An e-mail from Dan Lynch, President Greensboro Economic Development Alliance, to Perkins, Robbie; Matheny, Zack, Scott, Andrew; Pat Danahy:
All, this development is great news overall for the Triad (and High Point) but we (Greensboro) will be challenged to compete.
Dan
Proposed industrial park clears hurdle
Apr. 15, 2013 @ 08:27 PM
Pat Kimbrough
HIGH POINT — The City Council on Monday gave its blessing to one component of a proposed industrial park, but work remains to be done before final approval of the project will be on agenda.
The council, minus absent Councilman Foster Douglas, unanimously approved a request from Greensboro-based 350 South Land Holdings to annex 79 acres along the west side of Sandy Ridge Road to provide transportation access to the first phase of a planned business park.
Led by Greensboro developer D.H. Griffin Sr., 350 South is seeking city approval to use about 510 acres between the city limits and Interstate 40 to draw office parks, corporate headquarters and light industrial and commercial uses.
Monday’s vote makes the annexation effective May 19 provided that the city reaches a development agreement with 350 South. The council will consider this, along with a rezoning for the site, on May 6.
“With the addition of this 79 acres, we are now creating what I am told is the largest annexation in the city of High Point’s history,” said Tom Terrell, an attorney representing 350 South. “We are creating the pathway for the city of High Point to have another high-quality industrial park that’s close to an interstate, that’s two miles from an airport, that will allow this city to continue to increase its tax base,that will enable the city to continue to increase jobs as we move forward year to year and in the next decade. It is in the right location.”
The development agreement and rezoning were originally slated to be considered by the council Monday, but officials said details of the agreement are still being worked out.
Terrell said most of these have to do with technical aspects of the project, such as tightening definitions and clarifying dates.
350 South recently agreed to two conditions related to the Maple Creek subdivision near what could be the main entrance to the first phase of the park off Sandy Ridge Road.
One calls for the developer to enhance a 50-foot buffer between park property and the subdivision with a solid row of Evergreens. The other would restrict the type of outdoor lighting used to ensure it didn’t impinge upon residential areas.
Other issues the city and developers have been working on have to do with the costs of infrastructure for phase one of the park. Rough estimates that have surfaced to date have the city tentatively slated to pay for $1 million to $1.5 million of water and sewer improvements.
Transportation issues have also received much attention, given the projected increase in traffic volume associated with an industrial park. Terrell said developers have been talking with prospects for months,but no tenants have yet committed."
So why compete in the first place? Why play a game that has no winners except for the developers who get the incentives paid for by the taxpayers? Here we have Daniel A. Lynch, President Greensboro Economic Development Alliance admitting that his job is too hard-- why? Because it's a game that can't be won.
It's time we rethought how we go about economic development and Dan Lynch has proven me correct-- again.
Stay tuned as Hell Day continues. Did you know Robbie Perkins hates elephants? Lions, tigers and bears too!
