Agenda - 06-21-2016 - 5-a - Minutes

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4 1 Chair McKee asked if there would be support or concerns for both staffs to work on a 2 process to incentivize a development company to look into building a space, knowing that 3 companies coming into Orange County would probably have to be incentivized as well. 4 Council Member Oates said it is important to consider what is being incentivized. She 5 said there are businesses that want to come, but here are no developers wanting to do it. She 6 suggested rezoning so that apartment complexes cannot be built, rather only office space 7 would be allowed. 8 Council Member Parker asked staffs to continue to try and find out what can be jointly 9 done to get the product developed in order to attract the types of businesses discussed this 10 evening. 11 Commissioner Dorosin said a broader view should be taken since the cost of land in 12 Chapel Hill is prohibitive. He suggested looking at properties on Hwy 54 and 86, noting the 13 amenities can still be appreciated by a company if it is outside the city limits. He said another 14 issue that goes hand in hand with expensive land for businesses is the fact that the business 15 owners cannot afford to live in Orange County. He said many people go to Durham because 16 there is both space for their business, as well as affordable housing. 17 Commissioner Rich said she did not agree with everything Commissioner Dorosin said, 18 and if spaces are put in the County then amenities will be needed as well, such as food trucks, 19 coffee shops, etc. 20 Commissioner Dorosin said the vision must be expanded at some point. 21 Commissioner Rich said she agreed, but she said spaces cannot only be zoned for 22 office space. She said people want to live, work and play in the same place. 23 Steve Brantley said his and Dwight Bassett's comments this evening are specific to 24 Chapel Hill properties and the redevelopment of existing properties in order to create additional 25 tax value, higher income jobs with benefits, etc. He said increased product would include flex 26 space and incubator space, really any company that may be seeking space. 27 Dwight Bassett said in reference to the inquiries received in the past two years, there 28 have been two parameters identified by companies: walkable environments and the availability 29 of parking. He said there is 600,000 square feet of office space approved for redevelopment at 30 Glen Lennox, and over 100,000+ square feet that can be built at Carraway Village. 31 Commissioner Jacobs said it might be wise to ask respective staff to look at the Greene 32 Tract. He said a living/work space could be designed there with housing and active recreation. 33 He said this exercise may generate some ideas and noted that this parcel of land is already 34 owned by the County and the Towns. 35 Commissioner Burroughs said Glenn Lenox and Carraway Village are ready to go and 36 asked Dwight Bassett if there is something specific needed to get the projects moving. 37 Dwight Bassett said there are barriers for both projects. He said the Carraway Village 38 property was re-zoned in 2015 with four issues unsettled. He said these final issues are being 39 worked on. He said the barriers to the Glenn Lenox project cannot be clearly defined. He said 40 developers are hesitant to gamble on these spaces. 41 Commissioner Burroughs said incentives may move office space at these areas, and 42 asked if staff wants approval to move forward. 43 Chair McKee asked if there is consensus to have staff and managers work to find 44 partners in the community and define barriers for these two areas, as well as the Millhouse 45 Road area. 46 Council Member Harrison said in reference to the two projects Dwight Bassett sited, 47 assistance in road construction is desired and, in his opinion, Glen Lennox has a better case 48 but DOT will not help. 49 Mayor Hemminger said she felt Orange County may be interested in the Carraway 50 Village project, since the County vehicles use Eubanks Road quite often.