Agenda - 03-20-2018 8-a - Minutes

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10 buses within the neighborhood. He said feedback has been provided to the developer. He said 1 buses are getting larger, in order to have greater capacity, and the neighborhoods need to 2 accommodate this. He said the schools have worked closely with the developer to identify 3 school bus stops that can be communicated to the neighbors and homeowners, so that children 4 can be safe walking to the stops. He said another concern is the traffic in the area. He said 4 5 buses are anticipated being needed to serve this neighborhood. He said some creativity will be 6 needed to serve this neighborhood. 7 8 3. Economic Development 9 10 a) Town/County Perspectives on Economic Development 11 (Short/Mid/Long Term Plans and Mutual Objectives) 12 13 Margaret Hauth reviewed the following information: 14 The Town does not have an adopted economic development plan or policy. However, the 15 Town has consistently striven to maintain its tax base mix which is roughly 60% residential and 16 40% non-residential. Additionally, the Town Board has been increasingly interested in compact 17 and connected development. The adoption of the Urban Services Boundary was a strong step 18 in that direction and the Town Board has been committed to that boundary. The Town Board 19 has also discouraged three different residential developers with potential projects within the 20 boundary from pursuing requests for utilities or annexation at present as they were still located 21 rather far from the core of town and were therefore less desirable. 22 23 The focus of the Town’s economic development planner has been to respond to inquiries for 24 new non-residential space and attempt to match users with available spaces, assist applicants 25 navigating the planning processes, increase visibility of local events, and work with the chamber 26 on growing its membership and serving as a voice for local business. 27 28 The County has been working with the Town of Hillsborough on extending utility service to the 29 Hillsborough Economic Development District. As part of the Utility Extension Agreement with 30 the Town, McAdams Engineering has been retained to design the extension of sewer through 31 the northwest to southwest quadrant of I-40 and Old NC 86. The infrastructure also includes a 32 water loop system from Old NC 86 westward to improve water quality, quantity and pressure in 33 the general area. The design is 95% complete with bids and construction later this year. 34 35 Mayor Stevens said the Town has tried to maintain a 40% commercial base within the 36 Town. He said the Town has recently added an Economic Development Planner to its staff, 37 and noted that tourism is big for Hillsborough. 38 Travis Myren reviewed the following information: 39 40 Orange County Economic Development and Planning, in collaboration with Town of 41 Hillsborough, have also submitted a grant request to the Golden Leaf Foundation for partial 42 funding of the utility extension. More information regarding grant awards is expected in mid-43 April of 2018. 44 45 Over the past 12 months, Orange County Economic Development responded to 46 14 separate investment prospect inquiries (light industrial, commercial, hotel, and warehouse) 47 by submitting real estate data on available sites and commercial buildings in the Hillsborough 48 market, to include Settlers Point, and generated 9 actual prospect visits during 2017. Several of 49 these projects remain active. 50