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and running within a short period of time, usually one year. These larger industrial parks have <br />stringent permitting requirements and will take much longer to develop and begin operating. <br />Commissioner Neuberger stated that staff evidently did not see the larger industrial park as <br />competition for the smaller developer, and Director Boling confirmed that by stating that the <br />development of an industrial park would take much more time and permitting than the time and <br />permitting required for a smaller developer. <br />Commissioner Lowther questioned whether there are any big companies out there that have <br />corresponded with staff. <br />Penny Chandler, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, confirmed a lot of <br />what Bob and Stan had already said in regard to the size of the developments. The Chamber gets <br />a lot of prospects to talk to from Enterprise Florida and, if we had the development, we could send <br />the information. Up to the point we have not had those properties. She has had about 6 inquiries <br />this year for which she has not had a response. People drive by and see all the groves and <br />agricultural land and see that we are nowhere close to being ready with industrial development, so <br />they just keep driving. The I-95/SR-60 Corridor will be widened across the State and we will be at <br />the crossroads to transport goods. We have also spent about 5 years trying to get a ramp at Oslo <br />Road but tax incentive referenda have failed with the taxpayers. Perhaps if those incentives had <br />passed, we would not be here today. However, the Chamber will do what it can to promote this <br />product to bring higher -end and better paying jobs to the County. Our unemployment rates are so <br />high it is very important for us to all work together to bring new jobs to the County. <br />George Watson, 150 McKee Lane, spoke in favor of the plan and believed it would benefit <br />the smaller developers. He noted that there are highly -skilled employees who have been laid off <br />from Piper who are currently looking for work and the local school systems are training people for <br />more highly skilled employment. <br />Frank Coffey, 1200 Admirals Walk, President of the Taxpayers Association, felt that <br />economic development is an essential part of the County's growth but questioned what kinds of <br />jobs, what salary ranges, and what training there would be. He also noted that X -L Vision had <br />afforded some very high -paying jobs in the County which are no longer with us and questioned what <br />would happy if the developer does not meet his contractual obligations. <br />JULY 22, 2003 4 <br />