Agenda - 03-21-2017 - 8-a - Minutes

Browse Search

7 1 All needed NCDOT approvals are finally in-hand for the downtown access project. The Town 2 has a contractor and is finalizing the contract details so that work can begin when weather 3 allows. The east side work adjacent to the courthouse will be done first, and then work will 4 move to Tryon Street and move south. Staff expect to hold a public information meeting very 5 soon to keep the merchants involved. There is also an email list for merchants and other to 6 receive regular updates. Work will continue through the summer. Once the sidewalk work is 7 completed, NCDOT will have to schedule resurfacing of Churton Street. Once that is scheduled 8 and complete, the stamped crosswalk improvements will be the final step. Stephanie Trueblood 9 is the primary contact for this project and all communications with merchants and the public will 10 route through her. 11 12 Orange County, in conjunction with Town of Hillsborough Planning, has amended land uses 13 and zoning within the Hillsborough Area Economic Development District. This area is under 14 County planning jurisdiction but subject to the coordinated planning agreement. An interlocal 15 utility agreement that will set forth utility extension provisions if installed or paid by the county is 16 under review by joint staffs. 17 18 This agreement is intended to focus and facilitate future economic development by preinstalling 19 infrastructure under 1-40 which often is a critical decision point for site selection. Monies have 20 been budgeted for primarily sewer extensions but a partnership with the Town of Hillsborough 21 for a water main loop outside of the EDD could augment pressures in the larger zone. Orange 22 County will be advertising a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for engineering design services 23 for this Capital Investment Plan (CIP) project in the coming weeks including Town of 24 Hillsborough participation. 25 26 A 271 acre development proposal was submitted for the southeast and southwest quadrant of I- 27 40 using a conditional zoning district. The majority of the project is planned for light 28 industrial/research and commercial/retail/service with a component of senior housing. This is 29 under sufficiency review by staff and will be shared with the Town of Hillsborough consistent 30 with the joint courtesy review agreement. 31 32 Commissioner McKee said he is glad the County and the Town are working together on 33 the water and sewer around the Hillsborough Economic Development District (EDD). 34 Commissioner Jacobs asked if Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats 35 (SWOT) analysis of the EDDs included the Cornelius Road Area. 36 Steve Brantley, Orange County Economic Development Director, said they have put out 37 to bid for consultants, and will get a review of these properties around the 1-40 exchange during 38 the spring and the summer. He said it would be simple to add some additional properties for 39 review. 40 Commissioner Lowen asked if this area can be added, and if it would be a targeted 41 district. 42 Steve Brantley said the targeted regions were put in the RFP, and did not include the 43 Cornelius area; but once a consultant is hired it would be possible to add this area and others. 44 He said the goal is to focus on the properties that have the potential to attract non-residential 45 development. 46 Commissioner Lowen said Cornelius Street is the highway 70 bypass through 47 Hillsborough. He said it is an entranceway into Hillsborough, and commercial or light industrial 48 development here would be great. 49 Steve Brantley said there is a good relationship and communication between the Town's 50 staff and Chamber.