Dear Chamber member,

Over the past month, there has been a flurry of activity in Orange County. Brad Broadwell was hired to serve as the County’s new Director of Economic Development. Broadwell comes from Dorchester County, Maryland and brings a wealth of local and international development experience. At UNC, H. Holden Thorp was named the 11th Chancellor and will take over for Chancellor James Moeser when he steps down at the end of June. In the May Primary Election, the transfer tax was soundly defeated by a two to one vote. Senator Ellie Kinnaird also held on to her seat defeating Commissioner Moses Carey, Jr.

I want to flag an important public hearing coming up on May 19 that will give citizens an opportunity to comment on the County’s draft Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan is currently being updated and can best be thought of as a vision plan, setting the tone for what residents want the County to become over time. I would encourage anyone interested in economic development, land use, transportation, housing or the environment to review the draft plan (available here) and speak on May 19. More information about the hearing is available below.

Government Matters is a monthly newsletter that highlights government issues affecting Chamber members and the greater business community. If you want to learn more about our governmental advocacy work and stay informed about upcoming projects, contact me directly or consider attending a government relations committee meeting. The next meeting is on Wednesday, June 11 from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. and will be held at the Chamber.

Sincerely,

Adam Klein
Director of Government Relations and Economic Development
Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce
aklein@carolinachamber.org
(919)-967-7075 x.24

Orange County Comprehensive Plan Public Hearing
On Monday, May 19 at the Gordon Battle Courtroom in Hillsborough, the Orange County Board of Commissioners will receive written and spoken input on a draft update to the Comprehensive Plan. This is a very important update and meeting as the Comprehensive Plan sets the direction and tone for development in the County for the next 20 to 30 years. The County’s development ordinances and regulations are supposed to be based on the vision put forth by the Comprehensive Plan. Please plan to attend this meeting if you live, work or own land in Orange County. The meeting will begin at 7:30pm. To review the draft Comprehensive Plan online, click here. 

Nearly Six Cent Property Tax Increase Proposed for Chapel Hill
At the first Council meeting in May, Town Manager Roger Stancil presented his recommended budget for 2008-2009 and proposed a 5.9 cent property tax increase. The increase would go to fund the Town’s increasing debt service without diminishing current service levels. Manager Stancil stated during his budget message that, “This is a significant increase, but it comes on the heels of two consecutive years of zero tax rate increase and a doubling of the Town's debt load since fiscal year 2005.” The final Town budget as proposed would total $83.6 million, with $52.1 million going toward the General Fund, $14.6 million for the Chapel Hill Transit fund and the remainder for other funds. A public hearing has been set for Wednesday, May 14 at 7pm to allow the public to comment on the budget. The budget is scheduled for adoption on June 9.  
From Chapel Hill eNews

Orange County Sales Tax Revenues Falling
In a work session last Thursday Orange County Commissioners received a report from county manager Laura Blackmon and budget director Donna Coffey who said that sales tax revenue for the County will be $1.5 million under projections for FY 2007-2008. Manager Blackmon cited the slowing economy as the problem; county residents are reducing their spending and thus limiting the amount of sales tax collected on potential sales. County staff did report that there would be a small pot of state lottery money available for capital projects. For the full story, click here.

Orange County Hires New Economic Development Director
Orange County Manager Laura Blackmon announced the hiring of Bradly Broadwell, formerly director of economic development in Dorchester County, Maryland, as the new Economic Development Director in Orange County. Broadwell will begin May 19 and has worked for US Agency for International Development in Mongolia and U.S. deputy secretary of commerce in Washington D.C. In a written statement, Manager Blackmon said, “Brad's vast experiences in developing successful economic programs, as well as his extensive background working with international communities are skills Orange County can put to use today.” For the full story, click here.

Chapel Hill and University Partner in New Homeless Shelter Site
On May 5, the Town of Chapel Hill, Inter-Faith Council and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill held a press conference announcing a new location for the men’s homeless shelter. The new 50-bed shelter will open at the corner of Homestead Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd and replace the shelter operating in the town owned building at the corner of Rosemary and Columbia Streets. The new shelter is estimated to cost $3 million and the IFC hopes to move into the shelter in 2011. For the full story, click here.

UNC-Chapel Hill Names Thorp Next Chancellor
H. Holden Thorp, currently Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at UNC-CH, was named the 11^th Chancellor of the University. Thorp is a Carolina grad and native of Fayetteville. He has served as Kennan Professor of Chemistry and previously director of UNC’s Morehead Planetarium and Science Center. Thorp will take over for exiting Chancellor James Moeser in July. For the full story, click here.

Revised Glen Lennox Plan Submitted
Following a meeting with residents earlier this month, the owners of the Glen Lennox property submitted a revised concept plan to the Town of Chapel Hill, in hopes of getting onto the Community Design Commission’s May agenda. Jim Schaafsma, spokesman of Grubb Properties, which owns the Glen Lennox shopping center and rental cottages, said residents of the apartment cottages did not want a business close to a church, so the Hayes Road small retail building planned near the Church of the Holy Family has been eliminated. Additionally, the plan had originally shown one of the three parking decks and attached building standing over Flemington Road, so that cars would have to drive through the deck to get to the other side of Flemington. The new concept plan has the parking deck and adjoined building pushed back from Flemington Road, so the road would remain an open street. Schaffsma said the concept plan is not concrete and developers are open to continued changes. For the full story, click here.

Buckhorn Village Project Given June 3 Deadline
Orange County planning board members are expected to present a recommendation on the Buckhorn Village redevelopment plan by June 3.  Developers East West Partners Management Co., Tryon Investment Group and Montgomery Carolina submitted a proposal in December to redevelop the roughly 130 acres where the Buckhorn Road flea market sits on the southeastern corner of I-85/I-40 and Buckhorn Road in Efland. Developers hope to create 1.1 million square feet of retail and residential space which will include a 185,000-square-foot anchor store, hotels, offices, restaurants, residential space and a movie theater. After a lengthy discussion which allowed several landowners in the area to speak out in favor of the project, the board approved a motion requiring the planning board to present its recommendation on Buckhorn Village by June 3.
From the Herald Sun

Chapel Hill Hires Public Arts Administrator
Roger Stancil, Town Manager for Chapel Hill, recently announced the appointment of Jeffrey York as Town Public Arts Administrator. York comes from the N.C. Arts Council where he was director of public art and community design. Stancil described what York’s role will be in Chapel Hill, “He will facilitate the transition of the public art staff to town staff and current independent board to an advisory role. Our goal is to integrate public art into the context of what the town does every day." For the full story, click here.

OWASA Gives Drought Update, Reservoirs at 81 Percent
On Monday, May 5, the Chapel Hill Town Council received an update from Ed Holland, OWASA Director of Planning, regarding the drought. Holland reported that the drought is now considered “moderate” and that as of May 5, water reservoirs were at 81 percent capacity. OWASA will continue to monitor the situation and residents and businesses will remain under Stage 1 water use restrictions and surcharges. In order to remain at Stage 1 or move out of water restrictions, the Chamber urges its members to make conservation a way of life as we head into the drier summer season. Please contact OWASA at 919-968-4421 for a free water audit and learn of news ways to be a wise water user.
From Chapel Hill eNews

Orange County Housing Program Struggling
If Chapel Hill Town Council members reject a plea by the Orange Community Housing and Land trust to allow flexibility in affordable housing requirements, the model could fail, according to trust Director Robert Dowling. Based on the projections for the number of Land Trust properties that will go on the market during the next three years, which tops at 116 by 2010, Dowling said his sales staff of 1.5 positions cannot handle the workload.  Dowling and Jim Tucker, board treasurer for OCHLT, asked the council to consider conducting a study of the market for condominiums such as the proposed 346-unit Residences at Grove Park.

Dowling and Tucker asked the council to give developers more options for affordable housing, such as allowing a mixture of required units and payment-in-lieu of affordable housing, while the market study is being conducted. Dowling said flexibility would help manage the number of units added to OCHLT's program while giving the town time to see the market in action as units from developments like East 54 continue to sell. Council members seemed split on the proposal and voted to accept it as a petition to be considered at a later date.
From the Herald Sun

Durham Tech-Orange County Campus Set to Open
Durham Tech has been offering courses in Orange County for some 20 years but as of this summer will have its first dedicated campus in Orange County. The DTCC building is the first building constructed within the Waterstone Development project in Hillsborough. Courses at the campus will begin this summer and include emergency medical technology, a Spanish immersion course, computer courses and photography among others. Over time, the campus will ramp up its course offerings to a full two-year program. The Orange County building includes a number of green features including a rainwater collection system and photovoltaics. For the full story, click here.

The Triangle Region

Chatham Hires New School Superintendant
Robert L. Logan was unanimously selected by the Chatham County Board of Education as the next superintendant in mid-April. Logan comes to Chatham from the State Department of Public Instruction, a position he has been at for about a year. Prior to working for the State, Logan was superintendant of Asheville Schools. Logan was selected by the Board from among 29 candidates for his enthusiasm and innovative ideas. He will receive a salary of $140,000 plus benefits.
From the Herald Sun

Chatham County to Receive Aid Following Plant’s Closing
Chatham County commissioners will consider a resolution telling lawmakers how they can help the county deal with the closing of Siler City’s Pilgrim's Pride poultry plant. County Manager Charlie Horne said he is already working with Dianne Reid, director of the county's Economic Development Corporation, on various actions related to the plant's closing, which affects more than 800 jobs and 40 farms in Chatham County. For the full story, click here.

Durham Impact Fees Approved
Beginning July 1, impact fees, those paid by developers upon completion of new construction, will go up. Downtown Durham will see a 24 percent increase, southern Durham 30 percent, and northern Durham will see a 55 percent decrease. The Durham City Council voted on the fee revisions during its March 17 meeting, with a 4-3 vote. The fees will help pay for streets, parks and open space. For the full story, click here.

Durham Athletic Park to Undergo Renovations
At the end of April, Durham City and Minor League Baseball officials participated in a historic groundbreaking event at Durham Athletic Park. The DAP, where the movie “Bull Durham” was filmed will undergo a $5 million renovation over the next six months and soon become home of the NCCU and Durham School of the Arts baseball teams. The DAP will also serve as a training ground of sorts for minor league baseball grounds crews and umpires. If everything goes according to schedule, the park will be finished in November. For the full story, click here.

Smart Commute Challenge—Win a Free Trip
The Chamber is taking part in a regional program encouraging businesses and individuals to take an alternative mode of transit and invites you to join us. From April 15^th – May 30^th, any employee or college student who drives to work or campus in Wake, Durham or Orange counties can enter to win 2 roundtrip airline tickets anywhere in the continental U.S. plus a week’s hotel stay by taking the Smart Commute Challenge! You can take the challenge by going to www.smartcommutechallenge.org and pledging to walk, carpool, take the bus, telecommute or ride your bike at least once to work.

Cary Developers to See Raised Impact Fees
Beginning July 1, developers in the town of Cary will pay 21.7 percent more in water and sewer fees on an average, 2,500-square-foot home, totaling $5,261. Water and sewer fees for a 150,000-square-foot office building would total $130,230, an increase of 20.6 percent.  The town says that according to consultant studies, the fees are now at 75 percent of the "maximum" cost of providing water and sewer infrastructure to new developments. For the full story, click here.

Census Estimates Released, Big Growth in Wake County                                               
The Census Bureau released its annual population growth estimates last Thursday for counties nationwide. Wake County led the Triangle in 2007 adding 38,841 people. This jump made it the seventh fastest growing county in the nation for 2007. Over the past seven years, Wake added 205,124 residents, putting it on pace to become North Carolina’s largest county very soon. See the table below for other Triangle county growth figures. For the full story, click here.

State Government News

Progress Energy Rolls Out Conservation Plan
Progress Energy announced three new programs aimed at energy conservation in the construction industry. One initiative in the plan, called Home Advantage, would pay builders and developers to build homes meeting federal Energy Star qualifications. The two other pieces of the plan target commercial builders and include “custom financial incentives” that would help builders recoup the costs of energy efficient measures in new projects and incentives to customers for retrofitting existing buildings. The goal of Progress’ strategy is to double the energy savings it gets through efficiency. For the full story, click here.

Links to Local Government Agendas

Chapel Hill Town Council Agenda

Advisory Boards and Commissions

Chapel Hill

Carrboro

Orange County