20191577 Ver 1_Public Comments_20200420 (5)

Strickland, Bev
From:
Clark Duncan <[e-mail]>
Sent:
Monday, April 20, 2020 4:36 PM
To:
SVC_DENR.publiccomments
Cc:
Clark Duncan
Subject:
[External] Biltmore Farms, LLC
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To Whom it May Concern:
The Economic Development Coalition for Asheville — Buncombe County (EDC) is a 25-year partnership of Buncombe
County, the City of Asheville and the 1,700 Members of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. Our enduring public -
private partnership is accredited by the International Economic Development Council and remains focused on wage
growth, economic opportunity and job creation, economic diversification and sustainable growth of the tax base of
Buncombe County. At a time when the fiscal health of our county and the economic security of our residents face
unprecedented threats from the COVID-19 crisis, I'm writing to urge your consideration and approval of a recent permit
filing by Buncombe County Developer, Biltmore Farms, LLC for a bridge crossing in the Bent Creek area of South
Buncombe County.
The proposed infrastructure investment is located in a primary economic corridor in our community. Located at the
proposed bridge intersection, the five -lane Brevard Road/Hwy 191 can easily move commercial traffic to Interstate 26, a
short 2+ miles away. The proposed new bridge and site will complement one of the primary employment corridors for
the region, with manufacturing neighbors such as Borg Warner Turbo Systems, Jabil, Eaton Electric, Reich Automotive,
OceanX, JCrew Distribution Center, Arcadia Beverage and retail centers such as the Asheville Outlets.
Beyond the desired impact on economic and transportation infrastructure, the proposed development is a generational
investment in economic mobility and middle-class expansion. As proposed, the new French Broad River crossing will
access over 400 acres in the heart of Southern Buncombe County for exactly the kind of strategic job creation that this
community needs to speed the recovery of the families, neighborhoods and economy of Western North
Carolina. Manufacturing remains one of the strategic growth targets for the EDC, paying an Average Annual Wage of
$52,884 - nearly 30% above the average wage in Buncombe County. Manufacturing is also a potent driver of growth in
our tax base, having invested over $1.513 in new expansion capital in the economy of our County in the past decade
alone.
Across the Western region of our State, there are few sites providing the acreage, topography and access necssary to
support high -wage manufacturing employment. This shortage is even more acute in the urban center of Buncombe
County where escalating land costs and growth patterns exacerbate the problem. As a result, our board has elevated
the need to identify, protect and develop industrial sites in Buncombe County for highest and best economic purposes
as one of the 5 cornerstone strategies of our latest economic development strategy — the AVL 5x5 2025 Strategy for Job
Creation. That plan can be reviewed in its entirety here: https://www.ashevillechamber.org/wp-
content/uploads/2019/10/AVL5x5 2025 Plan.pdf [ashevillechamber.orgl
The accessibility and development of these sites as proposed in the Biltmore Farms permit application are critically
important to expanded economic opportunity for our current residents and future generations of the region.
Thanks in advance for your consideration of this important investment in our community. Please do not hesitate to call
with any questions you may have.

Clark S. Duncan I Executive Director & Senior Vice President
Economic Development Coalition for Asheville -Buncombe County
Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce
828. 258.6134 office 1828.216.7660 cell
NAMED 2019 NATIONAL CHAMBER OF THE YEAR BY ASSOCIATION OF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EXECUTIVES
■ ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
��.. COALITION
Asheville -Buncombe County