HomeMy WebLinkAboutZTA201000004 Legacy Document 2012-10-18 (3)ATTACHMENT C
Target Industry Typologies
The completed Target Market Final Report was released in April, 2012 and it identified four core
industry clusters, based on a variety of criteria that best match Albemarle County's assets, attributes
and preferences and has the strongest industry outlook. Those four core industry clusters are:
Bioscience and Medical Devices
Business & Financial Services
Information Technology and Defense & Security
Agribusiness
Biosciences /Medical Devices Target
The study noted that Albemarle County has demonstrated strength and competitive advantages in the
Biosciences and Medical Devices group, with potential for growth primarily generated by start -ups and
commercialization opportunities emerging from research activities at the University of Virginia. The
Biosciences /Medical devices sector includes both a) start -up and related early stage commercialization
operations, characterized as small labs, (e.g., A -Dial Pharmaceuticals) and b) larger scale pharmaceutical
and medical devices development and manufacturing (PRA, MicroAire).
Currently these activities require industrial zoning. It is proposed that bioscience enterprises be allowed
to occur by right up to 4000 square feet, or by special use permit larger than 4000 square feet, in
commercial districts (HC, C 1 and CO)as well as by right in industrial districts under the
Laboratories /Research and Development /Experimental Testing category. These uses need
approximately 3 -5 acres with a building space of 4,000SF and could operate in office buildings with
loading dock doors to accommodate heavy equipment installation. Larger - scale, bio- medical device
production would be most appropriate in industrial zoning with larger buildings and higher ceilings, to
allow for truck access and shipment.
Business & Financial Services
Albemarle demonstrates strong competitive advantages for the "businesses and financial services"
sector and exhibits both specializations in the workforce and growth momentum for this industry.
Targets in this sector are expected to experience strong growth on four transformational developments:
1) rapid increases in the use of electronic payments; 2) new and emerging method of retail electronic
payments including mobile technologies; 3) return to the US of some foreign outsourced services and 4)
increased demand for businesses to manage healthcare and pension plans into compliance with new
legislation.
Continued success in this target cluster depends on the scale of operations. Small -sized enterprises
continue to flourish in the currently low- priced office market. However, larger -scale operations, such as
Covenant Health, State Farm Pantops operations, and CFA will find challenges to developing a single -
floor, purpose -built building. This industry cluster includes data hosting, more commonly referred to as
"data centers." These information storage warehouse facilities have especially high demand for water to
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cool stacked computers, dual -power to protect from losses of power, and ready access to trunk line
broadband capacity.
"Business and financial services" industries can locate by -right in any commercial district. Such uses are
proposed to be permitted by right as independent offices in industrial districts up to 3,000 square feet
and by special exception over 3,000 square feet. Furthermore, it is proposed that data processing be
allowed by -right in the industrial district under the Storage / Warehousing /Distribution /Transportation
category.
Information Technology & Defense Security
The combined Information Technology and Defense Security cluster offers a third target cluster for the
County. Building upon two large federal installations and a large of number of high paying jobs at more
than 10 federal contractors, and supported by University of Virginia research centers and long time
employers like GE and Northrop Grumman, the County is well positioned to both expand and recruit in
select sectors of the industry group. While the direction of defense spending remains a concern for this
sector, the intelligence community seems more immune to wide swings in federal spending. The Target
Markets report indicated "strong future growth due to four transformational developments: 1) new
product developments like battery back -up systems, open -road intelligent transportation systems and
mobile medical monitors; 2)growth in market for semiconductors in consumer electronics; 3) increased
use of electronics in the transportation industry; and 4) increased downstream demand for
sophisticated measuring and monitoring systems from the energy, military, health and biotechnology
sectors."
Like the Biosciences cluster, this cluster is split between R &D enterprises such as CACI, MRI and Battelle
and the product manufacturers such as NIITEK, GE Intelligent Platform Systems, and Northrop
Grumman's Sperry operation. Similar to the Business & Financial Services sector, scale is an important
factor in the County's ability to accommodate growth in this third industry cluster. It is proposed that
information technology and defense security be allowed by right up to 4000 square feet, or by special
use permit larger than 4000 square feet, in commercial districts as well as by right in industrial districts
under the Laboratories /Research and Development /Experimental Testing category. Locations to
accommodate these enterprises need highway access for truck deliveries, broadband for secure
communications, and water and sewer. These uses have similar land requirements as the Biosciences
uses.
Some of these types of enterprises would be categorized as purely office -based information technology
and defense security office uses which can locate by -right in any commercial district.
Agribusiness, Food Processing & Related Technology
The Target Markets report identified the importance of this cluster by noting that "In Albemarle County
95% of land is designated as rural areas ..... Agriculture and some agribusiness are allowed in the rural
areas so economic growth in these sectors is important to balancing the economy in the county." This
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cluster relies on close proximity between agricultural production and the local and regional markets. The
study identified several local conditions that support both existing business expansion and new business
attraction:
Growing demand for locally - produced and farm fresh foods
The County has a demonstrated success in wineries
Select target sectors have a positive growth outlook
Close proximity to large metro consumer markets (Richmond, DC Metro, Norfolk,
Raleigh- Durham, etc.)
Cost savings to processors seeking to be closer to customers
This cluster is defined to include wineries and breweries, and perishable prepared food manufacturing.
The cluster includes operations that grow ingredients as well as those producing value -added foods. This
industry segment also includes supporting industries such as the existing local food aggregators (Relay
Foods, Horse & Buggy and the Local Food Hub).
In terms of land needs, wineries and cideries are well addressed on farms. These operations don't
require a great deal of water, beyond what is necessary for crops growth. Breweries are better suited for
industrial designations in the Development areas, as they are water - intensive, which increases with
scaled up production. Small -scale microbreweries have become more popular in recent years, especially
in adjoining Nelson County. Microbreweries in Albemarle County might provide some authenticity at a
farm location if committed to growing local hops or barley.
Under the proposed zoning text amendment, any agri- business enterprise (warehouse and storage) is
considered by right in the industrial districts. Low - impact levels of food processing are also allowed by
right; however, organic fertilizer manufacturing / processing and rendering plants would require special
use permits in the Light Industry district.
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