Cary looks to boost economic development

Cary officials might look into hiring an economic development coordinator on a consulting basis to help attract news businesses and make sure current ones don’t leave.

Village President Tom Kierna presented the idea Wednesday at the annual Cary Business Roundtable organized by the Cary Grove Area Chamber of Commerce. The village would hire a coordinator in lieu of creating an economic development commission composed of volunteer residents, Kierna said. Board members have discussed creating a commission but the idea has not moved forward.

“We always have discussions at the board level about more economic development,” Kierna said. “I will ask the board to consider this option.”

Village officials also plan to meet with Cary’s business owners to discuss their concerns, Kierna said. “We want to hear what’s good about Cary, what’s bad about Cary, and what we can do to make it more enjoyable,” Kierna said.

Sixteen new businesses opened in the village last year, among them O’Reilly Auto Parts and The Buddha Bean coffee shop, but the village also lost a few businesses, Kierna said. Sales tax revenues in 2011 amounted to $1.14 million, nearly $13,000 more than the year before. The village projects getting about $1.15 million in sales taxes this year.

M.J. Seiler, who owns the Cary Square Plaza shopping center, said he is among many who perceive the village as being unfriendly to businesses. Cary wants to regulate signage too strictly, and has cumbersome processes related to issues like occupancy permits, Seiler said.

Buffalo Grove and Libertyville, where he also owns businesses, aren’t as difficult to deal with, Seiler said.

Kierna acknowledged that some procedures, especially the ones involving the board of zoning, planning and appeals, can seem costly and time-consuming. “We’re taking that feedback seriously,” he said.

Zoning ordinances will be posted on a new village website to be launched in April, Kierna said. The website will be more interactive and user-friendly, and will have “significantly more content,” he said. Village officials also will be able to post news on the website, he said. The website will cost $26,000 for a three-year period, officials said.