Orange County NC Website
25 <br /> Cy Stober said that the adoption of a comprehensive land use plan is intended to drive <br /> changes. He said that is usually how it plays out, and how he would prefer it as a planner. <br /> Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked if the Buckhorn Road area would impact the tax base. <br /> Cy Stober said yes. He said there has been rapid development in that area that has been <br /> served by the city but regulated by the county. He said the alignment of 1-40 and 1-85 in the county <br /> is remarkable. He said there is a north-south and east-west corridor and that is remarkable. He <br /> said that you do not really see that on the eastern seaboard. He said that Buckhorn Road is highly <br /> appealing to the development community. He said that there are also other areas that they have <br /> already agreed upon with the City of Mebane. He said that there are no signs of interest slowing. <br /> The Board and County Manager agreed for any feedback to be sent to the Clerk to the <br /> Board's office by May 15, and the Clerk would send it to the Planning Director. <br /> 2. Presentation on Piedmont Food Processing Center Management Services Agreement <br /> The Board received information regarding the County's management services agreement with the <br /> Piedmont Food Processing Center (PFPC), the state of the shared kitchen spaces, and the food <br /> business incubator services. <br /> BACKGROUND: At its October 3, 2023 Business Meeting, the Orange County Board of <br /> Commissioners approved a one-year contract renewal with the Piedmont Food Processing Center <br /> to continue managing a Shared Use Kitchen Incubator in the County facility located at 500 Valley <br /> Forge Road, Hillsborough, NC. In 2011, Orange County was one of four county government <br /> partners that helped to establish the Piedmont Food and Agriculture Processing Center. The <br /> Center has changed names (now Piedmont Food Processing Center), staff and leadership, and <br /> scope of services in the past 13 years. The County owns and maintains the facility in which the <br /> Piedmont Food Processing Center (PFPC), a North Carolina nonprofit corporation, operates <br /> shared kitchen spaces and provides food business incubator services. <br /> The County entered into the first management services agreement with PFPC in 2021. The <br /> management services agreement approved in October 2023 did not modify any of the provisions <br /> of the prior agreement. In follow-up to concerns raised by the Board of Commissioners regarding <br /> the management structure, business classification, operations, benefits to Orange County <br /> residents and other topics, County Cooperative Extension Director Jonathon Smith and <br /> Community & Rural Development Extension Agent Mike Ortosky have since met regularly with <br /> PFPC leadership to address ongoing concerns and to identify steps that can be taken to improve <br /> operations and accountability between the nonprofit corporation PFPC and Orange County. <br /> A presentation will be provided at the meeting with: <br /> 1. Clarification on the business classification of Piedmont Food Processing Center <br /> 2. Survey results from other Shared Incubator Kitchens operating in North Carolina <br /> 3. Suggestions for highlighting and enhancing Orange County-specific impacts <br /> 4. A proposal for instituting a future facility management contract that strengthens this public- <br /> private partnership and includes measurable goals as well as expected outcomes that <br /> benefit County farms and food businesses. <br /> Jonathon Smith, the Cooperative Extension Director, introduced the item and made the <br /> following presentation: <br />