Barriers to overcome: Solano must jump hurdles to grow economically
Local business leaders got an earful of the same counsel they have heard for the past two years last week when a panel of real estate experts explained what barriers exist to economic development in Solano County. There are some policy issues to resolve and some physical hurdles to overcome.
There seems to be a solid supply of Bay Area firms looking to expand operations to the east, and that is where Solano's geographic advantage comes into play. Still, the desire will not manifest into new industry, new businesses, new jobs and new economic benefit if we do not address the critical impediments.
In addition to being right in the path of where growth will occur, Solano has an abundant work force that is well-trained and competent. But it also has some liabilities.
Four top real estate professionals spoke last Thursday at Solano Economic Development Corp.'s annual "Real Estate Round-Up" in Fairfield. They represented four sectors of that landscape: retail, industrial and commercial, residential and investment sectors.
Here, in their view, are the main obstacles to enhancing our communities' economic vitality:
•Traffic: First and foremost the interchange at Interstate 80 and I-680 must be fixed. And that, no doubt, will require a sales-tax increase to create matching funds to get federal and state money to do it.
•Housing: Cities need to provide places for workers to live.
•Red tape: Infill housing projects are often sidetracked by environmental reviews that are unnecessary or onerous.
•NIMBYs: Cities often allow capricious challenges where projects already comply with zoning laws and all city requirements.
•Ready-to-build sites: While most cities have identified land for industrial and commercial development, there remains too many obstacles for a company buying and building quickly. Streets, sewer and water supplies are not always available, and regulatory approvals take too long.
There are no surprises in that list. We have taken on these issues in this editorial space before.
But once again, our concerns have been validated by those who understand what stands between us and better times ahead.
There seems to be a solid supply of Bay Area firms looking to expand operations to the east, and that is where Solano's geographic advantage comes into play. Still, the desire will not manifest into new industry, new businesses, new jobs and new economic benefit if we do not address the critical impediments.
In addition to being right in the path of where growth will occur, Solano has an abundant work force that is well-trained and competent. But it also has some liabilities.
Four top real estate professionals spoke last Thursday at Solano Economic Development Corp.'s annual "Real Estate Round-Up" in Fairfield. They represented four sectors of that landscape: retail, industrial and commercial, residential and investment sectors.
Here, in their view, are the main obstacles to enhancing our communities' economic vitality:
•Traffic: First and foremost the interchange at Interstate 80 and I-680 must be fixed. And that, no doubt, will require a sales-tax increase to create matching funds to get federal and state money to do it.
•Housing: Cities need to provide places for workers to live.
•Red tape: Infill housing projects are often sidetracked by environmental reviews that are unnecessary or onerous.
•NIMBYs: Cities often allow capricious challenges where projects already comply with zoning laws and all city requirements.
•Ready-to-build sites: While most cities have identified land for industrial and commercial development, there remains too many obstacles for a company buying and building quickly. Streets, sewer and water supplies are not always available, and regulatory approvals take too long.
There are no surprises in that list. We have taken on these issues in this editorial space before.
But once again, our concerns have been validated by those who understand what stands between us and better times ahead.
posted by Solano EDC at 1:35 PM
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