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234 The Board of Commissioners for the County of Cabarrus met in adjourned session at the County Courthouse in Concord, North Carolina, on Monday, January 24, 1983, at 7:00 P.M. with the Cabarrus County Planning Board to hear a presentation regarding University Place by Dr. James W. Clay, Director of the Urban Institute of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. This meeting had been postponed from Thursday, January 20, 1983, due to weather conditions. Present - Chairman: J. Harold Nash Commissioners: Archie Y. Barnhardt ~rcelle Milloway James W. Lentz Kenneth F. Payne Members of the Cabarrus County Planning Board present for the meeting were as follows. Mr. F. A. Rankin, Chairman t~r. John Cline Ms. Cynthia Bostick Mr. Joe Ridenhour Mr. Larry Loving Elected officials from the municipalities in Cabarrus County present for the meeting included Mayor Mmrtha Melvin and the Town Council members from the Town of Harrisburg and Mayor Ralph Austin of the Town of Mt. Pleasant. Other persons recognized at the meeting included Messrs. Jim Blair, General Manager of The Daily Independent and representative of the Kannapolis Chamber of Commerce; John Kennedy, Editor of The Concord Tribune; Phil Widenhouse, representative of the Concord Chamber of Commerce; and James F. Owens, Interim Planning Director. Dr. James W. Clay presented a slide presentation of the proposed development of University Place and the surrounding area in northeastern Mecklenburg County. He stated that the University Place development will have a strong economic and cultural impact on Cabarrus County and will present both problems and opportunities for the county. According to Dr. Clay, the University Place project will create a potential for uncontrolled and unattractive growth in Cabarrus County unless County officials begin immediate plans for residential and commercial developments for the south- western section of the county. Dr. Clay stated that University Place will provide a strong economic base for Cabarrus County as it will attract industries to the area. He strongly recommended that County officials select several good areas of Cabarrus County to develop as sites for industrial parks and target water and sewer services to these areas. He explained that this action will attract the best industries to Cabarrus County which will provide good jobs for persons living in the county. Mayor Martha Melvin stated that the Town of Harrisburg is the fastest growing area of Cabarrus County but industrial growth in the town is prohibited by the lack of sewer services. She explained that the availability of adequate water and sewer services in the town would allow the Town of Harrisburg to compete for industries and prevent the town from becoming a "bedroom community" for persons working in }~ecklenburg County. Mayor Ralph Austin expressed concern that no major industrial growth is occurring east of Concord and requested any assistance available from the County to develop an industrial park in that section of the county. Mr. Jim Blair stated that good planning will have a strong impact on the growth of Cabarrus County. He challenged Cabarrus County to spend more on planning activities as an investment for the future of the county. Chairman Nash thanked the approximately 40 persons for attending the meeting and stated the purpose of the meeting was to let the people of Cabarrus County know that government officials are interested in obtaining knowledge of the long range needs of the county and in planning accordingly to meet those needs. He expressed the need for a coordination of effort among local, regional, state, and federal agencies in successfully planning for the future of Cabarrus County. UPON MOTION of Commissioner Lentz, seconded by Commissioner Payne and unanimously carried, the Board voted to go into Executive Session with the Cabarrus County Planning Board and Dr. James W. Clay to discuss a personnel matter. UPON MOTION of Commissioner Payne, seconded by Commissioner Lentz and unanimously carried, the Executive Session was terminated.