of commercial space in Orange County and adding new private sector jobs. If 31 successful, we think that Buckhorn Village could provide many new shops and services to 32 Orange County citizens and would help stem that exodus of retail dollars. We'd like to thank 33 Craig Benedict and Mike Harvey for their professionalism. They've helped us get through what 34 is a difficult preparation process. We'd also like to thank the Town of Mebane. At their request, 35 we met with neighbors of the Clearview subdivision and members of the People for Progress. 36 It's important to state, I think, that the success of Buckhorn Village will depend on our ability to 37 attract a variety of stores and restaurants. We would work hard, if approved, to bring natioral, 38 regional, and local businesses to this center. I know that a lot of people are curious about 39 potential tenants, particularly a potential anchor tenant. There has been lots of speculation, but 40 at this time, we have nothing to report. Our leasing agents can't really conclude any 41 negotiations until we finish the review process with the County. We also view Buckhorn Village 42 as an opportunity for local businesses, and we will recruit existing local businesses that wish to 43 expand and new ones that are considering a store. Thanks again for your time, care, and 44 consideration. I'd like to introduce Jim Parker of Summit Consulting, which is a Hillsborough 45 consulting engineering firm that has taken primary responsibility for preparation of our 46 application. 47 48 Jirn Par6cer: I have been sworn in. I again also want to commend your Planning staff, which 49 has been very professional, tremendously helpful, and we could not be here without their 50 professional guidance. Summit has also worked closely with Scott Murray, who has sub- 51 consulted on this project,. and Scott will be up to speak in a few minutes. He's done a