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By Moderator

Information Everyone Should Know

Aaron,

You are 100% correct. The top 5 items in the Harrisburg Retail Survey
(this was not a Big Box Survey) require something of significant size
and customer draw to support their existence. Drive anywhere to an
Outback Steakhouse, Ruby Tuesday's, or other similar establishments
and what do you find? A Target, Walmart, Lowes, etc... something that
draws a customer base. Restaurants need customers to fill their
dining room tables. We continue to hear from local business owners
that the demographic numbers around Harrisburg (on paper) appear to
support and justify their desire to start their businesses, but the
reality is people are still driving to Charlotte or Concord for major
shopping and thus taking business outside of Harrisburg. So people want retail in Harrisburg, but it
is not clear they are willing to make the effort to bring it here.

Beware of special interests groups (like Harrisburg First). There is
a reason why they are called 'special interests groups'. They only
have one agenda item and it is their personal preference, not what is
in the best interest of everyone as a whole. They learned a hard
lesson last year. Yes, they were successful in promoting two new
council members in the November 2005 election. Those council members
in turn were suppose to support their platform (no retail development,
no residential development, actually... stop all development).
Harrisburg First quickly found out who they really promoted... both
new council members at the first opportunity to make a change to the
development laws in Harrisburg, turned away from their supporters and
voted in harmony with the remaining council members. They have done
NOTHING. There have been no changes to development laws, subdivisions
are still getting approved and moving forward, new retail continues to
come to Harrisburg, life in
Harrisburg is just as it was prior to the election of 2005. The only
result is that an individual in the community who truly cares about
Harrisburg and the future was removed from office. An individual who
made a difference in 4 years on council. He worked hard to make
Harrisburg a safer place to live. He doubled the number of deputies
assigned to Harrisburg, without doubling the size of the police
budget. He supported and influenced
council to approve the sidewalk in RRC and contribute dollars to help
with the cost. He also initiated the insight to a more organized Parks & Recreation system in Harrisburg. He supported SMART Growth (which places an emphasizes on development in appropriate zoning). He also worked for three years on the agreement with the County to merge the volunteer fire department with the Town of Harrisburg. The agreement was ready to sign, but the County Commissioners continued to delay until they had the 'right' people on board to support it. Of course, that happened in the Spring of 2006 after the November 2005
election. And, as it is with politics, someone else took full credit in the paper for the merger with the fire department.

So again, beware of special interests groups. Not many people know...
but Harrisburg First sent an email to Town Hall soon after 'their'
council members turned away from the Harrisburg First platform. The
email showed that the Harrisburg First leadership was very upset by
the actions of 'their own' council members for not supporting changes
to the development laws in Harrisburg. The new council members have quickly learned that it
takes an entire board of people to make a difference.

So next year when it is election time again, think about the impact of
special interests groups and think about what really is best for
Harrisburg's future.

Mark Martin
Planning & Zoning Commission

Former Town Council Member
''Working hard for Harrisburg and the wonderful people who live here.''

More thoughts on Retail Stores

This is all interesting and I appreciate our elected and appointed officials sharing their thoughts on this. Often it's hard to see where our leaders really stand on things, and Aaron and Mark have both been willing to share their thoughts. I don't doubt they care about our town.

I think it's fair to remark that based on the Harrisburgfirst.org website they are not anti-development. The site represents citizens that are equally concerned about our town who wish to limit high density housing and large retail. They link to Birkdale Village as a good model of what our town could be. I believe their ''special interest'' is the welfare of the town. Which is the same as our town government.


Based on the survey, 40% want large retail which means 60% do NOT want it, (and 58% do not want a large Home improvement store). I would hope that elected and appointed officials will see this and proceed accordingly. Otherwise, why did we do the survey?

A town will only go through this stage once. Perhaps it's more risky to say ''no'' to big retail, and work to make something a little more special. Perhaps it wouldn't even work. But I personally think it's worth the risk...many other communities have made it without an anchor store.

Rus Hardin

Small Town vs. Smart Town

Although the Harrisburg First website may make statements regarding their 'pro' development position, the truth is the Harrisburg First leadership doesn't 'speak' the written word from their site. Numerous times in public meetings, the phase 'stop growth' has been used by Harrisburg First leadership. Just as they misquoted Mr. Moore (chairman of P&Z). I was present at Tuesday's meeting and Mr. Moore did not say 'we are doing nothing' regarding the Retail Survey. What Mr. Moore did say was 'we have not reviewed the results, so we can not take action at this time'. The Harrisburg First leadership was demanding action at that meeting and the results had only been available for a few days. How can someone expect a town of 6,000 people take immediate action?

The Harrisburg First organization has consistantly demonstrated the ability to misrepresent information for their own gains. The Harrisburg First organization did and continues to have a personal agenda (prevent a large retailer from developing on land located behind their subdivision). Asked at one meeting if they would like a large retailer located at another location in Harrisburg, many people tied to Harrisburg First responded with a YES. So you see, perhaps they are not looking out for the best interest of Harrisburg, but in fact, only their subdivision.

Has anyone been to Birkdale Village? I have. Guess what surrounds Birkdale Village less than a few hundred yards away? Large retail.

Lower housing density and no large retail equal higher taxes for Harrisburg. That may be OK for the young, professional, both spouses work outside the home, family in Harrisburg. But it is not OK for our retired population that have to live on a fixed income. Again, leadership for the Town has and will continue to make decisions based on what is best for EVERYONE in Harrisburg.

You can not assume that 60% do not want something because 40% said they want it. Many surveys came back with 'undecided' replies to the question. Again, please do not take the data and draw conclusions that are not support by the data. Yet another example of misrepresenting the information for specific gains.

A new special interests group has started in Harrisburg. www.Harrisburgnow.org I do not know who is behind it, but I am sure we will hear from them at some point. At least we (Town officials) are getting feedback from people. I have lived here since 1997 and have actively been involved from day one. Where was all of this input 10 years ago?