Minutes 10-13-2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

5 Trish McGuire pulled up a map of the northern part of Carrboro's jurisdiction. She said there is a small area planning document that applies to this area. She described the surrounding area and land use plan. Commissioner Jacobs asked if the relationship between Transition areas 1 and 2 could be explained. Trish McGuire said the rezoning of area 2 is not to occur until transition area 1 has reached 75% build out, per a number of criteria, which are spelled out in the plan. Commissioner Jacobs asked if Trish McGuire could identify where in that process the areas currently stand. Trish McGuire said these calculations are being worked on currently. Chair McKee said this is an interesting idea, and he likes the focus on local businesses. He said he does not need specific answers tonight, but he does have some concerns. He asked if the 90,000 square foot building is the maximum foot print build for this property. Trish McGuire said that is the maximum for a single level building, with the possibility of a bit more space through a mezzanine level, or something similar. Chair McKee said if a commercial site is going to be built here, he would like it to be the maximum size. Chair McKee asked if the proposal is to build a shell to rent, which would be outfitted by the renter to suit their needs; or is the proposal to build out to the maximum level. He said a building shell would only cost around $100,000, and even with five buildings the total would be far less than $9 million. Trish McGuire said the concept was that the development would be done by a private entity instead of the Town, but she would check on this. Chair McKee said the land would remain in the ownership of the Town, which would provide no tax benefit at all. He said the buildings would be a leasehold improvement to the land, and he read a 30-year term is proposed for the lease. He said he would like to know what would happen after the 30-year lease. He said he keeps coming back to the revenues, as they may have to defend the use of economic development monies for this on Highway 86. He agreed with Commissioner Jacobs about the use of water and sewer, and the development it may open up. Commissioner Jacobs agreed with Chair McKee, and that is why he keeps saying to do a cost analysis of this proposal to determine if this is a wise investment. Commissioner Jacobs suggested not calling this an industrial park, to make it more user-friendly for this community. Commissioner Rich said having a copy of the Northern Transition Area (NTA) plan would help all of them to understand this area. Alderman Gist said she went to Boulder, CO several years ago, and while there were lovely amenities, there was no middle class present. She said Carrboro and the County are being gentrified in the same way, and this is a chance to provide real living wages and space for those who make a living with their hands. Chair McKee said there was still no middle class in Boulder on their recent trip there. Chair McKee said the County's zoning regulations have a great, but limiting, benefit. Alderman Chaney said she is not opposed to the cost benefit analysis, but she is opposed to doing it based only on current assumptions. She said it is useful in understanding potential dynamics, and in creating a plan, but may cause potential benefits of the project to be missed if such an analysis were to be weighed too heavily. She said it is a tool, but not an up or down decision-making tool. b) NC Highway 54 West— Commercial Potential and Challenges