Agenda - 05-24-1993 - C 4a, 5a, 6a

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b2 Group, three areas were identified by the Planning Board/EDC Work Group as focal points for its efforts. They included: 1. The northeast quadrant of the I-85/Buckhorn Road Interchange; 2 . The I-40/Old NC 86 Interchange; and 3. The I-85/US Highway 70 Interchange. Using construction cost data supplied by an area contractor and a spreadsheet template to evaluate the economic feasibility of development scenarios, the PB/EDC Work Group identified the preferred distribution of land uses for the selected target areas. Land uses considered appropriate for such areas included light industrial, distribution, flex space, office, and service/retail categories. Rather than limit itself to traditional techniques, the PB/EDC Work Group decided to evaluate other methods of controlling land use intensity. Among the techniques were those promoted by performance zoning advocates. To help the PB/EDC Work Group understand the application of the standards, the staff conducted detailed analyses of selected business sites to illustrate the relationship between development character and intensity standards. All of the work completed by the PB/EDC Work Group led to the formulation of a more definitive goal; i.e. , to develop an "economic development district" proposal with acceptable performance standards and streamlined approval procedures. The concept of an economic development district is not new. The zoning district designation currently exists in the Zoning Ordinance, and the purpose of the district is "to provide locations for a wide range of low intensity industrial, institutional, office, and research use with no adverse impacts beyond the space occupied by the use. " While such districts are currently associated with the Land Use Plan designations of "Industrial" and "Commercial-Industrial" Activity Node, and designated in close association with interstate highways, some changes to the Land Use Element are required to "target" economic development districts at specific locations. Thus, a new land use category entitled "Economic Development Activity Node" is proposed, along with the addition of appropriate location criteria. A second proposal involves the actual application of the category through changes to the Land Use Plan (Map) , including Township Plans. Finally, changes to the Land Use Element-Zoning District Matrix, and applicable goals and policies are proposed to insure consistency between the Land Use Element and the Zoning Ordinance. Proposed changes to the Land Use Element have been addressed on a separate Ordinance/Plan Amendment Form. The changes outlined below seek to apply a revised "Economic Development District" zoning category to specific "target areas" in the county. Maps showing the proposed zoning boundaries are provided, includina schematic plans illustrating the manner in which the districts are to be developed. Associated with the rezoning proposal is the establishment of acceptable performance