Agenda - 04-29-2004-6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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Appendix C: Notes from the Afternoon Work Groups on Strategic Pillars of the New Plan Notes from Work Group on Improving the Business Climate • Change attitude toward businesses to "business friendly" • Do not presume we (non-profits/government) know what BUSINESS OWNERS perceive as values that are business friendly.. Need to ASK THEM and find ways to engage them in strategic process. • Be realistic, election results show community does not want economic development • Need forum for groups traditionally at odds over economic development to better understand each other and work together toward common goals.. • EDC needs to have an educational component to help community better understand the value of appropriate economic development in providing resources to fund initiatives and progranis of value to community • Provide education in the form of public relations to let public Imow that quality business in right place will not effect their quality of life • The different government entities and planning jurisdictions of Orange County need to work more collaboratively to encourage and promote business in Orange County.. • Change rules and regulations to be business friendly, Be consistent with rules and regs. • Need decisions to balance the environmental, social, and business impact of policy or project approval. • The development approval and business permitting process should be clear, concise, and timely. • Develop uniform development review process. • Cleaz development rules that are followed, • Shorter time of application process, Time is money, so process should be shortened. • Clear signals from elected officials through managers to economic development/planning staff that "good businesses" are okay to proceed,,. • Develop list of concrete, specific measures that governing boards/city take to reduce uncertainty in development approval process (e. g. establish specific timelines along which decisions must be rendered by advisory boards or the governing boazd). • What type of businesses are we willing to support? Define that, and then direct the staff accordingly. • Build the nexus between successful economy and successful community. • Don't lose sight of need to support existing businesses (services, incentives) and not overly focus on what it will take to lure businesses to locate here ("Buffalo Hunting"). • Identify incentive program to retain businesses in Orange County. • Grow, Succeed, and Stay, Positive Business Climate: approval? where do we want it? not in my back yard (NIMBY)! • Elect business friendly elected officials • Support renovate and rebuild business property • Comprehensive plan of Chapel Hill needs to be refined and rewritten to support economic development • Parking (cost, inventory, what do customers think?) 16