Minutes 01-25-2019 BOCC Retreat - Laserfiche WebLink

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21 Steve Brantley finished his presentation by showing the completions of the properties in phase one and phase 2 and mentioned current interest in the properties. Commissioner McKee said the date for work to begin on Eno is May 1 st Steve Brantley said it has been 9 or 10 years for the area to get water and sewer access Commissioner Dorosin said he is worried that Eno Development District may end up a "checkerboard" like the Buckhorn area after the wait for utilities. He praised the work of the economic development team, and asked for priorities for change and overcoming strategies. He said adding a parcel or cutting residential areas out of districts are options. Steve Brantley said he would be happy to generate a list in conjunction with staff and advisory board that would make recommendations on potential new acquisitions and changes to existing zoning. Commissioner Price asked if the group agrees about moving forward with the Eno district. Travis Myren said the process is in design, and money commitments are to be made soon. The Board moved forward with a discussion of interjurisdictional collaboration on economic development at the suggestion of Commissioner McKee. Commissioner McKee said it would be good for the group to consider alternate projects to look at that could be collaborative projects. He also recognized that the board would have to shift priorities if they want to focus on those projects, as funds are limited. Commissioner Price said she wants to see a plan for intergovernmental collaboration with the municipalities, especially for projects in unincorporated areas of the county close to the urban areas. Commissioner Dorosin said, in terms of collaboration, if jobs were the overall goal that the conversation needs to be collective with the municipalities. Commissioner Bedford said sustainability is also important. Commissioner Dorosin lamented instances where the County missed out on information sharing from municipalities to encourage collaborative and mutually beneficial outcomes. He also addressed an instance where the County may have missed an opportunity for collaboration with Carrboro and suggested it be revisited. He suggested collaboration at the staff level and institutionalizing the collaboration around economic development. Chair Rich said Wegman's is a good example of collaboration with municipalities. Commissioner Dorosin agreed and said economic development does not stop at jurisdictional lines and suggested a unified plan for economic development. Bonnie Hammersley said collaboration around economic development starts at the Manager level. She said the collaboration around the Wegman's project started at that level. She said there are monthly manager meetings, and more frequent meetings when needed Bonnie Hammersley said perhaps an economic development office that serves the entire County and includes all jurisdictions would be beneficial. She also said conversations need to start at the beginning of projects. Commissioner Greene asked Steve Brantley if he still attended meetings for Chapel Hill Economic Development. Steve Brantley said he does attend. He said that he does consider that the economic development office serves the entire county. Commissioner Greene asked if there had been good outcomes from the meetings. Steve Brantley answered that he generates prospect leads and learns about area development to promote. He believes the meetings to be of high value. Chair Rich brought up Gateway Station and suggested collaboration around the project begin as soon as possible. She said it could be a fourth economic development district and an opportunity to work towards a different type of economic development that includes retail,