The N.C. Coastal Federation announced plans to foster cooperation as county and city officials move forward with advice on economic development outlined in a report prepared by Atlanta-based consulting firm Garner Economics.
Mike Giles, federation coastal advocate, said he supported recruiting industries recommended in the report, which included life and marine science research and development, high-value office operations, precision manufacturing and aircraft assembly and maintenance.
The report also recommends eliminating or modifying the county’s special use permit (SUP), pegging it as a deterrent for businesses interested in relocating here. Giles said the federation wants to move beyond the proposed change disagreements and work together to reshape the SUP.
“We’re reaching out our hands,” Giles said during an Aug. 22 phone interview. The county and everybody involved in this SUP process has gotten worn down by the two-sided discussion. It doesn’t have to be that way.”
Giles said the announcement intentionally coincided with an Aug. 26 joint meeting on Garner report implementation held by the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners and Wilmington City Council (see related story).
Kemp Burdette, Cape Fear riverkeeper, said many of the recommendations in the Garner report are sound, but insisted the SUP is needed to guide development. Burdette heads Cape Fear River Watch, a partner in the federation’s effort.
“Where that report has major flaws is when it recommends eliminating the SUP when all the evidence that the report contains within it indicates the exact opposite,” Burdette said during an Aug. 21 phone interview. “I think that was a politically driven decision. The SUP helps bring businesses here that are going to protect our natural resources, that are going to provide good jobs in the community.”
Giles said elimination of the SUP could also cost the area billions of dollars each year if natural resources like beaches were polluted by intensive industry.
“We don’t want to ruin that golden egg,” Giles said.
A two-tiered SUP was offered as an alternative, allowing non-intensive industries to easily set up shop while retaining rigorous review of industries with potential to harm citizen health or natural resources.
Giles stressed the federation did not plan to direct the discussion, only offer suggestions and encourage other leaders to do the same.
“What we’re doing is providing the vehicle to do this and the idea. We’re not going to run the show,” Giles said.
The federation reached out to county commissioners, the county planning board and planning staff plus local business leaders to join the discussion. A $25,000 grant from the Lillian Goldman Charitable Trust will fund the effort.
Giles said he hopes cooperation will combat the assumption that the federation is opposed to economic growth.
“Some people erroneously tag the coastal federation as environmental extremists and we’re not. We’re excited about this. We want to see those industries come here because we want to see our economy grow,” Giles said.
The SUP is only required for projects in the I-1 light industrial district and the I-2 heavy industrial district. It was added to the county zoning ordinance in 2011 as a tool to guide growth and development.
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