urbanscraper
01-29-2007, 08:42 PM
Officials get Heart of the Triad plan update
The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area - 2:57 PM EST Monday
by Matt Harrington
Elected officials from six NC jurisdictions -- the cities of High Point, Greensboro, Kernersville and Winston-Salem and Forsyth and Guilford counties -- were briefed on the progress of the Heart of the Triad plan Monday afternoon.
And while nearly all lauded the efforts of the steering and technical committees thus far, many raised questions as to how the potential economic development resulting from the plan could be explained to residents and formulated under state law.
Winston-Salem city councilman Robert Clark, for example, asked about the political realities of explaining to landowners that some, in areas designated for development, would become millionaires, while others, who own land designed to remain green space, wouldn't have that chance.
While several elected officials serve on the Heart of the Triad steering committee -- two were appointed from each jurisdiction -- it was the first meeting where all elected officials were invited since the land-use and transportation planning process began nearly two years ago.
Those elected officials were not asked to take action at this meeting, although they will be asked to adopt a resolution generally supporting the Heart of the Triad concept, and supporting the idea of working together, in March.
The Heart of the Triad is an effort to define land-use and transportation plans for about 18,000 acres along the Forsyth and Guilford county line. Included in that acreage is about 6,300 acres where consultants suggest the counties and cities could join forces to market the region for distinct types of economic development.
The four economic development types being proposed in the concept plan, which has been adopted by the Heart of the Triad steering committee, are:
High-tech manufacturing, such as nanotechnology;
Logistics and transportation;
A retirement and lifestyle community that could include a championship golf course, hotel and conference center,
and; A collaborative, international intellectual asset center that could bring together area colleges and universities for a kind of "joint campus" for learning and research.
David Taylor, a vice president of HDR Inc., the consulting firm that has helped lead the project, said that the land-use plan for the 18,000 acres would accommodate 123,000 people and 135,000 employees. Of those figures, the smaller area that would require the most regional cooperation would hold 50,000 people and about 74,000 jobs.
Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines asked if having a high-tech focus would make the area compete with the Piedmont Triad Research Park in downtown Winston-Salem and the Gateway University Research Park in Greensboro.
Gayle Anderson, president of the Winston-Salem chamber and a member of the technical committee, said that wouldn't be the case. Instead, the high-tech portion of the Heart of the Triad would be aimed at recruiting the larger manufacturing facilities of drug companies, which wouldn't fit in the research parks in Greensboro or Winston-Salem.
Elected officials, who had already received copies of some of the research included in the project, heard from Cantey Alexander of BB&T on the potential business impact; from Nancy Dunn, the Division 9 representative to the N.C. Department of Transportation, on road issues; and, from Henry Isaacson, chairman of the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority, on the need for more development to support the airport.
While some of the questions asked by elected officials had answers -- Winston-Salem head planner Paul Norby said that yes, the city's Legacy development plan was being considered as the Heart of the Triad plan was developed -- other questions won't be answered until further on in the process.
One of the biggest questions is what level of cooperation might local governments be willing to try in that 6,300 acres. State legislation does allow for cost and revenue sharing projects among local governments, and Anderson said the technical and steering committees would look into the specifics.
Robbie Perkins, president of NAI/Maxwell in Greensboro and the co-chair of the steering committee, said that his committee would meet in late February to approve the final draft land-use plan and to finalize a resolution of support to send to local governments. He said he hoped local governments would consider the resolution in March, giving Heart of the Triad organizers time to lobby state elected officials for more funding for continued study of the project.
Many citizens living in the Heart of the Triad area have expressed concern about the future of their land, some of which has been in the same families for generations.
Heart of the Triad organizers have said that the goal is simply to prepare better for development, which will take place with or without a plan. The project, they say, is not an attempt to buy or take parcels of land from landowners. But some of those landowners, Heart of the Triad proponents argue, will sell, which is why land-use plans should be put in place in an attempt to reduce the chance of more urban sprawl.
The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area - 2:57 PM EST Monday
by Matt Harrington
Elected officials from six NC jurisdictions -- the cities of High Point, Greensboro, Kernersville and Winston-Salem and Forsyth and Guilford counties -- were briefed on the progress of the Heart of the Triad plan Monday afternoon.
And while nearly all lauded the efforts of the steering and technical committees thus far, many raised questions as to how the potential economic development resulting from the plan could be explained to residents and formulated under state law.
Winston-Salem city councilman Robert Clark, for example, asked about the political realities of explaining to landowners that some, in areas designated for development, would become millionaires, while others, who own land designed to remain green space, wouldn't have that chance.
While several elected officials serve on the Heart of the Triad steering committee -- two were appointed from each jurisdiction -- it was the first meeting where all elected officials were invited since the land-use and transportation planning process began nearly two years ago.
Those elected officials were not asked to take action at this meeting, although they will be asked to adopt a resolution generally supporting the Heart of the Triad concept, and supporting the idea of working together, in March.
The Heart of the Triad is an effort to define land-use and transportation plans for about 18,000 acres along the Forsyth and Guilford county line. Included in that acreage is about 6,300 acres where consultants suggest the counties and cities could join forces to market the region for distinct types of economic development.
The four economic development types being proposed in the concept plan, which has been adopted by the Heart of the Triad steering committee, are:
High-tech manufacturing, such as nanotechnology;
Logistics and transportation;
A retirement and lifestyle community that could include a championship golf course, hotel and conference center,
and; A collaborative, international intellectual asset center that could bring together area colleges and universities for a kind of "joint campus" for learning and research.
David Taylor, a vice president of HDR Inc., the consulting firm that has helped lead the project, said that the land-use plan for the 18,000 acres would accommodate 123,000 people and 135,000 employees. Of those figures, the smaller area that would require the most regional cooperation would hold 50,000 people and about 74,000 jobs.
Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines asked if having a high-tech focus would make the area compete with the Piedmont Triad Research Park in downtown Winston-Salem and the Gateway University Research Park in Greensboro.
Gayle Anderson, president of the Winston-Salem chamber and a member of the technical committee, said that wouldn't be the case. Instead, the high-tech portion of the Heart of the Triad would be aimed at recruiting the larger manufacturing facilities of drug companies, which wouldn't fit in the research parks in Greensboro or Winston-Salem.
Elected officials, who had already received copies of some of the research included in the project, heard from Cantey Alexander of BB&T on the potential business impact; from Nancy Dunn, the Division 9 representative to the N.C. Department of Transportation, on road issues; and, from Henry Isaacson, chairman of the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority, on the need for more development to support the airport.
While some of the questions asked by elected officials had answers -- Winston-Salem head planner Paul Norby said that yes, the city's Legacy development plan was being considered as the Heart of the Triad plan was developed -- other questions won't be answered until further on in the process.
One of the biggest questions is what level of cooperation might local governments be willing to try in that 6,300 acres. State legislation does allow for cost and revenue sharing projects among local governments, and Anderson said the technical and steering committees would look into the specifics.
Robbie Perkins, president of NAI/Maxwell in Greensboro and the co-chair of the steering committee, said that his committee would meet in late February to approve the final draft land-use plan and to finalize a resolution of support to send to local governments. He said he hoped local governments would consider the resolution in March, giving Heart of the Triad organizers time to lobby state elected officials for more funding for continued study of the project.
Many citizens living in the Heart of the Triad area have expressed concern about the future of their land, some of which has been in the same families for generations.
Heart of the Triad organizers have said that the goal is simply to prepare better for development, which will take place with or without a plan. The project, they say, is not an attempt to buy or take parcels of land from landowners. But some of those landowners, Heart of the Triad proponents argue, will sell, which is why land-use plans should be put in place in an attempt to reduce the chance of more urban sprawl.
