Agenda - 02-01-1994 - VII-A - Laserfiche WebLink

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5 L� L� 4 water and plans to zone up to the Cheeks crossroads. He is pleased with the Rural Character proposal. He would like for the Board to move ahead with prezoning and approving all the Economic Development Districts (EDDs) . ROY ROTH read a prepared statement. This is in the Permanent Agenda File in the Clerk's office. His recommendation is that the County hold off with this EDD (I-40/Old NC 86) until a clearer picture of the economic impact and the open space deterioration is known and/or better defined. JOEL SIPRESS, Orange County Greens, spoke in support of an idea presented by Commissioner Gordon at a previous work session in which there would be overlay districts which would fast track in projects that meet a set of criteria that reflect the economic and social needs of the County. This would reward those projects that are a benefit to the County. He feels that criteria could be developed to address employment issues and determine whether a specific project would provide significant employment opportunities to the Orange County work force and if so could then fast track in those projects. This approach would encourage what is desired and discourage what is detrimental. It provides an incentive to those projects that meet the needs of the citizens and places focus on the specific fiscal, economic and environmental impact of a given project rather than on categories of acceptable uses. He feels the Economic Development District proposal must be viewed as one component of an Orange County Economic Development Strategy that also includes support €or community-based economic development such as the Carrboro Farmers Market and the efforts of the Midway Development Commission. BILLY SMITH presented a petition from the homeowners on Old NC 86 in which they request to be zoned business. He understands that there are going to be small businesses across from his home and also that they are going to widen the road in front of his house. They were told that the road would be widened on the north side of the road. He is concerned that Hillsborough is making decisions that the County should make. Marvin Collins said that their request will go to public hearing on February 28. Commissioner Halkiotis asked that the widening of this road be investigated. John Link will get a copy of the approval and talk with Hillsborough about this issue. The County Attorney will let the Board know the legal interpretation of whether Hillsborough has the right to approve the widening of this road. After all the information is received, the Board will decide whether or not to write the Department of Transportation officials and their legislative delegates. MARY AYES who owns property in the I-40/Old KC86 area spoke in support of the EDDs. She feels that growth will occur and that steps to guide the growth are needed. She feels that longer approval processes prevent good projects, based on design standards, from coming to Orange County. She feels this is not just a farmland issue. She urged the Board to approve the EDD for the I-40/Old 86 area. MARK MARCOPLOS distributed information on "A Declaration of Interdependence" which talked about sustainable design. He feels that incorporating sustainable design into these EDD would be prudent because the environment is stressed and needs to be protected. He read from this Declaration which is in the Permanent Agenda File in the Clerk's office. He feels that the EDDS are missing the mixed use approach -- a transit-oriented development. KAREN RALEIGH, member of the Economic Development Commission and a banker and commercial lender expressed her concern that the more restrictions put on the districts, the more they try to engineer the businesses that go