Title
Council for Economic Outreach (CEO) Space and Land Task Force Study (B)
This item involves referring recent recommendations from the Council for Economic Outreach (CEO) Space and Land Task Force Study reviewed by the EDUCC to Planning and Development Services staff.
Explanation
On February 18, 2008, the EDUCC reviewed the recent CEO Space and Land Task Force Study. The essence of the study's findings is that the community faces a gap in building and land inventory available for the retention, expansion and attraction of community targeted industries. (Bio and Life Sciences, Information Technology, Medical Equipment)
It is reported in the Study that over the course of a fifteen month period, 42 land/building projects were managed by CEO staff with only eleven successfully captured. Approximately 1.8 million square feet of space has been requested with 580,000 square feet of space available. Buildings of approximately 10,000 to 50,000 square feet ready for occupancy in six to nine months are in particular demand.
The Study seeks certain commitments from various partners in the economic development process (CEO, the Private Sector and the Public Sector). With respect to the Public Sector commitment, the Study recommends that a fast track development permit approval process for projects in targeted industries and specific activity centers be explored as well as the feasibility of allowing specific sites to be "pre-approved" based upon various regulatory criteria.
Assuming City Commission approval of these recommendations, staff would analyze the proposals in consultation with CEO staff and any modifications of the development review process would be presented back to the EDUCC at a future meeting.
The EDUCC approved analysis of the recommendations flowing from the study and indicated particular interest in seeing application to the Innovation Zone. In addition, the Committee recommended that with respect to the redevelopment of ...
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