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Participants press faster permitting, targeted outreach to recruit businesses for Ferrari Ranch
Summary
Workshop participants urged streamlining permitting, a targeted recruitment group or consultant and incentives to attract manufacturers and retail to the Ferrari Ranch and other Atwater sites, while stressing retention of existing businesses and use of vacant-building incentives.
At the workshop participants prioritized steps meant to make Atwater more attractive to businesses, including faster permitting, targeted outreach and incentives to refurbish vacant properties. Chris told the group that streamlining permitting and moving more approvals online could reduce turnaround from months to weeks and is central to attracting businesses to the Ferrari Ranch and other sites.
Multiple speakers urged forming a dedicated recruitment group or hiring an economic development consultant (or manager) to develop a prospect list, pursue recruitment, and report back to council annually. One speaker argued for a resident survey to identify sales-tax leakage and target the types of businesses residents frequent in neighboring cities.
Speakers also proposed incentives such as a vacant-building sales-tax credit (reducing the city's share for several years) and noted infrastructure projects — Belby Road extension and a future parkway — as key to making large sites viable. The group discussed the Belleview 999 annexation as a way to add developable land.
Workshop participants emphasized retaining existing businesses, refurbishing downtown buildings for galleries and specialty shops, and coordinating promotion (rather than duplicating recent outreach reports). Organizers said the compiled suggestions will inform the strategic plan draft to be presented to City Council in June or July.
