Town of Holly Springs
Board of Commissioners Continued Meeting
Friday, July 20, 2001

MINUTES

The Holly Springs Town Board of Commissioners met in a work session on Friday, July 20, 2001 in the Town Board meeting chambers, located in Town Hall, 128 S. Main St.Mayor Parrish L. Womble presided, calling the meeting to order at 1:05 p.m. A quorum was established as the mayor and four board members were present as the meeting opened.

Board Members Present: Commissioners Tim Sack, John Schifano, Chet VanFossen and Mayor Womble.

Board Members Absent: Commissioner Hank Dickson.Commissioner Peter Atwell arrived at 1:10 p.m.

Others Present: Mr. Ken Atkins, executive director of the Wake County Economic Development program.

Staff Members Present: Carl G. Dean, town manager; Ernest C. Pearson, town attorney; Joni Powell, town clerk (recording the minutes); Jennifer Carr, director of economic development; Irena Krstanovic of the economic development department; Len Bradley, director of parks and recreation; Ricky Blackmon, director of building code enforcement; Stephanie Sudano, director of engineering; Rodney Campbell of the engineering department; and Gina Bobber, director planning and zoning. Also in attendance were Kris Martinez of the engineering office; and Lois Ragsdale-Houck of the town manager’s office.

In addressing the Board with advice to improve economic development efforts, Mr. Atkins warned about board involvement with development projects. He said his office has found that economic development works better in communities where elected officials address policy issues, but avoid critical review of projects in minute detail.

He suggested that developers will respond to a community’s vision of design standards if the Town Board sets those design standards and then supports those standards when the projects reach that step in the process.He said that the Town could set standards as high as the Board desires, but then the Town should ensure developers that if they meet those standards, their plans will be approved on a staff level.Mr. Atkins related that this ideology has worked well in Catawba County. He said high standards were placed, but with some flexibility.Mr. Atkins suggested that the Town obtain a copy of the Catawba County overlay district regulations, which won an award.

Mr. Atkins said high expectations do not bother developers; but uncertainty does. He said developers also desire that staff be given the latitude to approve plans.

He added that if the Town is looking at differentiating itself and to make itself more attractive to commercial and industrial developers, that the Town Board give staff its vision and the power to make the decisions to make things easier and smoother for developers.

Mr. Atkins also suggested that the Town put in place a fast-track incentive for a developer to meet the Town’s goals.

Mr. Atkins admitted that some areas of Town could be improved so that developers would be attracted to the available properties.He said code enforcement is one thing to provide a better visual of the town. He also suggested that the Town invest time and money in a plan for industrial park; establish a certified site; and invest in infrastructure (roads and flex space).

He said the Town should go ahead and put water and sewer in place so developers don’t have to pay for it. He also suggested that the Town improve the entrance road to the industrial park to a two-lane divided landscaped median and have a plan for complete design throughout the park.

As for flex space, he suggested that the Town invest in a building of between 10,000 and 20,000 square feet that is an attractive and capable of being expanded with a growing company.

In closing, Mt. Atkins said if the Town were to follow these suggestions, Holly Springs would be in a good position to attract much-need non-residential development.

At this time, Mrs. Carr presented the Town Board with a glimpse of a Small Area Plan being devised for the industrial park and surrounding property. She said the Small Area Plan could be used a marketing concept for the Town in its efforts to attract light industry to the park.

She asked the Board’s endorsement of the plan, which includes widening and landscaping of the Ballentine Street entrance to the industrial park.The plan also features an expanded view of the industrial park, incorporating some surrounding properties.
Action: The Board approved a motion to endorse the West Holly Springs Strategic Plan as a concept for marketing the industrial park sites.
Motion By: Sack
Second By: Atwell
Vote: Unanimous

At this time, the Mayor asked that a motion be made to officially change the name of the Holland and Holly Springs Industrial Park properties.
Action: The Board approved a motion to make “Holly Springs Business Park” the new name for the former Holland Industrial Park and the former Holly Springs Industrial Park (aka Wake Southwest Industrial Park) and the other properties depicted on the West Holly Springs Small Area Plan
Motion By: Sack
Second By: Atwell
Vote: Unanimous

The Board discussed various topics about the public’s perception of the Town.

By consensus, the Board asked the mayor to draft a letter to the publisher of the Holly Springs Sun requesting that the “HS Confidential” police blotter be removed from the front page of the newspaper and placed inside.

At this time, it was determined that discussion of all items on the Economic Development Workshop would not be possible.It was decided that the agenda would be resumed at future regular or workshop meetings of the Board.

There being no further business, the July 20, 2001 economic development workshop of the Holly Springs Board of Commissioners was adjourned.

Respectfully Submitted on Aug. 21, 2001,