Agenda - 10-17-2017 - 8-a - Minutes

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17 1 Annette Lafferty, Carrboro Economic and Community Development Director, said no, 2 not yet, and this would be the next step, with the USDA making a decision in December. 3 Commissioner Price said three EDDs made a proposal, and asked if there was a 4 process to choose one. 5 Bonnie Hammersley said staff chose the EDD that would be ready the soonest, which is 6 the Hillsborough EDD. 7 8 PUBLIC COMMENT: 9 Jay Bryan reviewed the following comments: 10 11 October 2, 2017 12 To the County Commissioners 13 Re: Development of Carrboro owned property on Old 86 for industrial land uses 14 15 Since January, 2017, more than three months since Carrboro officials met with the County 16 Commissioners, the Northern Transition Area Advisory Committee (NTAAC) has asked the 17 town for specifics about the idea of creating an industrial zone for property it owns on Old 86. 18 The town has afforded the Committee few details of the plan, including its desire to apply for 19 grant funds for water and sewer. The Committee has stressed its interest in the details so it 20 could make a report and recommendation to the Commissioners, who represent the county 21 citizens in the Northern Study/Transition Area, and in particular, its concern for a public process 22 for allowing input about the idea of zone and review by the Committee and residents before any 23 final decision is reached. The NTAAC has not received any information about the public input 24 process, nor has a public hearing been held to allow residents to comment. 25 26 I do not personally support the idea of developing light manufacturing and maker's space at this 27 location. I am including the following list of reasons, based on my current knowledge, and 28 subject to the understanding that I may offer other reasoning if discussions of such an idea 29 continue. Committee members share my concerns but have felt as a body that without more 30 specifics, they cannot make a final recommendation to the Commissioners: 31 32 1. The town has not presented to the NTAAC and residents sufficient analysis which 33 supports the idea that the project is economically feasible or viable in terms of an 34 appropriate return for the town versus its negative features. 35 2. Based on information from the town, the project is not feasible without subsidy for 36 sewer, at a minimum, from the County, which money, at such difficult financial times for 37 county residents, is better spent on more pressing projects. 38 3. The location is fraught with challenging traffic conditions including but not limited to, an 39 entrance at the bottom of a steep hill and curve, poor sight distance to the south due to 40 a hill obscuring car driver vision, and a potential entrance across the location to the Twin 41 Creeks Park as well as a potential entrance/exit some three to four hundred feet south 42 on Old 86, each with sizeable traffic impacts and congestion. The traffic on Old 86 has 43 steadily increased, and the increase should be expected to only continue due to the 44 eventual opening of the Twin Creeks Park, the middle school and the development of 45 the Zinn property at the corner of Old 86 and Eubanks Road. 46 4. Upon information and belief, there has been at least one death and other motor vehicle 47 accidents along the approach to and from the existing entrance to the site. 48 5. Commercial development of any kind is not in keeping with the residential nature of the 49 surrounding community as well as with Twin Creeks Park.